Page 61 of Bound By Her

She watched as he made a show of opening and shutting the door, exaggerated as if to entertain himself.

No squeak.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Your back door was tight,” Kaydon said casually.

His grin stretched, waiting for her reaction.

And she refused to give him one.

When she didn’t rise to the bait, he shrugged. “Gotta fix what’s broken first.”

Unbidden, a memory surged forward.

Her mother—dark hair, copper skin, sunlight glowing behind her.

“Many hands make light work,”she had said once, smiling as she helped Adria clean up a spill in this very room.

The weight of it pressed into her ribs, her stomach twisting under the sudden emotion.

Adria flattened her palm against her middle, steadying herself, forcing it back down.

“Can I give you some advice?” Kaydon’s voice pulled her from the past.

She didn’t answer, but he continued anyway.

“With Seth, this chess thing isn’t gonna work.” He ran his fingers along the door hinges, testing the metal, his hands large and deft.

She found herself watching them, the way they pressed into the grooves, the way his fingertips traced the edge as if memorizing it.

“What do you mean?” she asked, arms crossing defensively.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good idea. Make him feel small by beating him over and over. Break’ em down before you build’ em up.” Kaydon shrugged. “Standard play. But it’s not gonna work with Seth.”

“That’s not?—”

Adria stopped herself.

She wanted to dismiss him. Tell him to keep his opinions to himself.

But the truth was, he was right.

She had been trying to break Seth down. And ithadn’tbeen working.

Her throat tightened.

“What would work better?” she forced herself to ask.

Kaydon met her gaze, his hazel eyes softening.

“Show him you care.”

Something in her locked up.

She searched his face, expecting some trace of insincerity, some smug glint in his eye.

But there was none.

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