Page 51 of Broken Strings

Yes. And your spies are right. Summer’s with me.

I drop my phone face down on the nightstand and roll out of bed, heading straight for the shower.

“Cade?”

Summer’s soft voice halts my feet, and I turn back to find her facing me, now on my side of the bed.

“I love you.”

Her words strum the chords of my heart more beautifully than any music ever could, and I’m filled with unbridled adoration for the woman before me. I march back across the floor and bend over her to push her backwards, my thumb and index finger gripping her chin.

“Loving you is as effortless as breathing, Bam. I could never stop.”

I press our lips together as her hands come up to cup my cheeks in her small palms. When I pull away, my phone chimes once again, and I tilt my head to the side, rolling my eyes.

“It’s going to be one of those fucking days, isn’t it?”

She nods, her eyes lighting up mischievously. “Sure is looking like it.”

Her own phone chimes on her nightstand, and a smile quirks my lips. “Ah, but the universe is ensuring we’re in it together.”

Dropping her hands from my face, she sits up in the bed, and the sheet falls to expose her tits. I’m entirely unable to stop myself from bending down to peck both pert nipples. “Good morning, girls. May I say, you’re looking particularly succulent today?”

Shoving me off with a giggle, Summer shakes her head with a broad grin and reaches for her phone as it chimes a second time. “You are such an idiot sometimes.”

I stand and wink down at her, my hair falling forward over my face. “An idiot who will love you forever.”

She presses her lips together to try stifling her smile, and my shit-eating grin widens even further as she shoos me away. Her words follow behind me. “I’ll be in shortly,idiot.”

My loud laugh echoes through the bathroom when I toss a wink over my shoulder before closing the door.

After relieving myself, I flick on the shower and quickly check my phone again. I can’t stop myself from scowling deeply at the email that pops up.

Sender:Fletcher Knowles ([email protected])

Recipient:Caden North ([email protected])

Caden,

I’ll cut to the chase. Layla has checked out of rehab. My sources tell me that she’s staying in London at the moment. I will keep you appraised of any further developments, and you shall be the first to know if she attempts to reach out.

Perhaps you may want to consider a restraining order in that case. If yes, please let me know immediately so that I can have the paperwork ready to go.

I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I do hope you can enjoy the rest of your day.

Regards,

Fletcher

My stomach churns at the worst possible timing. The very last thing I want is to spook Summer now that we seem to be getting back on track.

I duck into the shower, tipping my face up so the warm water can cleanse me of my negative thoughts. Long minutes pass before I can push all thoughts of Layla from my mind, and I realise Summer never made good on her word to follow me.

Finishing my ablutions, I reach around the glass door of the shower and grab a towel to wrap around my waist before heading for the bedroom. I crack the door an inch but catch sight of my dripping hair in the mirror, so take a couple of steps back to pluck a smaller towel from the rack.

When I reach for the door handle to enter the bedroom, I stop suddenly when I hear Summer speaking.

She’s on the phone.

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