Page 51 of Earn Me

She shook her head. "He wouldn't—-"

"Trust me on this,mm? The men of my world are my...expertise."

Cadence couldn't help smiling despite everything. That was actually an understatement, considering howLa Stregahad so expertly arranged marriages for all of her grandchildren. She had found Cesare's missing bride. Stopped Massimo from marrying the wrong twin. And so forth.

But...

"I can't keep being a burden to him," Cadence choked out.

"Just talk to Keiran,"La Stregaurged her. "Once and for all. And if you still do not want to go back to him—-" The matriarch's tone turned steely. "Then you will not. You are in Boston, after all."

****

KEIRAN WAS ALREADYexpecting someone to ask him to leave.

He was already planning his next visit in fact.

And it was why, upon turning around, he had the shock of his life upon seeing his wife.

Cadence.

The sight of her after so long hit Keiran with physical force. She was still too beautiful for his heart to bear. Too innocent. And right now, a little too thin and pale for his comfort.

"I'm glad to see you're well." Cadence was the first one to break the silence between them. "I never got the chance to thank you for helping my parents—-"

"I didn't do it for them. I did it for you."

Cadence's fingers dug into her palms. "I didn't want you to risk your life—-"

"I'd do it again if I have to."

Of course he would,Cadence thought, and that was what had been breaking her heart for so many weeks now.

Keiran shoved his hands deep into his pockets.Why was this so hard?Why did it feel so damn awkward between them? His gaze scanned her still-too-pale features, and his chest tightened.

"You lost weight," he said tautly.

She nodded, and he immediately felt like an arse.

"I'm sorry." Why was he so bad at this? "I meant...you look beautiful."

"You don't have to lie—-"

"I'm not," he countered sharply.

She nodded again, and Keiran had a bad feeling he was just making things worse with every word he uttered.

"SignoraMarchetti said you wanted to see me?"

"And you know why that is."

Cadence's throat tightened. She hadn't expected him to be so forthcoming, and she just didn't know how to feel about that.

"Cadence—-"

Hearing her name on his lipshurt.

More than she was prepared to.

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