Page 90 of Coldhearted King

“I’ll explain,” I say.

Her lips quirk. “Let’s get you inside, then.”

Every time I come home it feels like I’ve never left. It’s been months since I’ve visited, but the familiar creak of the front door and the smell of freshly cut flowers and furniture polish fills my senses. I breathe in deeply, taking it all in. As always, everything looks the same—the comfortable, well-worn floral couch, the small TV in the corner, the childhood photos of me that adorn the shelves. Warmth and comfort washes over me.

“I still can’t believe you’re here,” Mom says. “Why don’t I make us a cup of tea, and you can tell me everything.”

“Let me just put my bag in my room and I’ll help,” I say. My old bedroom is just down the short hallway. After I drop my bag on the familiar single bed, I join Mom in the kitchen. While I fill the kettle, she puts some cookies on a plate in a routine that takes me straight back in time to when it was the two of us living here. On odd occasions, I catch her smiling at me as we move around the kitchen. We sit next to each other on the small couch when we’ve finished.

After we both take a sip of our tea, Mom smiles at me. “Tell me how you’re here and why you didn’t know you were coming.”

I let out a breath. “Well, I’ve been seeing someone. Kind of.”

Her brows furrow. “Kind of?”

I look down and brush an imaginary speck of lint off my jeans. “It’s just casual. And I’m not sure it’s going anywhere...”

“Why wouldn’t it go anywhere? I mean, you’re smart, you’re beautiful. Why wouldn’t any man want to be with you?”

I put my cup on the coffee table and reach for a cookie. “Because he has...other priorities.”

She frowns. “Like what?”

“His job. He’s very focused on that at the moment, and that’s okay. He has to be.” I hurry to add that last bit, in case it sounds like that upsets me. That’s not the issue for me.

“What does he do?”

I really don’t want to lie to Mom, but I know what her reaction will be. Still, I might as well get it over and done with.

“He’s an executive.”

“You’re being very vague. What does an executive mean exactly?”

“Well. He’s the COO of the King Group.”

Mom’s eyes narrow slightly. “Isn’t that the company you’re working for at the moment?”

“Yes.”

“But you don’t work directly for him, do you?”

I let out a sigh. “I’m still working for Elite, but the King Group is our client and we’re working out of their building.”

Mom’s mouth twists. “Oh, Delilah. Is that a good idea after what happened with Paul? Surely you could get in trouble if anyone finds out. Both of you could.”

I wet my lips. “Probably not him, since he’s one of the company’s owners.”

Mom’s mouth works but she doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then it comes out in a rush. “Delilah, you know what men like that are after. The minute they get everything they want from you, they’ll bail. They don’t want to marry you. They just want to use you until it gets too complicated or someone more suitable comes along.”

I reach for her hand and squeeze it. “It’s not like that with us, Mom. He’s not like Dad. He hasn’t lied to me about his intentions or pretended to be in love with me, and I’m not expecting a ring or anything like that.”

A furrow appears between her brows. “Then why be with him if you already know he doesn’t want a future with you? Why not find a normal man who’ll want to settle down and have a family? I know you’re too young to think about that right now, but why risk your heart for a man who’ll never be interested in more?”

“We’re just having fun.” Although, that’s not quite true anymore. I push down my guilt at not being honest with her. “I’ve spent so long working so hard. It’s nice to let go and enjoy myself for once. And Cole...He forces me to do that. I like it. Plus, he’s the one who organized for me to fly here this weekend as a surprise.”

“Ah. That’s who Mr. King is, then?”

I nod and Mom’s face softens. “I know how hard you’ve worked, sweetheart. And how much you’ve achieved. I want you to have fun. I want you to enjoy your youth. I just don’t want you to waste your heart on someone who doesn’t deserve it. And men like that...” She shakes her head. “Men with power and wealth, they don’t live the same way as the rest of us, and they don’t care about anyone who isn’t in their world.”

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