I push open my door and stop dead.
Veronica is in my bed.
Naked.
She’s arranged herself across the black silk sheets, dark hair fanned out on my pillow, looking like every fantasy a man could have.
A month ago, I would have been thrilled. Would have stripped down and joined her without a second thought.
Now, all I feel is annoyance.
“What are you doing here?” I close the door behind me.
“I thought you might want some company.” She sits up, letting the sheet fall away completely. “It’s been a while since we played together.”
“Veronica—”
“I know you’ve been busy with Logan’s girlfriend.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “But she’s pregnant now. That changes things, doesn’t it? You’ll want some variety. Some fun without all the complications.”
I cross my arms and lean against the door. “How did you even get in here?”
“Staff access. I still have the key.” She pats the bed beside her. “Come on, Kai. We always have fun together. Don’t you miss it?”
“The arrangement is over.”
Her smile falters. “What?”
“The arrangement. It’s done.” I move to my dresser and pull out a shirt, tossing it to her. “You need to leave.”
She doesn’t take the shirt. She stares at me like I’ve spoken a language she doesn’t understand. “Because of her? Because of Samantha?”
“Because things have changed.”
“They don’t have to change. We had a good thing going. You, your father, Donovan, and me. It worked.” She stands, walking toward me. “She doesn’t have to know. We can keep it between us like we always have.”
“No.”
“Kai—”
“Veronica, you knew what this was from the beginning. You understood the arrangement could end anytime.” I keep my voice firm but not cruel. “It’s ending now.”
She picks up the shirt I threw and pulls it on. Starts gathering her clothes from where they’re scattered around the room. “I should have seen this coming.”
“I’m sorry. This isn’t personal.”
“Of course it’s personal.” She yanks on her jeans. “But I get it. I knew the rules when I agreed to this. No strings. No expectations. It ends when it ends.” She finds her shoes under the bed. “I hope she knows how lucky she is.”
She leaves, closing the door quietly behind her.
I sink onto the edge of my bed and run my hands through my hair.
Everything is changing. Has already changed.
We went from sharing women with no emotional attachment to being completely devoted to one woman who’s carrying our child and falling apart from whatever secret she’s keeping.
29
SAMANTHA
