Page 126 of Hunters and Prey

“Very well,” the waiter said. “I’ll be back for your orders.”

Cailyn drank her entire glass of water before setting it back down on the white tablecloth.

The wine and whiskey were brought to their table by another server. Cailyn took a hearty sip, wincing at the bitter flavor of the rich cabernet. Connor swished his whiskey around in his glass before taking a sip.

“Do you like your new room?”

Cailyn took another sip, shrugging. “It's fine. I miss my own.”

“No, you don’t. You know you’re glad to be out of that place. Admit it.”

Cailyn frowned. “What do you mean? Alexander Hall is my home.”

“No,” Connor said. “Haven Manor is your home now.”

Pursing her lips, Cailyn nodded. “Not much I can do about that, is there?”

“Of course, there is,” he said, rubbing his tattooed knuckles across his chin. “You can get used to it.”

“How long do I have to stay?”

Connor’s face went serious. In his eyes, she saw how much he adored her. It was scary. Asher looked at her the same way.

“Are you still thinking of breaking the truce?”

Swallowing hard, she couldn’t break free from his gaze. She hated how he did that, but his statement caught her off guard.

Face flushing, Cailyn looked away. She could barely breathe when he looked at her like that. Her heart stopped when she looked up. Before her stood Asher’s parents.

Dressed in their best, they looked at her with confusion on their faces.

“Cailyn,” Asher’s mother said. Her blue eyes looked from Connor to Cailyn, and back.

“Mrs. Fox,” Cailyn said in a flabbergasted whisper.

“What is going on here?”

She avoided Elliot’s eyes. She knew her cheeks were red as an apple. No words would come to explain what was happening.

Connor stood. He reached a hand out to Elliot.

“Connor Prince,” he said. “You must be the famous Fox’s I’ve heard so much about.”

Elliot nodded, his icy glare fixed on Cailyn.

She wished she could just be struck dead at that moment.

“That’s us,” Elliot said.

“Cailyn here is quite the writer, isn’t she?”

Cailyn shot him a look.

Elliot’s face softened, only slightly as he nodded to Connor. “She is. What’s going on?”

Connor motioned to Cailyn. “I’ve just commissioned this young prodigy with writing my memoirs. We are discussing the project. Would you like to join us?”

Elliot’s eyebrows lifted as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

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