The next day I’m pacing the halls.
All day I’ve been trying to call Kaden, but every time I’m sent straight to his voice mail.
I know he’s busy, but I’m calling his private number, the one reserved for close family and friends and me!
He never has that number go straight to voice mail.
At first I tell myself that maybe he’s on the plane, so his phone is off.
But twelve hours later I’m still getting his stupid recorded message.
Did something happen?
Gasping, I flick on the TV and scan the news channels.
If something went wrong with his flight surely I would have heard by now. But still my heart beats in my throat as I flick from news channel to news channel.
Nothing.
When I hear his car pulling into the driveway I have to physically grab something to stop myself running to the door.
Instead I walk to a chair, pick up a book, and pretend to be reading when the door opens.
“Kaden!” I jump to my feet, unable to stay still.
“Hey,” he says, putting his suitcase and coat in the foyer closet.
“I was calling you,” I can’t help saying. “Did you forget to charge your phone?”
“Just busy,” he says then he adds, “Sorry.”
Almost as an afterthought.
I smile and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his mouth down to mine.
I miss the taste of him.
But instead he stiffens.
He lets me kiss him but his response is barely there.
“Is anything wrong?” I ask, frowning up at him. “Did something happen at the meeting?”
He extricates himself from me and shakes his head.
“No, the meeting went fine. I...” His words drop off and he sighs, making his way towards his office. “I’m just worn out.”
“Do you want me to cancel our dinner reservations? We could just snuggle on the couch with a movie, if you like?”
“No, dinner out sounds better.”
Then his home office door closes with a loud click.
And I’m alone again.
Did I do something wrong?
Maybe he’s just tired.
Some people get crazy tired after flying.
Kaden never has before, but I guess it’s not set in stone.
In the silent mansion, more silent seemingly since Kaden arrived home, I shower and dress in an elegant backless black dress that Olivia helped me pick out after we’d found the perfect garden party dress.
I stand in front of the mirror and just stare at myself for a long time.
Is this what I want?
I can’t deny that I look stunning in the dress.
It flatters and hugs my curves and highlights my pale skin and wide eyes.
I should be happy.
Never in my life did I imagine I would live in a mansion with a housekeeper at my beck and call.
Never in my life did I imagine I could look like the woman looking back at me from my reflection.
But it’s not enough.
I’d give it all up right now if it meant Kaden looking at me the way he used to.
I’m not a silly teenager and I know that the spark wasn’t going to last forever, but the loneliness is beyond what I can endure.
When he’s away from me, he calls, texts, and speaks to me like he can’t wait to be with me again. But when he’s here it’s like he can’t wait to get away again.
Am I just taking up space in his home now?
Somewhere downstairs a door slams and I hear Kaden yell up the stairs. “Claire, are you ready?”
Am I?
And ready for what?
I sniff and dab at my nose then grab my leather purse and head out.
As I close the door behind me, it feels final, and as I start down the stairs I feel like a fool stepping off a cliff into the abyss.
Kaden looks up at me as I make my way down to him.
I feel his eyes grazing over my curves and flesh as though he was touching me, and I feel a shiver of rekindled excitement.
But then his jaw tightens and he turns away suddenly, and instead of walking with me, he merely leads the way to the car.
Rowe, his driver, opens the back door of the limo and I slip in.
Kaden follows and instead of sitting next to me the way he used to, he sits on the seat opposite and immediately pulls out his phone. The whole journey he gives orders to his personal assistant in a voice much more friendly than the one he used with me.
Is she the reason why he’s so desperate to be away from me these days?
If he’s seeing someone else, the least he could do is be honest.
I mean yeah, I’d be hurt and angry, but anything is better than the chasm between us right now.
We arrive at the restaurant and as I climb out of the limo, Rowe gives me a sympathetic smile.
Does she know?
Who am I kidding?
Of course she knows, she’s his driver, she’d totally know if he were seeing someone else…