02

KAYLA SUMMERS

They both knew that she could get out of his hold but she didn’t.

She didn’t because she didn’t want to.

It had been so long that she had been in his arms, that she had been so close to him.

She was in college when all the Hunts siblings along with Sydney had decided to go Vegas.

Kayla had accompanied them because she had been dating Logan, the eldest brother of the three.

She had been dating him but she didn’t know why Daniel made her heart race.

Logan was the perfect guy. He was a gentleman, smart, sweet and good in bed.

What else did she need in a man ?

That was her thought until she got drunk. Logan, Sean, his girlfriend and Sydney had went to some club.

Since it was the last night, Kay had decided to stay in and get drunk.

The next thing she knew she was waking up beside Daniel, with her clothes scattered all around the room.

She had left. Nobody knew about what happened and neither did she ask anybody.

She felt guilty for sleeping with Daniel while she was still in relationship with Logan.

A week later they broke off. It was mutual, fortunately. But Kayla could never bring herself to tell Logan the real reason as to why she decided to break up.

« Why ? »

Kayla’s eyes narrowed, »What ? »

« Why do you want a divorce ? I mean, this is the best married life I had. »

Kayla bristled at his sarcasm.

« Look here, you son –«

Daniel leaned in and kissed her. Not a slow soft kiss like Rory’s. Daniel kissed her like he owned her. As if he was marking her.

When he nipped her lower lip she yelped and he pulled back.

« That was for leaving me alone without an explanation. »

Kayla shrugged his hold and stepped back.

Being close to him was wreaking havoc on her senses. Just because he could make her heart race, doesn’t mean that she had to see what that meant.

« I want a divorce. »

« Why now ? After all these years. »

« I’m getting married, Daniel. Just sign the fucking divorce papers. »

« You drew up the papers. »

« Not so big of a deal when your friend’s a lawyer. »

It was Dan’s turn to narrow his eyes.

« So Tessa knows now ? »

« Yes. » She affirmed and Daniel smirked, « How long before dear brother finds out and then puts it together. He’ll know you cheated Kay. He’ll know that you slept with his younger brother. That you married his younger brother when you were still in relationship with him. »

Kayla squirmed. He was right. She had been pissed off and had called Tessa without even a thought.

Fuck.

It didn’t matter that Logan was happily married. Logan would see it as a betrayal of trust and would hate her.

Lexi wouldn’t. But Lexi loved Logan. And she feared Lexi would break her ties with her if Logan was upset with her.

She hadn’t thought this through at all.

« I don’t care about anything. I just want a divorce. »

Daniel walked towards the mini bar and poured himself a scotch. « What makes you think I’ll sign it so easily ? Maybe I wanna stay married to you. »

Kayla gritted her teeth. That man was getting on her last nerves.

« I want the divorce. I’m getting married. »

« No. » He barked before downing the liquid from the glass.

Kay sighed. She was frustrated. She knew she didn’t want to actually marry Rory. But finding another guy like him was hard. She needed- wanted stability. And she knew she couldn’t get any waith Daniel.

Daniel was an archaeologist. He always had his bag packed and would leave on a moment’s notice.

She didn’t want that. She had enough of men leaving her alone waiting and hoping that every letter that came home didn’t contain the news of death. She had enough with her father leaving on a moment’s notice without any assurance if he’d walk back home or be carried back home in a body bag.

Her mother had loved her father. She had a stage IV blood cancer and she had refused to tell her family because apparently, Kayla was too small to understand and her father was busy saving the country.

He was so busy saving the country that he couldn’t save his own wife.

Kayla didn’t want to end up like her mother. On a bed, coughing blood hoping to get one last glance of her husband before she died.

No, she needed stability and even if that meant marrying Rory, then she’d do it.

She didn’t hate her father. He was doing his job and she was proud of him. She was proud of everything he did for the country and for them. But she couldn’t have another man in her life leaving her alone at home and going out, be it some warzone or be it any excavation.

Rory meant stability. Marrying Rory meant a big house, with white picket fence, pets, preferably a cat and two dogs and two kids playing in the backyard. Marrying Rory meant safety.

She was a famous chef. Hell, in a week, her cookbook would be launched. She was also thinking of letting Rory manage the restaurant and starting her own food channel.

But she needed the goddamn divorce papers signed by Daniel if she wanted that future.

She pulled herself back and approached him slowly, her hand touching his shoulder. Ignoring the burst of heat she ran her hand down his arm and smiled.

« C’mon Dany. We bth know it was a mistake. We were drunk. There’s a woman out there who wants to love you and marry you someday. Sign the divorce papers and let’s go our own way. We had a one night stand years ago. Let’s just move on. »

When a sigh left him, Kayla felt happy that she had gotten past him. What she hadn’t expected was him to grab her wrist and then pull her close.

Circling his arms around her waist he held her close and leaned so close that she felt his breath on her lips, his blue eyes heavy, pupils dilated.

All thoughts fled and Kayla wanted to push up on her toes and kiss him again. Feel his lips on hers one last time.

But she stiffened as he leaned down, and whispered

« Fine. Live with me for six moths and I’ll sign the fucking divorce papers. But get this, I’m not going to make this easy on you. I want you and you know that. I intend on having you no matter how much you hate me. »

She pushed him and met his dark gaze that was stuck on her lips. When he met her glare he smiled. « C’mon, princess. Stay with me for six months or stay married to me forever. »

When she averted her gaze he placed a kiss on her cheek and mumbled against her skin

« So what’s it gonna be princess ? »