"We need to talk." Adrienne’s smile was calculating. "Can we come in? It's freezing."
I should say no. Should tell her to call first next time. Should maintain the boundaries I'd set when I told her we were done. Because we were.
But Mila was looking up at me with such hope, and I hadn't seen her in almost a year because Adrienne had made visitation a nightmare.
"Of course." I stepped back. "Come in."
Mila ran inside, already looking around with wide eyes, and she squealed when she saw her cousins.
"You'll be staying in the blue room in the guest house," I said to Adrienne. "Elena can show you to your room."
"Actually," Adrienne interrupted, "I was hoping we could talk first. Privately."
Every instinct screamed danger. We didn’t have a single thing to discuss. That meant that she wanted something from me.
"Now?"
"It's important." She glanced at Mila. "Adult conversation."
Mila was already distracted by the Christmas tree in the foyer and all the other kids, so I nodded. "Fine. Then we’ll go to my study."
"Too far. Here's fine." Adrienne pulled me toward the hallway near the kitchen.
Katrina was there, polishing the banister. She looked up when we approached, and I saw the exact moment she registered Adrienne.
Fuck.
"Somewhere else," I said quickly to Adrienne.
"This is fine. It's just a hallway." Adrienne positioned herself so that Katrina was clearly visible behind me. Intentional. She was messy in that way. Always trying to give people something to talk about. Except, Katrina wouldn’t be interested in household gossip.
"Adrienne," this wasn’t the fucking place.
"I'll make this quick." She stepped closer, her voice dropping. "I made a mistake. Keeping Mila from you. Letting you end things. All of it."
"We're not having this conversation." I held up my hand. I hadn’t been interested in Adrienne in a long time, way before we were over.
"Why not? Because you've moved on?" Her eyes focused on me, and I saw the hurt shining through. “Who is she?”
"That's none of your business."
"Mila is my business. Our daughter deserves a family, Olek. A real family. And I know—" She touched my chest. "I know I hurt you. But we were good together once. We could be again. Whoever this person is, they can’t mean more to you than your fiancée and daughter."
"No, Adrienne. I’m not interested."
"Just think about it. For Mila." She leaned up and kissed me.
I jerked back immediately, but the damage was done. Behind me, I heard something clatter to the floor. I turned in time to see Katrina rushing away, her cleaning supplies abandoned.
"Fuck." I started after her.
"Daddy?" Mila appeared at the end of the hallway. "Can we have hot chocolate?"
I stopped, torn. "Mila, I need to handle something."
"Please, Daddy? You make it the best."
She looked so small. So hopeful.
