The Heir Affair. Cat Schield

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СКАЧАТЬ with Hunter, he’d been angry and hurt. His strong reaction to the paparazzi photo had caused her own emotions to flare.

      Growing up the daughter of Siggy Caldwell hadn’t allowed her to develop an understanding of healthy relationships. Her father was a hard man to like, much less love. Misogynistic, arrogant and selfish, he’d alienated his wives and his children with his disrespect.

      So many times her father had declared he loved her right before launching into criticism, invalidating the claim while impressing on her that she was unworthy of his—or anyone else’s—love.

      While Kyle was nothing like her father, his accusation had awakened the same feelings of injustice she’d suffered as a little girl. As she’d done with her father, she’d shut Kyle out and walked away.

      But that hadn’t stopped her from loving him.

      When she didn’t answer him right away, Kyle spoke again. “Like what? Hunter?”

      “No.” She gave her head a vehement shake and followed it up with a weary sigh.

      “Are you back in love with him?”

      “No!” She stared at him in frustration. “Would you please let that go. I want to be with you.”

      His expression grew stonier. “You sure haven’t been acting that way these last few months.”

      “It’s not the same between us as before I went on the tour,” she blurted out.

      “I agree.”

      “Maybe if we go back and figure out where we went wrong,” she said. “Or start over.”

      Was that even possible given the secret she was keeping from him?

      “And if we can’t?”

      She didn’t answer and their conversation didn’t resume.

      As Kyle drove into the gated community where Trent had his house, Melody wished she had some idea what he was thinking about. Her stomach was in knots. She pressed her sweaty palms against her coat and took deep, calming breaths, hoping to coax her confidence out of hiding.

      Her nerves weren’t under control by the time Kyle pulled into Trent’s driveway and stopped the car. She had her door open and feet on the pavement before the silence could get any more awkward. He was seconds behind her as she keyed in the four-digit code that opened the side gate leading to the backyard.

      A paving-stone walkway led to her front door. Melody fumbled with her keys until Kyle pulled the ring from her clumsy fingers and slid the correct one home. His body brushed hers, awakening her longing to be held in his arms, and she was a split second from throwing herself against his chest when he took a deliberate step away from her.

      “After you.”

      Melody bit back a miserable groan. “Thanks.”

      Knowing it would be dark when she returned, Melody had left the lights burning in the living room. The heavy scent of roses hit her as soon as she entered. An enormous bouquet of fat red blooms occupied the center of her dining table. The arrangement had appeared at the studio the prior afternoon. She’d been thrilled as she’d read the accompanying card.

      I’m thankful for you.

      There’d been no signature and Melody hadn’t recognized the handwriting. This hadn’t surprised her. She suspected the order had been phoned in and the florist had written the message. But when she’d studied the card and the roses, she wasn’t sure Kyle had sent them.

      And now, as he helped Melody out of her coat, Kyle didn’t seem to notice the flowers. Which left her wondering if Hunter had sent them. If so, that was going to complicate things between her and Kyle.

      “Do you want something to drink?” She indicated the kitchen, but Kyle didn’t spare it a glance as he shook his head.

      He seemed glued to the floor in the space between her living and dining rooms. Melody wondered what it would take to get him to sit down.

      “Who are those from?” Kyle had at last noticed the roses.

      “I’d hoped they were from you.”

      “I didn’t send them.” If Kyle noticed her rueful tone, he gave no indication. He moved toward the table. “Wasn’t there a card?”

      “Yes, but it wasn’t signed.”

      “Are they from Hunter?”

      “Sending me roses was never his style.”

      “Things change.” His lips tightened. “Did you call and ask him?”

      “No.”

      Melody had left the card on the table beside the crystal vase. Kyle picked it up and read the message.

      “‘I’m thankful for you’?” He shot her a frown. “What does that mean?”

      Irritation rose at his sharp tone. She thought it was pretty obvious. “It’s Thanksgiving. Maybe someone thought it was a timely message.”

      “Someone?”

      “I don’t know where the roses came from,” she snapped, wishing Kyle would stop talking about the stupid flowers. She needed to tell him that she was pregnant, but had lost control of the conversation.

      “You’re sure?” He reread the card. “This seems awfully personal for it to have been written by a stranger. Did you ask Trent or Savannah if they sent the flowers?”

      “Yes. They didn’t send them.”

      “Red roses are a romantic gesture,” Kyle murmured to himself, tapping the card against his knuckles. He frowned at the plump red buds. “It seems like something a man in love would send.”

      Which was why she’d wished Kyle had sent them. Of course, despite being together for nine months and the fact that he’d invited her to move in with him, Kyle had never actually come out and said he loved her. He’d always been a cool customer when it came to women. The one who decided when it started and when it ended.

      It was this tendency that had made her hesitate before choosing him over Hunter. She’d been worried about stepping from one relationship where she didn’t feel safe and secure into another similar situation. Even so, in the end she’d following her instincts and taken a leap of faith. And despite their current problems, she still wouldn’t say she’d been wrong.

      “Why didn’t you call Hunter and ask him?” Kyle asked, watching her through narrowed eyes as if waiting for her to slip up.

      A thousand times in the last five months she’d regretted hanging out with Hunter in that New York City nightclub and then leaving at the same time he had. The whole thing had been innocent enough. There had been a crush of people outside the club and he’d grabbed her hand to avoid being separated as they’d run to the limo that had been waiting at the curb. Unfortunately, the media was obsessed with Hunter’s love life and had blown up the incident, speculating that Hunter and Melody had reunited.

      “Can СКАЧАТЬ