“Yours, Landon… always yours,” she whispered, her gaze dropping to the ring now gleaming on her finger. Then she closed the small space between us and pressed her lips to mine.
“I want to make love to you,” I whispered against her lips.
“Yes,” she breathed, and that was all I needed. I scooped her into my arms, carried her to the bed, and laid her down gently. One by one, I stripped her bare until the only thing she wore was my ring. The sight of her like that, in my bed, nearly undid me. Damn, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Not taking my eyes off her, I shed my clothes and climbed over her, my hands and lips devotedly worshipping every inch of her—just like a man who knew he’d been handed his entire world and wasn’t about to waste a second of it.
“Don’t ever break my heart,” she whimpered into my ear as we came apart together.
My eyes snap open, and my mind and heart scream in unison.I’d ruined her trust.
But I was going to fix it in the only way that truly counts. By winning her heart back, piece by piece.
Chapter 5
Anna
“You have arrived at your destination,”the GPS announces just as my SUV rolls up to the address Sabrina gave me for Landon’s house. Over the phone, the wordhousehad sounded modest enough… almost ordinary. But now, as I pull into the driveway, modest is the last word that comes to mind.
This isn’t just a house. It’s a statement. An exorbitant-money-meets-oversized-ego kind of statement.
The main structure rises as if it were born from the land itself. Its stone façade, weathered yet regal, catches the soft evening light along the dark slate roof. Tall arched windows, each framed by black-trimmed shutters that are far too perfect to have ever been opened, punctuate the walls. A wraparound porch stretches across the entire front, wide enough to host a small wedding. And the front door is solid oak, polished to an almost royal sheen, as though it were imported straight from a European castle.
I bet he even has a parade of sexy women coming and going through those doors. The thought hits before I can stop it, and a faint sting of jealousy flares in my chest.Damn it, Anna, you’re his ex-wife. You’re not supposed to care.
But if controlling these ridiculous emotions were that simple, I wouldn’t be sitting here with my heart doing a full gymnastics routine.
My gaze drifts to the rearview mirror, and I catch my reflection. Pulling in a deep breath, I whisper the same lines I’ve been chanting since I left my apartment.One interview. It’s just business, nothing personal. There will be people around. It won’t be just you and him.
The pep talk feels hollow, but I cling to it like a lifeline, because Icannotlet myself get weak. I need to show him I’ve moved on, and more importantly, that I’m in control.
I’ve even put on my armor: black tailored trousers, a crisp white shirt, my hair swept into a neat, low bun. Nothing about this outfit screams ex-wife desperate for her ex-husband’s attention. It only says one thing… I’m here to do my job.
Pushing down the unease, I glance around for the crew car, expecting to see our company van. But the driveway is empty.
Frowning, I reach for my phone wondering what happened. Marcy said she’d be here before me. Maybe she’s stuck somewhere, or maybe they’ve parked farther up the property. I’m just about to call her when a sharp knock on my window makes me jump so hard I nearly drop my phone.
My head snaps to the left, and suddenly, my lungs forget how to work, stealing the air right out of me. Standing in front of me is Landon Hayes. I open my mouth, but not a single word comes out.
With one hand on the hood, he leans in slightly, his gaze sweeping over me with that same look that once made me feel like I was the only person who ever mattered to him. And my traitor heart lights up instantly, devouring every detail of him. His hair is shorter than I remember, blond strands tousled like he’s just run a hand through them. A light stubble shadowshis jaw, close to scruff, but still deliberate. And his blue eyes… damn, they sparkle with a depth that makes my chest tighten.
God, why does he still have to look so dangerously handsome? Especially when my heart is already hanging by a thread?
He knocks on the window again, grinning, and my blood does a slow, rebellious boil.Focus, Anna. Don’t hand him a victory before the interview even begins. You can’t lose control with just a look.
I drag in a deep, steadying breath. Then another, because one is nowhere near enough, before I roll the window down.
“I’m sorry to startle you, but you’ve been sitting out here for so long I was starting to wonder if you were plotting my murder.” His mouth curves into that slow, knowing smirk, the kind that says he’s testing just how much he can still get under my skin.
I give myself a small pat.You won’t let him rattle you. You’ve got this, Anna.With that I push the door open as he steps back.
“Good morning, Mr. Hayes.”
My voice is cool, precise… polished into the tone I save for strangers.
“Mr. Hayes?” His brow lifts as he folds his hands across his chest. “That’s cute. But we both know you’ve called me plenty of things, and Mr. Hayes sure as hell wasn’t one of them.”
He’s fucking trying to rile me. God, I seriously underestimated how hard his presence and that smart-ass mouth would hit me after all this time.
