I Knew She Was

Caden’s POV

I woke up with a groggy head and an empty bed. The faint scent of perfume lingered on the sheets. I stirred, reaching out to touch her, but she was gone. Sitting up, I called out towards the bathroom—silence. No trace of the woman who had turned my night upside down. I cursed under my breath. Whoever she was, she was different, and I wasn’t letting this go.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was Ronan. I groaned and swiped to answer.

“Yeah?” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

“Did you make it to town?” Ronan’s voice was calm but curious.

“Got in late. Decided to crash somewhere first.”

“Crash somewhere, huh? Another one of Peru’s strippers catch your eye?”

“Not this time,” I said flatly. “This lady was different.”

Ronan chuckled but then grew serious. “Speaking of finding people, Lila’s missing this morning. But—”

I heard Joan’s voice in the background. “Ronan?” I pressed.

“Yeah, it’s Lila. I’ve got to go, but I need you back for breakfast. Be here in an hour.”

He hung up before I could respond. I tossed the phone aside. Typical Ronan—more fun and carefree before becoming alpha king, but still not as bad as I am.

Swinging my legs out of bed, I stood up and stretched, trying to shake off the lingering haze of sleep. As I made my way to the bathroom, my thoughts drifted back to the woman from last night.

The way her body had felt beneath mine, the softness of her skin, the scent of her perfume—it was all still vivid in my mind. And damn it if the memory didn’t stir something deep inside me. Standing under the spray, I tried to push the thoughts away, but they clung to me like the steam in the air.

Coming back to Silver Lake had been the right choice after all. I needed a baby mama, and I’d promised myself I’d find the perfect candidate. No strings, no marriage—just a mother for my child. That was the plan and the lady from last night struck me like the perfect candidate. Being a hot model like I was, I was surrounded by more horny ladies than ladies who had genuine love for me. So I gave up on finding love, and went with the flow till I got tired.

I pushed the thoughts away as I dressed quickly, heading down to reception.

The girl behind the counter looked up, her eyes widening when she recognized me. I leaned in with a smile. “Morning. I need a little help.”

Her cheeks flushed. “Of course, sir. What can I do for you?”

“I’m looking for someone. She slipped out this morning. Stayed together last night. I need to find her.”

Her expression faltered. “I’m sorry, sir. It’s against hotel policy to give out guest information.”

I frowned. “No name. But she’s special. Just help me find her.”

She hesitated, biting her lip. “I’m really sorry. Without a name, there’s nothing I can do.”

I sighed and turned to leave, frustration gnawing at me. I wasn’t used to not getting what I wanted.

Sliding into my car, I drove toward the Frost family mansion. Ronan was at the door, grinning. “Caden, glad you made it.” He gave me a brotherly hug.

“Glad to be back.” I forced a smile, pushing away thoughts of last night.

Inside, Joan was giving instructions to the chefs. She smiled and hugged me. “New York’s finest model.”

“Nice to meet you again Joan,” I smiled at her.

“Well, we were just about to have breakfast.” Joan smiled.

“Sounds good,” I said, following them towards the table.

As we approached the dining table, the sight that greeted me made my heart skip a beat. Standing in the doorway, dressed in casual but elegant clothes, was the woman from last night. And she wasn’t just any woman.

It was Lila Frost.

The shock hit me like a punch to the gut, but I quickly composed myself, masking my surprise with the same easy going demeanor I always wore. Lila. Ronan’s sister. The one woman who was supposed to be completely off-limits. And yet, here she was—the same woman I’d spent the night with, the same woman I’d been obsessing over since the moment I woke up.

The devil must really be pulling a fast one on me.

Ronan greeted her, but I couldn’t focus. I needed to play it cool.

“Morning, Lila,” I called out as we sat at the table, keeping my tone casual.

Her eyes widened slightly. She clasped her hands, clearly trying to stay composed. “Morning, Caden.”

I smiled, sensing the tension between us. Ronan and Joan made small talk, but I wasn’t listening. My focus was on Lila—her unease was palpable.

“So, Lila,” I said, deliberately teasing, “It’s been a while since I last saw you.”

Her smile was tight, guarded. “Busy with school.”

“Oh, I know,” I smirked. “Ronan’s always mentioned.”

Ronan shot me a warning glance—cut it out. I grinned, raising my hands in surrender. “Just making conversation.”

He shook his head, hiding a smile. “Keep it clean, Caden.”

Lila stayed quiet, focusing on her plate, but her discomfort was obvious. Was it because of last night—or something else?

After breakfast, Ronan and Joan excused themselves, leaving me alone with Lila. Ronan gave me a pointed look before leaving. “Keep an eye on her for me.”

“Of course,” I smiled. “You know I’ll take care of her.”

Lila stiffened, sending a glare my way. This was going to be interesting.

When they left, silence fell. I could feel Lila’s eyes on me. Finally, I turned to face her.

“Lila,” I began softly, choosing my words. “About last night...”

She stood abruptly, cutting me off. “Don’t. There’s nothing to apologize for. It happened.”

I frowned, trying to gauge her. “So, what are you saying?”

She crossed her arms, steadying herself. “I’m saying I have a deal for you.”

“A deal?”

“We keep seeing each other—secretly. No one has to know. No strings attached.”

I stared at her, wondering if she was serious. But from the look in her eyes, I knew she was.