ANMELDEN~ GAVIN ~I was torn between dreading seeing my father and being grateful that Hannah’s dad would be here. He was battling an illness and we rarely saw him around. Her mom also happened to be his primary — or at least favourite — caregiver, so they were both almost always absent from family functions. “Your dad’s doing better?”She nodded. “Much better. They’re still mad they had to miss the baby shower. They can’t miss this.”“That’s good to hear. I hope he continues to get better.” I carefully dropped her hand. “How about Aunt Roseline? Does she know?”Hannah winced in discomfort and I immediately knew that would be my last question. “I don’t think so.”“Okay. I’d call her now to share the news.”“You might need to do more than that. If you don’t mind, I need you to go pick her up. We agreed she’d move in with us for a while after the baby arrives.”Aunt Roseline was a retired midwife with years of experience in post partum care. I could see why Hannah wanted her around. “It’s no
~ GAVIN ~It was raining cats and dogs. How else was the world to announce that another Kessler had made a grand entrance into it? The first person I thought to share the news with was Sienna.“Taylor’s a big sister now,” I said into my phone, balancing it on a shelf while I fixed my cufflinks. The black shirt I wore didn’t hug my frame and its sleeves were long enough to hide every tattoo on my arm. I was sure to meet nearly the entire family today. Looking ‘responsible’ was the least I could do. “That’s wonderful news!” Sienna exclaimed, the smile in her voice immediate. “Congratulations to your family.”I could picture it — that smile. The way it made her even more beautiful. “Thank you. I’m preparing to go see them at the hospital now.”“As you should,” she said. “Send my wishes to Taylor. I know she’d be an amazing big sister.”My lips curved in an amused smirk. Taylor would be an amazing big sister quite alright but under very strict terms and conditions that her brother w
~ SIENNA ~She buried her head in her hands. “I’m so ashamed.”“You don’t have to be, Margo,” I said, rubbing slow circles over her back. “You did what you had to do.” “I hate that what I had to do was call the man who put her in that condition to come see her because the doctor suggested that seeing a deeply familiar and loved face might trigger her memory,” she rapped out, her voice cracking at the end. I passed her a bottle of water and she took a few sips. “It feels so wrong,” she whispered. “But I was desperate and running out of ideas.”“The intention is what matters, Margo,” I assured her. “Did she at least respond?” “Yeah. She recognized him.” Her mouth twisted bitterly. “I still don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse.”I exhaled slowly. “Natalie’s going to be okay. And next time you go to the hospital, I’ll come with you.”“Thank you,” she sniffled, then waved a hand dismissively. “Enough about me. How was your trip? How are your parents?”I shrugged. “Exactly
~ SIENNA ~The question hung in the air between us, and it made my heart rate quicken. Yes. I didn’t need to think. The word was already there, desperate and raw, clawing up my throat. But I couldn’t get it out. That would make my desire real, make me an accomplice in whatever was about to happen.I nodded instead, my lips parting before I could stop them.Gavin didn't wait for more.His hand came up, fingers threading into my hair at the nape of my neck, tilting my head back just enough. The touch was gentle but there was a firmness underneath, a claim. His thumb brushed the curve of my jaw, and then he leaned in.His lips met mine, and it was nothing like I expected. He had kissed me before and it had been hungry, bruising — a collision of urgency and searing heat. This one started soft. Almost hesitant. His mouth moved against mine with a tenderness that made my knees weaken. I felt the faint taste of eggs from breakfast, the bitterness of black coffee, and something else — som
~ SIENNA ~I woke up feeling like I was floating on clouds. The beddings were super soft and sunk deep where my body laid. My limbs were no longer sore and the fog in my brain was gone. Rubbing my eyes and looking around the room, I tried to recall the events of yesterday. It was such an eventful day, it felt like more than twenty four hours.The gala. The MD announcement. Running away from home. A four hour train ride. Arriving at Gavin's home. Meeting Maxwell. Dinner. A foot message—That was the last thing I remembered. Did I fall asleep during the massage? How did I get upstairs and into bed? Did Gavin carry me? It felt like being a child again; that feeling of falling asleep watching TV in the living room and waking up tucked into your bed with no memory of how you got there. I sat up straighter, leaning my back against the cushion headboard. Then I burst into laughter. Deep belly laughter. Because it was funny. How did I go from swearing I’d avoid Gavin the last time I w
~ GAVIN ~She frowned. “Why?”“To keep me company.”She looked at me like I had suddenly grown a second head. “You never want company, Gavin.”“That’s a rather bold claim. How would you know that?”“Look at this place,” she said, gesturing around the living room, like she couldn’t believe she had to point it out. “This is not how someone who ever wants company designs their home. Everything here screams: "Do what you came to do quickly and get out”.”I glanced around before returning my attention to her. “Well, you’re right. I generally don’t like visitors. But now I’m asking you to do what you came to do — and stay a few more days.”She shook her head. “No way. Your home looks like a hospital and I hate hospitals. I mean, except the art pieces, there’s nothing here to create excitement. Everything is just… bland and depressing.”I cracked a toe knuckle. “Ouch!” she shrieked. “Is that part of the massage or are you punishing me for telling you the truth?”“Two things can be correct,”
~ GAVIN ~Sienna tried to hide the shiver that ran through her at my words but the goosebumps on her arms told me all I needed to know. It was getting easier to read her. Even if all I could tell so far was that she was as unpredictable as Kansas weather. One moment, her smile was as bright as a s
~ SIENNA ~It’s been a week since the day that would definitely win by a landslide, the position of ‘worst day of my life’. Harry and Cassy had watched in amusement as I gathered my belongings. They even forbade the housekeeper to assist me, completing the humiliation ritual with my struggle. I dr
~ SIENNA ~There was a strange screeching sound as I straightened the car tires to park properly and I made a mental note to check it out soon. The poor thing must have developed a fault from carrying all that load last night. I sat in silence for a while after killing the engine, looking around t
~ SIENNA ~“Heartless son of a bitch!” I cussed, and in that moment, I realized how befitting the name was for him. He was heartless and he was in fact the son of a bítch. Harry and Cassy tried to catch their breaths as they came down from their high. It was the second time I would be walking in o







