Page 72 of Seductive Scoundrel

“Yes, and he’s rich and handsome, just like Prince Charming in Cinderella. My mom says Auntie M should marry him ‘cause he’s not a hole like you are.”

“A hole?”

A grin pulls at my lips. At least Phoebe caught the good part.

“Ahhh, A-hole,” he mutters. “Mia, after we get these two pumpkins back to the shack, can I please have a moment to talk with you? Please.”

“No,” I reply, my tone as sharp as the ax I’d love to swing at his head.

Although it seems to take forever to cover the rest of the distance to the shack, we make it back in two minutes flat.

I timed.

Kyle puts the pumpkin on the counter, then nods to my parents and sister Melanie as if they’re old friends. “Please Mia, just one minute.”

“Please, Auntie M,” Phoebe adds in her little voice.

She always liked Kyle, but then again, he’s a politician. They’re all about shaking hands and kissing babies – oh, and screwing other women. Just the thought of what he and Veronica did makes my blood boil. After discovering them together, the phrase, with friends like that, you don’t need enemies,hit home.

Suddenly, I’d like a minute alone with “Uncle Kyle.”

“Why not? Phoebe, stay here,” I say, and then head out of the shack. When I reach the apple cart, I turn and glare at the man in front of me.

“I’m sorry,” Kyle says, his shoulders hunched, his face filled with remorse.

Convincing act, but I’m not buying it.

“Why, did Veronica leave you for another senator? One with more money and prestige?”

“I deserve that, but ouch.” He inches forward. “Mia, I miss you. I still love you.”

A cackle worthy of a witch emanates in the back of my throat. “So, there is trouble in paradise. Good luck, Kyle.” I turn to walk away, but he wraps me in a tight hug from behind, his lips finding my ear.

“You smell amazing,” he whispers against my skin, making my stomach heave. “Just give me one more chance. Please, Mia, I’m begging you. For Phoebe’s sake,” he adds as I wrap my hands around his wrists.

Another cackle leaves my lips because that’s the stupidest, most desperate thing I’ve ever heard. I pull his hands from my body and then slip away. “Don’t touch me ever again,” I hiss.

“Mia, please.”

“Fuck you, Senator Wentworth,” I say quietly, then almost fly inside to the safety of my family. I came home to feel better, not relive my past mistakes.

My sister wraps me in a hug. “You okay? We were debating about going out there. Dad was trying to convince Mom to let him punch the A-hole.”

I force my lips to curve up. “That would have been interesting. I’m fine, though. He doesn’t matter.”

And it’s true. Senator Kyle Wentworth is nothing to me. Seeing him again only reinforces how wonderful Dean is, and how deep my feelings for him truly are. The way I felt when Kyle and I broke up is nothing compared to how I felt after Dean dumped me.

How I still feel.

* * *

My fingers runover my laptop lightning quick as I compile numbers, determined to finish GI Jane’s report in record time so I can enjoy the rest of my weekend. Saturday night is game night at the Ford house, and I intend to defend my title as Yahtzee champion to the bitter end.

Sitting at the little white desk in my childhood bedroom brings back memories of studying for SATs. Funny with how determined I was to leave home, it’s always the first place I run back to when life gets me down. I’ve holed up in this room nursing broken hearts and shattered dreams more than I’d like to remember.

My phone dings and I hope that it’s Mr. Big Dick. Except it’s from Mr. Dickhead instead.

Kyle: I wanted to give you the heads up about a video my opponent is planning to release. I have no idea how he got his hands on it – honestly.

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