Hooked on the Game

Published at Smashwords by C.M. Owens

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Chapter 1

Grounded

Great. Just frigging great.
The bills stare at me from the counter and I glare back with disgust. When I moved in here, I had

two roommates to help pay the bills. My part-time job at the coffee shop isn't going to be of much
use. I'll never cover their half of the rent with it, and my monthly scholarship isn't going to cut it
either.

They'll cut my power off tomorrow if I don't manage to come up with the money for the

outrageous electric bill. This wasn't supposed to happen. I had it all planned out. My various
scholarships would cover tuition, books, and part of the rent, and then I'd find two roommates to
cover the rest. It's too late in the year to go shopping for roommates; everyone else already has a
place now, and no one is answering my flyers.

Part one was working out. I had my money managed to an exact science. My part-time job was

to cover food and clothes. Then my two roommates, Megan and Lana, stupidly broke into the school
to pull a prank and they were both expelled, leaving me without anyone covering the rest of the rent.

I've barely slept an ounce for so many different reasons, and I'll lose my scholarship if my grades

drop. It's hard to focus on my schooling when life is kicking my ass.

My phone buzzes on the counter, right next to a two-thousand dollar check. I groan when I see a

number I don't know flashing across my screen.

"Hello?" I ask, having a good idea about who it is going to be.
"Hey, sweetheart. Did you get my check?" Dad asks, sounding hopeful.
I love the man, but this money is tainted. It has to be.
"I got it, but you know I can't cash it."
"Raya," he grumbles, "I've told you over and over that money is legitimate."
A man from prison sending two-thousand dollars every month is anything but legit. Considering

why he's in prison... I have to change the subject and distract him.

"Whose phone are you using this time?"
He chuckles, as though he's amused. "One of the guards left it unattended. I did him a favor.

Most of this lot would never give it back. I plan to be a good boy and return it. Don't worry."

Right. I'm sure he left it unattended. It was probably holstered on his hip or snugly tucked in his

pocket, but to Ray Drivel, that is considered unattended.

"What is that ungodly racket going on there?" he asks, sounding annoyed.
Quite frankly, I'm annoyed, too. The party going on next door is ridiculously loud, obnoxious and

irritating as hell. I hate Kade Colton. Preppy, rich, snobby, son of a bitch. He lives directly beside
me in his house that makes my home look like a shoebox. All he does is party.

That massive home was a gift from his parents. I can't accept such lavish things from my dad.

There could be jail time involved.

"My neighbor," I huff, finally answering Dad.
Something crashes outside, and I look out to see the drunken fools cackling as they stand up from

the broken fence they've just smashed into. Kade has no respect for anyone. This is ridiculous.

"I need to go. I have an early morning," I say, sighing as I tear his check into tiny pieces and toss

it into the trash.

"Okay, sweetie. You still coming out soon?"

I smile as I start heading toward the back window, following the idiots who are still trampling

over the fence.

"Of course," I mutter sweetly before telling him bye.
It's no surprise that Kade isn't doing anything to stop them from further destroying my yard. He's

a selfish prick like that. I'm trying to figure out how to keep from being evicted without touching
jaded cash, and he's over there blowing money on booze and who knows what else.

"Dude, let's do it," one yells, slurring his words.
I watch as they clamber into the large bulldozer that is parked in the field directly behind the

homes. That's another reason I don't sleep much. Those bulldozers start early - four in the morning
most days. They're trying to add more houses behind ours to make more money off campus students.

I hope those idiots run that thing into Kade's pool and destroy it. It'd serve him right.
Deciding not to waste another second on the idiocy going on outisde, I grab some clothes from

my room and head to the bathroom down the hall. My plans for the rest of the night are to take a hot
shower and pray for answers to all my problems. I'm sure I'll be met with the same silence as usual,
but it's the only hope I have right now.

The roaring pipes need a plumber, too. They're too loud. I'll call a plumber when I can afford

one.

Just as I start to strip down, an earthquake strikes, rattling my house all around me. I scream

while grabbing onto anything not shaking violently. I hear it tearing apart one side of my house. Why
only one side?

A pile of my ceiling drops, slamming into me, and all I see are small flakes of darkness speckling

my view before I completely pass out.

Chapter 2

Punishment

"Counselor, you realize the actions of Mr. Colton and his friends could have resulted in the death

of a student, correct?" the judge asks, frowning as he stares down at the snob.

"My client is perfectly aware of the severity of the situation. However, Your Honor, he wasn't

one of those four boys who stole and wrecked the bulldozer into Ms. Capperton's home. He simply
hosted the party that got out of hand. Surely you can't hold him responsible for the actions of four
grown boys."

Kade chances a smug smirk. He doesn't have an ounce of humility. He's lazily lounging in the

chair, his arms crossed over his chest, and he even goes so far as to look bored.

"And the school is allowing him to stay there because of that, Counselor. The others were

expelled and arrested. However, I'm not too thrilled with the fact he supplied that much alcohol to
underage partiers who then destroyed the home."

That earthquake had turned out to be those idiots crashing that big-ass bulldozer through my

living room. Damn near killed me. Had I not gone to take a shower, they probably would have killed
me. Now I've been living in one of the dorm rooms for three days. The school offered it to me
temporarily, under the circumstances. I have two days to find something else.

"He didn't supply that alcohol, and he checked the identification of every partier. No one under

twenty-one was allowed."

"Sure he did," the other lawyer scoffs, cutting his eyes toward Kade.
As if anyone doesn't have a fake ID. Even I have one. Albeit I never use it, but I have one. I'm

not voicing that though. I just hope they make him pay me something. That's all I need. Just a little
money to replace what I lost.

I'll probably have to go to a different court for that, though.
A snooty man in a pristine business suit stands up and walks over to be behind Kade. This small

courtroom just hosts a few of us. This isn't exactly a murder trial, but a jury would have been nice,
dammit.

"I think I know a way we can solve this," the man says, texting on his phone as though he's above

all this too much to grant it any real amount of attention.

"Please, Mr. Colton, proceed," the judge snarks, sounding bitter, but... compliant? Why is he

letting Kade's father run the show.

"My son fucked up," he says simply, putting his phone away and turning his attention to the

agitated judge. "But he didn't force those boys to mount a bulldozer and go for a joyride. I do agree
he should be punished in some form, but I think I know better than anyone else how to do that."

Kade's jaw clenches, and he sits up a little better while barely turning his head to listen in. His

devilish good looks and rich influence won't help him out with his own father.

"I think Ms. Capperton's situation has become... a problem now," he says, turning toward me with

his award-winning smile. "She needs a home," he continues, turning back to the judge. "My son's
home is directly across from the school, he has amenities most would die for, and there is plenty of
room there for another person."

Kade's jaw clenches all the tighter, making me worry it's about to snap off. What is his father

talking about?

"Are you suggesting Ms. Capperton go live with him?" the judge scoffs, rolling his eyes. "That's

your form of punishment? No wonder he's so irresponsible."

Mr. Colton lets a rumble of laughter free. "Then you don't know my son as well as I do. He

hates to have rules. While Ms. Capperton is there, he will respect any and all her needs. Everything
he wants to do will have to go through her for approval. She'll have power over him, which will
limit his social life. If he steps out of line, she can call me, and I'll start taking things away as
punishment for refusing to abide by her rules. Let's face it, Roy, you can't hold him for anything. You
can't charge him with any wrongdoing. I'll hire the best lawyer to keep him from having jail-time on
his record. It's up to you."

I can't believe he's doing this. Me? Live with Kade? Hell no. Not happening.
"Ms. Capperton? How do you feel about this?" the judge asks through gritted teeth.
Apparently Kade's father holds more power here than he does. Hell, he even called him Roy

instead of Your Honor.

"I don't want to live with Kade Colton," I say quickly, bitterly, turning my nose up in disgust.
Mr. Colton smirks, and Kade relaxes.
"Ms. Capperton, do you have a home or money to rent anywhere? I've looked over your

financials. It wouldn't have been long until you were being kicked out. I'm sure you could sue for the
damages done, but that takes time and money as well. Do you have time and money?" Kade's father
asks, sounding so fucking pompous.

"No," I almost whisper.
"Didn't think so. You'd have a home - a nice home - and at the end of the school year, I'll buy you

a new house you won't have to stress over. You have to live with Kade first, though. And if he gives
you any trouble at all, you call me right away."

This is one twisted man. Has he no clue how much I hate his son? Why punish me by making me

live with him? I don't really have a choice though. If I was a guy, he'd have me by the balls.

"Ms. Capperton?" the judge says, prompting me to make a decision.
Do I live through hell for the rest of the year and then have three years of paid housing? Or do I

let the devil off the hook without any punishment while I go homeless and possibly get kicked out of
school. Shit.

"Fine."
Mr. Colton's deep, satisfied smile spreads like the Cheshire cat's grin. "Fine? What does fine

mean, Ms. Capperton?" the judge asks.

I roll my eyes, and Kade cuts his eyes toward me, willing me dead with his icy glare.
"It means yes. I'll do it."
Mr. Colton turns to his son, seeming to enjoy this immensely, as he says, "Son, meet your new

leash."

I don't know what I was expecting to find inside Kade Colton's home. I suppose I expected the

chandelier to be decorated by beer bottles and lacy underwear. I wasn't expecting to feel like I'm in a
house meant for royalty.

It's grand on the outside, all three stories, but inside... wow. Marble floors, tall ceilings,

immaculate furniture, and all the newest appliances and gadgets one can fathom. Spoiled brat.

"I think you'll find everything you need here, Ms. Capperton. This room is almost just as big as

the master. Are you sure you don't want the master? I'll gladly make my son switch with you," Mr.
Colton says as he types away on his phone, putting it down when he finishes.

I scratch my side, trying to relieve the agony I'm in. Damn it hurts and itches.

"This will be fine," I murmur. I sure as hell don't want to touch Kade's icky room. I've seen the

girls that come and go during the parties. "And please, just call me Raya."

"Very well," he says, smiling. "Raya, are you okay?" he asks, pointing to my constant scratching.
"Yeah," I mumble, growling almost. "My clothes were in the midst of the destruction path. The

ones that weren't ruined were covered in insulation. I've washed them over and over, but they still...
it just itches."

He frowns just as Kade fills the doorway. He hasn't stopped scowling or tossing me death-

glares since I agreed to this. He's tall, at least six-foot-three. I've never before noticed how tall he
is.

His dark hair is always bedroom sexy, and his eyes are pools of perfect blue. His body is

enough to make immortals envious - toned and cut in all the right places.

He'd be the sexiest thing I'd ever seen if I didn't hate him so damn much.
"You rang," Kade snarks, turning his burning hatred toward his father.
"Yes, I was texting to tell you to make sure you get this mattress replaced today. There's no

telling what your friends have done on it, and I want Raya to have fresh sheets as well."

Ew. Gross. I hadn't thought of that. Sick.
I casually pull my bag back off the bed and drop it to the floor, earning a small grin from Mr.

Colton.

"Already called the furniture shop. They'll be bringing it by tomorrow." Kade seems bored

now, though still irritated.

I groan inwardly. No way can I sleep on this mattress now. "Not good enough," Mr. Colton

says. "I'll contact them myself. I'll have it delivered this afternoon. In the meantime, take Raya
shopping. She's itching to death since your friends got fragments of fiberglass in her clothes. It'll
never come out. Grab some stuff to help her dress up the room a bit as well."

"I have to chauffeur her around?" Kade growls.
"No. You have to chauffeur her and carry her bags. You'll do whatever she needs you to do."
Kade rolls his eyes and pockets his hands to keep his father from seeing the fists he's made. I

fidget awkwardly, feeling like this is already the biggest mistake I've ever made.

"You call me if he gives you any trouble. I need to get a hold of the furniture shop. Do you need

anything else?" he asks, seeming so genuine.

"Um... my clothes are fine," I murmur, not wanting to tell him I don't have enough money to buy

more.

"Nonsense," he says, pulling out a black credit card. "Take this and get whatever you need.

Have fun with it. Abuse the bagboy as well," he jokes, forcing the card into my hand.

"I can't-"
"Kade, take the girl to some of my shops. They have a better selection. Make sure they dress her

right," he says to interrupt me.

"Whatevs," Kade grumbles before walking out, never looking at me again.
"Have fun," Mr. Colton says with a wink, and then he disappears out the door.
I huff as I walk down the stairs, itching and wincing. My body is battered beneath my clothes. I

took a hard hit when the ceiling collapsed. This was all just brushed under the rug. The four guys
will barely get a slap on the wrist. The school only expelled them because they were the ones who
were paying for the bulldozer the idiot quartet crashed, not because they crashed through my house.

Kade wouldn't have suffered any punishment at all if his father hadn't stepped in and made sure to

divvy some out. It's nice to know someone thinks of me as brutal punishment. What does that say

about me?

I walk out just as Kade pulls his Audi out of the garage. His perfect sea-blue eyes are guarded

by designer shades. I hesitate about getting in, especially when he lowers the top. The music is
blaring, which means he's either trying to deafen me or keep me from speaking to him.

"Get the hell in," he gripes without looking at me. "I don't have all damn day."
I huff, but I climb in without further delay. He doesn't even give me the chance to buckle up

before he's squealing out in reverse, slinging me to the side when he jerks it hard right to line up with
the road.

I squeal, which provokes a menacing smirk from him, and then he starts shifting gears rapidly,

throwing us forward. My hands rattle against the seatbelt as I try to snap it, silently praying for
someone to save me from this madman. I knew he hated me. Why in the hell did I willingly get into
the devil's chariot?

He presses a button that mutes the stereo as he slows down. I let out a sharp breath, feeling my

knuckles slowly uncurl from their death-grip on the door.

"Move out and I'll pay your rent anywhere you want to go," he says calmly.
"What?" I ask, bemused.
"I said move out and I'll pay your rent. You can pick any place you want. I don't want to be your

bitch, and my father is loving this shit. Get your stuff out of my house, and I'll pay your rent
somewhere else. I have my own money."

"Then why let your dad pay for all your shit?" I snark, turning my head away.
He chuckles as he hits another street with a more feasible speed.
"Because I'm not supposed to touch that money. It's part of my trust, but I became eligible to use

it when I turned twenty-one. My grandfather has requested I keep it locked up until I finish college. I
respect him, so if he asks me not to do something, I try to oblige. In this case, I think he'd agree it was
worth touching my trust."

Am I that frigging bad?
"I can't do that," I mumble, looking out at the passing scenery.
"Why? It's basically the same deal my father made you." The hard edge to his tone doesn't go

unnoticed. He's such a condescending dick.

"Your father worried you'd do this, so he made me a deal I couldn't refuse when I rode with him

to your house."

I swallow hard, recanting that impromptu proposition.
"What was it?" he asks, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
"He said if I stayed until the start of next semester, he'd buy me a home after I graduate college,

too. Wherever I choose. It's not exactly something I can afford to pass up. Not all of us have a trust."

"Well, hell. I'll buy you a home after you graduate. There. Problem solved."
"I already gave him my word. To some people, that means something. You had three days to try

and make this right. You didn't want to, and now your father has been too nice to me to screw him
over."

"Make it right?" he asks, laughing incredulously. "I didn't bulldoze your house. The frat boys,

who I didn't even invite, did it. Why the hell am I being tortured? Because my family has the most
money, that's why. You see dollar signs, Cherry. That's it."

"My name isn't Cherry. It's Raya. And no, that's not it. You're an inconsiderate son of a bitch

who has never once given a damn about anyone other than yourself and what you want to do."

I hadn't meant to go all crazy-rant-girl on him, but I'm sick of him and everyone like him. Entitled

pricks have done nothing but piss me off since I came to California. Sterling Shore, though beautiful,
is loaded with nothing but money-hungry people who judge you after two seconds. All they need to
know is your parents are nobodies with no money, and then you're blacklisted.

"Tell me how you really feel. Don't hold back on my account, even though you don't know the

first damn thing about me," he sardonically mumbles.

I roll my eyes. "I know all I need to."
You're rich, arrogant, and shallow. What more is there to know?
He pulls into a parking lot, squeals to a stop, and hops out before I even get unbuckled. I stare up

at the enormous store as I climb out, trying not to let my mouth flap agape. Shit. I didn't realize Mr.
Colton was Paul Colton, owner of the most coveted fashion line. I'm way out of my depth here.

I swallow hard, wondering how in the hell I'm going to be able to fit into any of these clothes.

I've seen his models on TV. They eat air for breakfast and ice for lunch. There's no way.

Before I got here, I thought a size four was a good size. And then I saw the natives wearing a

size negative-triple-zero, or something crazy like that. The girls here look like walking beanpoles. I
never had a problem with my curves or my chest until this place. It's amazing that big chests have
been popular forever, but the second my breasts fill out, small chests come into style. My luck. Go
figure.

I'll bust a seam in anything this store has to offer. Something tells me Kade is going to revel in

my humiliation.

When I walk inside, I'm met with a smiling woman with bright eyes. "You must be Raya. Mr.

Colton called to tell me you might be stopping by. I've got a wide selection already set up for you,"
she says, sounding overly eager to impress.

Her eyes slide up and down my body, making me feel uncomfortable. She's probably realizing

just how badly these clothes are going to fit.

"I think I can add a few more things that will go well with these," she says, pushing up on my

breasts and startling me into a squeal.

"Sorry," she chuckles while moving her hands away
The fever invades my cheeks as I blush, and she walks off. A smug, almost taunting grin is

playing on Kade's face when my eyes find him. He's sitting in the corner in one of the recliners,
feigning interest in a magazine.

"Not used to being felt up, Raya?" he asks, keeping his eyes on the page before he flips it. "With

a shining personality like yours, I would've assumed no one could resist."

I just scowl at him. I'm sick of his snarky remarks. He's going to make my life hell until I move

out. Maybe that's his game. I can't let him get to me, because I'm not going to make a deal and then
back out.

"Raya?" the woman calls. "You ready?"
I turn away from the ass who's still smirking, and I head to the back to follow the sound of her

voice. This store seems endless, but all of the women's stuff is right here in this area.

Her heels clank against the marble floors as she struts toward a large dressing room. There's a

couch in it. Really? This dressing room is bigger than my bedroom - the one that was destroyed.

"If you need any help, just call me. I'll go see if I can round up some more items. Mr. Colton

said you might need some swimwear, so I've started acquiring some things."

I swallow hard, and then I scratch my side. It draws her attention, and a cringe comes over her

face like she thinks I have cooties.

"Sorry. My house was ripped up by a bulldozer and my clothes got insulation on them. That's

why I'm here."

She forces a tight smile, still seeming disgusted, and then nods before walking off. Great. Now

I'm the dirty girl no one wants to be around.

I pull my shirt over my head, and then screech when a girl walks into the room with me.
"Sorry," she says, not sounding genuinely apologetic at all. Who the hell is this one? "Jessica

said you needed swimsuits, so here you go."

She places a wide variety of stringy messes on the rack that is packed full of clothes. Then she

pops back out as quickly as she came in. Does no one give a damn about my personal space?

I jerk a shirt on over my head before anyone else can come in. I'm almost afraid of taking my

pants off. I had to buy new underwear since I didn't want to scratch... there. But the selection was
limited based on my budget. I'd be humiliated if anyone saw these cotton monstrosities.

Without giving it too much more thought, I slip out of my jeans and into another pair without itchy

particles all over them. Oh damn. I had no idea jeans could fit and feel like this. No wonder Paul
Colton's business is thriving.

I give a twirl in front of the mirror to see my body has been transformed. I'll never be the same.

I seriously just fell in love with a pair of jeans. I'm done. I don't want to try on anything else.

Reluctantly, I slip out of them and start making my way through the hordes of clothing. Right

when I'm in the middle of pulling my shirt off again, a different girl pops in.

"Mr. Colton said you might need some dressier items in case you felt like attending some of his

events, so I brought you these." She hangs up several dresses, and then she pulls out a selection of
underwear from a rolling cart. "And he said you'd definitely need this stuff. Just turn around so I can
put this on you and lace it up."

She holds out a white corset, but I shake my head. "Why would I need that?"
"Because you'll be wearing dresses that will require some... boost. You've got the ideal chest

for this. It'll be perfect for slimming your waistline, too," she says, letting her eyes drift to my
midsection.

Sure it doesn't look like I work out everyday, but it's flat enough. Just because she starves herself

to be three sizes smaller doesn't mean I have to. Bitch.

I turn around, begrudgingly, and she slips it around my waist and pulls it up. With a flick of her

wrist, she's gotten my bra off and tossed it to the floor. With the first tug of the laces, my breath
heaves out of me. Bitch! With the second tug of the laces, I refrain from elbowing her in the nose.
By the third tug, I'm condemning her to hell.

She's not being the least bit gentle. Does she not see all the monstrous bruises on me? That shit

hurts.

After a few more laces, she's finally done, and I'm turning purple from lack of oxygen. She

smiles, but her phone buzzes. "Mr. Colton," she says, seeming all too giddy. "Of course we are."

"Can't... breathe," I whisper, trying to draw her attention back to me, but she's too busy sucking

up.

I start reaching for strings or laces or whatever they're called, but I can't get the knots undone.

She walks out, abandoning me, and I start wheezing and straining harder. I've worn stuff similar to
this on Halloween, but damn, this is the real deal. You could shift the placement of organs with this
sadistic contraption.

"Help," I wheeze out, still struggling to undo the knot.
"Raya?" Kade's voice sounds out.
As much as I'd really rather wait on anyone - and I do mean anyone - else, it's either him or

passing out.

"Can't breathe," I strain out again, and the door flies open.
He bursts out laughing when he sees what's going on, and then he shakes his head while coming

to stand behind me. I need air more than I need dignity right now.

He pushes my hair to be over my shoulder, and I shiver when his hand touches my bare skin.
"Don't move," he says, still laughing as his deft fingers go to work.
He manages to loosen it up enough for me to catch the first breath of air, and I actually cough on

the abundance of it.

"Don't ever let Sarah lace you up. She's got a nasty habit of making girls with curves pay."
"Holy shit," I cough out, feeling more relief when he loosens it higher, slowly separating all the

laces. "It's not like I'm obese," I growl, finding anger when my panic dissolves.

"No," he says, seeming distracted. "Not even close."
I look up to the mirror to catch his eyes intensely focused on my lower back. His fingers have

stopped unlacing the corset, and now his hands are gently placed on my hips as he examines
something.

"Is this from the roof collapsing?" he asks, motioning to something I can't see.
"Is it another bruise?"
"It's a massive bruise," he huffs out, seeming to curse under his breath.
"Yeah. I've got them all over me."
It's then his eyes move to my shoulders where I've got several nasty ones. He lifts my hair up to

start inspecting them as well. The heat from his breath caresses the skin of my neck, making me
squirm. Uh-oh. No. I refuse to be turned on by this asshole. Not happening. No way.

I hold the corset to me as I step out of his grasp, and he lets his hands fall to his sides.
"They said you didn't get hurt," he murmurs, showing humanity flicker in his eyes for the first

time.

"I didn't suffer anything major," I say while shrugging. "But when a roof collapses on you, it still

tends to leave a mark. Thanks for the help, but I need to get redressed."

He hesitates to move at first, and his eyes fall to my chest. Fortunately, I have it very covered up.
"How much longer will you be?" he asks, letting his eyes come back up to meet mine.
"I'm done. I don't want this thing, and I don't really need the dresses. I don't go anywhere that I

would need to wear something like that. Just the regular clothes for me."

"And the swimsuits," he adds, pointing toward the rack.
"No. I don't feel like swimming. Not my thing. Besides, I'd look like a punching bag with all

these," I say, motioning to some of the bruises around my shoulders.

He frowns again, but walks out. I opt to go ahead and put on some of the jeans. It's hot as hell

today, but there are too many bruises on my legs to wear shorts.

I slip into a shirt with quarter-length sleeves as I walk out holding a few of the items and the

underwear I picked out. This will be enough. It's a week's worth of clothes. Once I get paid, I can
go buy some more things from the cheaper stores.

Kade is leaned over the counter talking to the girl who showed me in. She's giggling and

nodding, which forces me to roll my eyes. I plop down some of the stuff, carefully keeping the
panties and bras tucked under the clothes.

"Is that all you're getting?" Kade asks, seeming confused.
"Yeah. And what I'm wearing," I say, motioning to the t-shirt and jeans I've got on.
The girl frowns when she sees the small selection, and Kade disappears. "Hurry up and ring out

the underwear before he gets back," I whisper, causing her eyebrow to lift.

"Kade said his father gave you his card to get all you needed."
"This is all I need. More than I need. Please hurry."
She turns her nose up in disappointment as she rings it up, seeming to sigh every two seconds.

"Add this to it," Kade says as he and two other girls put mounds of clothes on the top.

The girl behind the register gleams as she starts adding it in.
"What are you doing?" I whisper, scolding him with my eyes more than my voice.
He shrugs, seeming bored again. "I know my father better than you. He'd make me bring you

back, and I've got shit to do today."

And he's back to being a dickhead. Great.
"I don't want all this."
"Too bad."
My mouth tries to fall to the floor when the giddy girl announces the ungodly price, but Kade

pulls the credit card from my back pocket and hands it to her, acting as though she didn't ring out two
new vehicles instead of some clothes.

"It's his store, Raya. It's not like he's not getting it all back," Kade chuckles out.
Why even pay at all?
He pushes my jaw back into place with his finger, and then he leans over me to take the card

back from the girl.

"Let's go," he says, scooping up all my bags.
Some of the girls help carry out the bags, too, and Kade loads down the small trunk area. I reach

in and grab some sunglasses from one of the bags. I don't know who put them in there, but I'm thankful
because the sun is blinding me.

When Kade shuts the trunk, he surprises me by walking over to open my door.
"Come on," he urges impatiently.
The girls stare at us... Well, they stare at him. I get in, still dumbfounded by his one redeeming

act of the day. Once my legs are safely tucked inside, he shuts the door, gives the swooning girls a
wink, and then glides to his side of the car. Great. He even walks sexy. I wish I was still blinded by
my fury enough to have not noticed that. He had to go and help me out of my corset and then open the
door for me.

Silently, I start remembering all the reasons I've hated him over the past few months. Sleep

deprivation. He's caused me to struggle many times on a test because of his obnoxious partying. I
focus on that instead of the two acts of kindness.

"When's your next doctor's appointment?" he asks, surprising me again when he starts down the

road.

"Um... I don't think there's going to be one. Since it was just some heavy bruising."
I don't know why I suddenly feel nervous. Damn it. I need my fury back. Do something bastard-

like!

"What?" He seems ill, almost as if he's shocked my bruises don't need a follow-up appointment.
"Like I said, no major injuries. No need for a second visit."
He grips the steering wheel as his jaw clenches together. Then he turns on the road that will lead

us back to his home. I really wish Mr. Colton hadn't made me shake his hand on that second deal. It's
as if he knew I was loyal to my word. I should have held out for Kade's counter offer. I'd already be
out of this awkwardness.

Fortunately for me, he never says anything else. Instead, he hops out of the car, seeming angry for

reasons unbeknownst to me. I struggle between my two options - keep my mouth shut or ask him
what's wrong. I keep my mouth shut.

Carrying all my bags at once, he heads into the house, leaving me outside with all the uncertainty

of what just happened. Hot and cold. I like him pissing me off. It's easy to hate the rich jerk when
he's actually being a jerk.

Chapter 3

A Little Too Close

I've spent a week in Kade's home. Despite the fact we live in the same house, we barely run into

each other. And when we do, he always makes a hasty exit, avoiding me like I've got some infectious
disease. He hasn't had any raging parties. Of course I'm sure that has something to do with the fact
he'd have to ask for my permission - due to his punishment - and he won't do that.

Just as I reach the main building, I see him. I never see him at school.
He takes a drag off a cigarette while getting flogged by the numerous eager followers who seem

to worship his every word. I hear gushing about a new party as people beg for some excitement.

This college was supposed to be different. It's Ivy League, but it's newer, and even though it's

not far from the beach, this area is rather dull. I expected all the rich brats to be at Harvard or Yale,
where their alumni parents went. They weren't supposed to be here.

This is the whole reason I chose this place. Out of all the scholarship offers I had, this was the

most promising, and it's close to my father. I expected more people like me - people who value
education over pedigree and partying rights. I was wrong.

This is just as bad as any other preppy choice I could have made. Most of them want to start

their own legacy, and there are a lot of rebels who feel like coming here was a way to stand up to
their parents. Just what I need.

"Nice clothes, Princess," a guy says as he sidles up beside me. "I take it Kade's daddy is making

you his project or his toy. Which is it?"

My cheeks flame. This isn't the first time I've endured these remarks this week. I've been

accused of screwing Kade's father so many times that I don't ever think I can face the man again. The
ones not referring to me as a mistress are calling me a charity case.

Kade glances up just as I start in, and he flicks his cigarette to the ground before casting his eyes

toward the guy heckling me.

"Joseph," Kade calls, seeming bored as he walks over to my harasser. Figures he knows him.

He's probably the one feeding them this bullshit.

The guy chuckles and jogs toward Kade, leaving me to the next attacker, whenever they come.

I'm sure it won't take long.

My head is still reeling from calculus when I step out of class, trying not to make eye contact

with anyone. During class, several snickering fools called me a few choice names. The professor
finally had to put a stop to it. I need to call Mr. Colton and tell him this arrangement won't work. I
also need to go buy cheap clothes.

Tears have been on the edge of my lids all day, but I've been refusing to let them fall. I won't let

these assholes see me cry. They might be rich and cruel, but I was raised too stubborn to crumble.
I'd already acquired a few extra layers of skin back home, where the trailer park girl wasn't exactly
popular at school. This isn't anything new. There are just more people here to torture me.

"Hey," a velvety voice says as feet thud behind me.
I ignore the familiar sound. I can't let him see the glistening specks in my eyes. The tears aren't

falling, but they're there.

"Raya," he says, making me cringe. Why does my name sound so foreign yet so warm when it

slides through his lips?

"What?" I ask, grimacing when the word comes out in a choked form.
"Shit. What happened?" His mock concern forces me to roll my eyes. The tears slink back

enough for me to face him.

"Nothing. You'll be pleased to know I'm calling your father today to apologize for going back on

the deal I made with him. You win. I give up. Call off the hellhounds. I'm waving the fucking white
flag."

My voice starts cracking too much, and I take a steadying breath before deciding I can't face any

more school today. I almost break into a run in an effort to escape him, but he grabs my arm and pulls
me back.

"I didn't do this, and you can't call my father. He'll come to the school and raise hell if he finds

out this is happening, and you'll have an even bigger target it on your back. What did you expect to
happen? You'd move in and no one would say anything? That's not the way it works."

"So it's my fault they want to call me a slut and a charity case? Nice. Real fucking nice," I say in

a deadly calm tone before walking away again, ripping free from his grip.

"Damn it, Raya! Stop. If you have me chasing you across campus they'll talk even more."
"Then stop chasing me. I'll just move out without calling your father."
I don't turn around to see if he stops, but I never hear him arguing anymore, so I assume he has. I

cross the road without even looking, and a horn blows loudly as tires screech. I never even bother
lifting my head. I hate this. It's high school all over again. This was supposed to be a new beginning,
a new life - a life where I wasn't the trailer-park girl.

I sling my backpack across the room the second I reach the upstairs suite. I don't care about the

small crack I just made in the sheetrock. It's as though I'm not allowed to catch a break. I'm not
supposed to just have one frigging thing go my way.

It's not like I can call my mom and gripe. She feels so guilty about so many things already, even

though she shouldn't. I can't call my Dad's family, they'd do something incredibly illegal, like hack the
files of everyone hassling me and give them failing grades. I can't call my best friend, considering
she and my ex-boyfriend got together the second I moved out here. I have no one, and now I barely
have myself. This is not how everything was supposed to go.

I start shoving different things into my bag, bypassing the new fancy clothes I should have never

agreed to accept, when the door slams.

"Raya!" Kade blares, making me jump.
How dare he yell at me.
I hear quick strides bringing him up the staircase, and I rush over to shut the door before he can

see the tears that have started to fall. Before it can seal, I'm being thrown back as he barges into the
room.

"You can't let them win. If you do, you'll be their doormat for the rest of the year. Possibly the

rest of your college existence. You're a freshman, so that's not going to work out so well for you."

The hard edge to his tone isn't fair. He doesn't have the right to be mad at me or to speak to me

like this is my fault.

"Go to hell, Kade. Maybe you shouldn't have told them to ridicule me if you didn't want your

daddy to be pissed."

I sniffle and wipe my nose as more of my traitorous tears fall. He grinds his teeth before walking

over to my bed and dumping out the bag I just finished packing with all my insulation-laced clothing.
I'll itch to death before I wear that fancy shit again.

"Get your ass up and grow the hell up. Get over it, Raya. You're a poor girl who landed herself

a spot in a rich house. People are going to talk. The only thing you can do is show them they're
wrong. I've already spread the word that there will be a party Saturday. They'll start easing off you.
Show up, drink, have fun... be a normal teenage girl."

I let out an incredulous laugh while dropping my head. "You're such an idiot. I won't be here in

five minutes, let alone on Saturday. I'll live in the laundromat before I stay here for one more
second."

He cracks his neck to the side before jerking me by the arm and dragging me out of the room. I

stumble as I fight against him, calling him a string of names - none of which really make any sense.

"What the hell are you doing?" I bark.
"Keeping you from being a dumbass."
When I plant my feet and force my body to the ground, he leans over and scoops me over his

shoulder. I squeal and scream as I beat his back ineffectively, probably hurting my fists more than his
hard body.

I feel the air, the breeze, and the pool in one gust. I gasp for air, only to find a choking amount of

water as I scramble to the surface, swatting my arms through the thick chlorine-filled beast that is
burning my open eyes. That son of a bitch!

I choke and spit in a heaving fit when I finally find air again.
"Cool off," he says with a smirk. "When you get out, go grab a shower, eat something, and get

some rest. Things will be different tomorrow."

If I wasn't still coughing up all the intrusive water in my lungs, I'd scream at him. He walks away

before I can manage to recover, and I lose my opportunity.

I know I look like a fool trying to haul myself over the edge of the pool, but I do it. I lie there for

a minute, trying to catch my breath, but I finally manage to stand up and stalk through the house, ready
to unleash hell. He's gone. That coward has run off after throwing me in the pool.

One of his cars is gone, his backpack is still tossed against the wall of the foyer, and there's no

chance of me berating him before I leave.

Reality slowly creeps in. I have nowhere to go. I have no money to get another place right now.

One of my scholarships comes in monthly installments, but I won't get it for another two weeks, and
it'll only be three-hundred dollars. What the hell am I supposed to do if I leave?

Without another thought, I walk outside, step to the edge of the pool, and let myself fall back in.

Kade has done well to avoid me since our confrontation yesterday. Since I really had no other

option, I decided to stay. Once the fury had worn off and the dire reality of my circumstances set in, I
begrudgingly accepted my one and only option - live with Kade and endure the mockery.

Maybe I'll get lucky and some scandal will sweep the school and steal the spotlight from me.

Tomorrow he's having a party. I never agreed to that, but I'm not calling Mr. Colton to tattle. I doubt
I'll ever speak to the man again.

As soon as I leave my last class, I see the guy who harassed me in front of Kade yesterday. His

hat is drawn so low I can't see his eyes, but you never forget those who love to torture you. Their
image is always burned into your brain.

He runs all over me before I can sidestep his path, and my backpack falls from my shoulder. I

curse when the zipper strips and all my shit spills out onto the ground. So now he's resorted to
physical contact to humiliate me as well. Perfect. I almost made it through a whole day without
anyone spewing their lies or taunts.

"S-sorry," he stammers out, sounding a little panicked as he rushes to jerk me to my feet. In his

haste, he almost jerks my arm out of socket.

Sorry? Really?
He scrambles to start scooping all my stuff up and push it back into my bag, while I stand there

stupefied. What's going on?

When he finishes the task of reassembling my backpack, he frantically starts trying to fix my

destroyed zipper.

"Fuck," he growls when he's unable to make it work. "I'll buy you a new one," he says while

standing up and carefully handing it to me without letting the sides fall open.

I warily accept it, still waiting on some major blow up. Should I look around to see if this is the

distraction before the ambush?

It's then I notice his black and swollen eye - the reason he's hiding under a hat. An involuntary

smile tugs at my lips. This asshole has apparently tried bullying the wrong person at some point and
time. Serves him right.

"I'll get my own backpack," I mutter as his trembling hands release the bag. "I'd hate to end up

with a backpack full of snakes or something."

He doesn't say anything else before almost sprinting away from me. I'll add that to the list of

bizarre things that have happened today. Most people have gawked at me, but no one has really
taunted me. The group of girls who've been calling me "Daddy's dirty little secret" for several days
have all but disappeared today.

Either they've resorted to hushed whispers, or my prayers for a bigger scandal have been

answered. I'll gladly let them talk behind my back. There's no one here I'm trying to impress. As
long as they leave me alone, they can ruin my name in this state.

"What happened?" Kade growls when he walks up beside me, his eyes on my bag.
I jump a little from the unexpected suddenness of his presence. "Nothing. Joseph ran over me,

my bag fell and broke open."

I shrug, trying not to seem rattled. I'm still humiliated for letting him see me fall apart yesterday.

I should be seething over the fact he threw me in the pool, but sadly, I'm almost glad he did. I would
have probably left and been homeless if he hadn't.

He lets a snort of disbelief free, and then his eyes scour the grounds for something. I tilt my head,

curious as to what he's searching for.

"Looking for someone?"
"Yeah. I'll catch up with you later."
He's gone before I can say anything more than that. It's not like it matters. He's so... confusing.

He tosses me in a pool and then avoids me. Then he shows up at random to ask about my broken
backpack before disappearing again. I wish he'd make up his mind about whether he hated me or
tolerated me.

"Hey," a voice says, startling me.
I turn to see a girl with braided pigtails and a secretive grin. Here it comes. I should have

knocked on wood or something. I jinxed myself by thinking they'd moved on from torturing me.

"Go ahead. Say whatever you want. I've heard it all," I mumble while turning away.
She jogs up beside me, and I chance glancing at her to see a frown instead of her earlier smirk.
"I wasn't going to say anything. Believe me, I know what it's like to be the brunt of a joke."
That stops me. I give her my full attention, while trying to keep from dropping my gaping

backpack.

"Then what do you want?" I ask, unable to keep the disbelieving suspicion out of my tone.

She fidgets awkwardly and twirls one of her pigtails for a second.
"I was going to see if I could maybe come to the party tomorrow? I don't usually get invited, and

I know you don't have a lot of friends, so... I don't know. I thought we could possibly help each other
out."

I study her, waiting for this pretty girl with perfect hair and crisp blue eyes to lead me into a trap.
"Why don't you usually get invited?"
"Because I'm not a rich brat with big connections. That's all Kade invites."
Of course he does. He's a snob.
"It's not my party. I don't exactly have the right to invite anyone."
I turn to walk away, but she jogs up beside me again. "No, but since you're dating Kade now, I

thought-"

"Whoa. Wait. What?" I interrupt, feeling my shock fall out with the words.
She tilts her head, suddenly seeming uncertain about whether or not she should continue.
"You're dating Kade, right? Not his father? It's all over campus. The rumor is that you and

Kade got together before the bulldozer incident and that's why his father moved you in with Kade.
Then Kade bought you a bunch of clothes because all of yours were ruined in the wreckage and he felt
responsible. You didn't want to accept them, but he forced you to. I thought... You're not dating?"

A harsh breath falls out in the form of laughter. I don't know why I'm laughing. I suppose it's

because it's so ridiculous.

"Kade Colton? You seriously think I'm dating Kade? He hates me most of the time, and he

barely speaks to me the rest. Why on earth would you think I'm dating him?"

She looks over her shoulder before tugging me at my elbow and leading me away from any

prying ears.

"You need to let people believe it. It's the only reason they've backed off. If you go around

proclaiming the truth, then they'll start back up. It's not as scandalous for a rich guy to be taking care
of his girlfriend after a bunch of jerks wrecked her house. It is scandalous to be the mistress of his
father. And you're nothing more than a punch-line if they think Kade and his father simply feel sorry
for the poor girl without another option."

I swallow hard. Shit. That's why today has been less brutal. For some reason, these idiots think

I'm dating Kade.

"I'm not a damn mistress," I hiss.
I don't bother denying the charity case accusation, because in all actuality, that's basically what I

am. My pride can't compete with reality. I'd have to leave school and return to Utah if I moved out.

"Well, I'm sure Kade will quickly refute that rumor soon enough. As in the second he hears it," I

add, groaning inwardly.

I grip my head. My day was nice, and now I learn it was a mere misunderstanding. Damn it!
"Surely he's already heard it by now," she says in a low whisper.
I start to walk off, but I stop myself. This party tomorrow will surely tip everyone off to the truth

when they see how very much we're not in a relationship. It might not be a bad idea to have at least
one ally.

"Come tomorrow night," I say to the only person who's been nice to me since I've been here.
She squeals in delight before grabbing my phone from my back pocket. I jerk a little from the

unexpected touch as she starts pounding away on my keys. One thing I've learned... my small town
respected personal space, but this place has no boundaries.

I've had my ass grabbed, groped, and mauled numerous times by men and women. Most of it has

been innocent, but for Christ's sake, couldn't someone simply warn me before they touch me?

"My name is Ember, and now you have my number," she says while handing me back my phone.

My hands are full, so she simply slides it back into my back pocket. At least I had warning this time.

She runs off before asking my name. Who am I kidding? Everyone here apparently knows my

name.

A warm arm wraps around my shoulders as a body sidles up close to me, forcing my head to

snap to the right to see who's touching me this time. Kade?

"I'm back. Let's go grab some coffee. I'm bored."
I look around, somewhat curious if he's mistaken me for someone else. The only things I notice

are the numerous pairs of eyes on us.

"Why would you want to get coffee? With me?"
He chuckles at my question while steering me toward his flashy Mercedes that is parked at the

curb. Another one of his vehicles. His four-car garage hosts his nice selection.

"It's coffee, Raya. We live together, so we might as well get to know each other. It'll make it

less awkward. Coffee is a start."

As we near his vehicle, I decide to capitalize on this rare moment of civility.
"I invited someone to your party. Is that okay?"
He tenses beside me, and his steps catch small lulls, as if I just caught him off guard.
"Care if I ask who?" It's like he's trying to sound casual, but it's forced. Have I just ruined the

chance for us to try and get along by inviting someone who is poor like me? Well screw him.

"Her name is Ember. She's not exactly one of your socialite elites, but she was nice-"
"That's fine," he interrupts, sounding truly relaxed now.
Damn, he's moody.
He holds the door for me, and I climb in, refusing to entertain all the eyes on us with a glance.

Kade's going to flip the hell out when he finds out that my rumors have now bled onto him. This small
window of civility will be slammed shut, and he'll probably even join in on the next heckle-Raya
session.

"Don't you work at the coffee place?" he asks, drawing me out of my miserable thoughts.
"I did," I mutter with a scowl.
I cross my arms over my chest and glare at the road ahead.
"O...kay. Anything you'd like to share?"
Should I tell the rich brat I was fired when I could barely reach above my head for three days?

The bruises were so severe that it hurt when I tried to stock the cabinets. After two days, Mr. Grady,
the owner, decided he didn't have the time to wait on me to heal. He fired me, using the excuse he
needed a full-time employ instead.

"Not really," I mumble, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing I lost my job because of

his stupid partiers.

"Do you need a job? My granddad has a-"
"I don't need one right now. I have my monthly scholarship money. It's from my town church.

They always pick a senior every year with good grades to give a scholarship, and they pay it in
installments. I'll be fine until I can find something." Since I'm not paying rent.

He doesn't say anything. I'm sure he doesn't even know how hard someone has to work to earn a

scholarship. I wrote essays, sent test scores, and filled out countless forms while submitting for all
the scholarship money I could.

My mom would never have been able to afford college for me, I won't take Dad's money for fear

of where he got it, and I didn't qualify for a student loan. My only option was a scholarship. So I
spent night after night doing all the legwork while working at the local diner and saving up every
penny I could. It wasn't until I got here that I realized how much more the cost of living is. For a
smart girl, I made one hell of a stupid mistake.

We turn into the coffee shop, and I sigh in relief when I don't see the owner's car. I'm happy to

not have to deal with Mr. Grady.

"You cool?" he asks, stepping out of the car as my eyes scour the lot.
"Yeah."
I hop out, trying not to seem affected, and he waits for me to pass in front of him before he places

his hand at the small of my back. What is with people here and touching? Is it so much to ask for
everyone to keep their hands to themselves if they don't know me.

I start to comment on it, when he removes his hand and opens the door for me. The second I see

a couple sliding out of a booth, I make quick strides to snatch it up. I hate tables. I love the booths.

I expect Kade to slide in across from me, but instead, he slides in right next to me, forcing me to

scoot over more.

"TV's up there," he says by way of explanation.
"Then I'll sit over there," I murmur, nudging him to move.
"You're already sitting down. We came to talk, and you'll have to talk louder if you sit over

there. Just stay where you're at. I don't bite."

Cynthia, a waitress, walks up to take our order, interrupting whatever argument I might have had.

We both order, and Cynthia offers her wink of approval when she misconstrues the situation. Now
even more people are going to think we're dating. I try to think of how to broach the topic of our
gossip issues.

"Um... Kade?"
"Yeah," he says distractedly, keeping his eyes focused on the TV and the game. "You ready to

spill?"

Spill? Spill what? I tense up. Surely he doesn't think I started these rumors. Is that what he

means?

"What do you mean?"
"I mean about you. How'd you end up here?"
I almost feel my body visibly relaxing. He doesn't know yet. Wait. He's asking about me?
"I've lived beside you since the semester started, and you're just now curious?"
"You lived beside me, now you're living with me. Yes, now I'm curious."
Fair enough.
His smartass remark is followed by a daring grin that is too charming to stare at for too long. I

refuse to dissolve like an idiot for the guy who has more money than manners.

"I grew up in Utah, wanted a good education and a fresh start, made good grades, got great

scholarships, and came here. End of story."

His grin only grows as he turns to face me, finally peeling his eyes away from the TV sportscast.
"I doubt that. There's no way that's the whole story. Why did you need a fresh start?"
Because Ray Capperton was really Ray Drivel - conman extraordinaire. I was trash that no one

would take seriously all because my father went to prison for swindling millions of dollars we never
knew he had. I went from a decent home to a dilapidating trailer in less than a week after the FBI
stormed our small town and caused a hellacious scene. Yeah... Probably shouldn't tell him that.

"I just wanted to branch out... spread my wings. How about you?"

Definitely a better answer.
"Simple," he says, shrugging. "My family lives nearby. I didn't want to branch out. My

Granddad doesn't have a lot of time left. I wanted to be near to him."

Crap. Now I'm dissolving. He's not supposed to have any redeeming qualities.
His arm slips to be on top of the booth's back, just behind my shoulders. I only pray he doesn't

notice that movement made me shiver and tense in one breath.

Cynthia brings our coffees over to the table, smiling and winking at me once again. Kade doesn't

notice, thank God. This is so bad. He's going to freak out when he finds out.

"So, do you have a boyfriend? I'd like to know when to make myself scarce. I definitely don't

want to hear crazy sounds in the middle of the night."

His teasing grin makes me blush, but I roll my eyes instead of shying away the way he most likely

expects me to. A bitter snort sneaks out unbidden, but I straighten up and try to recover, hoping he
didn't notice.

"No. No crazy sex sounds will be waking you in the middle of the night."
He smiles bigger, drawing me into a mesmerized trance when my eyes fixate on his damned

perfect lips. A sliver of silver inside his mouth catches my eye when he draws his cup up to his lips,
but I don't study it for fear I look like a fool staring at his frigging mouth... again.

I start sipping my coffee when I manage to rip my eyes away from him and his dangerously

perfect mouth that makes all the wrong things heat up.

"So, you're a virgin?" he asks, making me spew and sputter my coffee all over the table.
Several people stop what they're doing to turn their attention to me. I can't believe he just asked

that.

I expect him to laugh, but an amused grin plays on his lips as he studies me, watching me intently,

waiting on me to answer. I don't have to answer that. It's far too personal.

"No," I manage to blurt out while coughing, drawing a little more unwanted attention my way.
His amusement never falters. His gaze burns through me, as if he expects me to elaborate.

Boundaries. These damn people need boundaries.

"So no boyfriend, but you're not a virgin?" he prods, seeming to delight in this terribly awkward

conversation.

I take a calm, steadying breath. I'm eighteen - almost nineteen. I can have a mature conversation

about this, even if it is incredibly inappropriate. I'm not giving this jerk another excuse to look down
on me.

"I had a boyfriend, but we broke up."
Simple, explanatory, but not graphically detailed. See? Mature.
I don't have to tell him that all three times we had sex were terrible. Personally, I learned sex is

highly overrated. I see no point in reliving the worst six minutes of my life... total. I don't get the
appeal. Maybe I'm broken, but I think people are weird for loving it. It's more exciting to do
everything leading up to sex. The actual finale is less than climatic. It's a letdown.

"Why'd you break up?"
I really don't like this conversation. Too many memories are attached to the questions he's

asking.

"Because things didn't work out. That's why most people break up." I'm hoping my clipped tone

is enough to halt his inquiry. No such luck. The gleam in his eyes lets me know it's not over.

"So you left him after he took your virginity?"
"No, I left him after he took my best friend's virginity."

That snarky comment flies out of my mouth before I can stop it. I almost want to look around for

the filter that had to have fallen off my usually tight lips.

"Oh," he mouths, letting his amusement fall from his eyes. "Sorry."
I shrug, trying not to act as though I care. "It happens. It's not like you knew, so don't apologize

for that. If you feel a need to be remorseful, then apologize for keeping me up so many nights when I
had a test the next day."

His eyebrows shoot up and he strangles on his coffee for no real apparent reason. What'd I miss?
A rumbling laughter falls through his lips when he finally manages to free his lungs of the

intrusive liquid, and he brings his arm out from behind me while shaking his head.

"What?" I ask, confused.
"Just how exactly did I keep you up, Raya?" he asks, seeming teasing, but I don't know why.
Yep. I'm stupid. I get books, but I'm slow when it comes to jokes. My cheeks flare up with heat,

and I shake my head when I finally find the meaning behind his mockery.

"Not what I meant. I meant your parties kept me up."
"You've never been to a party," he says, shifting from humorous to serious. "Why?"
"Well, I wasn't invited for one, but also because I'm on scholarship. I'm not here to play. I'm

here to change my life."

"You lived next door. An invite wasn't necessary, and I like to believe you can do both.

Partying in moderation is good for the clogged mind. I drink, I play, and then I work just as hard. I
think tomorrow will be damn good for you."

I dread it with everything in me.
"What're your plans for tonight?" he asks while tilting his coffee to his lips, drawing my attention

to the silver again. Is that a... tongue ring? Mr. Ritzy has a tongue ring? No. Surely not.

Look away, Raya. Look. Away.
"Um... study?" I ask, rather than state. Now I'm nervous. How did he turn me into a pitiful

nervous fool? I hate him. Hate. Him.

Telling myself I hate him isn't helping.
"Change your mind and go with me to Silk tonight. It's a club that's only open to the public once a

month. Tonight's the 'once a month.' It'll be packed, and it'll be fun. No offense, but you need fun."

No offense? I'm very offended... I think.
"I need a scholarship to stay in school, so if I go to the club and the party tomorrow, I won't have

very much study time this weekend. I need to maintain my GPA. Maybe some other time."

He frowns, which is just as confusing as he's been all day.
"Fine. Rain-check. You ready?" he asks, standing up with his coffee in tow.
Cynthia runs over to take his card as I fish out my money from my pocket.
"I've got it," he says. "I invited you."
I want to object, but even though I ordered the cheapest coffee they have - plain with a touch of

cream - I still don't have five dollars to spend on that single cup. If he's offering to pay, I really need
to let him. Gah, I feel like a mooch now. I need a new job.

I notice a few eyes on us. There's a group of people who've been bashing me waving at him. I

look away, but his arm comes to rest over my shoulders again as he nods in acknowledgment and
offers them a smile.

Why does he keep touching me? It's-
"Kade!" one guy yells, chuckling. "You shittin' me?"
Oh no. The color drains from my face. He's about to say something. The moment I've been

dreading is here.

"Huh?" Kade asks, seeming confused.
The guy grunts when he takes a hard elbow to the ribs by another guy, and Kade looks to me and

shrugs before leading me through the doors with his arm still draped around me.

He has no idea what he's just done. He shouldn't have touched me in front of them. Now more

people will think he and I are together, and when it blows up, something tells me I'll be humiliated.

Chapter 4

Unlikely Friendship

I should have gone to Silk. Nothing I'm reading is making a damn bit of sense because all I can

think about is how Kade said I needed to have fun. I could still go. I'm sure a bus could take me
there, but I've got thirteen dollars left to make it until the end of the week when my next check comes
from the church.

I really don't think it'd be wise to use church money to go to a club. I'd hate to get struck by

lightning in the middle of the dance floor.

I'm starving and I'm sick of tuna, but it's affordable and plentiful. Several cans of my tuna

survived the wreckage.

I go to grab a can just as Kade walks through the door. I freeze in the living room, standing in

front of him in my panties and tank-top. He wasn't supposed to come home this early. It's barely ten.

A teasing gleam spreads through his eyes as his lips curl up in a taunting grin. A squeal finally

bubbles free from my lips as I rush up the stairs, wishing I hadn't been brave enough to strut around in
my underwear.

Kade's roaring laughter drifts up the stairs as I slam the door to my room. I can feel my whole

body flushed. I'm almost worried I'll be stained crimson forever.

"Raya," he chuckles out, lightly rapping on my door. "Come on. Don't hide. It'll only make it

more awkward... for you."

Great. He's feeling playful tonight. I almost prefer the brooding weirdo who can't make up his

mind if he's pissed or pleasant.

"I'm not hiding... I'm... getting decent," I lie, well, sort of. I am getting decent, but I have no

intentions of coming out. I might possibly go in and out of my window for a while.

"Raya," he says again, his laughter still lacing his words. "Come on."
I groan and glance in the mirror to see if I'm as red as it feels like I am. Yep. I'm red. My dark

brown hair actually looks darker next to the red.

I stare at the doorknob like it's the enemy. The shadow he casts tries to slip underneath the door.

He's not going anywhere until I come out.

"You know it was bound to happen sooner or later. Would it make it easier if I stripped down

and let you see me in my underwear?" he jokes.

Now I'm blushing for a whole new reason. It sure as hell wouldn't make this easier. He needs to

go back to annoying the crap out of me. He's just confusing me with this... less shallow version of
himself.

"Raya?" he asks, prompting me to break my silence.
"Do not strip," I grumble, making his laughter fall out louder once again.
"Come out. I grabbed some burgers. It'll be better than the tuna you insist on eating. The house

will stink less, too."

Crap. My tuna is stinking up the house? Great.
Why is he buying me food? Gah, a burger sounds perfect. I'd love to eat anything that I didn't

have to pull out of a can right now.

"Promise you won't laugh at me?"
He laughs. Of course he laughs. Jerk. But while he laughs, I find myself smiling. Stop smiling.
"I'm only laughing because I've been expecting it. You always ran around your house in your

underwear. Not very smart for a girl trying to lay low."

I only thought I couldn't get any redder. I look like I've been cooking under the sun for ten days

straight right now.

"Please tell me you're joking," I whine.
"You should have bought curtains or worn shorts if you didn't want anyone to notice."
"I never thought anyone was peering through my damn windows!"
He almost coughs from his even louder laughter.
"Seriously? Your room was almost directly across from mine, and your bed was pressed against

the window. How was I supposed to never see you lounging around in your underwear? Don't make
it a big deal."

Don't make it a big deal. Yeah right.
I tug at the shorts, making sure they are covering up everything he's already seen - numerous times

apparently - and I use all my willpower to open the door to the smiling bastard propped against the
frame.

"I hate you, you know."
He chuckles as he motions for me to join him. I'm relieved when he doesn't touch me, but then

again, he hasn't touched me at all inside the house - only outside.

I follow him down the stairs, glaring at the back of his head as he continues to revel in my

humiliation. "I'll grab some plates."

I just nod, refusing to meet his gaze, and I move to stand in front of the island bar while he moves

to the other side. When a clear glass plate comes to rest beneath my eyes, I let out a snort of a laugh.
Leave it to a rich kid to break out the real dishes for paper-plate food.

I frown. Or maybe leave it to me - the poor girl - to prefer paper plates.
"I thought you'd be at the club longer," I mumble by way of explaining.
"I don't ever stay long. It's business. Same for my parties. I hang out until the sobriety is gone,

and then I head to my room for the rest of the night. Everyone got drunk earlier than usual tonight."

That brings my eyes up from the empty plate.
"Business?"
He offers a wry grin as he pulls out the paper bag and starts unwrapping the burgers that smell

almost divine. Way better than canned tuna. It takes a lot more effort than I care to admit just to
refrain from licking my lips and gapingly salivate.

"Yes, business. My parties aren't for me to sew wild oats. I have fun sometimes, and let loose,

but most of the time I'm earning contacts. Though Adam, John, Mandy, or Carla might seem like hell-
raisers right now, in another few years, they'll be climbing high in whatever company they choose."

Ah. "Pedigree rights," I murmur, clapping my hand over my mouth immediately upon hearing

myself say it aloud.

He shrugs, never looking up from his task. "Pedigree sometimes plays a part. Most of the time

they're actually brilliant minds. There aren't a whole lot of people in an Ivy League college because
they're stupid, Raya. One day, I'll need to call them, and they'll remember these years at college.
Same for them and me. Business. You don't get to the top by hard work and brains alone. You play
the game. Nothing else matters if you don't play the game."

"So you play games?" I tease.
Oh shit. Am I flirting? I had better not be flirting.
"When I have to," he says while offering me a delicious wink.
I would melt, but I'm too practical. Oh, who the hell am I kidding? He better not wink at me

again.

"So, you came here to be close to your family and to play games with the other socialite

offspring?" I ask, sounding less flirty and bitterer.

He tenses for a second as he grabs a couple of glasses from the cabinet. He brought me dinner

and he's getting it all together, and I have to go and say something unnecessarily snippy.

"Sorry. That came out a little... harsher than I intended."
He nods slowly as he turns back around. "Is it just me you hate or all of us?"
I sigh out heavily. "I haven't had the best experience with the upper class. Take this week for

example. Until today, most of the campus has been running their mouths about me. The ones making
my life hell weren't scholarship students."

His jaw clenches for a second, then a small smile comes into play. "There are thousands of

students here. It's college; not high school. Only a tenth of the population even know you exist. Don't
be so dramatic."

"Well, the ten percent who know I exist seem to be everywhere."
"Still?" he asks, leaning back while forgetting the task at hand - food.
Is this when I should tell him? Should I tell him all his upscale friends are whispering behind his

back about him being with me? I might as well. All hell might break loose at the party if I don't warn
him.

"No, but only because-"
"They've moved on to something juicier. Don't treat this like high school. It's not the same.

There's no queen, no king, and no cliques that rule it all. People talk whether you're in school or not,
but it doesn't dictate anything. You choose how much you allow people to rule you."

This is too deep. Way too deep. He's right. This isn't high school, and there's no chance

everyone here has been in on the rumors, but it sure as hell felt like at the time. Maybe he doesn't
have to know that some of the whispers amongst the groups are about us - together.

I'm definitely loving the reprieve from the ten percent.
"Was this your way of getting around my question?" I ask, stifling a grin.
"Ah, yes. Your question. I came here to be close to my family, as I said. But also because this

is where most of the partiers will be - rebels without a cause acting out for attention. Believe it or
not, the ones who don't end up in rehab will be some of the most successful businessmen or
businesswomen in the country. Always are. And you build stronger bonds over beer than you do
over brunch."

I chuckle over that last bit and he gives me a wink while popping the top on a beer and pouring it

into a glass. A glass.

"You want one?" he asks.
"Um... I'm eighteen."
"Old enough to vote and go to war, but not drink?"
Valid point? Yes. Legal and logical? No. But let's face it. I'm no angel. It won't be my first

beer, so I don't know why I'm hassling him.

"I'll take one, but you can keep the glass."
He chuckles lightly while shaking his head. "I only pour it in a glass when I eat. Less

backwash."

Ew. "On second thought, I'll take the glass after all."
He smiles as he pours it carefully, acting like a pro.
"So you're twenty-one?"

"Yep. Not far from twenty-two."
"And you're set to start work right out of school, I bet." I'm so proud that didn't come out snarky.
"Yes. Though, I doubt it's for the reasons you think. I'm not going to deny I'm lucky, fortunate in

some areas even. Having a job lined up with my grandfather's company is one of those fortunate
circumstances."

"And it's just that easy. Finish college and take over his business?"
He laughs, sounding a little condescending in tone, but I'm hoping I'm reading too much into it.
"Definitely not easy. My father hates it. He built his business on his own, and then he married

into money. He came from the belly of the lower-class, and he earned his right to stand high in the
upper-class - as you called it. He thinks I should start at the ground-level and work my way up."

"And you don't feel you should have to?" Entitled brat. "You don't think there are people who

have been working and waiting for an opportunity like you'll have?"

"My grandfather needs someone to take over certain pieces of the business as soon as possible.

Those pieces aren't the ground-level. Though there are others who have been waiting longer for this
opportunity, this is the company my grandfather built from nothing. He wants someone he can trust,
and he knows that's me. So is it unfair to some? Yes. But do I feel guilty for being the one my
granddad trusts? Hell no."

I'm almost in awe. He definitely knows how to make you see his side of things. He'll be

excellent at negotiations. It's crazy to think about all the times I've envied him and his friends for
getting trashed and enjoying a good time, when he only looks at it as a future business investment.
He's a workaholic and he doesn't even have a job yet.

It's as though he's proud of something, but I don't know what. Then it dawns on me. The mention

of his grandfather. That's what's sparking the twinkle of pride.

"You're fond of your grandfather," I observe.
His smile quirks up while he resumes his task of dividing the fries on the plates.
"Very." Then he points to my full plate. "If that's the end of the Capperton Inquisition, how about

we move to the living room and watch a movie while we eat?"

He's so confusing.
"One more question," I murmur softly while sliding off the stool and carrying my plate.
He heads into the living room and I follow, waiting on him to respond. He waits until he puts his

food down on the coffee table in front of the couch and then he leans back.

"Yes?" he says.
"Why are you being so nice to me all of the sudden?"
He frowns as I take a seat beside him, making sure to leave a respectable amount of distance

between us without going overboard and making it look like I'm disgusted by him. I was once
disgusted by him, but he keeps... blurring the lines.

His eyes fall to my shoulder where one of my yellowing bruises barely remains visible.
"Because believe it or not, I don't like knowing you got hurt. I feel like an ass. Seeing the proof

of the damage that could have been done... Let's just say it scared me. Now, can we eat?"

Chapter 5

Playing Games

My room looks like fashion central threw up in it. I've tried on seven dresses, three pairs of

jeans, and fifteen or more shirts. Nothing looks right. Nothing even comes close to looking right on
me. I don't look like a pretty girl dressed up and ready to party. I look like Raya Capperton, daughter
of Ray Drivel, the conman's trashy daughter playing dress-up.

Just when I decide it's pointless, the door to my room creaks open. Butterflies ruffle my stomach

as I anxiously wait to see Kade's blue eyes, but I'm met by a different pair of blues instead. My heart
sinks back down from my throat as Ember walks in wearing an excited grin and a killer dress.

Her hair is tossed in perfect ringlets today instead of pigtails. Her red dress is just short enough

to drag the eye down, and her classy cleavage brings the eyes back up. She looks far less innocent
than she did yesterday. I'm jealous. I've got Paul Colton's latest line of fashion, and she looks better
in her thrift store buy. Maybe that's the problem. These clothes are too dazzling for the jaded.

"Hey. I hope this is okay. Kade let me in and told me where to find you."
I nod, forcing a tight smile. I'd fallen asleep while we were watching the movie, and Kade must

have carried me back to my room last night.

He'd caught me off guard with the sincerity in his eyes when I asked him about why he was

suddenly being nice to me. The look he gave me... He's different than what I once thought, and now
it's even more confusing. He didn't say anything much after that.

We sat in a comfortable silence, kept our distance, and watched a terrible movie like it was

riveting. I shouldn't have asked that question. I wish I hadn't. Today we've barely spoken at all,
since he was busy preparing for the party. I've stayed in my room most of the day.

"Is that what you're wearing?" Her wide eyes only cement my reservations. She sees the trashy

girl playing dress-up, too.

"It looks terrible, doesn't it?" I groan, glancing down at the tight white, strapless dress that was

meant for someone far more impressive than I.

"Hell no," she gushes. "It's fucking awesome. That's... I'm so jealous."
I almost bite back a grin. I'm jealous of her thrift store dress, and she's jealous of the dress I can't

actually pull off. "Maybe we should trade."

She laughs and shakes her head. "Not happening. I'd never look that good in white. There's only

one problem... You can't wear that underwear. It's leaving lines."

I try to glance back at my rear, but I can't twist that way in this tight dress. I finally give up and

look over at her rummaging through my drawers until she finds where I store my panties and bras.
Another boundary. I need to make a mental note to google what the boundaries are around here. I
was apparently raised very differently.

"Here," she says, handing me a pair of white thongs.
I don't even know how those managed to make it to the counter. I can only assume Kade tossed

them and several other pairs of underwear on the counter that day. It's not something I need to think
about right now.

I slip out of the more comfortable underwear and make the trade for the small stringed thing

meant for a goddess. This should be interesting. Ember goes to be in front of the mirror as she
checks her hair.

"It's crazy down there," she giggles, bubbling over with excitement .

"Already?"
I'd heard the music, but I thought Kade was just setting the mood right for all the partiers on their

way. I guess I've been in here longer than I thought, battling my indecisiveness.

"You seriously look like sex in heels. I really wish Kade had bulldozed my house."
I let a laugh out, which is something I really needed. Considering how nervous I am, I'm

surprised I'm able to laugh at all.

"Kade didn't bulldoze my house; some frat boys from his party did."
"But he's the one you're living with?"
I shrug and open the door. "I had to live somewhere, and Mr. Colton volunteered his son's

house."

"And Kade is cool with all this?" she asks.
"I... I think he is now," I stammer unsurely.
She gives a goofy grin when she sees the lights flickering below. It looks almost like a club.
"This is going to be so awesome," she gushes, and then she loops her arm through mine.
These heels make the stairs a little precarious, but I cautiously make my way down. My long hair

isn't balled up on my head or swept back in a ponytail. Tonight I'm letting it hang free with some
loose curls. Maybe no one will even recognize me.

Ember giggles more once we rich the thick of the party. It's not too crowded, surprisingly

enough. I don't have to press against sweaty bodies to make my way over to the keg.

My breath almost leaves me when Kade steps in from the dining room. No. No. No. He's not

supposed to make it hard to breathe, damn it. I have to live with him.

"Hey," he says, grinning when he sees me. His eyes scale up and down my dress, making me

flood with a tingle of excitement. "Need one?" he asks, holding up his cup.

"I need two."
I motion to Ember, and he offers her his best I'm-too-sexy-to-be-real grin. She shivers beside

me, letting her grip tighten on my arm. I don't like that. I don't want Ember eye-fucking him right
now.

"Here," he says, handing me my cup first. Then he fills up another and hands it to Ember.
She takes it while twirling her hair like a little girl with a crush. I tug free from her as she

drools, but Kade either doesn't notice or doesn't care. Thankfully. Crap. I shouldn't be thankful.

"Feel like introductions?" Kade asks, sidling up next to me.
I sigh out heavily. "Yeah, sure. Ember, this is Kade. Kade, Ember."
He chuckles beside me and places his hand on the small of my back. "I've already met Ember

when she came in to find you. I was asking if you wanted me to introduce you to everyone. Let you
get a feel for the crowd."

Ember is almost forgotten as I stare into the endless pools of blue that suddenly carry such a

meaningful depth instead of a guise of shallowness. "Not right now. I think I'll stick to nursing a beer
and observing."

I glance over to see Ember has moved on to a preppy polo-shirt-wearing guy. My eyes return to

Kade and his tight black T-shirt and dark denim jeans. He looks too good.

A guy has fortunately started talking to him, keeping him distracted as I shamelessly ogle him for

the first real time. He doesn't look like a business-suit in training; he looks like forbidden fruit I
desperately want to taste.

"You good?" Kade asks, acting as if he's about to leave me stranded.
"Um... yeah. Go have fun."

"Business," he says, offering me a wink. "You go have fun. It'll be loud, so call me if you need

me for anything. My number is programmed in your phone."

The speck of silver in his mouth intrigues me again, but I dare not stare at those perfect lips too

long. I can only see a glimpse of the secretive thing when his mouth opens, so it has to be a piercing.
Gah, I wish I hadn't thought about it.

He gives me a quick wave before walking away. I don't have my phone. I was so busy gawking

at him that the words never left my mouth. I hope I don't need him for anything.

I turn around, seeing Ember still giggling in that guy's arms. Whew. At least it's not Kade she's

wrapped around.

I groan inwardly. I can't keep doing that. Kade is... my roommate? My friend? I don't know, but

I can't be interested in him. He's an elite and I'm the girl from the trailer park.

I do well to hide in the back, possibly seeming like the creepy girl just watching everyone. After

observing everyone dance and drink for thirty minutes, I start to relax. No one at all has said anything
rude to me whatsoever.

"Raya, right?" a guy asks, proving I'm not hiding as well as I thought.
"Yes." I force a smile and turn to meet him, drawing in a deep breath to prepare for whatever he

might say.

"I'm Brock." He proffers his hand, and I place mine in his for the shake, though I admit I'm wary.
He grins, giving me a shot of his dimples as he props against the wall beside me. He's dressed in

a pair of designer jeans, a blue T-shirt, and a sexy gaze. Considering I don't know if he's one of the
many who ridiculed me, I don't exactly swoon.

"Nice to meet you," I murmur as sincerely as I can muster, while returning my eyes to the party.
"It's Get Wet time!" a girl's shrill voice announces as the music dies down. "Same rules as

always. When you hear the song, grab someone to lock up with until it stops. All ladies without a
partner, prepare to be tossed in the pool!"

My stomach tilts to the point I'm worried I'll get sick. She can't be serious. Surely no one would

actually throw me in the pool. Shit. Kade has thrown me in the pool before.

"I think I might hang out over here with you," Brock says, grinning as the girl speaks with the DJ

behind the traveling booth.

I swallow hard as she continues. "Tonight, the Get Wet song is Good Man!" The DJ plays a

sample, and everyone roars in cheers, getting excited. Then the song changes, and the girl hops down,
beaming from the mischief she just delivered.

I don't feel like partying anymore. Now I just want to go crawl in a closet and hide. The girl who

was announcing the bomb-drop sidles up next to Brock, rocking back on her heels as hearts form in
her eyes.

Warm hands wrap around my waist seconds before the Get Wet song kicks in. I'm whirled

around and pushed into the corner, gasping for air. My eyes lock with Kade's and he grins as he
brings his lips within centimeters from mine, keeping one arm pressed against the wall, blocking our
faces somewhat.

"What... w-what are you doing?" I hoarsely release, swallowing hard thereafter.
"Making people think we're doing what we're supposed to be doing. Otherwise, you'll get tossed

in the pool. Considering you're wearing white, and you don't have... much on back here," his hand
trails over my rear, making me tremble as he slides his hand back up to my back and tugs me closer,
"you might not need to get caught."

I shiver noticeably, feeling trapped and completely stupid as a crushing wave of unbidden desire

unfurls within me. This just changed... everything for me. I don't even remember how to hate him in
this moment.

"Whenever you see Mel drift toward Brock," he says, motioning toward the game announcer and

Brock who are in a tongue-tango lip-lock, "find me, and I'll make it look like we're just as engaged as
everyone else enjoying the festivities."

My knees try to buckle, but I steady them, locking them into place like I just shoved steel rods in

there. "So they're a couple?"

I leave out the part where Brock was acting like he wanted to play this game with me.
"No," he chuckles out. "Brock isn't in the market to settle down, but Mel wants him. So, she

plays this game every party. When the DJ sees her close to Brock, he plays the song. That's your
cue. Just find me, unless you want some strange guy locked on your lips or tossing you in the pool."

His eyes move down to my lips, and his breath catches for a second. With his mouth just slightly

ajar, I finally see the silver mystery a little better.

"You do have your tongue pierced," I murmur to myself. "I thought so."
His grin slides up, and I look up to see his eyes intensely focused on mine. "You've been trying

to get a look?"

My face heats, and he leans in closer, making this even more intimate. He rolls his tongue in his

mouth so that he can shove part of the bar between his pearly whites, and then he bites down on the
metal so that it's the only thing I can see other than his perfectly straight teeth.

Yep. I think I just forgot my own name.
The bar slinks back into his mouth, and his grin returns. "You could have just asked."
The song shifts, and the make-out frenzy ends. My breaths are erratic and scattered when he

finally leans back and returns my personal space. I waver in my heels, but his arm wraps around my
waist to steady me.

"I guess you did more than nurse that beer," he says with a teasing grin, thinking my staggering

posture is due to alcohol. It's not the toxins in the drink that are making me unbalanced; it's him. This
is so bad.

"I guess so," I lie, making his smile grow.
"Good. You need to loosen up."
He pulls my hand in his and takes my empty cup. I'll just let him think I've had more than one. If

he found out what his touch was doing to me right now, he'd mock me relentlessly.

"That dress looks good on you. I'm glad I didn't let you bypass the dresses you'd 'never wear.'"
I giggle lightly, silently chastising myself for sounding like an idiot with a crush. His smile is

rewarding though, and it makes me want to giggle more. I look around nervously as he hands my cup
to one of his friends to refill.

Brock is chatting up some girl, and Mel's eyes are on him, though she does well to hide the scowl

I'm sure is lurking within.

"Don't tell me Brock's your type," Kade says, cutting into my moment of observation.
"No," I murmur, looking up at him. You are, though.
"Good. I really don't want Brock hanging out and making your room sound like a carnival."
It feels like that was supposed to be a joke, but I'm not sure. "No worries. I can promise you

won't be hearing anything like that coming from my room. What about you? Are any of these girls
part of your business?"

I attempt to sound teasing, but it sounded more like the words left a bad taste in my mouth. He

scans the room, shrugging.

"Not in that way. I'm friends with them, but I draw the line at those sorts of personal

relationships with anyone you see in this room. I don't need the drama later on in life. This group -
these people - have some of the most influential parents I've met, which is why they're the hardest
partiers. Let's say I hook up with one. Later on she or her husband could be the hitch in a major
business arrangement."

I shake my head in disbelief. "You plan really far ahead, don't you?"
"I have to if I want to be successful. Considering it'll be my grandfather's business I take over, I

want to be very successful. It's what he deserves."

Again, I melt. He has to stop talking about his grandfather. There's such raw emotion in his eyes

when he does. It's beautiful.

"Do you ever do anything just for fun?"
His smile lifts up, and his gaze comes back to me. "All sorts of things. I'm driven, but I'm not a

robot."

"So?" I prompt, wanting to delve deeper.
"I'm talking to you right now for fun. I have no business interest in you."
My girly grin spreads to display the fool I am. His grin mimics mine before he pulls me to the

middle of the dance floor. "Now, let's dance. For fun."

I let him lead me onto the floor, keeping my perma-grin in place. His hands slide down to my

back as we move to the music. Summoning up my bravery, I let my hands run up his chest, reveling in
the feel of the hardness beneath the thin shirt. He moves in closer, making our bodies press together
as the lust-filled melody guides our movements.

I can't do this. I can't stare at him and dance like this without letting myself do something

incredibly stupid in the heat of the moment. So, I turn around and press my back to his front.

His hands move to my hips as he draws us to be touching, and I close my eyes to forget all the

people around us as our bodies grind together.

"Kade! We're doing shots!" a guy calls, motioning him over.
No. I don't want to stop dancing.
"Time to work. I'll be back," he says in my ear, making me shiver in his wake when he

disappears into the crowd.

I've got to get this under control. I can't be drooling over a prince when I'm the inmate's daughter.

Each time that damn song has played, Kade has pushed me into the corner to pretend as though

we're just as entangled as the others. This last time, his lips brushed mine when he accidentally got
too close. That's not a nice thing to do to an idiot like me who can't seem to get my fantasies to stop
running wild.

I was fine before this party. Now I'm staring at him as much as Mel stares at Brock. I'm pathetic.
Ember has kept me company on the dance floor, and considering the large amount of beer I've

consumed, I almost need her as a crutch. She laughs wildly as we tangle on the floor, both of us
trying to hold the other up. It earns a loud gush of laughter from us both. Letting go has been
refreshing.

I look over to see Kade's eyes on me as he leans against the doorframe, feigning interest in his

friend by nodding ever so often. A barely-there amused smile tugs on his lips as he watches me, and I
can't look away.

The only thing that manages to snap me out of my trance is the Good Man song. Oh no.
Kade's eyes widen just as I'm ripped away by foreign arms. "Pool or kiss?" Brock slurs,

chuckling after.

Mel is just a few feet away, and she looks like a puppy that has just been kicked in the face.

Ember is wrapped up in a polo-shirt-wearing guy, and I'm stuck. Pool. Definitely the pool.

I open my mouth to affirm my decision just as I'm whirled around. Soft but firm lips find mine

and steal my breath, as familiar hands travel down to my back.

"Seriously, Kade?" Brock groans, making Kade smile against the kiss with me.
Holy shit. I'm kissing Kade.
My body decides to seize control and exclude my brain from any and all decisions. My hands

fist in his hair as I pull him closer, and his smile disappears as his grip gets tighter.

I wobble when his tongue delves into my mouth, and the hot metal of his piercing makes me heat

up between my thighs, inviting my scandalous thoughts to dance in my mind. If it wasn't for the
incredible grip he has on me, I'd melt into a puddle right now.

The longer the song plays, the more intense the kiss gets, until I'm suddenly backed against a

wall. It takes all my strength not to jump up and wrap my legs around his waist, but I refrain, and
settle for the mind-blowing kiss.

I don't know when the song shifted, but it has. I don't want to pull away. Hell, I can't, but Kade

finally does, sounding breathless.

"Sorry," he says, grinning. "It was going to be me, him, or the pool. Mel would have flogged

you if it had been him."

Shit. Why the hell did I think he wanted to kiss me? He was just saving my ass.
"You. Definitely you," I blurt out, making him laugh before he tugs my hand in his. I hope that

didn't sound as bad as I think it did.

"Conversation is getting pointless now. The shots have ruined them all, so they won't remember

much from here on out. I'll hang out with you the rest of the night to keep that from happening again."

No. I want that to happen again.
Fucking eh. I'm pathetic.
"Want to go chill by the pool?"
I just nod as he leads me out, and I smile when I see some girls climbing out of the pool for not

having engaged in the game.

"Thanks," I snicker.
He grins, and then shakes his head. "I never recommend wearing white to one of my parties

again."

I let a laugh out as he pulls me down to a chair beside him. "I agree."
And just that fast, we become lost in conversation for the next two hours. I don't know how he

managed to do it, but I've forgotten every bit of my hatred for him. He's so... normal. Not at all what
I expected.

As the last few guests start tapering off, Kade pulls me from my seat. "I'm spent. I'll warn you,

there will be people still passed out in the morning, so you don't run around in your tank and panties."

My cheeks heat and he chuckles as he guides me in. "You staying to party more?" he asks,

walking me through the few still dancing.

"Um... no. I think I lost Ember though."
"She'll turn up. I'll walk you to your room."
I want to ask why, but at the same time, I don't want to seem like I'm offending him. His hand

stays on my back as he guides me up, and I try not to concentrate on it too much.

Regret fills me as soon as I open the door. The light filtering through the window shines down

on the dark locks tilted back as two naked bodies collide.

"Ohholyshit," I screech while slamming the door back shut.
My heels do me no good and I stumble backwards into Kade's arms as he chuckles and catches

me. "I guess Ember just showed up."

I shake my head, praying the images aren't forever burned in my mind. "I couldn't tell who it

was."

"I should have warned you to lock your door. Looks like you'll need another mattress," he

snickers, helping me stand on my own. "Come on. You can sleep in my room. You'll find something
a hell of a lot worse in all my other guest rooms. Mel's game always gets people riled up."

Sleep in his room? Hell no.
"I can just crash on the couch."
He snorts out a laugh. "With this many people still here? Not happening. These people are

notorious for pranking the sleeper. It's no big deal. My bed is massive. It'll be like you're all by
yourself."

Doubtful. How the hell does he expect me to sleep in his bed?
Every part of me is almost shaking as I follow him back down the stairs and to his bedroom

door. The combination keypad on his door has always confused me until right now. He uses it to
keep anyone else from doing what Ember is doing in my bed. She and I will have to discuss this
later.

"I'll grab you a shirt and some shorts." He flips the light on and I see his devilish grin. "Unless

you want to run and grab something from your room."

"Hell no," I blurt out, forcing him to release a throaty chuckle in response.
I fidget like a nervous girl in the doorway as he moves to the drawers. "Shut and lock the door."
Swallowing hard against the hellacious knot in my throat, I do just that. I linger on the lock,

wondering how to steel myself for the rest of the night.

"Here," he says, bringing my attention back.
He hands me a pair of black boxers and a red T-shirt. Damn. These boxers have touched him in

places I really don't need to think about.

"You can change in the bathroom. I'll change out here."
I watch as he pulls his shirt over his head, and my eyes fall on the numerous tattoos that line his

chest, sides, and stomach. They all seem to form a pattern instead of seeming randomly detached.

"What do the tattoos mean?" I ask, unable to quit staring.
He grins as he tosses his shirt on his dresser.
"They're blended together, but they all mean different things. There are different points in my life

I wanted to remember, so I did what I wanted to in order to mark them. I don't get one anywhere I
can't cover it up easily. You going to change?"

I'm almost worried I'm drooling right now. His body is flawless. The perfect definition of his

chest and abs becomes a feast for my hungry eyes. This should be illegal. Sexy, rich, and nice should
not be wrapped up in one untouchable package.

"Raya? You okay?" he chuckles out.
I snap my eyes free and turn on my heel to almost dive into the bathroom. This is going to be a

long night, and if I sleep at all, I'll be shocked.

I strip down completely, including the stringy underwear I'll never be able to sleep in. After

tossing on the clothes he's given me, I walk back out with my dress in hand. I carefully tucked my
underwear inside to keep them from falling out in front of him.

"Just toss your dress on my dresser. I'll send it to the drycleaners with my stuff," he says without

looking at me as he types something on his phone.

I suck in a sharp breath of air. He's in his track pants and he's still shirtless. I huddle up in my

room most of the time, so I never get to see him getting ready for bed. I won't be hiding in my room
anymore. I want floor seats for this show from now on.

I put the dress on his dresser, next to his stuff, and then I walk over to the far side of the

ridiculous bed meant for Jack's giant.

"You need me to set an alarm or anything?" he asks as I slip into the heavenly folds of his bed.
Wow. His bed is so much better than mine. And I thought mine was pretty frigging fantastic.
"No. You can just toss me out with the sun, though."
He laughs and slips into the covers on his side. If you had told me I'd be sleeping in Kade

Colton's bed two weeks ago, I would be in the hospital from my side-splitting laughter.

He just chuckles as he turns over, giving me a view of his perfect back. I should probably face

the other way, but I can't tear my eyes away. He hasn't mentioned that kiss, and I doubt either of us
ever will. I just wish I could quit thinking about it.

Chapter 6

Frustrated

A hard body is pressed against me, hot breaths are on my neck, and a firm piece of temptation is

touching the inside of my thigh. My eyes go wide in the bed, and I realize Kade is almost on top of
me, holding me to him, and wrapping me up like I'm his.

His soft, dark hair is against my chin, and I lick my dry lips as I try to ignore the fact he's aroused

in his sleep. I should probably move out from under him, but after the hellacious night of dreams I've
had about him, it's hard not to put his morning arousal to use.

He stirs lightly, tightening his hold on me as he breathes in deep. His knee comes up to press

against the spot I never imagined he'd touch. Frustration grabs me and shakes me with an agonizing
tug. It's been so long since a guy has made me feel anything like this. Even though the sex with
Jeremy wasn't great, it was sure as hell exciting to lead up to it.

He mutters something in his sleep, though I don't know what, and then his hand slides up to grab

my left breast in a groping motion. A pathetic moan slips through my lips, and I mentally slap myself.

Heat floods between my thighs, and a forgotten ache comes back with a vengeance. This isn't

good. This isn't good at all.

"Christ," he gasps, jarring me out of all my fantasies.
He scrambles back, releasing me from his delicious clutches, and leaves me with that damn ache

that now refuses to leave.

"Shit, Raya. I'm sorry," he grumbles while wiping his eyes and rubbing his head.
I sit up, praying I'm not as red as I feel, and I shrug, pretending as though I just woke up.
"Sorry for?" I ask, doing all I can to keep this from being awkward. "I just woke up."
He breathes out heavily while getting up from the bed. "Never mind. I need to grab a shower.

You good?"

Hell no, I'm not good. That's a terrible word to describe me right now.
"Yeah," I drawl out, feigning a yawn. "Maybe Ember has left my room. I'd like a shower, too."
He tenses up, which is odd. "If she's not, then just come back down. You can use my shower

when I'm done."

Images of me climbing in the shower with him attack my already scandalous mind. Stop it, Raya!
"You okay?" I ask.
Shit. It must have really pissed him off to be touching me. I'd find it offensive, but I'm starting to

understand his way of thinking. I'd ruin his reputation in the business world, considering I come from
nothing. And he doesn't even know about my father's scandals that would really destroy his pretty
name.

A washing sense of disappointment cloaks me, almost drowning me with severe realizations. I

have to stop thinking about him like this. I'm the daughter of a conman. It would ruin him if people
thought we were really together. I have to squash those rumors if he's ever going to be anything in a
world full of socialites who judge so harshly.

"Yeah. I'm fine," he finally says through a sigh, but I've already left the bed and have almost

reached the door.

I don't acknowledge his words. I don't know why this suddenly bothers me so much. Maybe it's

because, even though I kept telling myself no, I kept hoping something might could happen. It can't
though. If anyone ever found out I belong to Ray Drivel, my name would destroy Kade and his future.

No one would trust anyone connected to Ray.

I almost run up the stairs to my room. Ember's ass had better be out. When I open the door to see

the bed made, deceitfully seeming clean and pretty, I sigh in relief. It's then the first tear falls from my
eyes.

I moved out here to get away from my past, only to learn there's no chance of ever having a better

life because of it. I can work like hell to redeem my name, but I'll always be linked to the notorious
man. They won't care what an incredible, loving father he is. It'll only matter what he once did.

A tiny knock at the door makes me flinch, but I steady myself before answering. "Yeah?"
"Raya?" Kade says as he steps in, seeming uncomfortable.
He's still freaked out about this morning. "Yeah," I murmur again, moving my eyes back down to

the book I'm not really reading.

I've been on the same page for over an hour. My mind is too busy to make room for reading. I've

been sorting through the numerous ways to squash this rumor about Kade and me.

"You okay? You haven't come out of your room all day. Did... Is... Does this have anything to do

with this morning?"

This morning when you freaked out for touching me? No. Never.
I almost roll my eyes at my mind's snide remark. "I don't know what you're talking about. I have

to finish reading this for class. The only thing that happened this morning was you woke up and took
a shower. Beyond that, nothing else happened."

I look up just as he pockets his hands. His eyes are on the floor, his body is rigid, and his lips

are in a tight line.

"You... Look, I don't know why I was spiraled around you or why you're pretending you didn't

notice, but we can't make this awkward. I apparently like the way you feel when I sleep. No big
deal."

No big deal. Nice to know. It was a huge deal to me.
"Kade, I really do have to read this. As for you liking the way I feel when you sleep, I honestly

have no idea what you're talking about."

I grin up at him, praying he doesn't see how forced it is. He relaxes a little, and then comes to

flop down on my bed beside me. I wish he'd just leave.

"New sheets?" he asks, smiling at the bed dressed anew.
Fortunately, Kade has tons of freshly packaged sheets in the hall closet.
"Two strangers were in my bed, so yes. New bedding all around."
He frowns, almost as if he's confused. "It wasn't Ember in here?"
"Ember is still a stranger. I just met her Friday. I only invited her because she's one of the few

people I've met that wasn't making fun of me."

He breathes out heavily and pulls his phone out of his pocket. "You're different today."
My phone buzzes on the table beside me, and I answer as I reach over to get it. "I'm just

exhausted. Someone made me go to this party until early this morning."

He smiles as I check the message on my phone. An involuntary grin spreads when I see the

message is from Kade, who really did program his number into my phone.

It's a picture of me in my skimpy white dress while I'm on the dance floor with Ember.
"That party had you smiling, so it couldn't have been too bad. I thought you might want a

reminder about what fun looks like, in case you forget sometime soon."

"Thanks," I chuckle out.

"Better. Hungry? You've been hiding all day, so I assume you've got to be starving."
"I ate some of my tuna earlier. I have a few cans up here."
He turns his nose up, which makes me chuckle in response.
"That's disgusting. I'm actually getting so used to the smell that I didn't even notice it. Why the

hell do you eat so much tuna? It can't possibly be that good."

I roll my eyes, still smiling, and then I turn my attention back to the book. "It's that cheap."
The bed shifts when he moves, and I look up to see him almost scowling at me. What the hell did

I do?

"Wait. You're eating that shit because you don't have money or something?"
That's embarrassing. Why did I even say anything?
"No. I've got some money, but food is just food. It's something that goes in your stomach to keep

you alive. I'm not going to spend massive amounts of money on something just to enjoy it for a few
minutes."

I don't have hardly any money, but I won't tell him that. I'm sick of being a charity case.
"Hell no," he growls.
He pulls me up by my arm and hoists me out of the bed. "What the hell, Kade?" I ask, shocked.
"Have you seen the pantry? There's more shit in there than anyone can eat, and you're choking

down that vile shit because you need to save cash? That's a little insulting, Raya. Go find something
that you want to eat."

I laugh lightly while shaking my head. "Kade, believe it or not, it's not vile. I grew up on tuna in

a can. It's what us lower class citizens do."

He takes a deep breath and slows down on the stairs, still dragging me behind him. "Promise me

you'll start acting like you live here, too."

He turns to face me, and my heartbeat quickens. There's that look - that depth of sincerity I never

thought he could possess. He's making it hard not to throw myself at him.

"I promise."
"Good." He lets go of my hand and starts walking down the steps again. "Dad called and wants

you to come to a charity event next weekend at his house. You game?"

I swallow hard and start following him again. "Me? Why?"
Because I'm a charity case?
"Because he likes you," he says with a shrug. "Take it as a compliment. He doesn't like many

people."

"That would be... weird, wouldn't it? Me at some ritzy function meant for people like you. I'll

probably pass, but tell Mr. Colton thank you for me."

I start to turn around, but he speaks before I can. "First of all, people like you? You mean

people that don't wipe their asses with money? I can assure you my father prefers people like you,
since he used to be one of you. Secondly, you'll fit in just fine, and I'll be there. It's not like you'll be
in the trenches alone. Come on. Don't make me go deal with all the rich people kissing my father's
ass by myself."

It's almost comical to think the man who came from nothing is one of the most prominent men in

Sterling Shore.

"You sure?" I ask, probing for some sort of promise he wants me there.
"Positive. I'll drive you back to the store to get a dress. You'll need something nice."
"There're a ton of dresses in there, thanks to you tossing half the store on the counter."
"Not good enough. You need something a little more flashy. It's one of those parties. If you feel

like it, we'll go right now."

I can't let his dad buy me another dress. It already feels wrong to have accepted as much as I

have. Taking any more will just feel greedy.

"Um... I don't care to wear one of the others. I'd rather wear one of the others, actually."
A small grins slides over his lips and he comes to pull my hand in his again. "Either you come

with me to find you a dress, or I'll go alone. Are you sure you want to let this fall in my hands?"

I roll my eyes. He's not going to have it any other way. "I trust you," I say with a shrug, hoping I

just called his bluff.

I turn around and rush back up the steps, ignoring his enigmatic chuckles. He's bluffing. He

doesn't even know my size. Those girls see hundreds of people a day. There's no way they'll
remember.

Chapter 7

Blurring the Lines

I can't believe he got me this dress. It's... ridiculous. I'm so not the kind of girl who can pull off

a daring red dress with a split up the side that stops high on my thigh. The longer bottom trails me
just barely, and the one-strap top draws the eye to my barely tasteful cleavage.

My hair is pulled up on one side, and it drapes down the other in large, elegant curls. The side

that is pulled up has a large, faux flower holding it in place. Ember was nice enough to come help me
out with my hair, as a way of profusely apologizing for screwing some guy on my bed.

Turns out, she's been after him for years. Her mom works as a maid in his house, but he hasn't

ever even noticed Ember. After their drunken fun, he went back to not knowing her. It's a small
reminder what money means, and Kade's family has a lot of money. I don't even have as much money
as the help.

"Kade, this isn't me," I gripe, talking loud enough to let my voice carry through the door and

down the stairs, and distracting myself from thinking about the two very different worlds we live in.

"Then you should have come with me," he taunts.
I'll never accuse Kade Colton of bluffing again. I've learned my lesson. I've also learned that he

has no qualms about rummaging through my closet to learn my size.

This week has been confusing. He has either cooked, helped me cook, or gotten us takeout all

week long. We've spent every meal together, and we've spent most nights on the couch, either
studying or watching a movie. I even fell asleep on him twice, only to wake up in my room the next
morning.

I really wish he'd go back to the arrogant prick I loved hating.
My door opens and I turn to face Kade, pushing forth my best glower. My angry fumes turn to

lusty drool when I see him though. He's heaven in a designer suit. I've never seen a tux look that
amazing on anyone. Damn him.

His eyes widen, and he slowly licks his lips as he runs the length of my body with his perfect

blues. My girly excitement tries to bubble up. I have to be reading him wrong. He can't possibly be
looking at me like... that.

"Damn," he drawls out, loosening his tie as he openly gawks at me the way I always gawk at

him.

I blush and bite back a grin, doing well not to become putty right now. My legs have the

consistency of jelly. It's all I can do to stay upright.

He shakes his head, and a small bit of blush creeps up to his cheeks as he tries to wipe away his

grin with his hand. "So much for it not being you. It'll be hard to keep the eyes off you tonight."

A bashful grin crawls over my face, and I look away when it becomes too hard to make eye

contact.

"Come on. Let's go make some jaws drop."
He gives me a wink as I take his arm. Gah, he smells so damn good. A subtle cologne mixed

with his own scent. It's too good. I'm officially melting.

"You okay?" he asks when my legs actually try to falter.
"Yeah," I grumble. "It's the heels."
He accepts my lie, and then leads me out to the car. "You'll get to meet some of my family

tonight. Be warned, my mother is... someone you have to warm up to. She'll grill you at first, but

she'll back off once she sees you're genuine."

That's disconcerting. I expected his mother to be just like his father - sweet and not judgmental.
"Relax, Raya. You'll be fine. I'll be there with you."
I nod, trying not to read too much into his words. I hate how sweet he's been acting. It just

makes me want all the things I'll never have.

I climb in his Range Rover instead of one of the cars, and he joins me quickly, taking the driver's

seat.

We sit in a comfortable silence for most of the trip. Every once and a while, I catch Kade's eyes

on me. It almost makes me want to wear a dress like this daily.

When we pull up to the iron gate that stands at least ten feet tall, my mouth tries to fall open.

With barely a glance at the attendant in the big brick box, the gates start opening for Kade.

The cobblestone driveway leads to a gallant house that stretches out like a mansion. Every

intricate detail makes me wonder if Cinderella just threw up in my life. There's no way I'm actually
here.

Kade pulls up beside a massive fountain, and a valet rushes over to open his door, while another

opens mine. It's the first time in my life a door has been opened for me by a valet.

"Have a good evening, Mr. Colton," one of them says to Kade.
He nods and then comes to offer me his arm as we reach the wide steps that lead to the ungodly

home.

"This... yeah... I wasn't expecting..."
I give up. My brain and mouth aren't doing too well together right now.
Kade chuckles as he guides me through the door being opened by a butler-type man. Amazing.

I'm officially wowed.

The inside is even more glorious than the outside. The chandelier dangles low from the high

ceiling. It's a piece of artwork more than it is a light. Golden lighting decorates the home, making it
all the more elegant.

Two staircases start on either side of the foyer and lead up in opposite directions. It looks like a

palace and I'm on the arm of the prince.

"You lived here?" I whisper, worried my voice might shatter the illusion if I speak too loudly.
"Yes," he whispers back, mocking me a little with his teasing snicker.
I roll my eyes while holding onto his arm a little tighter. I thought Kade's house was big, but this

house... this is a dream.

I scan the scene, and a familiar smile catches my attention the moment we walk into a glamorous

room made to be danced in. Mr. Colton excuses himself from the group of refined businessmen he's
surrounded by, and he heads toward us, beaming.

"Raya, I'm so glad Kade convinced you to come. And you look ravishing," he mutters softly,

drawing my hand in his to kiss the back of it.

"Thank you for inviting me."
"Of course. I assume the two of you have been getting along a little better?" he asks, seeming to

carry a bit of mischief in his eyes as he directs his attention toward Kade.

Kade fights hard not to grin, though I'm not sure why. We really haven't fought since the day he

threw me in the pool.

"We're getting along," Kade murmurs, offering a shrug instead of the restrained grin.
Paul smiles a little longer at his son, but Kade seems to be ignoring him as another guy joins us. I

almost swallow my tongue when I see it's Tagland Masters - A.K.A. Tag. The multi-millionaire

playboy. Kade knows him? How?

"It's about time you showed up, and thank God you brought something worth looking at," Tag

says, smiling at me with a Cheshire cat grin.

Paul laughs while slapping Tag on the back, and then he nods to me. "I need to make my rounds.

Have a good time, Raya. Make sure Kade doesn't leave you next to the wolves without him."

He looks pointedly at Tag who feigns offense. Then Paul heads into the crowd to go play the

good host. I chuckle lightly until Kade's arm slides around my waist. Then I feel my face flood with
heat as everything on me tingles.

"Where's Star?" Kade asks, making Tag grin for some reason, as if they're sharing a silent

conversation.

"I decided not to bring her. Wren's fiancée doesn't get along with her too well. Besides, I don't

really do the dating bit. Too much drama."

The brief spurt of interest Tag showed me has vanished, as if I'm suddenly invisible. I glance in

the long wall of mirrors, wondering if there's something on my face.

"You feel like dancing?" Kade asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I look up to see Tag has disappeared. I hope Kade doesn't notice whatever Tag did. I really

don't want him running off.

"Something wrong, Raya?" Kade asks as he pulls me onto the dance floor and starts moving me

with the elegant music being played by a stringed-quartet.

"Just... Is there something wrong with me that I can't see?"
He tilts his head, seeming bemused. "Why do you say that?"
I glance over to see Tag pulling a girl onto the dance floor, and her dreamy-eyed state reminds

me of how I feel around Kade these days. Though I don't want Tag, I'd still like to know what flipped
his switch.

"Tag Masters... he acted like there was something wrong with me."
He rolls his eyes as a teasing grin forms. "Don't tell me you're Tagged," he jokes.
I've read that somewhere. The girls who fall over themselves for the rich player are called

Tagged.

"No, I just don't particularly like feeling as though there's toilet paper stuck to my shoe or

something. I looked in the mirror, but I don't see anything standing out. So, I'm asking you."

He glances down and stares directly into my eyes as he towers over me. "There's nothing at all

wrong with you, Raya. Just dance. Lighten up. Then we'll grab some champagne. Tag doesn't have
a very big attention span."

"How do you know him?"
"He's my cousin's best friend. My Aunt Melanie pretty much raised him, so he and Wren grew up

like brothers."

His jaw seems a little tense for no real reason. I'm starting to worry I've made him mad

somehow.

"How did I manage to piss you off?"
Just like that, his anger flees and a smile brushes his lips. "You didn't. I just don't want you

going after someone like Tag. He's like family to me, but he's not exactly the kind of guy who sticks
around for longer than a night or two."

I roll my eyes while biting back a grin. It's actually adorable he feels that protective. I suppose

we've become friends after all.

"Well, I wasn't trying to get in his bed. I was sincerely worried I had something wrong with me

that I couldn't see."

He seems to relax under my touch, and he pulls me closer just as the music changes. "You're

very hard to read sometimes, Raya."

I tilt my head while leaning back. "What does that mean? Is that what's wrong with me?"
His harsh exhale is accompanied with a small chuckle. "No. Like I said; nothing's wrong with

you. Ready to drink?"

After meeting his cousins, Billy and Wren Price, I've decided the family tree is loaded with

delicious apples. Though Billy is shorter than the rest, he's still striking, as is his older brother,
Wren. Neither of them are as breathtaking as Kade, but it's still obvious this family has a rich gene
pool.

Tag and Wren seem closer than Billy and Wren, but I'm sure I don't know everything behind that.

Kade surprised me with his interaction with his grandparents. He was a little... stiff.

When he speaks about his grandfather, his eyes gleam with pride, but in the same room with him,

he seems so formal and rigid. I was sure I'd get to see him connecting with someone. He's always
so... closed off. And he says I'm hard to read.

It's obvious there's a rift between him and his dad, though I can't understand why, since Mr.

Colton is one of the nicest people at this party. He seems comfortable with Wren, Billy, and Tag, but
I was hoping to see something deeper when he was in the room with the man he seems to adore.

Mr. Grayson, Kade's grandfather, seems just as proper and stuffy with him. He barely offered me

a cold acknowledgment. It's not what I expected.

As the evening winds down, more and more people filter out. Soon, all that's left is the family...

and me. His grandparents offer stilted farewells and shallow hugs, while Tag, Billy, Wren, and
Kade's parents all flop down in the grand den.

The fake fireplace sparks its faux flames - intended for ambience rather than heat, since it's warm

outside.

"I'm exhausted," Wren groans, stretching out on the couch.
Tag is texting someone, probably a girl, and Billy is doing the same. Kade tugs me to be beside

him on the small sofa next to the fake fireplace.

Mr. Colton comes to take the largest chair in the room, while a sweet elderly lady comes in to

pass out glasses of a dark amber liquid. I wave her off when she offers me one. The champagne is
still kicking my ass.

Kade accepts, just as all the other men do, and then Margaret, Kade's mother, walks in and grabs

a glass from the tray on her way by.

"Thank goodness it's over," she says, exasperated, and then she drops to her husband's lap,

earning a deep chuckle from him as he wraps her in his arms.

I smile involuntarily. She's not the stuffy prude in here that she was all night long in front of the

socialites. I've barely spoken to her at all.

"We still on for Aspen?" Tag asks, looking up from his phone and toward Paul and Margaret.
"Of course. Is Melanie going to be there?"
"Mom?" Wren asks, seeming distracted as he pulls out his vibrating phone. "Yeah, she's

coming."

This is getting annoying. I'm ready to take all their phones away. After spending so many nights

getting comfortable around each other, I don't even think about it when I lean up against Kade and
yawn.

His arm comes down to rest over my shoulders, and his hand slides down to be on my arm as he

tucks me against him. I could go to sleep right now.

Tag smirks when he glances our way. "What about you, Raya? You coming with us?"
I stiffen against Kade. I've been so relaxed with him in his house, that I didn't think about how

misconstrued this situation might get. I'm curled into him, his arm is draped around me, and we
almost look like a couple.

"Um... no," I say with a quiet, but nervous laugh.
"You going to your family's place?" Wren asks, putting his phone away.
"No. My family does Christmas next weekend, actually."
Kade tilts his head as I lean up and away from him. "So soon?" he asks, bemused.
"Yeah. My stepbrother is a marine, so it's not easy for him to come back on holidays. Instead,

we celebrate when we can. Mom plans it around his return."

"Then what will you do for Christmas?" Margaret asks, making me feel all the more scrutinized.
"I'll... I might go see a friend or something."
Well, hell. I didn't think about the fact Kade might not want me in his house while he's away.

He's mentioned Aspen a few times now, but it didn't ever really register that he might be hinting for
me to make arrangements to be gone.

"Nonsense," Paul says, swatting the air. "You can come with us. We have more than plenty of

room. Tag has a beautiful home up there, and Margaret and I own one as well. It's always a good
time."

I squirm uncomfortably when everyone stares at me. I want to look at Kade, gauge what he's

thinking, but at the same time, I'm scared to know.

"Come on, Raya. It'll be fun," Kade says, tugging me back to his body. "Lots of skiing and

eggnog."

I breathe out in relief when I hear the sincerity in his tone. He really is okay if I go. Do I want to

go?

"Talk her into, Kade," Paul says with a smile. "In the meantime, what about your family? They

live in Utah, right?"

I nod, unsure where he's going with this.
"How are you getting there?"
"Oh. I always take the bus. I'll leave Friday after my last class, and I'll get home Sunday night."
Paul frowns, his brow furrows, and he glances over to a large plaque with numerous keys

hanging from engraved perches. Each one is labeled, but it's too far away for me to see what they
say. It's sad when you have to label your sets of keys because you have so many vehicles.

"Take one of my cars. There's no sense in you riding the bus."
Crap.
"Thank you, that's sweet, but I can't. I'll be fine on the bus."
"Don't be ridiculous, Raya," Kade interjects. "I'll drive you. I don't have anything going on next

weekend."

My heart flutters and crashes at once. I can't let the Colton Prince walk out of here and see my

sad trailer. I'd be mortified.

"Kade, I'm fine going on the bus. Shift the subject, please."
Everyone chuckles lightly at my obvious discomfort, but they start talking about plans for Aspen.

Kade seems intently focused on me, which is making me uncomfortable.

"I've got somewhere to be," Tag says as he stands up. He glances over to Billy, who is still

furiously pounding on his phone. "Forget it, Bity. Rene isn't going to Aspen with you."

He chuckles as he walks to the doorway, and Billy glares at his back.
"Bity?" I ask without meaning to. That's not a very cool nickname.
"Don't get him started," Wren says while standing up and stretching, making Billy's glower to

shift to him. "I need to get back to Erica. See you guys later."

Wren and Tag walk out together, and Billy stands. "For the record, I was texting my friend, Ash.

Not Rene. Some guy is giving her problems," Billy says to Kade, prompting a small snicker.

"Sure you were," Kade jokes.
Billy rolls his eyes as he storms out, seeming a little dramatic if you ask me.
"You guys always so nice to him?"
"Long story." Kade seems a little off now, but he motions for me to stand with him. "We've been

drinking for most of the night, so I can get us a driver or we can crash here."

Crap.
"Stay, stay," Margaret says, starting to sound a little drunk as she sets down her third glass since

she's been in here.

Wow. Miss Prim and Proper is getting drunk.
Paul nuzzles her neck before kissing it, and I turn away, blushing.
"Gross," Kade groans, pulling me out of the room while his parents get overly touchy.
"I think it's sweet," I giggle out, but he doesn't laugh or even acknowledge what I've said.
"Why do you insist on taking a bus all the way to Utah? If it's because you don't want me to go,

that's cool. I was just going to keep you from making that trip alone. But you can drive one of my
cars. Don't take the bus."

A harsh breath escapes my lips as I decide to come clean.
"Kade, it doesn't have anything to do with that. My house..." My voice trails off as I look around

the glorious foyer we're standing in once again. "It's not like this. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure
that den was bigger than my mother's trailer. Right. Trailer. It's... It's not something I want to drag
you out to see."

His eyes soften and for a fleeting second, there's a glimpse of something so indescribably raw

there.

"Raya, I don't care if you lived under the bridge. Friends don't judge friends based on where they

come from. I'd like to go. I've gotten used to having you around. Plus, you've heard a thousand
embarrassing stories about me tonight. It's only fair we level the playing field."

His last little bit makes laughter squeak free from me, and his smile comes out as he wraps his

arm around my shoulders. "Come on. I'll show you a good room."

Chapter 8

A Prince in a Trailer Park

My fingernails are almost gone. I've worked them down to nearly nothing during this thirteen

hour drive. We've been good to alternate who drives every three hours, giving the other a chance to
nap. This is the first time Kade has been awake at the same time I am for longer than ten or twenty
minutes.

My Friday class got cancelled, and Kade skipped his because he wanted to get us there earlier. I

don't know why I agreed to that.

"Raya, you're making me nervous. What's going on?" he grumbles, letting the long trip make him

cranky.

As I turn onto the next road, Kade reclines back and watches me, waiting on an answer.
In one heavily rushed breath, I answer, "It doesn't matter how many times we tell her we're

friends, my mother is still going to try shoving me down your throat. My stepdad is going to have his
beer glued to his hand, and he'll say 'yes, dear' at random times, even if no one has said anything,
because he's a zombie most of the time. My stepbrother is going to be cruel, scary, and completely
obnoxious simply because you're a guy who is acquainted with me. His wife is sweet - too sweet.
She'll ask you a thousand times if you're okay or if you need anything. That's what has me nervous.
This whole weekend is a recipe to humiliate me and drive you crazy."

His laughter bursts free, and he covers his mouth to smother it when I glare at him.
"Raya, you seriously have to learn to relax."
I sigh out wearily when I see the trailer park just ahead. I haven't even warned him. His honest

reaction should help douse all these unbidden feelings I keep having for him.

He reclines back, placing his hands behind his head as I turn onto the rundown road. I keep

expecting him to ask what we're doing, but he doesn't. When I pull into my mother's gravel driveway
and stop right in front of the single-wide trailer, parking Kade's flashy Range Rover behind the Ford
truck that looks like it's about to collapse, he still remains unaffected. He doesn't even seem
disturbed by his expensive ride being parked so close to something that has more rust than paint these
days. My brother's cavalier is parked in the grass beside my stepfather's truck, and my mom's
intrepid is on the other side, next to the porch.

Kade looks around, taking in the scenery.
"This is it," I murmur softly, still waiting on his reaction.
"I'll grab the bags. You can head on in," he says while climbing out.
That's not the reaction I expected. I whip around to see if he's turning his nose up in disgust, but

instead, he's waving at a neighbor kid who's riding by on his bike. He's smiling. How in the world is
he smiling?

He's a prince in a trailer park. Something is amiss.
I slowly get out, still waiting on the shoe to drop. I'm wondering what's going through his mind.

Has he even noticed the faded white trailer with a rotting porch is my home?

The double layered widows all carry at least one crack or hole from my stepfather running over a

rock with the lawnmower. The inner panels are solid, but that's only because he always replaces
them. He has to.

The lattice that wraps around the underpinning has been chewed up by the neighborhood dogs.

My stepfather doesn't believe in trimming the weeds, so dry stalks stick up around every corner the

mower didn't reach during the warmer months.

Now that we're not in the warm air of Sterling Shore, I regret wearing shorts. As a matter of fact,

it's frigging cold.

"You okay?" I ask curiously, possibly trying to provoke some sort of irritation in his response. I

refrain from releasing a shiver against the cool bite of the wind.

Why does he have to look so good? In nothing more than a Fox Racing shirt and a pair of dark

denim jeans, he looks like he could walk down the runway.

"Yeah, why?" he asks, bemused as he pulls out the bags, bringing me back to reality.
I needed one bag, but the prince has two. Figures.
"Primp much?" I tease, changing the subject while motioning toward his luggage.
Holding the straps to all three bags in one hand, he laughs and shakes his head while closing the

back hatch to the Range Rover. "One of my bags has a nice wine selection. There's a chiller built in
to keep it the perfect drinking temperature. I started to bring a decanter, but I thought that might come
off as a little pretentious."

Chilled perfectly? Decanter? Is that another language?
"Pretentious? No. We always decant our boxes of wine," I say deadpan, but then a smile creeps

up.

My joke is rewarded with his sweet laugh, and I grin my girly smile in response as I stare at him

with a whole new appreciation. I'm starting to forget our very different worlds.

"You really shouldn't have brought wine."
"I'm a guest. It's customary for the guest to bring the hosts a gift. I always bring wine. It's easy,

and it's always a big hit," he says with a shrug.

"Yeah, but my family isn't going to know the difference between the service station wine and the

ungodly priced stuff you're probably carrying around. My stepbrother drinks the stuff right out of the
bottle. Just... I don't know... We'll grab a pie tomorrow for you to give them."

He laughs again, making the butterflies within me ruffle. "They can guzzle my wine. I promise,

it's fine."

Before I can argue any further, the screen-door on the trailer swings open, and my mother's shrill

squeals deafen everyone. She runs down the rickety steps of the hazardous porch to throw her arms
around me.

"Finally! I've missed you so much!" she says with her highest pitch.
"I've missed you, too," I chuckle out.
Kade steps to be in front of my eyes, and over my mother's shoulder, my eyes lock with his. His

authentic smile is so warming, and it blurs the lines all the more. It suddenly doesn't matter if he's a
prince and I'm a trailer-park girl. I'm falling for Kade Colton.

"And who the hell is this prime piece of perfection?" my mother gushes, ruining the moment

between Kade and me as she turns to shamelessly gawk at him.

Her eyes rake over him several times as she takes him all in. His dark hair sweeps his brow -

the perfect bedroom messy as always. His deep blues claim me, own me, and make me almost forget
my name as I stare with her.

"Kade Colton," he says, extending his hand.
Shit. I was supposed to introduce him.
"Handshakes are for strangers. If you're coming home with my girl, then you're family."
My mother swats away his hand and wraps him up in a far too intimate hug. And I thought people

from Sterling Shore had boundary issues.

He grins as he wraps his free arm around her to hug her back, while still clasping the three bags

in his other.

I cover my smile with my hand when she lingers. Then I roll my eyes while going to tug her off

him.

"Don't maul the guest. Let's go in."
She lets go, reluctantly, but before we can make it up the steps, my stepbrother's body fills the

doorway. Gah. It looks like he's gained thirty pounds of solid muscle. His marine tattoos are
creeping out all over his arms and neck. His hair is buzzed almost completely, his eyes are bright, but
hide jaded scars. I dread what's about to happen.

"It's about damn time," he says with daring grin as he rips me up from the ground in a crushing

hug.

I strain for air as he holds me tighter, and he laughs when I tap his shoulder three times to tap-out.
"Damn. Lay off the steroids," I grumble as he puts me down.
He chuckles loudly, and then he shakes his head. "Pure and solid, baby sister. Pure and fucking

solid."

His eyes darken when they trail down to Kade, and I suck in a breath. Crap. No one warned

him.

"Who's pretty boy?"
I wince and turn to see Kade stifling a grin. Whew. He isn't mad.
"This is Kade, my... friend?" I ask rather than say. "Play nice, Josh."
"I'll play," he says threateningly, forcing me to roll my eyes while pushing him back in the house.
He goes willingly, otherwise I'd be in trouble. There's no way I could get him to budge on my

own.

We left before the sun came up, but already it's starting to descend. I'm ready to get this weekend

over. I think it's messing with my head because I can't stop looking at Kade.

He has to duck under the trailer's doorway, and the low ceilings inside only miss his head by

about six inches. He'll be dodging ceiling fans all weekend.

My stepdad is snoring on the recliner, but I'm actually thankful. I'll do introductions for him

later. Kade needs a break from my crazy family anyhow.

My brother has devoured one bottle of wine already. It makes me a little nauseated,

considering Kade probably spent a couple thousand dollars on it. My stepfather has roused from his
sleep a few times, but he keeps passing back out. It's too much effort for him to stay awake.

It's late, I'm tired, and I can't wait to collapse to my old bed.
"Are you okay?" Ginger, my brother's wife, asks for the hundredth time since we've been here. I

warned him. "Do you need anything?"

Kade stifles a grin while giving me a wink, letting me know he completely understands what I

meant now. Her brilliantly red hair bounces in ringlet curls, and her freckles soften her look.

"I'm fine, thank you," he says softly, letting his ingrained manners shine through.
Kade wraps his arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him, feeling the exhaustion settling over

me. A yawn attacks me, forcing my eyes to shut, and when I open them again, my mother's gaze is on
me, scrutinizing me with a wry grin.

"I'm ready to crash," Kade says through a yawn.
"Me, too. I'll show you the guestroom."
Though the trailer is small compared to his house, we still have four bedrooms, which is perfect

for tonight.

"Actually, Raya," my mother says, a smile in her voice, "the guestroom is packed full with some

of your brother's friend's things. He needed a place to store some stuff while he moved into a new
home. Kade will have to share your room tonight. Your bed is plenty big enough."

Josh spews wine from his lips while clutching a new bottle of the expensive drink. I watch in

dismay as the hundred-dollar droplets settle into the grungy carpet.

"You're kidding me!" he says, scolding my mother.
"Absolutely not. Clean that up," she grumbles. Then her smile returns as she faces Kade.

"Unless you're uncomfortable staying in the room with my daughter, of course. I could ask one of the
neighbors to put you up."

Kade does well to stifle his laugh. But I shoot her an I'm-going-to-kill-you glower. She ignores

me, as usual.

"I'll be fine in Raya's room. She doesn't usually bite."
He gives me a wink, and I swear my knees wobble. If he had any idea about the things rattling

around in my mind... he wouldn't keep talking like that. His lips look so... tempting tonight. This is
bad.

"Raya?" he says, grinning, forcing my eyes up from his lips. "Want to show me where to find

your room?"

That's not a question he needs to ask me right now. Not while I'm being a hormonal idiot.

Sheesh.

"Yeah, come on," I mumble, quickly turning my back to him to lead him through the narrow

hallway.

He grabs up our forgotten bags, leaving behind the wine, but I turn around and retrieve it before

Josh devours eighty thousand dollars in one night.

"He's an animal," I say by way of explaining, motioning to Josh who has his hands up like "what

the fuck?"

Kade snickers, and his hand slides down to rest on the small of my back as I resume leading him

back to the bedroom. I need him to stop touching me.

"I can sleep on the floor, Raya," he whispers as we make it inside.
I think about that. It would definitely make it easier on me, considering I'm on the verge of

attacking him. I wasn't expecting him to do so well with my family.

"No. It's fine. We've shared a bed before."
Except we shared a king-size bed instead of a bed that's barely a full-size. He wiggles out of his

shirt almost immediately, and I mentally slap myself when I gape at him.

I shut the door, lean against it, and contemplate just taking in the show while he gets ready for

bed. When he turns to meet my eyes and smiles at me, I snap out of my trance.

"Right. I should go change," I mumble, quickly dropping to my knees to rummage through my

bag.

He chuckles as I dart out the door with a pair of silky short pajamas clutched in my hand. The

Colton pajama line is by far the heavenliest clothing to ever grace my skin.

I stumble to a stop when I hear water running in the shower and my brother laughing with his

wife. Gross. That's worse than gross.

I decide to head to the other side of the trailer where my mother's room and the guestroom are. I

taste bile when I see my mother straddling my stepfather in the recliner. His hands are fisted in her
dark hair, and the disgusting moans slipping through her lips force me to gag.

I run back to the room, barge through the door, and then slam it shut. Kade jumps, startled by my

abrupt reentrance, and my heartbeat quickens when I see him in nothing more than his boxers.

"I thought you'd be longer," he says, grinning as he picks up his gray pants to start sliding on.
Oh damn.
"Sorry," I say with burning cheeks while covering my eyes. "It's dangerous out there right now."
He laughs, and I hear the bed creak as he slides into place. I lower my hands, though I regret

such a foolish action. My old bed looks so flashy with him half-naked. I need a cold shower - after
I've bleached the hell out of it to rid it of my stepbrother's filthy exhibition.

"You can change in here... since it's dangerous. I'll head out," he says, sliding off the bed.
The second he opens the door and hears the nightmarish sounds decorating the hallway, he slams

it back, letting his laughter roar free as I cover my humiliated face.

"Damn. They work quick."
"Don't talk about it. I'll puke."
He laughs harder while flopping down to the bed. "I'll close my eyes."
The second he shuts his eyes, I start tearing out of my clothes to hurriedly get ready for bed. Of

course, the only thing I can think about with his eyes closed is how badly I want to go straddle him
and watch his reaction. He'd probably toss me to the ground. That's sobering.

I might be moving past our great divide, but he hasn't shown any interest in me yet. I doubt he

ever will.

Chapter 9

Losing Boundaries

His hand cupping my ass has me throbbing. His lips have brushed mine all night long, and he

doesn't even realize it. He grabbed my leg during the night and hauled it over his waist, but it was a
subconscious action. He has no clue what he's done.

Without making a sound, I run my hand through the feather-soft strands of dark, almost black hair.

Mmm. I could picture my hands staying here.

His hand on my ass gets tighter, and he pulls me closer, making my throbbing center beg for

more. I'm almost in need right now. I remember the three times I had sex. They weren't anything
spectacular, but I'd bet it would be better with Kade. I never wanted Jeremy as much as I want this
incredible man wrapped around me.

"Raya," he murmurs softly, almost making it a whisper as he pulls me even closer.
Is he dreaming about me? Surely not.
His lips press against my collarbone, and my breath hitches as his hand slides up my waist to my

breast. He picks that second to wake up, and his eyes widen in shock as he jerks back. One
problem... My bed is smaller than his, so he runs out of room to leap back.

He thuds to the ground, taking my small nightstand and all its contents with him. Great. Touching

me freaks him out every time.

"You okay?" I grumble, trying not to let him see how incredibly frustrated and teased he's left me.
"Yeah," he groans, cursing under his breath as a few things rattle around him. "I'll clean that up.

I need... I need a smoke."

I rarely see him smoke. Usually school pushes him to grab a cigarette because he's stressed, but I

rarely ever see him smoke at home.

He grabs his pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his bag, and then he darts out the door -

barefoot and shirtless. I drop back and pull the cover over my head. I'm stupid to have thought the
two of us could be more than friends. If we're even that.

The day drags on, but fortunately, Kade seems to have pushed aside our morning fiasco. He's

back to touching me for no reason, since all Sterling Shore people love to touch.

After my mother broke out the old pictures of me, I decided to take Kade to town. Most of the

people have avoided me - nothing new. I'm the spawn of the conman, after all. The biggest scandal
to ever hit this small town is still talked about.

"People like to stare," Kade says as he threads his fingers with mine, igniting a beastly desire he

has no clue exists within me.

I stare at the connection as he studies all the eyes on us. "You're new in town," I lie, praying no

one has the audacity to actually clue him in.

"I guess I get what they say about small towns now."
I force a weak smile. He doesn't understand small towns at all. He stops completely, right in the

middle of the sidewalk. With his hand still holding mine, I'm forced to stop just as abruptly and
stumble into him.

"What's that smell?" he groans, seeming intoxicated.
I chuckle loudly as I stare at the vendor just down the sidewalk. I'd know that smell anywhere.

"Mrs. Bates's cherry pie. She's won the state fair pie contest for the past ten years with that recipe."

"Please tell me it's not soy, fat free, or gluten free," he almost whimpers, making my smile perk

up even more.

Sterling Shore is a town for health fanatics; not the hungry. Kade is like a hungry wolf stalking

his prey as he abandons me on the sidewalk to go track down the smell that is calling to him.

I giggle to myself when he almost runs to get in line behind three others. It's odd seeing him in a

place like this. He's dressed casual, but he still stands out.

In his designer blue jeans and his long-sleeved pull-over, he almost fits in, but then you see his

stride, his posture, and his amazing, untainted beauty.

"Raya?" a familiar, gut-wrenching voice says.
I turn slowly, trying not to let my heart crash into my stomach. The second I meet the brown eyes

that stared into mine when he cut my heart out, I fight back all the tears I thought I had finished
shedding.

"Jeremy," I almost whisper, and then my eyes settle on the ornament on his arm. My ex-best

friend. "Vickie," I add coldly.

Her soft eyes meet mine as she forces a sad smile.
"Hey, Raya. You look really good," she says in a small voice, treating me as though I might

break if she speaks too loudly.

She's wrong. They already broke me once. It's not possible to break me again.
"Yeah," Jeremy says, scanning me up and down. "You look so... different."
I glance down at the Colton ensemble I'm wearing. The sleek, deep blue shirt fits perfectly, the

stylish tan leather jacket stops at the top of my jeweled jeans.

"I... made some changes."
Before I know what's going on, I feel a warm arm around me, soft lips on my neck, and heated

breaths stroking me in places they can't even touch. My breath catches in my throat seconds before
Kade's incredible lips find mine.

I lose myself in the unexpected kiss, and one of my hands slides up to tug at his soft, perfect hair.

He pulls me closer, making my whole body flame like we've been tossed into the belly of a volcano.

Just when I'm ready to push my tongue between his lips, he smiles against our kiss before

drawing back, leaving me breathless, and then he turns to face the people I've completely forgotten.

"Sorry," he says, sounding sincere. "Are you friends of Raya's?"
Did he... why did he... oh. He must have figured out who they are. He kissed me to keep me

from looking pathetic and alone. Shit. Now I like him even more. Damn it.

"I'm Jeremy and this is Vickie," Jeremy says with a slight frown. "And you?"
"Um... yeah. This is Kade," I say with a grin, relishing the lingering taste he's left on my lips.
"Colton," Kade says, as if I forgot to mention his last name.
"As in Colton Fashion industries?" Vickie gushes, her eyes wide and excited.
"Paul Colton is my father," Kade says with a small smirk.
His arm snakes around my waist and he kisses my forehead. Jeremy has no idea what Colton

Fashion is, but Vickie seems star-struck.

"We should go, babe," Kade says before pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. "I've got pie, and I'm

desperate to eat it. I've also got the perfect wine to go with it."

I'm still reeling from the mind-numbing kiss. How can I think about pie and wine right now?
"Yeah. Um... I guess I'll see you guys later," I mutter insincerely.
Kade guides me to the Range Rover parked at the curb, and I smile to myself, knowing their eyes

are still on us. Is it petty to rub their noses in this and make them think I'm dating the prince?

Probably. Am I above such a thing? Hell no.

Kade shuts my door for me and then walks over and puts the pie in the back seat before hopping

up front beside me. After he cranks it, he smiles.

"They're still watching."
I can't tear my eyes off him long enough to even try to glance at Jeremy and Vickie. I want to play

with his tongue ring right now. He has turned my mind into mush.

He looks over at me, and his eyes change as I stare longingly at his lips. He tilts his head as if

he's studying me, and for a second, I swear he's about to kiss me again. Of all the times for it to
happen, my phone starts ringing, playing Halestorm's Mz. Hyde.

Kade laughs when he hears it ringing, and the possible moment is ruined. I could have just

imagined it to begin with.

"Hello," I mutter, trying not to sound as agitated as I feel while we pull out onto the road.
"Put loverboy on the phone," Josh chuckles.
"He's not... no. I don't trust you."
He laughs harder, and Kade tilts his head.
"I swear I won't say anything to embarrass you."
I snort derisively, refusing to hand over the phone.
"If you don't hand him the phone, I'll walk around the house naked when you guys get back."
Shit.
"Fine. Play nice."
Kade snickers as I hand him the phone, and I listen and watch as he greets my brother.
"Sure," he says. "We'll be back in about five minutes or less. I'd like to eat some pie first."
I grin involuntarily when his smile becomes infectious. I forget all about Josh and the promise of

disaster when all I can focus on is Kade.

"They've been gone too long," I mumble while pacing back and forth.
"Your brother is good with guns. Stop worrying," Mom says dismissively.
I offer her an incredulous gawk. "I realize he's good with guns. That's why I'm worried."
"They're just shooting skeets," she chuckles out. "Josh isn't stupid enough to shoot him."
"He'd better not be."
I feel my whole body relax when Kade's Range Rover rolls up in the yard. Kade is laughing with

my brother when they get out, and more relief fills me. To keep everyone from seeing how crazy-
strung I am, I clamber back to my room and collapse face-first onto the bed.

Their laughter carries through the house when they come in. I just press my face into the pillow,

trying to get a hold of myself before Kade sees what a freak I've become.

"Where's Raya?" Kade asks, his voice only slightly muffled by my closed door.
"She's in her room," my mother says. I can actually hear her smiling. She has too much

confidence in me if she thinks I can get a guy like Kade to see me as more than a friend.

I hear the door, but I don't bother lifting my head. A breath of air gushes through my lips when

Kade drops down on top of me and buries his face in my neck.

"Your brother is one crazy motherfucker," he murmurs against my neck, and I choke out a laugh.
He laughs, too, but I'm more focused on the fact his body is pressed tightly against mine. I think

he's torturing me.

"You didn't get shot," my brother calls from the living room, making both of us laugh louder.
"Only because the gun jammed," Kade says back, making me gasp.

"It's was a joke, Raya!" Josh says quickly before I can berate him.
I relax once that's cleared up, but Kade's body, still pressed against mine, makes me tense for a

whole new reason.

"You guys ready for supper?" Mom calls, making Kade sigh.
"You're exhausted, aren't you?" I mumble into the pillow.
"You feel more tense than I was the whole time," he teases.
"I know Josh better than you do."
He chuckles and then stands up, pulling me with him. I smile as I walk over to my bag and pull

out a box I've wrapped for him. Luckily for me, Mom had all the ingredients handy. And though he'll
probably laugh at the pathetic excuse for a present, I couldn't let him come to our family's Christmas
without giving him anything. After the way he ran after that pie, I decided this gift would be as close
to perfect as I could get.

"What's this?" he asks as I hand it over.
"Something for you. It's impossible to buy a Colton anything unless you're the Queen of England,

but I wanted to get you something."

He smiles as he sits down on the edge of the bed, but then his smile falls.
"I didn't even think... Raya, my family hasn't done presents since we were kids. I didn't even

think to get you anything."

"I don't expect anything. Believe me, this is nothing exciting. Open it."
He seems sad now, like he's let me down. It's adorable, but it's also taking away all my oomph.
He tears the paper away, and a smile graces his lips when the smell from the box in his hands

finally registers. He opens it up to find several packs of various cookies, brownies, and one small
apple pie.

"Seriously? You can cook like this and you're just now telling me?"
I chuckle lightly and he places the box on the bed before pulling me to him in a hug. I willingly

wrap my arms around his waist and breathe him in. Damn, he smells so good.

"It's perfect, Raya. Thank you."
I smile a little bashfully, but I just revel in the feel of his embrace. When his soft lips brush my

forehead, a content sigh slips through my lips.

"Raya, I think we-"
"Come on!" Mom yells, interrupting whatever Kade was about to say. "Food's ready!"
I pull back to look up at Kade, who brushes my hair from my face with a sweet caress of his

hand.

"What were you going to say?" I ask.
"It's nothing. We'll... talk later. I'm starving."
His grin is enough to make any girl dissolve.

Chapter 10

Daddy's Girl

My mind falls to Kade as the guards rifle through my belongings, checking to make sure I don't

have anything dangerous. I'm sure they're checking for drugs and stuff as well.

The last day we woke up at my mom's, Kade was already awake. I was too out of it to know if

he groped me in his sleep again.

It was odd but so much fun to have him with my family. He fit in so well, even through he stood

out so profoundly. My mother did everything she could to build me up in front of him. I'm sure it
drove him absolutely crazy, but he never said anything.

I once thought him not to have any manners at all, but I've learned he's secretly a saint with a

devilish exterior. He listened to her, let her rave about me, and then he'd glance my way and give me
a wink. I think he enjoyed the fact she was humiliating me.

On our drive home, we stopped at random places and he bought me a few souvenirs to remember

our road trip together. I wouldn't have forgotten it even without the mementos. Kade has become
more to me than I ever thought possible. Now I just have to figure out a way to tell him without
ruining our friendship. I couldn't bear to push him out of my life by trying to press for more.

Once I've met inspection, the prison guard lets me slip through to the visitor section. Since I was

twelve and had to watch my father being hauled away by men in black suits, I've had to come here.

As always, his award-winning smile is bright enough to outshine the orange jumpsuit. I'm sure he

could still charm the hell out of someone in that orange disaster. Most of the women in town openly
swooned over him for years before he was locked up by the FBI. Now they swoon in private, as
though he's a guilty pleasure.

A white-collar criminal who conned millions of dollars out of people was caught because he fell

in love and stayed in one place for too long. It's hard to be a con with a steady home life. Eventually,
you leave a trail.

"Hello, pretty girl," he coos as he sits down in front of me.
Physical contact is prohibited, especially with him. They're afraid his daughter is just as clever

and crafty as he is, and they expect me to pass him something he could easily find a way to hide from
them. All of his visits are heavily monitored to ensure no one is that clever.

"Hey, Daddy," I murmur with a smile. "How much longer?"
He manages to look in-control and debonair, despite his prison attire. It's no wonder he was

able to con so many.

"I'll be getting out of here soon. Have you been getting my checks?" he asks as he sits down in

front of me.

I always hate this conversation.
"I have, but... I didn't cash them."
He groans while gripping his head. "You tore them up... again, didn't you?"
Since I turned eighteen, I've been getting checks for two-thousand dollars from him. I always

tear them to pieces. I don't know why he keeps sending them.

My silence answers the question for me.
"Raya, I've told you over and over; that money isn't bad. I've earned that. I've been consulting

with banks and other businesses since I was recruited as a CI for the FBI. I've even created new
security protocols for them. It's a lucrative business. They took every cent I conned from people

when I was convicted. It's clean, Raya. Believe me. I'm getting out after barely serving six years
because I've been so damn good. I just cracked a case that has been baffling the New York White-
Collar division for years. It's clean money."

He's only getting out of here because they couldn't convict him on more than one solid charge.

One mistake took my father from me. Though he still lost all the money he had - supposedly - they
couldn't link it to anywhere. My mother wouldn't have touched it even if they'd let her keep it.

Ray Drivel is a con. He can make you believe the sky is actually the ground with just a couple of

words. He's that good. He knows ten languages, can fake any accent with ease, and can bend your
mind to his will if you're not careful. There's no way he's convincing me that money is clean.

"Let's move on. I brought the cards. What are we playing today?" I ask while pulling the deck

from my purse.

As I start to shuffle, he answers, "Twenty-one."
I smirk and nod as I start dealing.
"When I get out of here, I plan to move close to your college. I was hoping you'd consider living

with me."

He never stumbled while saying that, but he's good that way. I wouldn't think he's a bit nervous,

except I see that fear of rejection in his eyes. I'm his weak spot. I'm the reason he was caught to
begin with. Mom always says he only shows vulnerability with me.

"I'll consider it, but... I kind of really like where I'm at right now. I'd like to see... how it goes, I

guess."

He grins when he sees my blushing cheeks, but then his smile falls flat as a look of horror crosses

his face.

"You're living with a guy? No. How long have I been in here?"
I let a laugh out while dealing the cards. He picks his up, still frowning, letting his eyes prompt

me to answer.

"Yes, I'm living with a guy, but it's platonic. I'm eighteen. A lot happens in six years."
His frown grows and he slumps in his seat, seeming too defeated. "Hit me," he mumbles. I wait

to see if he needs another card, but he waves me off, his posture still sagging.

Then I take a card for myself, keeping a stoic face. He sighs before turning his cards up.

Twenty. Of course he has twenty. But, there's one thing I learned from Ray - how to win.

"Twenty-one," I murmur with a grin.
"You cheated," he accuses, as always.
"You never taught me any other way to play," I say while shrugging, prompting him to laugh.
I keep control of the deck as we continue to play several hands, all of which I win without him

catching my slide-of-hand - even though he knows I'm doing it. If he didn't want to lose, then he
shouldn't have left me ingrained with the skills.

We talk as we play, and I fill him in on the highlights of my life between school and my bizarre

living arrangement.

"I'm not going back to the life, Raya," he says suddenly, killing our casual conversation.
I look up at him, praying I can believe what he says. "I hope you're right."
He sighs out hard as he searches for the right words. "I'll be working with Brody, just as I do

now, and I'll still be conning, but it'll be legal. Believe it or not, the FBI has more cons working for
them than they do agents." He chuckles, which makes me smile as well. "It's actually more of a rush
to con cons. It takes more strategy, which makes it more fun. I have numerous jobs lined up, as I've
already told you. Everyone wants Ray Drivel to make their shit untouchable."

Amused, I mutter, "And who says crime doesn't pay?"
He laughs, but it's a sad laugh; a laugh I understand. He only lost six years of his life to pay for

the millions he stole, but those six years had a lot of life to lose. My first date, my first dance, my
prom, my graduation, going off to college... he lost his chance to be a father for some of the most
important years of my life. And... he lost Mom.

"I love you, Raya. You know that, right?"
It's rare he says those words, even though I know he wants to say them all the time. I smile as I

look up from behind the ace and king. "I love you, Daddy. But you suck at this game."

I put my cards down, and he chuckles a more heartfelt laugh that warms my soul.
Too soon my time with him ends, just as it always does. "How did you get here?" he asks,

possibly prying to see if I let Kade drive me.

"I borrowed some money from Mom when I went to see her."
He frowns again. "You'll take her money but not mine? You're just like her. She always tore up

my checks, too. I assumed it was because she hated me."

I shake my head as I stand. "She doesn't hate you. Never did. She just hated what you did to

earn that money."

He forces a tight smile just as they announce visiting hours are over. I'll be glad when I can hug

my father again. As we say our awkward farewells, I turn to walk out. In just a few more months, I'll
have my father back.

Chapter 11

Baby Steps

The house is quiet when I get back. Kade is most likely out with some friends. We leave for

Aspen early tomorrow morning. It's already seven in the evening. He begged me to tell him my
plans, but I just told him I had errands to run. I hated to lie to him, but it wasn't exactly like I could
tell him the truth.

I'll have to find a way to ease him into understanding where I come from, and then pray he

accepts it better than the others who have found out.

A knock at the door draws my attention just as I finish settling into a pair of sexy pajamas I hope

pique Kade's interest. Ember called earlier to see if she could borrow a dress from my closet, so I
guess she's here to collect.

When I swing open the door, my greeting smile turns to fear. I'd know a Fed anywhere, and this

guy has it tattooed on his forehead. Clean-shaved, sexy but militant hair, a charming but authoritative
grin, and a rigid, dominant posture that seals the deal.

"What did he do?" I groan, cursing my father silently.
He laughs momentarily, but it turns into a sharp breath when his eyes scale up and down the

length of my body, settling on my exposed inch of stomach for a minute, and then they ride back up to
my cleavage.

"Damn. Not what I was expecting," he murmurs to himself, seeming a little breathless.
Ha. Me leaving someone that looks like him breathless. That's laughable.
"What did he do?" I ask again, crossing my arms over my chest since he can't seem to stop

staring.

He snaps his eyes up to meet mine as a grin grows on his face.
"How did you know who I am?"
"You wreak of FBI. Call it a gift."
He tilts his head as a challenge streams across his deep brown eyes. "Should we be watching

you, Ms. Capperton? You're a little too good at spotting agents, considering I'm in street clothes"

His street clothes are very... aesthetically pleasing to say the least; a tight black shirt tucked into

a pair of jeans. His black belt is simple but sleek.

"You can watch me if you want to be bored to death."
"Something tells me I'd never be bored," he says under his breath, making my cheeks flush. "Ray

sent me. I have a gift for you. Can I come in?"

I step aside to show him in, and then I push the door shut behind him as he wanders into the

elegant living room. He looks around, seeming to gauge my very lavish surroundings. Crap. It
probably looks like I'm running a con. How else would a girl from the trailer park end up in such a
snazzy home.

"They bulldozed my house," I blurt out, needing to explain myself. That sounded so random.
"Ray told me," he says, grinning as he continues to look around. He lets out a low whistle when

he sees the numerous works of priceless art hanging proudly in various places. "Don't invite Ray
over."

I chuckle, but then I tilt my head. "Are you Agent Sparks? His handler?"
He finally meets my eyes again as his beautiful smile stays fresh. He's almost as tall as Kade,

just not quite. If this is Brody, he's not at all what I was expecting. He can't be older than twenty-

three, twenty-four.

"Just call me Brody."
Well I'll be damned.
"Mmkay, so, what's going on?"
He tugs a folded envelope from his back pocket and hands it to me. Warily, I accept it and open

it up. A loud gasp falls through my lips when I see at least three thousand dollars tucked inside.

"You're supposed to be FBI," I whisper, feeling as though now I'm actually being watched and

listened in on.

"I am," he whispers back teasingly. Bastard. He laughs and then continues, "Ray said you didn't

believe the money was clean. In fact, he said you wouldn't believe it unless he sent someone you
knew for a fact couldn't hand it over to you without definitively disputing how very untainted it is. So
here I am; delivering this money I can assure you has not been acquired by any illegal means."

I smile down at the envelope that holds more meaning than the dollar amount. My father cares.

Really cares. He's been trying, and I've been refusing.

"Thank you," I murmur softly.
"Anytime. I have to say... Ray never mentioned how... grown up you are. I was almost expecting

a child to answer the door."

I chuckle and then shake my head. "I was just a kid when he was locked up. He's still catching

up. I go to see him at least once a month, but it isn't enough to let his mind wrap around the fact I'm an
adult."

"He'll have time to adjust soon. Are you going to move in with him?"
"I don't know yet. I'm actually-"
The door opens before I can finish that sentence, and I hear Kade's voice filling the foyer on his

way toward us.

"Raya? You home? I went and got everything we need for tomorrow..." His voice trails off as

he rounds the corner to join us in the living room.

He eyes Brody for a minute, probably wondering what some strange guy is doing in his house.

When he looks back to me, his jaw is tense.

"Raya? Care to introduce me to your... friend?" he asks, sounding a little irritated.
Crap. How do I explain Brody?
"This is Brody Sparks. A friend of my father's. He came by to drop off a gift from my dad. I

told him I was going with you to Aspen, so I guess he wanted to make sure I had some cash to spend."

Kade's eyes soften, and I realize this is quite possibly the first time I've ever mentioned my dad

in front of him. Brody doesn't correct me and tell Kade about Ray being a convict or a con artist. I'll
thank him one day for that.

"Raya, I was planning on covering all the costs. You don't have to spend your money," Kade

says, sounding like he wants to soothe me.

I'm the mooching friend. Fucking eh. Not this week. This week is going to be different. It can

be.

Brody's grin continues to grow as he watches us. I roll my eyes as I go to stand beside Kade.
"I'll go show Brody out, and then we'll watch a movie if you want. Unless you're going out," I

murmur, trying to sound brave. I want to spend time alone, possibly seduce him. I don't know. It
almost sounds ridiculous.

"Ah, being tossed out. Well, it was nice to meet both of you. Raya," he says walking up beside

me as I lead him away, "I'm sure I'll see you around. Have fun. I mean that. You deserve to kick

back a little."

I smile tightly, and then hold the door open for him to leave. He does so without any further

awkward moments. When I turn around, Kade is leaning against the doorframe of the foyer.

"Your father? So he's alive?" he asks, acting as though he's been waiting patiently for Brody to

leave so he could question me.

I rack my brain, trying to think of anything I might have said to make him think he was dead.

Nothing.

"You thought otherwise?" I ask while moving back toward him.
His arm slides over my shoulders like it so often does as he takes me back into the living room.

"I assumed he was because you never talk about him. He's alive but you're not close?"

I sit down on the couch beside him as I try to think of vague but informative answers.
"We're close." That's just vague. It won't sate his curiosity.
"That's all I get?" he chuckles out.
I don't want to lie to him, but I'm not ready to pour out the truth, either. "My father and I are

really close, but things are... complicated. I'll tell you one day. If you decide to hang around me after
the end of school."

"I think you're stuck with me at this point," he says with a grin, but the butterflies shuffle through

my stomach without any concern for how they distort my face. "You okay?" he asks.

I wish I knew what he meant by that. How am I stuck with him? Romantically? Are we

friends? Are we only ever going to be friends? So frustrating.

"I'm fine. So we're flying out tomorrow, right? On your dad's jet?"
"Early tomorrow, as in four in the morning. My dad loves to be the first on the slopes."
Rich people and skiing. I've never understood it.
"I've never skied before. Is it hard?"
His grin spreads over his face when he finds amusement in that.
"You've never skied? At all?"
I snort out a laugh. "Don't sound so surprised. You saw my home. I lived there from twelve

until I moved out here. People from Springton trailer parks don't spend much time in Aspen."

His smile quickly dissolves, and I look away when I see pity. I can't handle that. It's too

embarrassing. I shouldn't have said anything. I was trying to be funny. Now this just got too heavy.

"So you didn't always live there?"
Good. He's not going to comfort me with all the poor-pitiful-you speeches.
I look back up to meet his eyes as memories flash through my head of a warm tan house with a

big backyard. It was small in comparison to what Kade is used to, but it was home. It was full of
love and life. My father had millions, but he didn't flash it around for all to see because he needed to
stay under the radar. So, he found a small but comfortable home to be with his family.

Nice, but reasonably priced vehicles stayed in our driveway. My room was big and perfect.

He'd made sure of that. It's those memories that kept me close to him all these years, despite his
betrayal.

In my opinion, no saint goes without sinning, and no sinner goes without having some saintly

qualities. You can judge one for their mistakes, or you can love them for the flaws they try to
correct. I choose to love my father. That might make me stupid, but I'd prefer to be called stupid
instead of cold. You only live once.

"I had a house once, with my father. It was nice. We were happy. But we lost it later on."
"Did he leave you and your mom?"

I wish I could just tell him.
"Yes and no. He left because he had to; not because he wanted to. It's a long story I don't want

to delve into tonight."

He nods, but I can see the determination in his eyes to pry further.
"Did... did he do something to hurt one of you? I'm trying to understand, Raya, but I'm starting to

feel like I should hate him. I don't see how someone just runs off; no matter what the reason."

My heart swells with so many emotions. It's adorable to see him so concerned and protective.
"My dad isn't a bad man. He's good man that made some bad mistakes. Believe me, I know the

difference. I promise I'll explain one day. Right now, you need to help me learn to ski. I don't want
to look like an idiot."

His smile returns and his laughter breaks free.
"You're going to look as goofy as a baby deer learning to walk. Get over it, Raya. You can't

always be perfect," he teases.

"Perfect," I scoff playfully, shaking my head. I've never been perfect. Jaded? That's me.

Chapter 12

Hot and Cold

My ass is cold, wet, and in pain. I've spent more time on it than on the skis. This is ridiculous. I

hate all these frigging pros right now.

I slap the ground again, landing straight on my ass... again, and the skis clank together and rattle

once I thud against the snow. My teeth are probably chattering, but I'm too numb to feel them. Who
chooses to vacation somewhere this miserable? And who thought it would be fun to try and stand up
on two slick sticks attached to your feet?

That fluffy white powder is more deceptive than my father on a con. It looks soft and inviting,

but it's a trick. After you flop down numerous times, it eventually hurts. Not to mention... It's. So.
Cold!

With the beating I've endured today, I feel like the roof collapsed on me again before someone

tossed me in a cooler for hours on end.

"You'll get the hang of it," Kade chuckles as he comes to help me up. I swat him away, refusing

to let him keep picking me up off the ground.

"I don't think so."
"Your brother said you're a genius; that you soak up information like a sponge. You'll seriously

get it."

"Compared to my stepbrother, I am a genius. As for skiing, it's not information to soak up. It's

athletic, and I'm not coordinated. It has nothing to do with intellect."

He snickers but smothers the sound with his hand when I shoot him a warning glare. I start

scrambling around, too far past the point of worrying how stupid I look out here. I shuffle to my feet,
and attempt to go again, but the second I get to the small hills of snow, I crash again, landing straight
on my ass. So terrible.

"Ow!" I screech when I try to stand, only to fall back to the ground and land awkwardly on my

booted foot that is still strapped to the ski.

Kade's laughter flows again. I refuse to look at his smug self gliding across the snow like the

perfect prince he is. Jackass. He makes it impossible to not see is haughty grin when he comes to a
perfectly executed, graceful stop beside me.

"I'm done. I've been out here all day, and I'm still on the bunny slopes. I'll never make it any

higher before the week is up. I vote for hot cocoa and a warm blanket."

I sniffle and wipe my nose that I'm afraid is running. It's too cold to tell. The wind bites at me,

but Kade seems unfazed, as if he's from here instead of the warm air of Sterling Shore.

"Oh, Raya. Don't give up. You're getting better," he lies, stifling his laugh.
"Kade, I'm going to have huge bruises on my ass as it is."
Roaring laughter comes from behind me, startling me.
"Damn, Kade! What've you been doing to her precious ass to leave bruises?" Tag says, making

my cheeks heat up and burn with humiliation.

Kade rolls his eyes, but he can't wipe the teasing grin from his face when he sees how utterly

mortified I am.

"She likes it rough," Kade jokes, making me blush all the more.
Tag bursts out laughing with Kade as I start throwing snowballs from the ground, still unable to

get up on my own.

"You're both jerks," I mumble, only fueling their laughter.
"Aw, don't be mad," Kade says, mocking me all the more with just his tone. "Come on. Let's

head to the lodge and get you dried and warmed up."

He's not even wet. Of course, I've been on the ground for most of the day, and he hasn't fallen

once.

"You wasted the whole day trying to teach me to ski," I grumble, feeling like the worst guest

ever.

Tag goes to help him when my knees try to buckle. With one of them on either side of me, they

slowly start leading me back, laughing in tiny spurts at my pathetic skills on snow.

I poke my lips out to exaggerate a pout, but Kade's laughter ceases instead of continuing like I

expected.

"Damn, put those away, girl," Tag jokes.
Kade's eyes go to my lips as I pull them back in. He reaches up with his hand to gently stroke my

lips with his thumb, and my heartbeat quickens to the point I'm worried it'll explode. Tag becomes a
forgotten fixture on the snow as I shuffle closer to Kade, praying he's about to finally kiss me for real.

"Kade! Tag!" Wren yells, laughing loudly with Erica, his fiancée, attached. "Let's head up."
Kade's hand falls from my face, and he lets out a ragged sigh before letting his eyes drift to Wren.
"Not right now. Raya is cold and needs a change of clothes. Not to mention, I'm starving."
Tag winks at a few passing girls who are skiing by us. The girls smile and wave, giggling lightly

to themselves as they pass by with expert strokes.

"I'll catch up with them later," Tag says with a grin.
"You can head on. I've got Raya," Kade says while kneeling in front of me to start taking off my

boots.

We're not close to the lodge, and it's going to be hard to walk in this snow. He waves at a guy

riding around on a snowmobile, and the guy doesn't hesitate to meet us, killing the engine the second
he reaches us.

"Carry her up to the house for me," he says to the guy who nods compliantly. Then Kade starts

helping me up on the back of the snowmobile.

So I'm going to the house?
"Come meet me at the lodge when you have on dry clothes, and I'll have you something warm to

drink ready and waiting," Kade says as he steps back.

"We'll come hang out with you for a few minutes," Erica says when they reach us.
I clutch onto the back of the guy's jacket as he roars the engine to life again. My eyes go to Kade

who offers me a small wink before I'm being whisked away. It doesn't take us long to get there, and I
see Kade and the others laughing together in the distance.

It feels right to be here with him, and no one has made me feel out of place. I can do this.
Paul Colton has a house that can only be described as perfect, and it's a short walk from the

lodge. Fortunately, there are sidewalks that stay shoveled that take you to and from.

Margaret, Kade's mother, greets me at the door when I fumble with the key they told me to keep

this week.

"Hey," she says softly as she steps aside to let me in. "Where's Kade?"
"He's waiting at the lodge. We both realized I have no Olympic potential in skiing."
She laughs, and for the first time since I got here, she seems to actually enjoy my presence. As I

head toward my bedroom, which is directly beside Mr. and Mrs. Colton's bedroom, she follows me.

"You like my son, don't you?" she asks with a knowing grin.

Shit. Am I that obvious?
"Of course I do. He's oddly enough the first friend I've had since I moved to Sterling Shore."
Her look softens, and she sighs out. "That's not what I meant. I think you know that, though." I

swallow hard as she continues. "For what it's worth, I think you're the first friend he's ever had
outside his family. And Tag is family, too, before you mention him."

I laugh, but that's not true.
"He has tons of friends at school."
A sad smile graces her perfect lips. "Not friends, Raya. Those are people he keeps at arm's

length. You... he acts his age with you. It's refreshing to see. Even with the girls he's dated over the
years, he seemed detached, as though he was watching life rather than living it. I was starting to
worry he'd always be that way, but with you... everything is different. He's constantly smiling or
looking for you. He mentions you in random conversation, and he can't seem to stop touching you.
The change in him is so amazing. My son adores you, and that says so much."

Tears glisten her eyes, and it's all I can do not to let them blur my vision as well.
"I know it doesn't mean much, but I adore him, too."
She laughs and sniffles at the same time when a couple of her tears fall. "It means more than you

realize, Raya. Much more. Now, get dressed and go meet him. He'll come looking for you if you
take too long."

I doubt that, but I'll let her have whatever she needs. It's obvious she's confused about Kade.

I've seen him with people, and he's always the life of the party. Maybe he just hides that from his
family.

When she leaves, I struggle out of my wet clothes and put on dry, warm clothes. The problem

is... I don't think it's possible to warm my coldest spots any time soon. I wore those wet clothes for
so long that they made my skin damp.

When I walk out, Margaret is missing, but I hear light giggles and soft laughter coming from her

bedroom. A louder laugh tells me Mr. Colton is in there with her. He must have just come in. It's
amazing how in love they are after all these years.

"So Raya's fitting in nicely then?" he asks, making me stop for a second.
"Yes. You were right and I was wrong. She's good for him. I won't question your judgment

again."

I swallow hard. They're talking about me like I'm part of this family now, and Kade hasn't given

me any sign that I'm ever going to be more than a friend.

"I knew it the second I saw her. He was so worried at the hospital when he called me. Kade

never gets that worked up. Then at the courtroom, he was pissed, probably worried he'd finally crack
and show some emotion. Do you know he called her doctor so much that the man threatened a
harassment charge? He was furious that there wasn't going to be a follow-up visit for her bruises."

I smile like a fool, and then creep out before listening in on any more. It's a little too cool to be

wearing leggings, but they look so good with this long shirt that shows off the best parts of my
curves. I'm not a stick, and I don't want to be. I'm bringing curves back.

My black boots ride over the leggings, and the small heel and precious chain make them look

girly chic. The deep blue shirt fits the ensemble perfectly, and the warm, black leather jacket adds
some style.

I might be colder than the others out here, but I'll look better, damn it.
When I walk into the lodge, Tag is the first face I see. He walks over with his lazy smile and

wandering eyes.

"Damn. Someone's on a mission," he murmurs as he continues to rake his eyes over me. "Are

you not cold?"

Freezing.
"I think I'm too numb. My ass might never thaw," I joke, lightening the mood.
I start looking around for Kade when I feel two large, warm hands pressed against my ass, and I

chuckle when I realize it's Tag who has moved behind me.

"Shit. You're right. It needs intense therapy." I can't help but laugh a little harder.
"Get your fucking hands off her," Kade growls as he walks up from out of nowhere and shoves

Tag away.

Tag snickers and gives me a mischievous wink before heading over to a section of sofas where

Wren, Erica, and Melanie - Wren's mother - are sitting.

"You have to be freezing in that," Kade says, pulling his lower lip between his teeth as he takes

me in.

Damn. Why did he have to do that?
"Um, not too much. I didn't want to look like a marshmallow."
He lets a laugh free, and the small spell is broken. He leads me to the others, just as Tag gets

called away by a group of girls who've apparently been admiring him. I hope they don't call Kade
away.

"He won't be back until after Christmas," Mel says, just as we sit down.
"Who won't be back?" Kade asks as he pulls me closer to his side and wraps his arm around me.
The leather couch hasn't been touched by the heat of the fire, and damn it's cold. My ass really

isn't ever going to thaw.

"Billy. He's with his friend Ash for the holidays. I think he likes them a little better than us

sometimes," she says with a sad smile.

"Ash?" Kade asks.
I've heard her mentioned before, hasn't he? Does he just tune them out when they talk?
"Yeah, Bity's bestie," Wren jokes. "I need a drink."
Kade frowns as Wren gets up, and he offers a cold glance to Erica for a second before giving his

attention back to Melanie.

"She's really a sweet girl. I love her like a daughter. Billy's lucky to have that sort of friend,"

Melanie says.

Kade's arm tightens around my shoulder and he looks into my eyes as he says, "I can't blame him

for needing a good friend."

A good friend. That's what I am. I knew it was foolish to expect more, but now I know it's the

Mount Everest I'll never climb.

I lean up just slightly as the waitresses on the far side stay too busy to notice us.
"I need something warm to drink," I mutter while standing up, planning to use my fake ID for the

first time ever.

"I'll order it, Raya," he says, standing with me. "I was just waiting on them to come to us."
"It's fine. I'd like to go check out the bar anyhow while I'm up there."
"I thought you wanted cocoa," he says, bemused.
"I think I need something stronger," I grumble before walking away, feeling like an idiot.
Tag sidles up beside me when I reach the bar, seeming amused for some reason. "Hitting the

hard stuff early?" he asks, prodding.

"It's almost dark."

"There're still two hours of daylight, Raya. I'm not judging; just curious."
"About?"
His eyes lift to go to Kade, and I follow them. My heart slaps my throat when I see him hugging

some random girl I've never seen before. I can't hear them, but I see the animated conversation going
on with the whole group as Kade releases her from the embrace to shake the hand of a guy.

Is she with the guy? Please, God, let her be with that guy.
"Ah, so Courtney and Lyle are here," Tag says, an enigmatic grin on his face.
"Courtney and Lyle?" I'm praying I sound nonchalant and casual, but even I can't dismiss the

bitter hint of my words.

"Yes. Courtney and Kade dated a couple of years ago, before he went off to college. Lyle is her

brother."

Damn it! This is worse than I thought. I should have stayed home. What was I thinking?
"Oh."
"He broke up with her; not the other way around," Tag says, as if that's supposed to comfort me.
"It's no big deal, Tag. It's not like we're a couple. Just friends." I wave at the bartender who

finally makes his way over to me. "Martini - extra dirty."

Tag chuckles when I place that order, and I turn to face him. "Just friends? Keep telling yourself

that, Raya. I need to go say hello."

"Don't make me walk by myself," I whisper, hating the neediness in my tone.
He lets a devilish grin free and nods before leaning over the bar to take my drink from the

bartender. "Put it on my tab," he says.

"I was going to pay," I mumble.
"Come on. You've got bigger things to worry about than paying for a drink. If I know Courtney,

she's already scheming. And I do know Courtney."

Kade smiles when he sees me, but I barely muster a half-ass attempt to smile back. I worry it

looks more like a snarl. Given his facial expression, I think I snarled.

Tag lets his arm drift across my shoulders, and I let him, trying to see if any jealous emotions stir

within Kade the way they have me. He cuts his eyes toward an amused Tag, but that's all. Nothing
else. Unbelievable.

"You have to come with us. It'll be so much fun, and it's perfect out there right now. Hurry

before we lose daylight," Courtney - the devil in red - says.

Her pristine auburn hair flows like ribbons. You can tell she's prim and proper. Years of

etiquette and grace are dripping from her with effortless ease. No wonder he dated her. She's perfect
for him. His life. His dreams.

I sag under Tag's touch, and from the corner of my eyes, I see him frown when he studies me.
"Um... actually... Raya isn't too great on the slopes yet," Kade says, giving me an ounce of hope.

"Maybe some other time."

Oh. No hope. Just good manners. I'm his guest, so it'd be rude to run off and leave me.
"No. It's fine, Kade. I'm ready to crash for a while anyhow. I'm a little more out of shape than I

realized."

"Your shape looks just fine to me," Tag dares, but his eyes stay on Kade.
Kade scowls at him, but then turns back to me.
"I can head back with you, Raya. We can grab some food from here and hang out."
Now I just look pathetic, as evident by all the looks everyone is giving me.
"I swear I'm fine. Just go ski and have some fun."

He breathes out heavily, looking torn. "Come on, Kade," Courtney urges, wrapping her hand

around his forearm and tugging.

Her perfectly manicured nails press into him just barely, and I cringe. She's the kind of girl he

dated. I'm not that girl. I was stupid to think there was anything he'd find special about me.

"You want me to hang back and chill with you?" Tag asks, keeping his voice low.
"No. I think you've got some admirers to tend to," I murmur with a forced smile, motioning

toward the two girls he was talking to earlier. They're watching me with a scrutinizing eye. I'm tired
of making enemies, so I step out of Tag's hold.

"Fine. I'll see you when I get back," Kade says, seeming a little annoyed. Great. I'm being

Debbie Downer. I'm messing up no matter what I do.

"Actually, stay out, have fun. I don't need a babysitter. You don't owe me anything. Last I

checked, we're roommates. No big deal," I say with a smile, but bile rises to my throat.

His eyes flare with a touch of anger, but I turn away. I realize I might have been a bitch for

referring to us as roommates instead of friends, but fuck. I'm human. This sucks.

I head back to the bar after inhaling my martini. I'm paying for my next damn drink.
Kade walks over to the door and grabs his discarded ski stuff that is hanging up on the hooks. He

glances over his shoulder at me, but I could care less about seeing the pity in his eyes. I'm no one's
charity case. I never should have been.

"So, are you two... friends or enemies?" a smooth voice asks from my side.
I turn to see Courtney's brother grinning at me. He's sexy but not really wetting my appetite. He's

not a substitute for Kade by any means.

"Me and Kade?" I ask, playing coy.
He smirks and nods as he looks over toward his sister and my... roommate.
"Yes. You and Kade."
"Just friends. He thinks I'm helpless, but I'm not. I can manage a night by myself. You guys have

a good time. I think I'm going to chill here instead of going back to the house."

"Here?" he asks, seeming all the more amused. "Why not just come with us? I could help you."
I chuckle and shake my head. "Had you seen me earlier, you'd rescind that offer. I truly am the

worst skier ever. I think skiing needs to stay a rich sport, and girls like me need to stay away."

His eyebrow cocks up as a deeper grin forms.
"Not from money? I could have sworn you were the richest girl here. After all, you risked

freezing just to stay fashionably dressed."

He appraises me, shamelessly running his eyes over me.
"I'm inside a lodge, not outside in a cave. It's not like I was risking frostbite. Right now, I just

want to get a few drinks, maybe enjoy a game of pool, and then I'll head back. It was nice meeting
you, Lyle."

His grin never falters. "Ah. I'm being dismissed. I see. Well, Raya, it was lovely meeting you.

I plan to see you again... real soon."

Kade doesn't say anything as he ducks out of the lodge. I ignore that. It hurts, but I knew this day

would come. I kept expecting to find some random girl in the house, or see him walking out to head
off on a date, but it never happened. I should have known this rich setting would take him back to his
roots. He's been slumming it for too long.

Lyle turns around and offers me a warm smile before leaving with the rest of them. Tag seems

preoccupied with the blonds at the table, and Wren and Erica seem excited to get back out on the
slopes. I felt like I fit in when we got here. Now I couldn't feel more like an outsider.

Mr. and Mrs. Colton left shortly after I got back. I didn't bother telling Margaret how wrong she

had been about Kade and me. Instead, I settled onto the couch and made it my bitch for a solo movie
night.

Just as the sun starts to set, there's a knock at the door. Crap. Someone is here to visit the Colton

family, and I'm the only one in the house.

The windows are stretched across the front, offering nothing but ridiculously perfect views, so

when I round the corner, I see the mystery guest.

Lyle.
He's smiling and leaning against the railing of the porch as I near the door. When I open it, I

offer him my best, cordial grin.

"Lyle. Are you here to see Margaret and Paul?"
"Nope. I'm here to take you out. Come on. There's a bar just down the road that I think you'll

like better than the stuffy lodge. It has the best nightlife."

I tilt my head. "You want to take me to a bar?" I ask incredulously.
"I'd love to take you to the bar. Now grab your coat and boots."
I sigh, but I'd rather go out than sit here looking like a pathetic loser when Kade gets back with

Courtney. Maybe he'll stay at her place instead of making me endure whatever they decide to do for
the night.

"Okay," I murmur while slipping back into my boots and jacket. I shiver against the cold when I

walk out, but I refuse to look like a marshmallow. Especially now that I've seen how incredible
Courtney looks despite the fluffy layers.

After I lock up, Lyle puts his hand on the small of my back as he leads me down the stairs. We

make idle conversation about the different aspects of Aspen. He does well to not mention Kade or
Courtney to me. Smart guy.

He holds the door open for me to climb into his Audi SUV. It takes him a few seconds before he

joins me.

"So, Kade said some guys at his party bulldozed your house, and then you came to live with

him?" he asks while backing into the turn-around spot.

Not so smart after all.
"Um... yeah. It's a little weird, but I'll actually be moving out sooner than I thought."
Now that I know my father's money is clean, I'll use it to rent a place until he gets out. Then I'll

go live with him. Kade will soon be a memory or a friend he keeps at arm's length, just like his
mother said.

"He seems to think you'll be staying for a while. Have you talked to him about moving out, or is

this a spontaneous thing?"

Lyle is apparently a chatty and nosy little thing.
"Um... I think Kade will be fine with it. To be honest, he'll probably enjoy not having a poor girl

around to cramp his style," I joke, forcing a small laugh.

"That's twice you've mentioned not being from money. We spent an hour on the slopes before I

left, and never once did Wren, Erica, or Kade mention your financial circumstances. Does it bother
you? Being around people with money?"

So much for lightening the conversation.
"Not really," I lie, shrugging. At least I'm a brilliant liar. He seems to accept that as we turn into

a lively bar.

Thank goodness.
I regret coming already.
"They have darts, pool tables, plenty of beer, and dancing," he says with a grin.
I smile as I join him and he leads me into the bar which isn't quite as rowdy as I had hoped. I

don't feel as out of place in here as I did at the lodge though.

"You want a beer?"
A beer. Hell yes. I can drink one in here without anyone thinking any less of me. Girls at the

lodge all seem to walk around with any drink but a beer.

"I'll get my own."
"Not a chance. I invited you out, so I have to buy you a drink."
I huff. Rich people and their money. He thinks because I'm poor I need a handout. I'm sick of

needing handouts. As soon as I get back to Sterling Shore, I'm getting a job. I don't care where.

"No. I'll get my own. I'd prefer not to take anything else from anyone ever again."
He frowns but reluctantly agrees with barely a nod. "Fine. I tell you what. I'll buy this round,

and if you can beat me in a game of pool, I'll let you buy the next round. Sound like a deal?"

I smirk. He has no clue what he just proposed. "I don't gamble over pool because I can't lose. I

mean that very sincerely."

His smile spreads, and it's impossible not to find it amusing. He's so wrong about whatever he's

thinking right now. I'm sure I look harmless, but I'm the daughter of a man who taught me all the best
hustles. Not because he wanted to lead me into a life of crime, but because it was the only way he
knew how to bond. That should have tipped me and my mother off, but you don't see the bad when
you love the good.

"I'm serious," I say with a grin when he stares at me with an expression that promises he doesn't

believe me.

"You're either excellent at bluffing, or you really think you're that good. I warn you, Raya, I

happen to be pretty damn good myself. I hold the title amongst my frat."

Shooting pool with a bunch of drunks is a little different than playing against the pros my father

hustled on a regular basis just for fun. I was trained by the best, and have it down to an exact
science. It's math on a table. The perfect tap changes the game.

"Fine. I'll tell you what. We'll play. Just remember I warned you and this is not a hustle."
He laughs as he follows me, handing me a mug of chilled beer as we make our way over to the

first empty table available.

"You realize you'll be playing to buy drinks, not get them bought. How would that be a hustle

regardless?"

"I just want to make it clear. I don't hustle. I'm good, I'll win, and you'll pout. I'm trying to be

completely upfront about my abilities."

He tilts his head as a gleam of curiosity comes over his eyes.
"I don't pout when I lose. I am, however, a little distressed that I don't get to enjoy the pleasure

of teaching you to shoot."

I just smile as I grab the first cue that doesn't look too worn. These aren't the best choices, but

they'll do. I've certainly used worse.

He racks the balls, and I chalk the end of my cue stick as he finishes forming the perfect triangle.
"Eight-ball?" he asks, making my grin only grow.
"Perfect. You can go first."
He laughs while walking over to join me. "I was raised that ladies go first. It's not an anti-

feminist thing; just a gentlemanly thing. After you."

He sweeps his hand in an ushering motion, and I shrug.
"I just thought you might want a chance to shoot."
His laugh comes out again as he shakes his head. "You're killing me. I'm really glad you came

out with me."

He didn't give me much of a choice. Winning a game of pool sounds like more fun than watching

Courtney and Kade rekindle their lost romance.

I keep telling myself it's for the best, but it still hurts. She's from his world, he obviously missed

her, considering the hug he was wrapped up in.

I shake free from the distracting thoughts as I line up the cue ball and set up my break. With one

perfectly executed thrust, I strike the ball precisely. I watch as it clanks against the others and they
roll out with an excellent spread, knocking two solids into the top two pockets.

"I'll take solids," I say with a smile and a wink.
He leans back, seeming amused as he watches me move on to my shot. The cue ball lightly

kisses the solid three, and it rolls in, thudding against the padded bottom of the pocket.

After a few walks around the table and several tricky, but well calculated shots, I end up with a

ton of stripes in my way for the eight ball shot.

"This has to be the most fun I've ever had watching pool," he murmurs, seeming to swoon over

me a little.

I've seen stars in the eyes of many people who watched in amazement as my dad decimated a

table or two. His specialty is poker. Mine is twenty-one. Pool is always fun, too, though.

"Eight ball, corner pocket," I murmur, tapping the pocket of my choice with the end of my cue

stick for good measure.

"That's going to be a tricky shot," he says, eyeing the predicament and mess of scattered stripes

littering the route I'll have to take.

"Those are my favorite."
I don't look back, but I feel his grin. As I take a breath, I gauge the bank in which my shot will

have to bounce off. A gentle graze of the cue ball against the eight ball will be all it needs to slip into
the pocket, but I'll have to do it without scratching. That's not going to be easy.

With a final stroke, I propel the cue ball to the exact place I mean to on the bank of the table. It

bounces back and rolls straight between the small divide in stripes, never veering off course, and it
taps the eight ball perfectly to force it to roll in. The white cue ball slowly drifts to a stop
centimeters before it joins the eight ball in the pocket. Winner, winner.

"That has to be the sexiest thing I've ever seen in my life. I'd fall to your feet and worship you

right now if I knew you wouldn't get embarrassed."

I sigh smugly while laying down the cue stick and pretending to dust my hands. "I prefer to be

worshipped from afar."

His laughter rumbles free as he shakes his head and goes to line up the balls again. I start to call

the waitress over to order a new beer, but I'm met by deep blue eyes from a far off table. My heart
almost stops beating. Kade is here, and damn... he looks pissed.

Courtney's arm is draped around the back of his chair as she talks animatedly to Erica. Wren is

talking to Tag, and Kade's death-glare is locked on me. Tag and Wren follow his gaze to me and
Lyle. What did I do wrong? Is he pissed that I'm here with his girlfriend's brother? It's not like I'm
making waves for his future business plans.

Tag's smile falls when he sees the murderous gleam in Kade's eyes. He stands when Kade does,

and puts his hand on his chest, as though he's holding him back.

Lyle's hand slides around my waist as he asks the waitress for two more beers.
"You okay?" he asks, moving to be in front of me and blocking my view from Kade.
When his hands move to settle on my hips, I suddenly feel like maybe I have done something

wrong. Kade probably thinks this is a date, and he doesn't like drama that could interfere with his
master plan.

"Are you... Are you or your parents in business with Kade's grandfather?"
"Henry Burndell? Yeah... My mother's company is a huge supplier to them. Why?" he drawls

out, seeming confused by what he assumes is a random question.

Damn. No wonder he's looking at me like that. I'm messing up all his plans right now in his

eyes. He's all business. And if he got involved with Courtney, knowing she would one day have
some pull in her mother's business, then he must really like her.

"I probably should have said something to Kade before-"
I'm stopped short when Lyle is ripped away and shoved against the wall. Kade turns his glare on

me, and I feel like crawling under the pool table.

"What the fuck!" Lyle blares. "What the hell is your problem?"
Kade ignores him and keeps his eyes on me.
"Kade!" Tag growls, trying to keep himself between Lyle and Kade. Shit. I've really pissed him

off. Worse than I realized.

"What are you doing here with him?" he hisses, venom seeping from his tone as he steps toward

me. "What happened to being tired and crashing?"

I've never seen him this mad. Not even in the courtroom that day.
"I... I thought... I'm sorry. I'll go," I mutter, holding back the tears wanting to fall.
"No. Hell no," Lyle interjects. "If you're not dating her, then you have no right-"
"Stay the hell out of it," Kade barks, cutting Lyle off.
"You don't tell me what to do, you arrogant son of a bitch!" Lyle snarls.
Wren comes to join Tag, and they both make sure to keep them separated. What have I done?
"Kade, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to piss you off. I just wanted to have some fun," I lie. I certainly

can't tell him I couldn't bear to see him with Courtney.

She and Erica are silent as they look on, expressionless. This is utterly humiliating.
"You shouldn't be out with him. You should have stayed in the damn house like you said you

were going to, or you should have come out with-"

"I said I'm sorry!" I blare, making anyone who wasn't already looking turn to observe our little

show. "I'm leaving now. I'll take the bus back to Sterling Shore and I'll be out of the house before
you return. I'm sorry."

I don't look in his eyes to see any more fury as I rush out of the bar, wiping away the tears that

have started pouring. He hates me. All this time I thought we were friends, but I'm the trailer-park
girl he took pity on. Now I'm the embarrassing thorn he wishes to be rid of.

It's not far to the house from here, and the streets are quiet. At least they're not covered in snow.

I'd never make it if they were. A car pulls up to offer me a ride, and though it's incredibly stupid, I
accept it because I'm freezing my ass off. I hate Aspen. I hate Kade. I hate myself.

Chapter 13

Close Enough

Paul and Margaret were thankfully still gone when I got back. My shit is packed and ready to go

as soon as the sun comes out. There's no way I could have walked all the way to the bus station
tonight - in the cold, with no real certainty of which direction to head.

I wouldn't chance riding with another stranger. A cab. Hell yes. I can call a cab. Why didn't I

think of that earlier?

My vision is so blurred by my tears that it's hard to see the screen on my phone. I pull up my

web browser, but my hands are trembling so hard it's almost impossible to type.

The door to the front slams loudly, rattling as though it might shatter, and I jump in the bed.

Angry footsteps make their way toward my door, and I instantly regret not locking it.

I turn away to keep him from seeing my tears when the door swings open.
"Please go away," I strain out. "I get it. You don't want me fucking with your business and all-"
"Did you go out with him tonight because you like him?" Kade asks, interrupting me, sounding

just as furious as he did earlier.

What the hell does that have to do with anything?
"Kade, please... leave me alone."
"Answer the damn question, Raya. Do. You. Like. Him?"
"Yes. I liked him. He was nice, and sweet, and he didn't judge me for being less than the rest of

you," I snark, hiccupping out a sob that defeats my attempt to sound unfazed by the hatred in his tone.

"So, you want to, what? Date Lyle? Fuck Lyle? What were you planning to accomplish with a

guy you knew five fucking seconds before you ran off with him?"

I whip around, tired of hiding my tears, and I consider slapping him across the face as I stand up.
"It wasn't a date, and I wasn't planning to fuck him, you asshole! He didn't want me sitting around

like the outsider I felt like when you ran off to be with your ex-girlfriend. I didn't want to be here
when the two of you came back reunited and happily in lust. I get it. I really do. I'm not good enough
for you. I figured that out pretty quickly, but I was stupid enough to dare to dream. I couldn't see it
though. I couldn't watch my hopes be crushed. So I went with Lyle to avoid the sting. Is that what
you want to hear?"

I turn away once I finish yelling. My tears pour out harder, but I give up on wiping them away.

It's an impossible feat to rid myself of wet cheeks right now.

"Close enough," he says dangerously close to me before spinning me around and crushing his lips

against mine.

My head spins with confusion, but my body reacts on its own accord. My hands fist in his hair,

tugging him as though I want him even closer, when I should be pushing him away. Damn. What the
hell just happened?

He rips me up from the ground, and my legs clasp around his waist as he carries me out of my

bedroom. I don't know where we're going, nor do I care when his tongue ring becomes a toy in my
mouth.

I moan against the devouring kiss, and his grip on me tightens as we cross the threshold to

another room. He grabs my ass and tugs me closer to his center before dropping me on the bed and
staying between my legs.

So many weeks of pent-up frustration pours out into that kiss, and I put everything I have in it.

His hands start moving over my body, feeling me through the thin fabric of the leggings.

"Damn," he whispers.
"What's wrong?" I ask, half afraid the spell is broken.
"I have to get you out of these," he mutters before tugging my leggings down.
I start to say something when he reaches up and rips my shirt over my head, tossing it to the

ground as though he wants my clothes far away from me.

He mumbles something about perfection and it being about damn time, though I can't really be

sure what.

I feel exposed, lying here for his eyes to see me in a lacy bra and a thin pair of panties I'm glad

are sexy.

"Raya, if you don't want this, tell me now," he murmurs softly as he leans down to press a kiss

against my abdomen, making me squirm when his lips trail down slowly, grazing the skin just under
my navel.

He looks up expectantly, waiting for me to answer, but no words can form. Instead of gurgling

out some unintelligible, possibly ridiculous response, I arch my hips to press myself closer to him,
making his chin graze the top of my sex.

Mmm. I'm going to die if he stops now.
He starts to kiss me through the thin layer of silky material, and I shudder beneath him, making

him smile as his lips press against the now damp panties. My eyes roll back in my head as I arch my
hips involuntarily, unable to tell my body what to do anymore.

A low groan comes from his throat as he starts pulling the underwear down, and with a quick

dismissal, I'm bare before him - nothing but my bra offers me modesty, but I don't care.

A pathetic cry mixed with a whimper spills through my lips when his hot tongue finds me in a

way I never thought possible.

"Keep doing that, and I won't be good for anything," he murmurs against my most sensitive spot,

making me moan and whimper in unison.

I grab at his hair, not caring if I leave him bald when the bar of his tongue ring pushes me into a

small haze of ecstasy. Oh damn. That's... oh shit.

No real thought can form as he pushes me closer and closer. Each flick of his glorious tongue

makes me try to buck, but he keeps my hips firmly pinned beneath him as he owns me with his mouth.

The heat of his breath mixed with the bar in his tongue does things to me I never thought

possible. A girly cry comes out in a muffled screech as my body damn near tries to convulse.
Ecstasy claims me as I shatter in his arms, and I almost forget where I am.

Everything on me becomes sensitive after that, and each small kiss he trails up me almost makes

me shiver. I feel his smile, though I refuse to look down for fear this is all just a dream.

I feel my bra coming off, but I keep panting with my eyes closed, worried the illusion will

disappear in the light.

"Raya?" he says through a chuckle as his lips brush my right nipple.
Mmm.
"Raya, you with me?" he asks again, flicking his tongue and that glorious bar against that

sensitive area and making me start up with the reflexive noises again.

He trails his kisses up to my neck, and I wrap my arms around him to pull him to me, afraid to let

go.

"We can stop if you're not ready," he murmurs just before pressing his lips against mine.
No.

I finally find the courage to open my eyes and stare into his soft, sexy, pools of blue. This is

real. It's not a dream or illusion. Right now, I'm in bed with Kade Colton, he's in my arms, and he
just made me come apart with his incredible mouth.

"I don't want to stop," I whisper, and his grin comes back as the kiss deepens.
I'm sick of his body being clothed. I want him out of his clothes and on top of me, owning me the

way his mouth just did.

I tug at his shirt, and he helps me by pulling it over his head completely. The slow kiss becomes

greedier when the fire between our wanton needs grows to be almost tangible. That wicked tongue
explores my mouth just as thoroughly as it explored my most intimate area.

I fumble with his belt and button, but he helps me as he draws my bottom lip between his teeth.
"Christ," he breathes, when my hand slips down the front of his jeans and down his boxers to feel

him for the first time.

Damn, it's just as frigging perfect as I expected. My legs tremble as desire pools between my

thighs. I want him. All of him. I know for a fact I've never wanted anyone this badly.

"Take me," I whisper pleadingly, forcing a strangled moan to bubble free from him.
He rustles about to get his pants all the way off, and then he leans over the side of the bed. I hear

the telltale of a foil packet being dug out of his jeans, and a dirty vixen's smile comes to my lips.

There's one thing I need to do before he taints his perfection with the taste of latex.
I push him onto his back, and he thuds to the bed. A small laugh escapes him as I move to be on

top of him and ignore the pack in his hand.

"Hell yes," he murmurs as my lips press against his. "Much better."
"What?" I murmur, trying not to grin or squeal.
"You're finally acting like you want to do this."
I lean back and study all the hard lines of his chest and stomach. The secret tattoos on his body

make my fantasies come to life. I've wanted to have him like this for a long time - longer than I care
to admit.

"I really want to do this," I murmur while grinning and sliding down to kiss one portion of the

tattoos.

He sucks in a sharp breath as my hand slides against his firmness. Any reservations I've had in

the past get swept under the rug. Kade Colton wants me. That's enough. We can figure out the rest
when we have to.

"Raya," he murmurs while tensing just as I brush my lips against the head of his erection.
"Mm?"
"Fuck," he moans, not answering when I push him deep into my mouth, taking him in with a full

stroke.

His head flops back as his hands tangle in my hair, and I pull him in deeper on my next stroke.

Air hisses between his teeth when I drag out my strokes, and suddenly I'm being ripped up and tossed
on my back.

I giggle when he rolls his eyes. "You're trying to torture me," he murmurs, letting his own grin

fall free.

His head drops down as the condom slides on, and then he nudges my legs farther apart as he

settles in between them. He doesn't bother asking me if I'm sure again. I think I've made it perfectly
clear by now how much I want him.

His tip teases my entrance, and I arch my hips, doing all I can to force him in while I cling to his

back. He stares into my eyes, showing complete desire and no hesitation, a gaze that frees me from

anything that could sour this moment. With one quick, sublime thrust, he's inside me, melding his
body to mine, and a content sigh rattles from his mouth.

"Finally," he says in a prayer-like tone. "Damn, you feel so good."
His lips brush mine as he keeps himself buried deep within me, and then finally, he starts

moving, making those ridiculous sounds bubble free from me again. It was never like this before... oh
damn. Never.

He lifts himself to be just barely not touching me as he finds a quicker, more forceful rhythm. I

lift my hips and tilt them just right, a move that makes him push deeper, and a sexy, deep moan
rumbles from his throat to ignite a fire deep within me.

It's like someone snapped whatever thread was holding him back, and that feral gleam glistens as

he abandons any sanity. A grunt slips through my lips when our bodies collide almost brutally, but it
feels so perfect.

I hold on as though I'm terrified he'll stop at any minute and destroy this feeling of completion I

have. Each violent thrust hits a spot deep within me I didn't even know existed. My stomach muscles
tighten as something powerful builds, making me clench my legs against his waist.

The sounds leaving me sound so foreign and unfamiliar as they spill free with an unkempt

passion. That build inside me erupts, washing over me with hot and cold tingles that numb me and
inflame me with a heady rush. His kiss becomes bruising as he gives up any effort of being gentle,
and I unravel, hearing his name fall through my lips in a rambled mumble.

It's almost blurry around me, and everything seems like a haze has settled when he thrusts in hard

one last time and stills at the deepest point within me, holding himself there as his head falls to his
chest and a harsh breath falls out.

He drops down, slipping out of me, and he pulls me to be on his chest. My limbs feel heavy, and

my exhausted heart begs to slow down, but it can't stop racing. I'm worried I might not ever be able
to move again.

"I've wanted to do that for so, so long," he says through a panted breath, making me grin.
"You should have said something sooner," I mumble, barely able to make my words not sound

slurred.

Drunk. I almost feel drunk right now. How is that possible?
He laughs and then kisses my forehead as he holds me closer to him, making me feel so wanted.
"Don't ever say you're not good enough for me again, because I've never, ever once thought that.

If anything, it's the other way around. I've been trying my damnedest to figure out a way to cross
this... threshold."

I smile as I kiss his chest, letting my fingers trail over the ink on his skin. It's amazing to feel him

pressed against me, breathing heavily after having made me glow.

"The threshold has definitely been crossed - possibly ripped up and thrown away."
He chuckles while shaking his head. We hear the door opening and closing to the front and he

stills beside me, grinning as his parents talk loudly.

"If he gets back with Courtney, I'll kick his ass myself," Margaret growls, and Kade's lips find

mine as he blocks out any concern that girl's name might have given me.

"He wants Raya. Stop being so dramatic. Kade's a smart boy. He'll figure it out. We need to

meet Melanie."

"Fine," Margaret mumbles. "I just need my purse. You may want to call Raya and make sure

she's okay."

I look up to Kade. "They don't know we're here?" I whisper.

"My rental car has been here all day, and neither of us bothered to turn on the lights," he whispers

back, kissing my neck in small intervals.

"How did you get here from the bar?"
He leans up and gently strokes my hair with the tips of his fingers. "I walked. Well, I ran

actually. Tag wanted me to cool down, so he refused to give me a ride."

"Why was Tag with you?"
"He met up with us at the bar. He was supposed to swing by and pick you up, but you were

already gone. I tried calling a dozen times before we got to the bar." He sighs out hard, letting his
eyes fall from mine. "I'm sorry I lost it. I just saw you with Lyle... and I saw red. It was... stupid, but
I've been falling for you for so long... it just.. I couldn't-"

I kiss him to shut him up before I start to cry. I've been desperate to find a way to tell him how I

felt, and all along he felt the same way. He smiles as he kisses me harder, and in that moment the rest
of the world is shut out as he coils around my body.

Hurried footsteps wake me as someone yells for Kade. I gasp and jerk the cover over my head

and my bare body just as the door swings open.

"What the hell?" Kade asks sleepily, sitting up in the bed.
His bare lower half is very distracting right now. How can I listen in when all that is right there

- so close to me? My scandalous eyes wander over his morning firmness, and like a lusty fool, I lick
my lips, hoping he hurries this conversation along.

"Sorry," Tag grumbles. What's he doing here? "Your mother called and said Raya never came

back last night. She's pissed at you, and your parents both went out looking for her. Her bags are in
her room. For some ungodly reason, your mom thought she might have crashed with me at my place.
I told her I knew you had it bad for her, and I'd never cross that line. She didn't believe me."

Tag almost sounds like he's pouting, and I stifle a giggle. The cover slowly falls back, revealing

my crimson face, and I look up to see Kade smiling down at me.

"As you can see, Raya is perfectly safe," Kade says with a daring tone while lying back, barely

keeping his center covered.

Tag bursts out laughing as I clutch the cover to my chest, keeping everything hidden and safely

tucked out of sight.

"Fucking finally," Tag snickers, shaking his head.
"That's what I said," Kade mumbles, glancing down at me with a small grin.
I roll my eyes. This isn't the wakeup call I wanted. Not at all.
Tag picks up his phone and dials a number as Kade pulls me to him and kisses my cheek, my

nose, and then my lips, making me feel like all of this wasn't just a one-night deal.

"Good morning," he murmurs softly with his dazzling grin. "Still good?"
Still good? Good doesn't even have a place in my vocabulary right now. I feel perfect.
"Definitely," I mutter, refraining from getting too crazy on him.
"Yeah," Tag says loudly, drawing my attention toward him as he talks on his phone. "She's

safe... No, she was here all night... Where did I find her?" Tag turns to us and my eyes grow wide.
Surely he wouldn't. "Kade's bed."

"Oh no," I groan, covering my head again which prompts a laugh from Kade.
"Tell my mother I'd never let Raya wander the streets all night. I wouldn't have been here if she

had been missing."

He almost sounds a little irritated, which is sweet, oddly enough. I start kissing his side under

the sheet, and his hand drifts down to start caressing my back.

"You can get lost now," Kade says to Tag when my lips start to stray and drift toward the piece

of his body that wants my attention.

"I bet," Tag teases, but his voice disappears as the door to the bedroom shuts.
Kade pulls the cover back just as my mouth closes over his erection, and his breath heaves out

from his lungs. Now that he's mine... this is going to be fun.

Chapter 14

Tailed

"When you win every hand, someone can figure out you're cheating," Dad gripes, sulking while

leaning back as I toss down my perfect twenty-one.

"Of course they do, but they can't prove it. That's the part that matters," I joke, reminding him of

the speech he used to give me when I'd accuse him of cheating.

He grins and shakes his head as I deal out the next set.
"Next time, I'll deal."
"Nah," I mutter, grinning. "You're a recovering addict. It's best if you don't."
He laughs as he glances at his cards. "Hit me."
I toss him a card, and he holds up a hand to let me know he's staying. I check my cards and grin

at the two tens and an ace. He never learns.

"So you're still with him?" he asks as I reveal my perfect set once more.
He rolls his eyes and groans as he tosses his cards back at me.
"Yes. We've been together for three weeks now. He's taking me to some vineyard that's about an

hour away today. I'm supposed to meet him at three."

Dad glances at the clock on the wall and then back to me. "Does he treat you good?"
Better than good. In the past three weeks, I've damn near fallen in love. I keep telling myself it

can't happen this soon. It's hard to listen to my inner voice of reason when Kade goes out of his way
to make each day with him seem like a fantasy.

"Yeah. Real good," I murmur with a sheepish grin.
"Glad to hear it," he says with his own salacious grin as he leans back. "They say I'll be getting

out earlier than planned, since Brody has been pulling some strings for me. I'm assuming you won't
be coming to live with me?"

I frown a little. I've gotten used to waking up in Kade's bed with his arms around me. I realize

it's stupid to start living with a guy when you first start dating, but we were already living together,
and we found out it was impossible to sleep in separate rooms when we knew the other was so close
by. Now, it'd feel like we were moving in reverse if I moved out. Wouldn't it? So confusing.

"I haven't really thought about it as much as I probably should. But we'll see. I need to get

going," I murmur while standing up.

"Are... Am I... Will I get to meet him?" Dad asks as he stays in his chair, doing his best to keep

the angst out of his tone.

My heart almost breaks. "Of course you will. I just have to find the right time to... explain you.

You're my father. I love you. You'll definitely meet the guy I've been living with."

His bright smile returns and he stands while the guards come to escort him back. "Soon, Raya. I

promise I'll do my best to make up for all the time we lost."

I smile and wave while walking out, letting the guard escort me in the opposite direction. My

life is starting to come together, and I just got a job offer from Silk, the club that was for members
only. It recently opened to the public full time, and now I'll be waiting tables for extra cash, making
myself a little more self-sufficient. It's another new start, and I'll be there as soon as next Monday.

Since I was a little girl who stood crying on the sidewalk as men in black suits wrestled my

father to the ground, I haven't had peace. He was bloody and beaten when they cuffed him, and he
never deserved a bit of that. He never fought them, yet they acted as though he'd resisted arrest. I

was forced to watch it, and I think it hurt him more than me to know I witnessed it.

He'd never physically harmed anyone, and though he was a con, I always considered him a Robin

Hood sort of thief because he never took more than someone could afford. He didn't rob from the rich
and give to the poor, so I don't consider it noble, but I don't consider it unforgivable either. Maybe
I'm warped for feeling that way.

I know what he did was wrong; I'm not an idiot. But I also know the impossible feat it is to be

perfect. I don't feel guilty for loving my father in spite his faults, just as I no longer feel guilty for
being the daughter of Ray Drivel.

Now that peace I lacked is filling me, making me whole. Maybe it's because I'm about to have

my father back, maybe it's because Kade and I are so lost in each other, or maybe it's a little bit of
both. I'm almost certain Kade is the main reason. I feel... accepted, wanted, needed, and desired. It
feels good.

When I walk out of the prison and into the blinding light, I see the rear-end of a Audi pulling out.

That's... odd. I saw that same Audi at the bus station. I remember it because it has the same darkly
tinted windows my eyes couldn't penetrate. And the license plate is the same: HUPRIDE. I don't
know what it means, but it stands out enough to remember.

I pull out my phone and dial the number I never wanted to have to use. When your father is

helping put dangerous conmen in prison, there's always the fear of retaliation.

"Brody Sparks," he says into the phone, seeming distracted.
"Hey, Brody, it's Raya."
"Well, I'll be damned. I've been hoping you'd call to say you're moving in with your old man. I

could use all the help I can get to keep him out of trouble."

I'd smile, but it's hard to focus on anything right now. I really can't drag trouble into Kade's life.
"Um... can you do me a favor?"
"Yeah, sure. What's up?"
"Will you look up a tag for me? I think I was followed here, possibly. With Dad helping you

out... I just want to be safe."

"Shit. There shouldn't be any link from your father to the cases he works, but I'll check it out."
I spell out the tag for him and watch as the black Audi disappears into the heavy traffic just down

the road.

"I'll look into it, but, Raya, I have to ask... Have you done anything that might have... I don't know,

drawn unwanted attention?"

Imagine that; the daughter of a con being accused of doing something unsavory to piss someone

off.

"Call me if you can help; otherwise, I'll deal with it myself. You're not the only one with

resources to finding out tag numbers."

I hang up before he can say anything. I shouldn't get so pissed when people assume the worst, but

there comes a time when it just gets old. What happens when I tell Kade?

Trying not to dwell on the endless possibilities, which all seem bleak, I head out to the taxi that

is waiting to take me to the bus station. Brody could take days or weeks to get back to me. I know
someone else; someone who won't care to bend the rules and help me out.

Though I'm not overly fond of the gray area I usually avoid, Kade is more important to me. I can't

take any risks.

I dial the number that my father would kill me for using this way. He answers on the third ring.
"Joey here," his gruff voice says, making me smile.

He always sounds like he's ready to kill someone. I suppose I'm twisted to find comfort in a

voice like that.

"Hey, Uncle Joey. It's Raya."
"Raya? Well I'll be damned, girl. What're you doing?"
I tell the cab driver where to go, and then I lean back in my seat. "Just got finished visiting Dad.

I think I had a tail. You care to check into the tag for me?"

"Damn straight I will. What was it?"
I spell it out for him, feeling more confident in getting answers than I did before.
"I think I actually have an app for this," he says, relieving me. That's awesome. So it's not

illegal. "It might be tomorrow though. I'm in the middle of hac-"

"Don't tell me," I chuckle out, and he snickers as well.
"Sorry. I don't usually slip up like that over the phone. I've missed you, kiddo."
"I've missed you. How's Sindell?"
"She's the same. In and out of trouble. Since she turned twenty-one, I've aged ten years. I wish

she'd take a note from you."

I sigh out, thinking about my wild cousin, Sindell, who had a rougher life than I did, since she

knew all the scams her dad was and is still pulling. At least my father sheltered me the best he could,
and I had my mom to guide me better. Sin makes me look like an amateur with card tricks and pool
cues. It was always fun to watch her work a room and leave with stacks of cash, but I couldn't ever
do it myself.

"Thanks for doing this, Uncle Joey. I suppose I'll be seeing you soon... when Dad gets out?"
"You better believe it. As long as that dick Fed doesn't come hang out with us. I don't need him

looking into my business."

I chuckle. Definitely don't need Brody around Uncle Joey. I'm surprised he's stayed out of jail.

He doesn't have a tenth of Dad's IQ, but Dad always pulled bigger jobs, drawing in more skilled FBI
agents.

My father and Uncle Joey were raised differently than most people. My grandfather is still a con

to this day, and he's good at it. I don't condone it, but I still love them. It's all they know. I'm just
thankful I was able to break the cycle.

The question is... can Kade accept it the way I have? Because I can't change where I come from.

No one can.

Chapter 15

Too Soon

"There you are," Kade says with an adorable grin as I walk into the house, still worried about the

Audi that tailed me.

I spent the entire bus ride staring out the window, tense with trepidation and dread. It had to

have been a tail. There's no other reason it would have been at the bus station and the prison. I
looked for an app, but you have to pay for the information, and I don't have a debit or credit card. I'll
have to wait on Uncle Joey.

I wrap my arms around him and he hugs me to him. I didn't realize how badly I needed to be held

until right now. It feels so good.

"You okay?" he asks when he feels my tense body pressed against his.
"I am now," I mutter softly, inhaling his scent like it's home.
He starts trailing kisses down my cheek until he reaches my lips, and then the fire sets in when

his tongue presses through my parted lips. My fingers twist and tangle in his soft dark hair as he
slides his hands under my rear and lifts me up.

Just like that, my bad day has been shattered, and a cloud of euphoria comes to settle in place of

the dark cloud that had loomed.

"I love you," I blurt out, instantly wishing that had stayed inside my mouth.
Shit. Shit. Shit. No. No. No.
He stills against me, and the kiss that had been heated is broken. Very slowly, he lets me slide

down from his body. I've just ruined this. I didn't mean to say it. It's too soon. Hell, even I know it's
too soon, but I do. I can't help but love him. I quite possibly fell in love with him before we started
dating.

I start to back away when he jerks me to him and crushes his lips against mine, claiming me and

banishing all the angst that had settled on my chest like a heavy weight. I feel the wall at my back
before he lifts me back up.

I don't hesitate to wrap my legs around his waist. Suddenly, I wish I had worn a dress. This

would be so much better if I was in a dress.

I grip his shoulders to keep my weight better divided, but he treats me as though I'm weightless

when he carries me out of the living room and into the bedroom. I can't catch my breath. It's all
happening so fast.

The kiss is almost too hungry, too devouring. It's as though Kade's switch has flipped. I wish I

knew how to make him be this way all the time. Damn this is good.

My clothes come off in swift motions, and words are lost amongst the heavy breaths and excited

moans. It's all I can do not to unravel before we even start. Aggressive Kade is hot. Very hot.

"I want you to stay here," he murmurs softly, kissing and nipping at my neck as he slips out of his

jeans.

I tug his shirt over his head, almost forgetting he finally said something... Even though it wasn't

exactly what I wanted to hear. In fact, it's confusing.

When his devilish tongue slides into my mouth, and the sound of a foil packet tearing resonates in

my ears, I forget we were talking at all. I become greedier with the kiss, taking all he'll give, and
giving all he'll take.

He sinks in until he's completely buried inside me, and then he starts moving, finding an

incredibly merciless rhythm. He slams into me so hard a grunt springs free from my lips, and that
forces a low growl to emerge from him.

I don't know what is going on, but I frigging love it.
With each perfectly executed thrust, he pushes me closer to that peak I'm begging to fall over.
A ragged moan and his name tear through my lips in unison, and the violent, mind-blowing

release I feel sets him off, making him grunt loudly as his eyes roll back in his head.

He collapses to me and almost crushes me with his solid weight. I chuckle when he lets out an

exaggerated exhausted breath, and then I run my fingers through his hair, relishing his hard breaths on
my chest.

I keep waiting for him to acknowledge what I said, because I'm sure as hell not saying it again

until he tells me he feels the same. I'm so stupid for letting my emotions run free. I rushed this. What
was I thinking?

"I mean it, Raya," he breathlessly releases.
He means what?
"Hmm?"
I'm almost scared to move my lips after my accidental slip. I don't trust my mouth to say the right

things.

"I want you to stay here. I don't want you leaving at the beginning of the semester."
That's a long way away. So he's not freaked out by my confession... I guess.
I smile, though it's weighted. We're apparently not going to address what I said. It's fine. He

needs more time. That's completely understandable. So why do I feel a little hurt?

"I won't leave," I say without thinking. That's not a promise I should be making.
"Good. Now how the hell am I supposed to drive to the vineyard after that?"
I giggle when the conversation lightens, and he smiles while lifting his head to kiss me. Those

blue eyes will haunt me forever if this doesn't work. I really do love him. I can wait on him to feel
the same.

With the top down, I was forced to wind my hair up on my head to keep it from beating me to

death on the way here. I love Kade's convertibles, but they wreak havoc on a girl who doesn't have
short hair.

"So... this is it," he says as we pull in.
His grin is ridiculously huge. He's excited... very excited. I don't know if I've ever seen him so

giddy about anything.

"Colton Wines?" I ask when I read the sign. "This is your family's?"
He nods, letting his grin grow bigger. "My grandfather's. My dad's dad."
I look around at the enormous vineyard that stretches on farther than I can see. My mouth falls

open. This is where Paul Colton came from? And they thought he was poor? Shit. They must think I
live in the gutter.

"So not what I was expecting, considering the way everyone has depicted father's upbringing."
He laughs as we idly make our way down the hellacious long drive.
"It wasn't like this when Dad lived here. My grandfather owned the land, but he hadn't planted on

all of it. He didn't have the manpower he needed back then, and he didn't have the funds to make his
dreams come true.

"Granddad sold wine that should have been worshipped, but he was a small businessman with

few clients, so the prices were extremely low. This land is so fertile that it's ridiculous, and he found

the gem others overlooked. But he couldn't capitalize. Mom and Dad changed that.

"When Dad met Mom, he brought her a bottle of wine, not really thinking about it being

something so fabulous it would change Colton Farms - the name at the time - forever. Granddad made
more money off tomatoes and cabbage than he did on wine before that day.

"Mom was amazed, and she accused Dad of spending too much money on wine when she knew

he couldn't afford it. She didn't want him trying to impress her. When he explained it was from his
dad's farm, she was shocked. She came out, brought her parents, and then from there... Colton Wines
became a brand in every rich household.

"Most people don't associate it with Dad because he's the fashion capitalist. Dad loves this

place, but he loves the challenge the world of fashion presents more. He has to stay on his toes to
keep one step ahead, and he loves it. The vineyard is a lot of work, but it's not really a competitive
edge sort of thing... at least not with my granddad's wine.

"It's the best. There's no competing. If you don't have his wine at a function, people snub you.

They've gotten spoiled. More pride and heart goes into the bottles than people will ever know.
That's what makes it so good."

I've never seen him so excited to talk about anything. He's like a child on Christmas right now.

Then it dawns on me. How did I miss this?

"This is the business you'll be taking over?" I ask, not really meaning for it to be a question.
"Yep. People assume I'll be taking over Burndell Industries, but I could care less about all that

boring shit. This... this is me. It's my home. When I came out here as a kid, I couldn't get enough of
the farm. Granddad taught me about the grapes, the lands, and the farming portion of the business.
The older I got, the more I came out here. I'm here once a week usually. It's been a little longer since
I came out here... since I haven't been able to tear myself away from you since you moved in."

His smile makes my heart flutter, and he pulls my hand to his lips to kiss it just before we stop in

front of a beautiful chalet sort of home. There are windows lining every wall, and each bit of rich
cedar only adds to the appeal. It's so perfect.

"Wow," I murmur as he steps out of the car.
He takes quick strides to my side to open the door for me, and then he helps me out while I gape

at the beauty surrounding me.

With it being the off season, the grapes aren't in bloom, but everything is still... amazing. I can

only imagine what it'll look like when the grapes are dripping over the large fences built for their
clingy vines.

The wrap-around porch has hand-carved rocking chairs that look so inviting. This is so

peaceful. I can picture Kade here. So much about him makes sense now. He loves this place. I don't
know that I've ever seen him love anything.

"There's my boy," a raspy voice announces, drawing my attention.
Kade grins as he leaves my side to head over to the older man who doesn't seem to have a

problem getting around. I've seen Kade with his mother - stiff hugs, soft smiles, and polite gestures.
I've seen him with his father - no physical contact, stale conversation, and the same polite gestures.
With his grandfather, he greets him with a real, genuine hug, a warm, incredible smile, and a carefree
abandon that makes me tingle.

It's like he's a different person here. I already loved him. I don't know if I can be around him

here for very long. I may very well ask him to marry me. He's so happy right now - so real and
unguarded.

His grandfather claps his back as the embrace ends, and he lets his eyes find me before letting out

a low whistle. "How the hell did you convince a pretty girl like that to ride out here with you?" he
teases, making Kade laugh as he jogs back toward me.

He laces our fingers together as he starts tugging me toward the man who is grinning at our

connection.

"Granddad, this is Raya Capperton. Raya, this is my grandfather, Thomas Colton."
"That's the best you can do?" Thomas pokes. "You're supposed to introduce her as who she is to

you as well. That's how it works. Friend? Girlfriend? Fiancée? Wife?"

I laugh as Kade rolls his eyes. "You'd know it if I got married. This is my... girlfriend?" he says,

sounding more like it's a question.

"Are you asking or telling?" Thomas prods, making Kade laugh nervously and squirm

uncomfortably.

"I suppose... telling?" he asks again.
I'm not used to seeing Kade so nervous. Is it me or his grandfather that's making him act so

awkward?

"I swear, boy. If you have a girl that looks like her, you say 'girlfriend.' You don't stumble

around like an idiot who's waiting on her to clarify. Be a man."

I burst out laughing when Kade turns red and shakes his head.
"Be a man," I tease, poking at him while I have the chance.
"Don't encourage him," he groans, making both me and Thomas laugh louder.
He leans over and kisses me lightly on the lips, making my smile grow. He's different with me in

front of his grandfather than he is with me in front of his parents. He doesn't ignore me by any means,
but during our stay in Aspen, he only acted this affectionate when they weren't around.

I didn't expect him to maul me in front of his parents, but I thought it'd be different. He's not the

same in front of them. He's a different person most of the time. He keeps some fences up, as though
he has to separate different parts of his life. I'm glad he's not that way when it's just the two of us.

"Come on in. Show her around."
We walk into the enormous building that is loaded with wine bottles, beautiful fruits and

vegetables, and numerous jarred goodies. It's like a colorful explosion of tasty treats. I'm almost
salivating.

Wine glasses hang in various places, adding elegance and function - considering the wine-

tastings. A cedar staircase leads to a loft that has a view to overlook the vineyard. It's breathtaking,
all of it.

It's spacious, and despite the built-in wine racks, it's not cluttered. The counter at the front

reminds me of an old malt shop; not a fancy wine place. Each room holds a new selection of wines.
Glamorous signs hang to explain the different tastes, awards won, and foods the wines best
complement.

Even a rookie like me could walk in and find the right wine. I'm amazed at the range in prices.

Some sell for a hundred dollars, and some sell for ten thousand. I tuck my hands in the pockets of my
jeans to keep from accidentally breaking something I can't afford.

"You good?" Kade asks, running his fingers through my hair.
"Paranoid," I murmur as I back away from a Merlot that screams expensive.
He chuckles lightly. "If you break something, I'll try to talk to the owner about giving you a pass.

We're pretty close."

I shake my head while letting a small laugh free. My hands aren't coming out of my pockets.
"The Merlot is my favorite. They said Napa was the best for the grapes, but there are plenty of

clay spots here that are perfect for growing the Merlot grapes."

He's so cute when he's excited.
I knew he was a wine connoisseur, but I didn't realize why until now.
"Cabernet?" I muse, offering him a chance to tutor me more.
"Ah, red wine. Yes. The Cabernet actually dethroned burgundy in the mid-1960s. By the late

1980s, Cabernet was the generic term used for red wine."

From there, he lectures me on all the origins of the wines. Each time he speaks about a new

grape or different fermenting process, his eyes light up. This really is his niche. It makes me want to
study up on every wine just so I can be a part of his passion.

"I need to go check on a large order we're supposed to ship out tomorrow. Care to hang out for a

minute?"

I smile and nod as he kisses my cheek before rushing off to play Mr. Important.
"He's a go-getter, that one," Thomas says from behind me, startling me a bit.
"I've never seen him so happy."
He smiles as he moves around the room with his hands behind his back. "That's funny, because

his parents told me the same thing - after seeing him spend a week with you in Aspen a few weeks
ago."

The crazy flutter returns to my heart.
"Come on, blushing girl. Let's show you the good stuff."
I grin bashfully as I follow him to a large stairwell that leads underground. We're going to a

basement?

"The wine cellar and all the good stuff is this way."
He smiles up at me once before returning his view to the stairs. My mouth tries to drop open.

It's massive down here, and it doesn't look anything like a basement.

Tuscany thrives in this underground paradise. It almost looks like the pictures I've seen of Italy

with all the stucco surfaces, warm cobblestone-inspired floors, and the art that hangs proudly helps
the feel as well. Then the barrels catch my eyes.

There are at least thirty barrels on one wall, and then there are at least thirty in the middle,

creating aisles to walk down. Large stainless-steel containers descend from the ceiling with
numerous dials and instruments on them.

"What are the barrels for?" I ask, curious.
"Fermenting the wine. It takes several weeks to do it in the oak barrels, but it's well worth the

wait. The taste is so much purer. These big bastards speed it up, but it kills the best flavor," he says,
pointing toward the stainless-steel containers. "This was Margaret's project. She wanted mass
production for the lower-cost wines. The high-dollar stuff comes from the barrels. I don't know. I
never did this for the money. I did it for the love of my land and the love of the plants. But I enjoy the
fact more people get to enjoy the stuff."

"I was expecting you to be a poor man, and then we got here... I was surprised."
He chuckles. "I've been many things in my life, Raya, but never poor. I may not have had a

whole lot of money, but I had a woman most men would cut their heart out for, a son no man could be
prouder of, a grandson I couldn't have imagined would be so amazing, and a life most would envy.
I've always been a rich man, Raya. Always."

I must be hormonal or something, because tears well up in my eyes. That was beautiful.
"When this place started going crazy with business, I decided to set up a trust fund for Kade. I

knew his other grandparents and his parents were perfectly capable of such, but I only needed a little

money to survive on. I didn't care for the excess of it. I also wanted Kade to start out life easier,
hoping he wouldn't have to work so hard like I did; like his father did. But that boy is going to
outwork us both, I believe. He never slows down. I think the profits have tripled in just a couple
years' time because he has marketed the place so much. You'd think he was already in charge."

The twinkle of pride in his eyes is unmistakable. I can't stop grinning, because I love how

amazed and heartfelt he speaks about Kade.

"Here, look at this." He motions to a selection of wine on a special rack. Each bottle is tagged

differently than the others.

My grin almost splits my face when I see what it says.
"Kade's Pride," I read aloud, careful not to touch the bottle. "Kade's Touch. Kade's Luck."

There are so many, and I smile as I read some silently.

"That's the year he was born. Those were the best the grapes ever produced. To this day, those

have been the best wines I've ever tasted. All of them. White, red, dry, sweet... Everything turned out
amazing that year. It was like I was doubly blessed with a grandson and a thriving vineyard."

He picks up a Merlot and holds it out to me - the one that said "Kade's Pride."
"This one is the best out of all of them. It's special because it's one of the two I have left. I... I

want you to have it. Save it for a special occasion."

My eyes widen in disbelief, and I take a step back, refusing to touch the bottle that holds more

sentiment than the ridiculous price. "I can't. I couldn't possibly. Thank you so much for even
offering, but I can't."

His grin grows as he pushes it toward me again.
"I've waited on the day when Kade would drive up with a girl in his car, holding her hand, and

sharing this with her. Until today, that's never happened. You're special to him, and that makes you
special to me. Take this. Put it up somewhere until you find the perfect day to pour it."

He's lost his mind.
"Please don't make me, Mr. Colton. I'd feel terrible."
"Terrible?" he laughs. "Girl, you don't understand. I may not ever get this chance again. Kade

took his sweet time bringing a girl around here. I could be ninety before it happens again. I'd rather
this thing be in the hands of someone now so I can quit worrying about what happens to it."

I laugh a little, and for no real good reason, a small tear falls from my eye as I stare down at the

bottle in his hands. I slowly reach up to take it, careful to be gentle, and then I cradle it to my chest as
though it's an infant.

A proud grin spreads over his face as his lip trembles, and unshed tears glisten in his eyes as he

studies me intently.

"I'll be damned. You're in love with him. That's perfect."
How did he know?
I wipe my eyes, laugh, and sniffle all at once, while keeping the wine tucked close to me.
"I'd rather you didn't go announcing that to him," I mumble, making him laugh again as his eyes

continue to water.

"You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear someone loves my boy. This is all going to be

his one day. In fact, I originally had Paul deeded parts of the property, but Kade has proven himself,
so I had a new will drafted just yesterday. I plan on keeping it a secret and surprising Kade with it in
a few months."

I start to say something else, but the ancient relic of a phone on the wall rings loudly, drawing his

attention. I glance around at the other bottles in the room, amazed at all the hard work that has to be

done to produce wine.

A picture catches my attention next. It piques my curiosity because of the fact it's a fraction of a

centimeter off the wall. It's hiding a secret. I know hidden secrets.

With his back turned, he doesn't see me when I tilt the picture out to take a look behind it. The

Annex Goliath safe. Unbelievable. I know that safe because Annex is my father's old cohort in
crime. He turned over a new leaf and started designing unbreakable safes. I find humor in the fact a
con is keeping Kade's grandfather's secret treasures safe.

I let the picture fall back into place, and I turn to face Thomas just as he hangs up the phone. He

smiles at me, but it's weak. I'm not sure what just happened during that call, but it has dampened his
spirits.

"Come on. Let's go find Kade. I'm sure he's already sold half my stock by now. The boy needs a

life, and you're the right woman for the job."

I chuckle lightly and follow him.
"So is this where all the wine is fermented?" I ask, hoping to bring back his real smile.
"No, dear," he chuckles out. "This is just where I make my favorites. There are two other

buildings on the property designed just for fermenting. Several men work the fields, and my manager
oversees the production."

As we top the stairs, a guy with salt-and-pepper hair walks across the room while holding a

clipboard. He looks to be mid-forties, and his goatee matches his time-dusted hair.

"Well, speak of the devil," Thomas says with a grin.
The man looks up and smiles at both of us, letting the clipboard drop to his side as he clutches it

with one hand. "Thomas, you have a guest."

"This is Raya. She's dating Kade."
"It's about time that boy made time for something other than this place."
Thomas chuckles. "You're one to talk."
"I'm old," he jokes. "I'm supposed to be wrapped up in work."
Thomas turns to me and holds a hand out to gesture to the guy. "This is Harry Talbot, my

manager. He keeps the place running like a well-oiled machine."

I shake his hand just as Kade walks in with a balding man who is half Kade's height. Well,

maybe not half, but he's short... very short. Especially compared to Kade.

"And that's Leonard Mars, my lawyer who keeps all the licenses, contracts, and legal things

running just as smoothly as Harry keeps the farm."

"Vineyard," Kade interjects, smiling.
"It's a farm with a vineyard on it," Thomas says, swatting at him.
Kade walks over to me and pulls me in his arms before delivering a chaste kiss on my lips. I

keep the bottle of Merlot tucked against me, and he looks down to see what I'm holding.

"I gave the girl a gift. I told her I might not ever get this chance again," Thomas says with a

salacious grin.

Kade smiles until he sees what I'm holding, and then his eyes widen in shock. I really want to

give this back.

"The '93 Merlot? Have you lost your mind?" he gasps.
Yep. I need to put this back. This feels so wrong.
"My mind is one of the few things I haven't lost yet," Thomas teases, never letting his smile

waver.

Kade swallows hard as he wraps an arm around me. "We're about to head out. We've got class

tomorrow, but call me if you need anything," he says to his grandfather.

I have a feeling we'll be discussing this damn wine bottle the second we get in the car.
"Just worry about getting good grades and taking her out on special dates. There aren't too many

like her. I can already tell."

He gives me a wink, and I blush when Kade looks back at me. He seems... confused?
Thomas walks over and gives me an unexpected hug, that I carefully return without losing a grip

on the wine.

"Take care of him," he whispers, offering me a small wink when he pulls back.
I smile and nod. Then Kade steps in to say his farewells as I make my way to the door. I go

ahead and pop the trunk to his car, trying to think of the best way to secure the wine.

"I've got it," Kade says, suddenly right beside me with a pile of bubble wrap and a straw-filled

crate.

He wraps it up like a priceless gem, and then he secures it in the small crate before covering it in

the straw and sealing the lid with several latches.

"I can't believe he gave you the '93 Merlot. What did you say to him?"
I can't tell if he's angry or dumbfounded.
"I didn't tell him anything. I don't want the wine though. You should keep it. After all, it would

mean more to you than to me."

"I've already got one. This one and mine are the only two left."
He bites back whatever he wants to say. I really don't want the frigging wine at this point. I

never did. I knew it was too precious to give to me.

"Please keep it."
"If he wants you to have it, then you should keep it. It's his wine to do with as he pleases."
I sigh as he closes the trunk and heads to the driver's side. He's not even going to open my door

the way he normally does. He invited me into his world to show me a glimpse, and I somehow dove
in without permission. I didn't mean to.

This day started out with promise, but it has ended in complete failure. The story of my life.

This trip, unlike the ride out here, goes on forever in silence. I'll be sleeping in my room tonight. I
know I'm not the perfect girl, but I did nothing wrong. I'll be damned if I let him punish me for
receiving a gift from a persistent old man.

Chapter 16

Broken

"I'm sorry," Kade says as he kisses my cheek, rousing me from my sleep. "Come to bed with

me."

I lazily open my eyes to see him hovering over me in my bedroom. What time is it?
I glance over and groan when I see the clock says three.
"Just go to bed. We'll talk in the morning," I mumble, huffing as I turn back over.
"Tell me I can take you to my bed, and I'll shut up."
"There's nothing wrong with my bed. I want to sleep in here. We'll talk in the morning. When

there's light out."

The bed dips as he crawls in beside me and wraps his arms around my waist to pull my back to

his front. Soft lips start trailing down my neck, to my shoulder, then back up. I can feel the heat of his
skin and the firm touch of his chest grazing my few pieces of shown skin. Of course he's shirtless. He
wouldn't dare make this easy on me.

"I said I'm sorry," he murmurs again while nuzzling my neck with his smooth face.
I huff out as I turn over to face him, unsure if I'm even mad or not. I'm hurt.
"I didn't ask for the wine. In fact, I damn near begged him to keep it. He was insistent. I don't

know why you're pissed at me. I told you to keep the frigging bottle. I don't want it."

I turn back over, and his arms tighten around me as his leg comes over to wrap me up.
"I know, Raya. That's why I'm apologizing. I was a jerk. It... it just caught me off guard. You

should definitely keep it. It's obvious Granddad noticed how special you are, too. He has... cancer,
and when he gave that to you, I wasn't mad at you... It just made me realize he knows he doesn't have a
lot of time left. It just... it really struck a nerve, because I'm not ready to lose him."

The emotion in his voice is raw and heartbreaking. I've never heard him like this. That's all it

takes to make me roll back over and throw my arms around him. I can feel the tears in his eyes,
which makes it hard for me not to cry.

He tightens his hold on me, and his cheek rubs against mine affectionately. I want so badly to

stupidly tell him I love him again, but I bite it back and just hold him. His grandfather seemed fine.
He didn't look to be hurting or dying. He seemed fresh and happy.

"Come to bed with me. I hate sleeping upstairs," he murmurs while kissing my cheek.
"Okay."
I go willingly this time as he pulls me up. His fingers thread through mine as he guides me down

the stairs. As soon as we reach his room, he turns me face him and starts backing me up as his lips
come down on mine.

I don't know what he needs right now, but I'm willing to give him anything he wants. Slowly, I

slide my arms up his chest and clasp them around his neck just as the backs of my knees reach the bed.

Perfect trails of kisses are forged around my neck as we both drop to the soft mattress. He's been

gentle, he's been rough, but this... this is so much more. It's as though I'm the only person in the world
right now, and he's worshipping me with every touch, every kiss, and every breath.

My breathing hitches when he pulls my shirt over my head and presses tender kisses down the

curve of my neck. With very soft, unhurried motions, we undress each other until we're bare and
comfortably entwined.

He pulls me to be on top of him, and I lower my mouth to his. It doesn't matter if he doesn't tell

me he loves me; right now I can feel it.

His hands gently tangle in my hair as he kisses me harder, letting me feel a need he's not usually

vulnerable enough to show. I don't bother digging for a foil packet and ruining this real moment with
superficial barriers.

I've been on birth-control since my first boyfriend, and I know Kade doesn't sleep around. It's

probably not smart, but I love him. I want to have all of him, and I want him to have all of me.

I slide down on him, letting him feel the skin on skin, and he moans in a way that sets me on fire

as he fills me. He doesn't stop me or question what I've just done, because he trusts me as much as I
trust him.

Then I start moving my hips, rocking against him as he runs his hands up and down my hips,

pulling me to him with each falling motion so that our bases rub against each other.

He sits up as I control the motions, and he kisses me as we slowly and deeply claim each other

with our connected bodies. I'm on another level right now. It's so... honest, so real.

"I love you," I whisper, not meaning to, but not able to hold back.
He pulls me closer, making it hard to rise and fall against him, as his tongue slips into my mouth.

Sweat forms on both of us, my hair dampens, and his body melds more to mine as everything
intensifies.

When his breaths grow rasp, I feel the build trying to unfurl deep within me. I push down harder,

move a little quicker, and use his shoulders to offer me leverage as I work hard to carry us both over
that edge.

It's not merely mind-blowing when I finally find my release, it's earth-shattering. His name flows

through my lips like a worshipping prayer, and my name falls out of him just the same. And we just
sit there, holding each other, lips entwined, tongues in play... hearts in love.

I've had butterflies in my stomach all day long. After Kade woke me up last night and made

love to me like I never thought possible, I haven't been able to stop smiling. Now he wants to take me
somewhere special. This could be it. This could be the night he tells me he loves me.

He's been different ever since he woke me up at three. He barely let me get to class this morning,

and he has sent me at least a dozen texts telling me he misses me.

My goofy grin only grows. I start to text him when my phone buzzes in my hand. I look down to

see Brody's name on the screen, but I put it back. I don't want to talk to him right now. I want to go
fall into Kade's arms and enjoy the night I pray changes everything.

My stomach flip flops as I grow closer, but then it crashes to the ground when I see the black

Audi car in the driveway of Kade's house. License plate: HUPRIDE. My phone buzzes again, and I
scramble to answer it.

"Brody, that car is-"
"It's Uncle Joey, Kiddo. I was calling to tell you I have a name for the tag you gave me.

Courtney Hughes. You know her? 'Cause she's been asking a lot of questions about you back in
Springton."

I swallow hard as I lower the phone from my ear, and my world tries to disintegrate in front of

my eyes. No. I was supposed to get to tell him. Not her.

I tremble as I make my way to the door. I can only imagine what will happen, but I have to hope

he loves me enough to overlook my roots. He's not going to judge me like the rest of them. He can't.

With a shaky breath, I finally push through the door, dreading what's waiting on the other side.

Hushed voices reach me from the living room, and the lump in my throat doubles in size.

When I round the corner, I see Kade sitting on the couch beside Courtney. She looks up to meet

my eyes, seeming cold and angry. Kade's head is down as he leans forward with his elbows on his
knees while he stares at the floor. His hands are clasped together, his body is stiff, and I can tell my
hopefulness is going to be doused with reality. He's going to be like everyone else.

"You need to go. Now," Courtney says, a bitterness to her tone I'm accustomed to.
Who the hell does she think she is?
"I'll let Kade tell me what to do," I mutter calmly, digging deep to find those extra-thick layers of

skin I put away.

Kade doesn't move, but his low voice comes out cold. "Go, Courtney. I need to speak to Raya

alone."

I swallow hard, almost choking on that knot now. Courtney shakes her head. "No. Kade, she's a

con. She can easily manipulate you into making another mistake."

My heart drops to the ground and shatters. Another mistake?
"Just go, Courtney!" he growls, making her jump.
She stands and brushes the wrinkles out of her fitted blue dress. Several files and photos are

scattered across the glass coffee table. I don't have to ask what they are. If she's been digging for
information in my home town, everyone was more than likely happy to oblige. If he chooses to
believe those hypocritical fools who turned on my father while locking all their dirty secrets up in a
closet, then he doesn't love me like I thought.

I glare at her as she walks by, and she holds my gaze with just as much passionate hatred. Right

now, I wish my father had been violent. Then I'd know how to beat the hell out of her.

She finally breaks the eye contact as she walks out, leaving her messy trail behind for me to clean

up. I can tell by the frigid temperature in the air, it's over. I won't let him judge me wrongly. If
everyone wants someone to hate... so be it. I'm sick of defending myself.

"So you're a con?" he asks, slicing my heart out. "That's what all this was? You show up, find a

way to weasel yourself into my house, and then what? Make me fall for you? Take everything I
have?"

The tears that brim his eyes match the ones I'm holding back. Not again. I won't be that girl that

crumbles and breaks again. I knew this day would come. I hoped for the best, but I prepared for the
worst.

"My father is a con. I'm just his daughter. But I think you've already made up your mind about

me. There's nothing I can or will say to try to change your mind. I've seen that look before."

"Deny it, Raya. Can you at least do that?" he hisses. "Can you say that you didn't play me? That

you didn't work me over real damn well? And my father? And my grandfather? I should have
fucking known he wouldn't have handed that bottle over for just any reason. You poured on the charm
and he fell for it just like I did. Like we all did."

If you cut my heart out with a dull spoon, it wouldn't hurt this much. Still, I hold onto my tears,

refusing to let him see me break.

"Yeah," I murmur coldly. "I talked those frat boys into bulldozing my house just so I could move

in here. I cunningly whispered in your father's ear to plant the idea in his head. I conned him into
buying me clothes and bringing me to Aspen. Is that what you want? I told your grandfather I love
you just so he'd give me a bottle of wine he treasured. Happy? I told you I love you because I
wanted to steal everything you have and disappear into the wind. There. Now you can feel good
about doing this."

I turn on my heel, disgusted and broken. I've told myself before I'd never be loved by someone

like him. Why I let myself fall is beyond me.

"Fucking unbelievable. Just deny it, Raya. Damn it. That's all I'm asking," he barks behind my

back, but I ignore it. I don't want to hear any more cruelty spewing from the lips that loved me last
night.

Hurt? I wish. I'm not hurt; I'm destroyed. I never conned him into loving me. I conned myself

into believing he'd be different.

Chapter 17

Conned

"Raya, you need to grab the steaks for me, please," Dad yells as I jog down the stairs.
"Yeah," I mumble, wiping my eyes.
I really wish I could stop seeing Kade at school. The icy glares he gives me are painful. I do

well to act unaffected on campus, but the second I'm home, I fall apart.

You'd think after two weeks, I'd be dealing better. But not so much. If anything, it keeps getting

worse.

"I've got to be at work in an hour," I mutter as I grab the steaks from the fridge and carry them

outside.

Brody is talking on his phone in the yard, and he lifts his eyes to meet mine once I'm outside. I

still haven't forgiven him for his judgmental comment. I hate them all. The only ones who believe I'm
good are the cons. And people think they're the villains.

"Here," I mutter, handing Dad the large container full of raw meat.
He frowns when he takes in my wet cheeks and tear-stained eyes. I've lost my ability to care if

everyone sees me as a mess when I'm not at school. I just refuse to give Kade the satisfaction of
seeing me broken.

"Is he hassling you? Are his friends giving you problems?" Dad asks, letting his jaw work into a

clenching motion.

"No. We don't speak. His friends are probably too scared to mess with a conman's daughter.

They don't know you weren't violent."

"That would change if they mess with you."
The anger lacing his tone makes me believe him. I need to defuse the situation before he does

something stupid. He's a good man, but he lives in the gray area where normal morals and what he
thinks is right don't mesh well.

"I'm fine. I promise. You guys have fun. I need to get to work."
Dad grumbles under his breath, but he begrudgingly lets me go without further inquiry.
It's odd having my own vehicle, but my dad insisted he buy me a car. I would have settled for a

used piece of crap, but he wanted me to have a flashy new ritzy car. We met in the middle, and I got
an Escape.

He's trying too hard to make up for time lost, and I'm trying too hard to assure him he doesn't have

to. We'll eventually get comfortable with each other.

Ember's number comes through on my phone, and I connect the call with a touch of the steering

wheel, chuckling a little. "Are you dancing at Silk tonight?" I ask, bypassing a hello.

She always gets nervous when she dances. Silk is Burlesque meets stripper pole. I simply wait

tables. Ember has the confidence for the stage.

"Um... No. Raya, Kade's grandfather was admitted to the hospital early this morning. He's in an

induced coma right now. It's possible he won't make it much longer."

I swallow hard. I've been dreading this because I don't know what to do. I hate Kade right now,

but I love the bastard, too. His family was good to me, and though they might hate me now, I don't
feel right about not going and offering my condolences.

"Thanks, Em. For calling me."
"No problem. Are you going out there?"

I stop at the red light that forces me to think about which way to go. Taking a right will lead me

to Silk. Taking a left will lead me to the hospital. A literal crossroads. Shit.

"I'll talk to you later," I mutter while turning left.

Paul Colton is the first person I recognize, and I tense up as I watch him pace back and forth,

looking devastated and broken. He's always so poised and pulled together. Seeing him like this...
makes me all the more worried about seeing Kade.

I won't be able to touch him, console him, or even try to talk to him. I have no idea what I was

thinking by coming here. This was stupid. I can't do anything but make the situation worse.

I turn around and slam into a hard chest. Strong hands steady me, and I look up to see Tag with a

weary expression replacing his normally chipper one.

"Raya. I'm surprised but happy you're here. Kade could use someone," he says softly.
My heart breaks more. He will need someone, but he won't let it be me.
"I shouldn't have come," I say in a hoarse rasp, clearing my throat directly after.
He sighs out heavily. "We know you weren't conning him. No one here is going to say

otherwise. Kade needs someone."

Tears threaten to drip out. Does Kade think I wasn't conning him now? Has he changed his

mind?

"Raya," Paul's relieved voice says from close behind me, and I swallow down the emotion as I

turn to face his disheveled appearance.

"Mr. Colton. I'm sorry. I just came to tell you I'll do anything you need me to. I... You can call

me if you need me." How I manage to not break down and bawl, I don't know. But this can't be about
me right now.

"There is something you can do. Go see Kade. He's not so well," he says wearily.
His eyes are sunken in, his hair is a mess, and his suit looks to be three-days-worn. I've never

seen him look so... lost. He always looks so in control.

"Yeah. Of course," I mutter softly, patting his arm as I walk around him.
I head down the hall, and I hear the familiar voices guiding me to the room as Wren, Melanie,

and several others gather around a fragile old man who looked so sprightly not too long ago.

As I grow closer, I see Kade in the corner with his head in his hands, and I start to ache. It's

almost painful to see him so broken. My shattered heart breaks even more when I see a familiar body
walking toward him. Courtney Hughes.

She puts her hand on his shoulder just as Wren notices me. "Raya," he says, making Kade's head

snap up.

He looks just as tragic as Mr. Colton, and my lip tries to tremble. I start to walk toward him,

deciding to explain all my past bullshit later. I want to be here for him right now, comfort him. But
when I see the way Courtney looks at me, I remember who I am. I remember who he is.

He wants a big business - a reputable business without any worries that something will soil its

good name. The name his grandfather is leaving behind is clean, perfect, and full of respect. Mine...
I'm still a conman's daughter. Nothing has changed.

After staring at each other, both of us uncertain about what to do, I turn to leave, but Kade jumps

up, letting the chair scrape across the floor.

"Raya, wait," he says breathlessly.
"I-"
Before I can finish, I'm interrupted by yelling from down the hall. Kade brushes by me, letting

his hand trail down my arm as he passes to go investigate the scene. That one touch has damn near
made me say to hell with my resolve, but the argument brings me back.

"You can't be serious," Paul yells, pointing his finger in the face of Leonard Mars, Thomas

Colton's lawyer.

I only met him once that day at the vineyard, but I remember him. Though I can honestly say I

have no idea who the woman with him is.

She's tall with dark blond hair, and appears to be in her mid to late fifties. She looks elegant,

with her wavy hair swept perfectly to the sides, but there's a familiar air about her... She's trying to
look elegant. I know that rags-to-riches stance. Someone wants so badly to feel prominent, so they
fake it. I've known many girls around here try to achieve that goal but to no avail. That means this
woman is new to money.

"I'm sorry, Paul. I really am," Leonard says, seeming exhausted.
Paul curses and swears as they lower their voices, continuing the conversation in hushed

whispers. Kade's jaw clenches as he shakes his head, suddenly looking livid and disgusted.

"He'd never do that!" Kade yells, pointing back toward his grandfather's room. "My grandfather

only ever loved one woman. He hasn't even dated anyone since my grandmother died, let alone got
married. This is bullshit."

What?
"It's true, Kade," Leonard says wearily. "I was there six months ago when they went to the

courthouse. So was Harry. We both served as witnesses. Thomas didn't want you to know. I'm
sorry. And he had me nullify his will, which now leaves everything to Henrietta. I know this is hard,
but it's true.

"With him in an induced coma, he's unable to handle his estate. Essentially, since she's deeded

everything, she has almost the same rights as someone with power of attorney. The vineyard is hers,
the winery is hers, and the farm is hers."

This doesn't make sense. Thomas told me he had just had his will-
"That's bullshit, because my father just had his will redone not long ago. My lawyers handled it

because I felt it was too important to leave in your hands," Paul barks. "Kade is the only one who is
supposed to get anything. She has no rights, and she'd better stay the hell off my father's property."

A flash of surprise crosses Leonard's face, and my eyes narrow. Holy fucking shit... This... I

can't believe it. This is a con.

"Do you have the will?"
"No. My father kept it, but I'm sure my lawyers can send you a copy real damn soon."
Paul walks away, and Leonard turns to text someone. I watch, pretending as though I'm only

mildly amused, while Kade follows his father. Leonard's phone buzzes, and whatever he sees forces
him to relax. That's not good. A relaxed con has an ace in their pocket. A skilled hacker could
easily access and delete those files.

"Let's go, Henrietta. Now's not a good time to visit. I'll bring you back later."
She dabs her fake tears on a tissue and nods while following behind him. One of two things is

going on. Either she faked the marriage, and an authenticator will quickly dismiss the certificate,
which will make whatever will they have suspicious. Or she actually conned Thomas Colton into
marrying her.

Considering their confidence level, she tricked him into marrying her. And as his lawyer,

Leonard, could have easily manipulated the old will. They're pros. Paul won't get the new will. Not
through his lawyers. There's only one way he'll ever see it. There's only one way Kade will have his

vineyard - the one his grandfather wants him to have.

I walk away, giving everyone some privacy. It's crazy to think I was looked down upon for my

roots, but yet a con has been right under their noses this whole time.

I almost leap into my car and speed out of the parking lot. I already told Dane Sterling I'd be

late. I hadn't been expecting to talk to the damn owner when I called in to work, but he was nice
enough. Now I'll have to call him and tell him I won't be there for at least two or three days, if all
goes according to plan. I'm not so sure how nice he'll be after that.

I bring my car to an abrupt halt, and I hop out before the engine even has time to register I've cut

it off. Dad jumps a little when I barge through the door, and I scour the space for Brody, making sure
he's nowhere around.

"Raya?" he asks worriedly. "What's wrong?"
I spot Brody through the back window. He's perched up on the palm tree while he smokes.

That's plenty far enough away.

I turn back toward my father, feeling serious, ready, and a little pissed. "I need your help."
"Of course. What's going on?"
I take a deep breath to utter the words I never thought I would.
"We need to set up a con."

Chapter 18

The Conman's Daughter

The look of pure shock on my father's face would be funny any other time, but I don't feel like

smiling right now.

"Raya, I can't help you run a con. You can't go down the same path-"
"Kade's family's vineyard is being stolen from them as we speak," I say to interrupt, rolling my

eyes. "I want to steal it back."

He visibly relaxes, making me frown. I can't believe he thought I just wanted to swindle away

some cash.

"Then that's a different story. Give me the details."
Very quickly, I toss out everything I know in short, rushed spurts, keeping an eye on Brody the

entire time.

"What sort of security do they have?"
"State of the art, but I think we can run through it with a simple hack."
"And you think his will is in the safe?" Dad asks while jotting down different key points.
"I know it is, but it's an Annex Goliath. A decoding device will send it into total lockdown. If I

don't manually get the code right on the third try, we'll need drills-"

"Absolutely not," Brody interjects, startling the hell out of me and making Dad groan.
I just checked on him like two seconds ago.
"You have me bugged, don't you?" Dad growls, glowering at the FBI nuisance who's fucking with

my plan. Brody just smirks while cocking an eyebrow that screams smug bastard. Then Dad
continues, "I can't believe I didn't pick up on them."

"I'm better than the others," Brody releases with his haughtiest tone. Then he turns more serious

while looking toward me. "No drills, no breaking through the security system. If you want to do this,
I'll set up a sting operation, and we'll do it legally. Your father can't afford to get a strike this early
on, and he'd happily go back to prison just to fix this mess your boyfriend is in."

"She's not breaking in to rob the place. She's stealing it back," Dad says in my defense, making

Brody groan.

"Raya, make him understand," Brody says, looking toward me to be the voice of reason.
I cross my arms over my chest and offer him what has to be an incredulous look. "Make him

understand what? I don't understand either. We're not breaking the law; we're upholding it by
keeping the bad guys away from the good guys' stuff."

Brody scrubs his face with his hands as if he's exasperated, but I'm confused. How are we doing

anything wrong?

"Look," he groans. "If the marriage certificate is real-"
"It'll be real. They were too confident for it not to be," I bitch, interrupting him.
"Then legally it's hers unless there is a will proving otherwise. If you break in, then you're going

to be the one brought to justice, not them. So do this my way, and get your boyfriend's vineyard and
winery back. Then I'll handle the bad guys - the real bad guys. Trust me."

"How am I supposed to break into a safe legally?" I hiss.
"You have three codes, right? Pick the right one. I can't say you didn't know for sure what the

code already was."

"I have three tries in an endless array of possible combinations. You can't be serious," I screech,

looking at him as though he just grew two extra heads.

"Then figure out which numbers meant the most to him," Brody says with a shrug, as though this

is a simple task and not an impossible feat. Jerk.

I look toward Dad, but he gives me an I-know-he's-fucking-impossible glare. Great. As if this

wasn't going to be hard enough. Now this simple break-in just turned into a full-on con. I'm so
screwed.

"So, Paul Colton tells me the vineyard-slash-winery has a major deal going on with Davis

Marlone. He's new to money, and he has a daughter getting married. She has pictures plastered all
over the web, but you can pass for her if you wear sunglasses, red lipstick, and grab a sexy red wig,"
he says while looking at his phone. "I'll send you a picture of what kind of hair style to get it."

"That's a lot of info very quickly," I mutter, slightly impressed.
"I work fast, babe. That's how I keep your dad from doing something stupid." He winks, and

then returns to reading from his phone. "Marlone is sending his brother, Garret Marlone, who has
some pictures on the web, but he looks dangerously close to your father if he dies his hair silver."

Dad grumbles and shakes his head. "Wig."
Brody laughs and rolls his eyes. "Fine. Grab a wig. And grab some cheesy, over-the-top

designer suits that poor people think rich people wear, because that's how this guy dresses."

"I actually think I have all that handy," Dad mutters with a casual, one-armed shrug.
Of course he does.
"We need a four man team," Brody says, ignoring the last part my father said. "Two women and

two men. We have three out of four. I'll be your loving fiancé, Bradley," he says, grinning at me.
"And your Dad will need some hot piece of ass hanging on his arm. We'll need to look like new
money."

"Who are we going to get for the fourth person?" I ask, going back to his "four man team"

comment.

"Do you have any sexy friends who could stand to earn some extra cash. I'm sure your father

could afford to hire an actress." Brody casts a smirk toward my father who grumbles something about
the government being cheapskates.

"I know a girl," I say with a grin.
"Good. Call her and fill her in. All she has to do is act enamored by your father."
"How are you planning on us showing up at this meeting instead of the real 'new money' clients?"

I ask. I'm almost ashamed of how excited I feel.

"Leave the details to me. Your concern is the will," Brody says, earning a glare from my father.
"I do the details," Dad scoffs, and suddenly they begin bickering about who is in charge. All I

can think about is how destroyed Kade must be.

I stare at my phone, uncertain if I should call. I'd be devastated if Courtney was with him.

Instead, I text Paul.

Tell Kade not to worry, and keep him away from the vineyard. If he does something stupid,

they'll have him arrested.

My phone buzzes almost immediately with a response.
Don't do anything. The FBI contacted me just a few moments ago. These people could be

dangerous.

Could be and probably are. That's the only reason I'm okay with Brody going.
I know. Keep him away. He's mad, and he's likely to do something stupid.
It buzzes again, but this time Paul promises to keep his son away. He won't be able to do it for

long. I just hope our con works.

With the way Ember is fidgeting beside me, I can't tell if she's nervous or excited. I'm just

happy she agreed to do this. Sindell would have been ideal, but the less Brody knows about her
existence, the better. She's still in the game, and having a FBI agent around would cramp her style, or
land her in prison.

I may not agree with what the rest of my family does, but they're still family. I won't get them

locked up.

"So, you're sure the people we're pretending to be aren't going to show up here?" I whisper,

acting as though someone can hear me as we drive down the lengthy driveway.

Brody and Dad both chuckle at my paranoia, but Ember doesn't find the humor. This is just

another day for the two pros who have been conning cons for a while together. My heart is trying to
pound out of my chest and beat out my eyeballs. Ember's whole body is tense beside me.

"Positive," Brody says. "I explained the situation to Paul Colton. I went over there last night

after the lawyers called to tell him their servers crashed, and they lost numerous files. And,
coincidentally enough, they couldn't find the physical copies of the files either. I was expecting that
though. Colton messed up by showing his hand. He shouldn't have told them about the will."

"He didn't know they were pros. He was emotional and completely distraught," I say in Paul's

defense.

Brody ignores me as he surveys the landscape, acting like a cop. "Alright," he says as we slow

to a stop. "Show time."

Brody climbs out and walks to the back to open my door for me. I'm not sure where he rented the

Mercedes, but at least we look wealthy enough. I'm surprised he didn't go more ostentatious with an
outrageous canary yellow or candy-apple red Lamborghini. Of course, then we wouldn't have all fit.

"Come on, Sweetheart," Brody teases, pulling my hand in his.
My heart beats faster as the thrill of a real con consumes me. No wonder Dad got hooked. I'm

terrified and giddy at the same time.

I see Henrietta, or whoever she really is. She waves at us through the window while keeping a

fake smile plastered to her face. The red wig is very firmly attached to my knotted up hair. It's a
little jarring to see such a bold color in place of my chocolate locks, and that's with the sunglasses
taming down the hue for me.

I'm not accustomed to wearing dresses this short. I've only worn something this revealing a time

or two in my life. I feel like I'm walking around in someone else's body right now.

I'm praying no one notices me. Of course, with this brazen choice of red lipstick next to the

already scarlet hair, I don't see that as a problem.

"Come in," Henrietta says cheerily, acting as though this is really her home and not the one she

stole.

I sound hypocritical for hating her so much right now, since my family is full of cons, but no one

has ever done what she has. I still can't believe Thomas ended up married to her. I was so hoping
she was making it up, but the certificate was authenticated, just as I feared it would be.

Dad makes our false introductions, while Ember hangs on his arm, looking like a trashy gold

digger who is beyond bored. Good girl.

While he rattles on about the vineyard and the beauty of it, and how we need to discuss where

exactly to hold the wedding, Brody stays attentive, smiling and nodding. I scour the scene, trying to
find out the best way to make it to the underground cellar without being noticed.

"Would you like to take off your sunglasses, dear?" Henrietta asks, interrupting my plan of

escape.

I freeze. I've prepared myself for this. I rehearsed my lines over and over, but the words refuse

to escape the moment I'm tested. I'm a terrible con.

"My fiancée has a migraine. Too much of the Kinderton Merlot," Brody says gently, as if he's

being sympathetic to my fake migraine.

I'd thank him, but I'm still experiencing stage-fright. Instead, I groan - sounding authentic - and

lean against his arm.

"Oh goodness," Henrietta chuckles, making my head actually hurt with her annoying laugh.

"Would you two like to sit down in the great room? It has a beautiful view. My lawyer is in there
right now."

Shit. She may not recognize me, but Leonard might.
"Actually, can you point us in the direction of a restroom?" Brody asks. "It was a long drive out

here."

"Of course. Take the first right down the hall. In the meantime," she says, turning back to my

father, "I'll show you the place for the reception."

As Henrietta leads, my father and Ember follow. Brody waits until the clicking heels disappear

from sound before he says, "And... action."

An involuntary grin quirks up on my lips, and I stifle a ridiculous giggle as the excited tingles

consume me.

"You'd better not even think of making this a habit," he grumbles while tugging my hand, but

before we can reach the cellar door, Leonard walks around a corner with Harry, the manager, just
barely missing the sight of us before Brody rips me away and back around the corner we just came
around.

Brody almost shoves me into a side door that leads to a large stock room full off office supplies

and crates.

"Shit," he hisses.
"I thought you were supposed to be good at this," I whisper, wondering why he's panicking.
"You didn't tell me Harold Cole was in on it, and I didn't have enough time to research this as

thoroughly as I needed to."

Harold who?
"Who is Harold Cole?"
"The guy with Leonard Mars. He's a big time player in the game, but no one can ever find any

evidence to prove his guilt. He's been lying low for the past five years. I guess I know why now," he
says, making sure to keep his voice low.

"Harry Talbot is Harold Cole? He's the manager here. Has been for a while."
"Damn it. I knew this was rushed, but your father would have done it on his own if I hadn't

hurried."

The voices carry through the door, forcing us to stop our whispered conversation.
"It's all taken care of. We need to hurry up and get this charade of a meeting over with," Harry...

or Harold says.

"We have to keep up appearances. Paul Colton is a vicious man with too much money and

influence. If it looks like we're running the business into the ground, he'll start using it as an angle in
court. We have to make it look as though Henrietta loves this place as much as Thomas. We've just
gotten started."

Like every cliché fucking movie I've ever seen, I move wrong and a stupid box falls from a perch

and claps to the floor. Brody slaps his forehead in exasperation before he starts fumbling with his
belt. What the hell is he doing with his belt?

"Check it out," Harold says, not bothering to whisper.
I don't know what the hell happens, but suddenly I'm against the back wall, my legs are wrapped

around Brody's waist, and his lips are on mine. His pants are opened, my dress has risen up, and he's
grinding against me. Oh hell no. I start to push him away and slap the hell out of him, wondering
where the crap his sanity has gone, when the door swings open.

Brody moans as though he's doing more than simply grinding against me, and I realize what's

going on. A few chuckles emerge from behind him, and I start playing along. Of course, the kiss gets
sloppy and terrible when I tighten my lips and refuse to allow his tongue access. Tongue is really not
necessary, in my opinion.

The door shuts back and the chuckles continue as they start walking away.
"Let's go help Henrietta with the clients. Apparently half of them already like the place,"

Leonard jokes from farther away.

I break away from the wet kiss, and slap Brody. Albeit it's a pathetic girly slap, but I felt some

reaction was warranted. I'm not really well versed with violence. My attempt to inflict pain merely
provokes a low snicker from him.

"You could have warned me," I hiss as he puts me back down and starts redoing his pants.
"Action was all we had time for. Not spoken plans and warnings. Come on. We've got a short

window."

I follow him out of the storage room, still considering slapping him harder. I'd probably earn

another chuckle instead of doing any real harm. Jerk.

When we reach the cellar door, he motions for me to go in.
"You're not coming?" I ask, turning around.
"I can't. I can't watch you type in codes on a safe that doesn't belong to you."
What?
"I thought this was legal," I gripe, pissed that I left the drills behind now.
"It's not... legal. But it's not illegal. It's in a very gray area, considering this place doesn't

rightfully belong to her but technically it does. Just go down there and take care of what you need to.
I don't need to know the details. Then call me when you're coming back up. I'll find a spot to hide
until then."

"It would have been nice if you had informed me of this before we came."
He rolls his eyes before giving me an incredulous look. "Really? Then you would have packed

every tool for breaking in you could fit in the car. No way. I can handle a gray area. I can't handle it
being straight up illegal."

A few choice words enter my mind, but he shoves me forward and shuts the door before those

words can spill through my lips. Coward. I really wish I had at least one or two drills. Dad has the
best equipment... even though he's out of the game.

I quickly remove the treacherous heels I'm wearing before I even attempt the stairs, and I hold

them in my hand while I creep down, possibly plotting Brody's punishment. If this doesn't work
because I don't have the proper equipment, I'm kicking his ass.

It's possible the drills wouldn't have worked either. It's Annex's after all. He's a tricky bastard,

so he might have a booby trap set up that would make the safe even more inaccessible if I had drilled
wrong. Considering I haven't done anything like that since I was twelve, I definitely might have

messed up. Drilling safes was only ever a pastime thing for my dad and me. It's not like I'm a pro.

I drop the heels to a table on my way over to the painting with a secret. I smile when I remove it

and find my salvation. I know that will is in there. It has to be. Kade might hate me, but at least I'll
be able to give him one hell of a parting gift to remember me by.

Taking a weary breath, I go to type in the first, most obvious code. The annex is designed to

accept numbers only, so I count the placement in the alphabet for Kade, along with 1993, but before I
can press enter, I hear something I never in my life thought I'd hear so close to my head... the click of
a gun.

"You should have stayed away from here," a familiar voice says as the barrel of the gun presses

against the back of my head, making me visibly tremble.

Where have I heard his voice before? It isn't Harry... or Harold, rather, and it isn't Leonard

either. Obviously this manly voice isn't Henrietta. I guess we weren't the only ones with a four-man
team.

"I... um... got lost?" I stutter out like an idiot, slowly raising my hands in the air as a show of

surrender.

A heartless chuckle taints the air when he finds humor in my poor attempt to come up with a lie.

I'm actually much better at lying when I'm not in the middle of a con... ironically enough.

"Sure you did. At least now I know where the old man is keeping the will. Thanks for that," the

grizzly voice says, and suddenly it dawns on me who it is.

"You're the... judge," I gasp, keeping my eyes on the safe as the gun presses harder against the

back of my head.

"And you're the trailer-park trash that should have run back home to mother when Kade's friends

bulldozed your house." He sighs out heavily, and then mutters, "I really hate to do this, but you
brought it upon yourself."

I need to keep him talking and figure out a way to disarm him, but I have no clue about how to do

that. Unfortunately, my father isn't a fighter, so he never taught me any of those skills. Damn it.

"You're going to..."
I can't get the words out. I can't cry, gasp, or even feel anything besides helpless. Surely a judge

wouldn't-

"Kill you?" he laughs, finishing the words I couldn't. "What other choice do I have? I've been

waiting twenty-three years to get revenge on Paul Colton. Twenty-three. Long. Years."

Keep him talking, Raya.
"Paul Colton? This is Kade Colton's inheritance, not Paul's."
"Ah," he says, leaning down closer to my ear. "And Paul loves his boy. I've tried and failed

many times to ruin Colton Fashion industries. He has that pretty little business packaged too well to
be brought down. But this place... he didn't lock it up as well as he should have, and bringing it down
is even better than bringing down his own empire. This is his father's - the man he adores. This is his
son's - the boy he never knew how to relate to. This is the only thing that connected the three of them.
Now I'm taking it."

Breathe, Raya. Breathe.
"So all of this is because you have beef with Paul?"
"Beef," he sniffs. "It's more than that. Paul Colton married the one and only woman in this world

I've ever loved, and he didn't deserve her. He still doesn't. She and I had just planned a date when he
met her. He didn't give a damn about me or the fact I had been desperately trying for months to get
that date. I had to go through her father just to set it up.

"My family had money, my life was on track, and Paul was the poor boy who should have never

crossed paths with her. All he did was use her and her contacts to build his father's business into
something ridiculously wealthy. Used her," he says, repeating the last two words with a snarl. "Then
he trapped her with a kid, just to ensure that she didn't wise up and leave him. That son of a bitch."

I've heard of women going crazy after being scorned, but I didn't realize men were just as bad.

Frigging psycho.

"So then... you decided to get a group of cons to do this job? To steal this vineyard and exact

revenge?" I ask, sounding stupid. But I have to stall, damn it. Where the hell is Brody?

He chuckles... again, managing to make it sound even eerier this time.
"Sorry, sweetheart. That's all the divulging I'm willing to do."
I tense up. "Are you sure?" I ask in an unusually high octave, rushing the words out so fast it

almost sounds like one word. "Because it really sounds like you need someone to talk to."

The second click of a gun strikes me with more fear before I have time to register it as curious.

How did he cock it twice?

"Actually," a saving voice says from behind, making my whole body almost jitter with relief, "I

think Judge Higdon will have plenty of people who want to hear his story."

"Fuck," the judge says as the gun pulls back away from my head. But then he quickly starts trying

to dig his way out. "This is Henrietta's property, where I too live, and this girl is trespassing. I was
simply defending myself. You have nothing to prove otherwise."

I hear a rattling, as Brody most likely disarms the creep, and I tremble heavily before turning to

face the judge for the first time, happy to see him without a weapon and his hands raised high in the
air. He's bald, short, and not at all attractive. Add in the fact he's completely psychotic... I
understand perfectly well why Kade's mom chose Paul.

Something hits me and makes me roll my eyes. "Judge Higdon. Roy Higdon. The Justice of the

Peace who signed the marriage certificate for Thomas and Henrietta."

So the judge moonlights as a JOP. Why didn't I figure that out sooner?
Brody nods, his smile growing. "You mean forged?" he asks, winking.
"You have nothing to prove that," the judge repeats, almost growling. "This is her property, and I

rent here. I'll have you both arrested for assaulting me in my own home."

Thank goodness Kade's grandfather didn't marry some troll without telling him.
"Unless I, as a man of the law, stumble across something in plain sight that could contradict that.

Right, Judge?" Brody asks, making the growling man even more furious. "I think you've got an open
safe to deal with," Brody says, covering his eyes with one hand and pressing harder against the back
of Roy's head with the gun.

"That safe is not open! That's private property! You can't touch it!" the judge yells in objection.

Yeah. Like I'm going to listen.

I quickly press the enter button to see if the code I pushed in earlier is correct, and my smile of

wonder grows when a loud beep emerges, allowing the door to pop open just a hair. First damn try.
Hell yes.

I quickly pull the door all the way open, delighting in what is right on top of the pile. "Oh look,"

I mutter, feigning innocence. "A document inside a very widely opened safe. And it looks like a
will."

I turn to Brody who takes the will happily. "It seems you've found evidence that this property

doesn't belong to the people who can now be considered trespassers. That's enough for me to hold
them for now. It won't take me long to gather the rest. Good job, Raya."

I almost giggle like a silly girl, feeling the claws of adrenaline sinking in, but I refrain, coughing

back the ridiculous outburst that was seconds from spilling out, and I offer a respectable smile and
nod instead.

Brody rolls his eyes as he cuffs the judge, and then he looks at me once more. "You'd better not

be hooked."

It was a thrill, a scare, and then a thrill again, but I'm far from hooked. There's only been one

thing I've ever been hooked on and thoroughly addicted to, and... well, it was a person. In reality, I
suppose I was just hooked on our game, because that's all it would have ever been - a game.

"Let's go," I mutter somewhat sadly, my euphoric cloud shattered by reality.
Brody frowns, but he starts shoving the handcuffed judge up the cellar stairs. I hear sirens going

crazy outside, distorted voices coming over speakers, and shuffling feet going crazy. I whip my head
around to find Brody smiling bigger.

"I might have called in backup. I suppose I had a little faith in you," he says with a shrug.
I sigh contently, happy it's all over, until we reach the outside and I see my father being pulled

around by men in suits. His hands are cuffed, his curses are flying, and his claims of innocence are
being ignored. Suddenly I'm twelve again, and my heart almost strangles me when it lodges in my
throat.

"Unhand me you crazy sons of bitches!" Dad demands.
"Ray Drivel, you're under arrest for the-"
"Not him!" Brody yells, laughing almost hysterically. "He's with me. It's the other three," he

says, motioning to Harold, Henrietta, and Leonard, who are all face down in the grass with their
hands behind their heads. Poor Ember isn't far away, and she's doing the same thing. I really owe her
one.

"And this one," Brody adds, shoving the judge off the porch and making him stumble to the

ground with a loud umph.

They release my father, and my breath returns. He's finally one of the good guys. Well, good

enough. I'm sure he'll always be a little bit bad.

"You okay?" Brody asks, reaching over and touching my shoulder.
"And it's Ray Capperton!" Dad screams, interrupting any lie I was about to tell Brody about how

fine I am.

Dad rubs his wrists as he scowls at Brody. "You swore I could keep Ray Capperton. It's my

favorite alias."

A snicker actually comes out, and Brody rolls his eyes before pulling out his wallet and handing

Dad a license. "Here, Ray Capperton."

"Finally," Dad grumbles, ripping away the license and shoving it in his wallet.
I just smile as they embark on a candid conversation. Even when Ember joins us, I remain lost in

my own world.

My phone buzzes, and I get a little sick when I see Kade's name flash across the screen. I'm sure

by now he's already heard. His father has more than likely filled him in on what little he knew, and
there are police here on their phones. I'm almost positive one of them is talking to Paul, briefing him
on what has just transpired.

My finger hovers over the two options I have, but I wisely select ignore. My heart settles

heavily in my chest, exhausted from holding its pieces together.

I've heard there's a reason for everything that happens in life. I've been searching for a reason for

all this pain and madness. Why would I fall so hard for a man I can never have? But here it is. This

is why Kade and I met. I was meant to do this. Otherwise he would have possibly lost everything.
It's not closure, and it doesn't help alleviate the ache I feel, but it's nice to know that it wasn't for
nothing. Maybe that'll be good enough to help me move forward... one day. Today's not that day.

Chapter 18

Running and Hiding

"Raya," Dane Sterling, the club owner, says from behind me.
"Yes, sir?" I ask, turning around to face the man the women in here drool over.
He's only twenty-something, but he owns a ton of Sterling Shore. Which makes sense,

considering he's related to the Sterlings - the ones who founded the city. Oddly enough, he never
seems to pay attention to all the women who adore him. He's a lot like Kade - too busy with the
future, I suppose.

"There are at least fifteen dozen roses for you at the front door. You have to talk to the guy

before he fills my club up."

My heart breaks a little. Since Brody returned the vineyard to him two weeks, Kade has been

doing his best to thank me. He's called nonstop, hounded Ember for my address, and tried his best to
catch me outside my classes. Sadly, I've managed to start sneaking out windows at school. Ember
has refused to hand over my address. But he managed to find out where I work, and he stalks me here
more than anywhere else.

I always hide, the other girls lie and tell him I'm not here, and I work around it. I even have the

bouncer looking out for his car... or cars, rather. But that doesn't stop him from sending heaps of
flowers.

"Sorry, Mr. Sterling, but I really can't."
"Dane, Raya. It's Dane. I feel ninety when you call me Mr. Sterling. I'm not that much older

than you. And you have to do something. Otherwise, I'm going to have to kick his ass at some point."

The playfulness in his tone lets me know he's kidding, and I sigh out heavily. He forces a

sympathetic smile.

"I know Kade and his family. Do you want me to go talk to him? This really isn't like him. I've

never seen him obsess over anyone."

I let an exhausted laugh free. He's so far off base.
"He's not obsessed. He feels bad for judging me, but not because he thinks he was wrong, and

not because he misses me. I did him a favor a couple of weeks ago, and it has him confused. It
wouldn't have ever worked out. We're way too different. He'll remember why he left me soon
enough, and all this will stop."

Dane's eyes become alight with intrigue. Crap.
"Why did he leave you? Since you brought it up."
I glance around the club at all the waitresses preparing for the soon-to-be-here customers, and I

motion to them. "Because I'm one of them. Not one of you. As a matter of fact, I'm not even good
enough to be one of them."

His eyes darken and a flash of anger comes over his face. "He left you because of your financial

status? You're serious?"

I huff and quickly shake my head, dreading the mess I've just made. "No. He knew I was poor

before we started dating. He was great, but I have baggage. Baggage that could wreck his future
plans. It's a long story. I really need to get back to work. My boss will kick my ass if I don't."

He smiles at my playful ending note, but it's forced. And I retreat quickly when my phone buzzes

in my pocket. Kade. Again. He's relentless. It'll have to stop soon.

The club is beyond packed. The dancers on the stage are getting catcalls, money tossed, and

marriage proposals. What am I getting? Crappy tips and a groped ass. I picked the wrong job.

I head outside to take a break from all the loud music, dancing fools, and touchy customers. The

sand finds my heels, and I strip them off to allow my toes to press into it. The ocean sprays the air,
making everything seem fresher than it is. It always helps to deal with the madness. And with a view
like this, it's easy to forget my problems for a few brief seconds.

Strong, familiar, warm arms wrap around my waist as a small kiss finds my neck, while someone

nuzzles their face against me. My heart almost explodes as the contradicting emotions stir a storm
within me.

"I've missed you," Kade says, making my first tear fall.
I try to pull away, but he has his arms locked around me, and his soft, perfect lips start making a

trail from my ear to my jaw. "I'm sorry, Raya. I'm so fucking sorry. Please forgive me. Come back."

I cry harder. It was hard to read things like this on his cards that were attached to the flowers,

but now, hearing it aloud... this is torture.

"Kade, you don't really want me back. You're confused because I saved your vineyard."
"No the hell I'm not. Raya, I've wanted you back since you walked out. I'm a jerk. I'm an idiot.

I'm every form of stupid there is. I made the biggest mistake of my life. Please, please come back.
Let me make it up to you."

I try to break free again, but his hold is too tight. It only loosens for a second, but that's simply to

spin me around to face him. Oh damn. I wish he hadn't done that.

Those beautiful blue eyes that have haunted my fantasies, my dreams, and my life are now staring

into mine. It almost hurts to have to see the man I love, especially when I know he's here for all the
wrong reasons.

"Kade," I mumble, feeling my lip tremble as tears drip from my eyes. "You don't... you don't

want to be with me. I'm a conman's daughter. Your business, your dreams, and your name can't be
tainted by a girl-"

His lips find mine, halting my objection, and he grips me tighter, pulling me to him to further

drive me crazy. It'd be so much easier if I hadn't fallen in love like the fool I am.

When his tongue sweeps in, it takes all my strength to force him back. My tears storm my cheeks

harder as he stumbles and almost falls, and I grab the door to jerk it open before he can regain his
balance.

"Just go home, Kade. Please leave me alone."
I run in, deciding to call it a night, and I head toward the front, desperate to escape the man who

is probably already coming after me.

Dane is going to kick my ass for calling in, but I can't help it. Kade needs a few days to digest

things. After last night, I'm scared of seeing him at work again. It'd be too easy to give in.

A loud knock at the door draws my attention, and I walk over to the window. The covered porch

hinders me from seeing who might be knocking downstairs, but it doesn't block my vision from the
Range Rover I know too well.

"Damn it," I whisper to myself, tensing up.
"Coming," Dad yells to the door.
I rush to intercept him, but I barely make it halfway down the stairs before the door opens.
"Yes?" Dad asks, completely unaware of who he's talking to. Thank God I can't see him.
All I can see is the open door and my oblivious father.

"I need to talk to Raya, please," Kade says, sounding exhausted.
"And you are?" Dad probes, but by now he probably has it figured out.
"Kade Colton."
I almost get sick. How did he find out where I live?
"I think you know by now she doesn't want to see you. You should go and forget this address."
Dad starts to shut the door, but it thumps and stops against something, most likely Kade's foot.
"I really have to see her, Mr. Drivel. It's-"
"Capperton," Dad interrupts, almost growling. "It's Ray Capperton. I don't use Drivel."
"Sorry," Kade says, almost sounding amused. "Mr. Capperton, I'd really like to have a chance to

apologize. Raya is wrong about us. I-"

"You hurt her," Dad says simply, interrupting him again. "She trusted you and you hurt her,

because you, like all the other morons she meets, judged her based on my actions. She's a good girl.
She has a heart like you'd never understand. She's the most forgiving, understanding, and
compassionate person I've ever known, and you hurt her. She doesn't want to talk to you."

Tears fill my eyes as I sit down and draw my knees to my chest like a scared little girl.
"I didn't judge her. Mr. Capperton, I fucked up. You don't understand. If you'd just let me-"
"What? Let you in? Let you stalk my daughter more? You're lucky I'm not calling the cops.

Believe it or not, I've actually got a few friends in that department. You have your vineyard, your
plans can move forward, and your life will be as fucking shiny as you like it. You're the one who
doesn't understand.

"You didn't fuck up because of what you said once. It's what you've preached about. Your life is

supposed to be perfect. You want that. And you've made Raya feel as though she's inferior. My
daughter is a better person than you'll ever be. Ever. She doesn't deserve to feel as though she's a
lesser person because of decisions I've made, because of the money she didn't have handed to her, or
because of where she came from.

"She's strong, and you damn near broke her. Now, go. The fuck. Away."
Kade's feet move loudly across the porch and Dad slams the door. He takes several deep breaths

as though he's holding himself back. Then he looks up to notice me for the first time, and tears are
gathered in his eyes just as they are in mine.

He starts to speak, but there aren't any words. Instead, he nods once to me, and I nod back as a

silent conversation passes between us. Then he walks away, leaving me to sob on the steps. Maybe
now Kade will just leave me alone.

A loud thud in my room and a slight groan startles me, and I rush back up the stairs to find Kade

climbing back up from the floor under the window. How the hell he did he get in here? That tree is
almost five feet away, and it's the closest means of climbing.

"I knew you'd be on the top floor," he mumbles, rubbing his side as though it hurts.
"Kade, are you crazy?" I gasp, ignoring the pang of desire I feel when his eyes meet mine.
He shakes his head as he dusts his clothes back into place and he heads over to the door to shut

it, letting his body brush against mine along the way.

"Crazy?" he asks, turning back around, looking as weary as I feel. "Raya, I passed crazy a long

damn time ago. I've done everything I know to do. I'm not letting you go. I can't. Not unless you can
tell me you don't give a damn about me at all. Can you do that? Because judging by those tears in
your eyes, you still want to be with me, but you're just too fucking stubborn to listen to me."

His tone is attempting to be even, but his exhaustion makes it come across as frustrated. He takes

a step toward me, and I take one step back, keeping the distance between us.

"Your father is right. You're so much better than me, too good for me. You're the most

incredible person I could have ever found, and I'm the biggest jerk in the world."

He's being too loud. Dad has to be able to hear him. Maybe he'll come up and toss Kade out...

through the downstairs doorway, of course. Not my window.

"He didn't phrase it like that," I softly interject, trying not to sound as breathless as I feel.
Kade smiles, and my heartbeat speeds up even more. He keeps himself between me and the

door, cutting me off from any escape. The window is out of the question. I still don't know if he
jumped from that tree, but I'll kick his ass if he did. Well, I'll try to kick his ass.

"He should have," Kade says, taking another step toward me and making me step back again.
"Please go, Kade," I almost whimper.
"Not this time, Raya. Even if you forced me out, I wouldn't give up. I'll jump from that fucking

ridiculously scary tree everyday if you make me. Just try to leave the window up for me from now
on. It's hard to hang on and force a window up."

His playful grin doesn't match his serious eyes. Another step forward for him, and another step

back for me. This time, my back hits the wall, ending my room for retreat, and Kade smirks before
taking another step toward me, keeping that predatory gleam in his eyes.

"You don't feel like you're good enough, and that doesn't make a damn bit of sense to me. I

couldn't give a fuck about your father or what he did. I wouldn't give a damn if you had done the same
thing," he says, destroying any illusion of strength I thought I had left.

Be strong, Raya. Please be strong.
"My father is a con. Even if he's not out conning the world the way he used to, his past will haunt

you just as it does me. No one in this society will ever back you if you have me and my reputation
tethered to you. They'll whisper, gossip, and run your name through the ground. Just like they did
mine back home. It'll catch up with me here. I'm sure Courtney is already spreading the word. You
need to-"

"I need to be with you. That's all I need. My father's name holds more weight in this town than

Courtney's or her family's. Even if it didn't, so what. I don't care what anyone thinks. I've spent my
life worrying about the opinions everyone else has. I've spent too much time playing some stupid,
elaborate game that I don't care about anymore. I was hooked. That's all.

"I was hooked on the game... just like your dad, Raya. I'm nothing more than a con. I don't have

a single genuine friend outside my family. I realized that almost as soon as you left. I'm the one
people should look down on. I'm the one who could tarnish your name. But I won't be this way
anymore. Fuck it all. I want real friends - people who are there for me when I need them, just like
my family. Just like you were."

More of my tears heat my cheeks as they trail free, but I'm paralyzed. I can't move to wipe them

away, because he's shocked me into a frozen state. I should say something, probably, but I can't.
What in the hell could I possibly say?

He takes another step, and then another, until at last he's close enough to touch me. And he does.

He tilts my head up with one hand, and then cradles it, while his other hand moves to be at my waist.

"You were all I wanted to see when Granddad went into the hospital, and you came. Even after

all I did, you came. After the way I treated you, you risked it all to help me. I lost more than my
girlfriend when I pushed you away. I lost the only friend I had ever made on my own. I don't want to
lose you, Raya. I can't. I'm not hooked on the game anymore. I'm simply hooked on you. I love you,"
he murmurs softly, leaning down and brushing his lips against mine.

His confession of love melts every bit of lingering strength I have, and my arms fly up around his

neck to pull him down to me, deepening the soft kiss. His daring tongue sweeps in, and my fingers
thread through his hair when I start losing what little control I have.

I hear the front door open and shut, a car crank and pull out of the driveway, and then I feel

Kade's smile. We're all alone. Dad apparently knew what was about to happen.

Kade jerks open the button on my shorts, and I don't waste any time pushing them down, letting

them take my panties with them. He rips me up, and my legs wrap around his waist as his glorious
tongue ring makes me think back to all the delicious things he can do.

The only sounds in the room are our torrid moans and clothes dropping. At last, we're both

naked, but still entangled as he presses my back against the wall. Without warning, he's suddenly
buried inside me, and I gasp as the feel of his bare erection makes my eyes roll back in my head.

"Fuck," he hisses, tugging at my lower lip with his teeth, and then he starts moving when he needs

more.

His unkempt, ravenous strokes start pushing me forth, making me reach for that peak he loves to

push me over. I kiss him almost desperately, not caring how loud I get as he owns my body with his.
He pulls back just enough each time to slam back into me, pushing me against the wall each time with
a thump.

I claw at his shoulders when I feel the tightening in my stomach. My legs reflexively clench

tighter to his waist, telling him I'm close, and he growls low in his throat as his motions quicken. A
pathetic whimper comes out before my ungodly scream that doesn't even sound like me, and Kade
surges in hard one last time as we both fall over that glorious edge.

He pulls me away from the wall as we attempt to kiss, but we have to give up on that endeavor

when our need for oxygen wins out. Instead, he presses his forehead against mine as we both form a
panting melody.

He crashes to the bed with me still in his arms, and he pulls me to him as he cradles my body

against his. "I'm glad your dad left," he chuckles out before kissing my forehead.

I smile for so many reasons, not just what he said, and I snuggle as close to him as I can get.
"Me too."
"I meant it, Raya. I love you. I'm sorry I didn't say it the second you told me. I was... scared.

That doesn't mean I didn't feel it. Christ, I felt it. I was... well, an idiot."

My grin only grows as I start kissing along the side of his neck.
"I love you," I murmur softly, pushing my leg over his waist.
"Then we have a lot of making up left to do," he says with a salacious grin before his lips claim

mine. "But, first things first," he adds while drawing back.

He jumps up, pulls on his boxers, and before I can even register his actions, he's jogging down

my stairs. I hear the door open and close, and I sit up, pulling the sheet over my bare body. What's he
doing?

After a few seconds, I hear the car door shut and then the front door opens and shuts again before

I hear the sound of his feet start rushing back toward me.

When my door opens, he's wearing a smile and carrying a crate. My crate. My wine crate.
"I left that on purpose," I murmur softly. "It should stay in your family."
He shakes his head as he opens the top, and I look over to see two bottles packed very safely

inside.

"Raya, Granddad thought you were family. I'm sure he still does. This is yours. He'd kick my

ass if I kept it."

I almost smile at that thought. It'd be nice if Thomas could wake up and kick his ass.

"This one is mine. And I've been saving it for a very special day."
My eyes widen when he pulls out two wine glasses from the same crate. I almost gasp when he

pulls out a corkscrew. He can't... no.

"Kade, don't be ridiculous. I can't drink that wine, and you can't-"
Before I know what's going on, he's already pulled out the cork, making it too late.
"Have you lost your mind? What are you doing?" I gush.
"Putting away the corkscrew," he says while tossing the pigtail looking tool into the crate.

Smartass. "Now I'm pouring our wine."

His eyes glisten with a teasing hue as he pours the first glass.
"Kade, this wine-"
"Was meant for something special. I happen to think telling a girl I love her for the first time in

my life is pretty monumental. So, you'll drink my wine with me and you'll enjoy every sip."

Tears fill up in my eyes. Him doing this... it says more than the words. I know how special that

bottle of wine is to him, and it almost leaves me a mushy puddle at his feet.

He hands me mine, and he clanks the side of my glass with his before kissing me softly. I almost

lick my lips in anticipation as the first drop of the wine graces my mouth, and an involuntary moan
comes out when I fall in love with a damn drink.

I'm not sure when my eyes closed, but when I open them, Kade is smiling, staring at me.
"Is it good?" he asks, leaning over to kiss my shoulder.
Good, I scoff inwardly. I almost roll my eyes. It's not good; it's divine. No mortal should ever

have something so smooth, fresh, and completely delicious.

"I think I'm hooked."

Epilogue

Three months later…

"I'll only be a second," I groan, but I'm unable to stifle my girly grin when Kade pulls me back for

another kiss.

"Can't you just quit over the phone?" he pleads, pulling me closer.
"No. Dane has been so good to me," I mutter against his lips.
He snorts as he pulls back. "He better not have been too good."
I roll my eyes while letting my lips trail over his neck. "I think he's gay."
He bursts out laughing, and I tilt my head to the side to question that little outburst.
"Dane Sterling?" he chuckles out. "Gay? That's like saying Tag Masters is gay. Dane is just

more discreet in his affairs. Believe me. I know. He used to be best friends with my cousin up until
he most likely screwed her and then screwed her over."

I frown. "Well, he's never said anything out of the way to me, and I should be a big girl and quit

face-to-face. Unless you'd rather find someone else to help you out."

"Uh-uh. You're not getting out of this. You are incredible at selling wine, and I don't want to be

away from you. It'll be hard enough to deal with you at college. Now go quit."

I chuckle and kiss him once more before I head inside. Dane is talking to one of the new

waitresses who is almost dissolving in front of his eyes.

"Dane?" I murmur sweetly, drawing his attention.
"Raya. It's your day off," he says, confused, dismissing the girl who almost expires.
"I sort of need to talk to you," I mutter uneasily. Maybe I should have been a coward and done

this over the phone.

"You mean you came to tell me you quit," he says evenly, but a smile creeps up when my eyes

widen. "I assumed Kade would haul you off. You sure that's really what you want?"

He props against the bar while he studies me, as if he expects me to beg for his help to escape.

He really doesn't have a lot of relationship experience - not good relationship experience anyhow.

"Positive. I love him, and he's paying me double," I say with a wink, which prompts him to roll

his eyes.

"Very well, be careful. I assume the two of you are on your way to his family thing."
I cringe. I really hope it gets off to a better start than my family cookout. I should have known

better than to take my rich boyfriend around a bunch of heathen cons.

"Yes."
He laughs when he sees my dread, and then he turns to walk away. "Don't worry, Raya. Paul

makes them behave."

I'm not really all that worried. I've met most of his family, so it's not like I won't know anyone.
I rush back outside, and Kade sweeps me in his arms before offering me a sweet kiss I'd love to

turn into more.

"Behave," he mumbles, even though his body protests.
"You don't mean that," I tease, making him laugh.
He opens my door for me, and he quickly takes his seat behind the wheel before driving us

toward his family's house. Of course... it takes a little longer to get there than we originally expected.

When we arrive, the first familiar face I see is Tag, and he walks toward us while carrying three

glasses of champagne.

"And you two are here just in time to see me leave."
"What?" I ask, glancing at my watch.
We're just two hours late. Totally Kade's fault.
"It's Raya's fault we're late," Kade says, earning a glare from me.
It's not my fault he couldn't wait until later tonight. He's the one that pulled over on the side of

the road, and then pulled in behind the college, and then decided we had to go back to his house one
last time after we had left Silk.

Kade smiles at me, and I lose my mock anger.
"Well, anyway, I have to head out. The girls are drunk. I don't mess with drunk chicks, so I need

to go prowling for someone sober."

"You're prejudice against drunks?" I muse, finding that a little curious.
He laughs while shaking his head. "I'm prejudiced against taking advantage of a drunk girl. I've

got morals, Raya. Don't act so surprised."

I actually am a little surprised, but judging by the hurt in his expression, I shouldn't admit that.
"Well, have fun stalking your prey," I murmur as he claps Kade on the back.
"Always do," he jokes, but I forget all about Tag when Kade's lips find mine, and then his

incredible arms wrap around me.

Thomas made some improvement today. Everyone is celebrating. He's still breathing on his

own, and he wasn't supposed to be.

"Let's skip the party," he murmurs against my lips. "I'd rather enjoy the night by simply holding

you in our room."

Before I can say anything, Billy Prize walks out, seeming pissed on his way to his car.
"Leaving already?" Kade drawls, not really seeming to care. I really wish I knew why everyone

seems to hate Billy. He's nice enough.

"Yeah. Ash has a problem I'm about to deal with once and for all," he growls.
He rips the door open on his BMW and drives away before Kade can say anything else.
"I don't think she's real," Kade says with a shrug, prompting me to chuckle.
I just lean into him as we make our way toward the back where everyone is laughing and joking

around. A poker table is set up, and Paul waves us over.

"You two up for a game? Billy and Tag just left, so we have two open spots."
I start to object, when Kade says, "Deal us in."
I glare at him, but he shrugs. "It's not like they don't know what they're getting themselves into."
I roll my eyes as he leads me over to the table.
"Kade tells us you're good," Wren says before taking a sip of his beer.
Good? These people use the word good at all the wrong times.
"I'll go ahead and tell you that you won't win. Not even one hand. Are you sure you want to play

me?"

Paul's laughter climbs free, Wren grins huge, and another guy I haven't met shrugs.
"Let's see what you've got," the unknown guy with sandy blonde hair says. "I've been playing

poker a while. The name is Rye Clanton."

"Just don't say I didn't warn you," I mutter, grinning, just before placing the first bet of the night.
Kade's soft lips press against my neck as Rye deals, and I lean into him, relishing the feel of his

breath on my skin. I hope I'm always this hooked.

Every story has two sides. See Kade's version in Kade's Game (The Sterling Shore Series #1.5),

coming this fall. And learn Tag's story in Tagged & Ashed (The Sterling Shore Series #2), coming
this June.

The cunning predator, the willing prey, and a weekend neither of them will be able to forget...

ever. Ash Branderwood was told one thing before going to her best friend's brother's wedding - don't
get Tagged.

There's always that one guy you shouldn't want, but you just can't help yourself. He's going to be

horrible for your health, he'll probably break your heart, but he's going to be so much fun while he's
doing it. Stay away. Ash Branderwood can't seem to heed such logic when she meets playboy
millionaire Tag Masters.

Weddings always seem to create a false sense of intimacy, but Ash doesn't take that into

consideration when she starts fantasizing about the man she can't possibly tame. She's a good girl...
well, good enough. She's never really taken any chances or done something irrational or foolish. Tag
is just the person to rectify that for her.

Tag has never done anything but take chances. He never had anything to lose - so he risked it all

and built his name up in Sterling Shore. Meaningless sex is one of his many hobbies, and he's not
looking to settle down any time soon. After all, these are the best years of his life.

But, one look at Ash, and he almost forgets his own name. And what in the hell is she doing at

Wren's wedding with Bity?

Tag is almost furious when he sees Billy Prize brought a girl as stunning as Ash, considering Tag

doesn't feel as though Billy deserves such a thing. He has to have her... at least once... possibly
twice.

It was supposed to be a weekend of fun, one she'd remember just long enough to forget. But she

quickly realizes there's one thing for sure... she's never going to be able to forget Tag Masters, only it
isn't for reasons one might think.

All hell breaks loose when secrets emerge, but when Ash's life is endangered, Tag has to put

aside his own issues to keep her safe.

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