“I’m literally down eight pounds because I can’t eat.”
I snort. “Hence the need for rice pudding?”
“Crap!” She hops up and goes to the stove, removing thecover. “Thank God you said something!”
Mel starts grabbing things out of the fridge and there’s aknock at the door.
“Shit!” I say under my breath. “The doorman must’ve letUncle Dec in.”
Melanie laughs and jerks her head. “He loves us.”
“He’s here because of my father.”
“And mine. Lord knows they think we’re both still littlegirls.”
My family is a bunch of crazy, amazing people. My dad hasthree brothers, Declan, Sean, and Jacob, who is Melanie’s stepfather. We grewup all living on the same farm, having ridiculous Saturday night bonfires,Sunday brunches that were filled with amazing food, and a closeness I neverknew was possible.
However, it also comes with the most overprotective bunch ofmaniacs that have ever lived. Especially when it comes to their daughters andnieces.
I open the door with a smile. “Hi, Uncle De—”
The name dies on my tongue because it’s not my unclestanding there—it’s Cayden Benson-Hennington.
Chapter Four
CAYDEN
Coming here was a risk, but after running across the street,getting her a coffee and flowers and waiting outside her building for twofucking hours, I asked the security guard to call up again and he smirked,letting me know she left already.
“Who let you in?” Hadley asks through gritted teeth.
“Your very kind doorman who was thrilled because I comebearing gifts…a peace offering of sorts.”
I hold up the coffee, that’s completely ice cold, and isn’tsafe to drink, and the flowers that are now in desperate need of water.
She eyes the cup. “What are youreallydoing here?”
“I explained, I come in peace.”
“There is no peace with you.”
I let out a quick chuckle. “That’s true. But regardless, Istopped by the office, waited there for hours while you had already left, so Ididn’t want the flowers and coffee to go to waste.”
Her arms cross right under her breasts, pushing them up justa bit.Eyes up, Hennington.“You bought the coffee hours ago?”
“I did, but in my defense, I would’ve been here sooner if Ididn’t have to bribe someone from your office to give me your address afterrealizing you ghosted me.”
“That’s a breach of privacy, so thanks to them,” she huffs.
“I’m very persuasive.”
“I bet you are. Also, I didn’t ghost you since I never wassupposed to even see you.”
Little does she know there was no breach from her office. Icalled my brother, asked him to call Sean Arrowood, saying she forgot hercredit card with me from lunch, and that’s how I got it. I don’t plan to tellher that though.
A beautiful girl with red hair and freckles splatteredacross her face comes to the door. “You must be Cayden.”
“I am.”
