Page 39 of Love Me Like You Do

“That’s not a very nice thing to say.”

“Just stating the truth, now, get the fuck out. I have work to do.”

Surprising me, she stands up and marches out of my office. I let out the breath I was holding but before I can take a seat at my desk, she stomps back in and stops next to me. She gives me a look that I think is meant to be seductive but it has no effect on me whatsoever. Lifting her hand, she traces her finger down my chest toward my dick. Grabbing her wrist, I stop her from touching the goods.

“You can’t stay away forever, Kane, you know you want me.”

Sighing, I roll my eyes and ignore her. It pisses her off because she shoves me in the chest. She storms out, barging into Kerrie, who was walking past, causing her to fall to the floor and drop the papers in her hand.

“Shit, Kerrie, are you okay?” I race over to make sure she’s okay.

“Who the hell was that?” Kerrie snaps as I bend down to help her collect the papers she dropped.

“Bitchifer,” her nickname slips out before I can think, then I quickly add, “Danica, my soon-to-be ex.”

“What I just saw seems awfully friendly for a couple getting divorced.”

“Trust me, it’s anything but friendly. That woman will be the death of me, I’ve been trying to officially divorce her for years now, but she refuses to sign the papers.”

“Divorce is a sin in the eyes of God, Mr. Heatherington.”

“Trust me, he’ll give me a free pass for this one.”

She purses her lips. “I was just coming to hand you my—” Before she can finish, there’s a commotion in the lobby. Racing toward the loud voices, I come to a halt when I see Danica with Konrad, Finley, and Michael. My three children look pissed. I don’t blame them really. Danica is all fake smiles and trying to butter up the kids, but my kids are smarter than that. From the look on her face, I think she’s finally starting to realize they want nothing to do with her.

“I’m your mother,” she screeches.

“If you were indeed our mother, you wouldn’t have ditched us like you did.”

“That wasn’t my fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault that you packed a bag and left, never to make contact again?” Michael sneers at his mother. “You left us, Mom, and for what? So you can be a selfish bitch. Well, congrats-u-fucking-lations, you’re a selfish bitch and we want nothing to do with you.”

The sound of a hand slapping a cheek echoes through the lobby.

“Enough,” I bellow and march over to them, putting myself between the kids and her. “You will never raise a hand to my children again, you hear me?”

“Did you hear the way he spoke to me? He deserved it.”

“No child ever deserves to be treated like that, much less mine. Now, I suggest you leave right now before I call the police department and have you arrested for trespassing and assault.”

Her eyes widen and she gasps in shock. “You wouldn’t?”

“Try me.”

“Mom, just go,” Konrad pleads.

“And don’t come back,” Finley adds, confirming our solidarity.

She shakes her head. “I don’t need this. Fuck you all.” She flips the bird at us, spins on her heel, and exits the hotel. We stand here and watch her climb into her car and spin the wheels as she takes off.

Turning to face the kids, my gaze flicks between the three of them before landing on Michael. “You okay, son?”

“She’s never hit me before.”

“And she never will again.” Reaching out, I pull him into me. He’s stiff at first but then he relaxes and hugs me back. Finley and Konrad join us and the four of us hug it out in the middle of the lobby.

Over Michael’s shoulder, I see Kerrie and she’s scowling at me. I really miss Hannah, she had been with me since the beginning and the reopening was a success due to her marketing and genius ideas. Don’t get me wrong, Kerrie is efficient but she’s no Hannah.

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