Page 25 of No Regrets

“I do, Mother. But it is my life, and I know what I’m getting into.” Watching her, Kaden leaned against the counter, crossing his legs at his ankles. He sucked on the lollipop with a wide-eyed Shiloh holding her hands up for him, opening and closing her fingers. “What time are we supposed to get together?”

“One. It’s at Teresa’s house, remember. She doesn’t have the highest opinion of him, so you might want to warn him, or convince him to stay at home.”

“Mom!” Brianna, turned away just as Kaden slipped the popsicle between Shiloh’s lips.

“I’m just saying’s all.” Regina tried her best to sound innocent, but Brianna knew her mother too well. She knew better.

“Yeah. Everybody will be nice, or else.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you and my precious granddaughter tomorrow.”

She clicked the phone off and turned back to see Kaden standing with the last of the popsicle between his lips. She hated when he looked at her, knowing yet never saying what was going on.

“We’re supposed to be at Teresa’s at one.” She hung the phone on the receiver.

“Uh-huh.” Shiloh clutched her hands wanting more from Kaden. “Why was she asking about my family?”

“Kaden, please.”

“No, Bree. If your family has something to say, why not say it to my face instead of behind my back.” He pushed off against the counter, stepping on the trashcan to pop the top, and dumping the stick inside. “I know your family hates me. A deaf mute could tell that much by meeting us on the street. But they’re not Shiloh’s only family, and they don’t love her more. She’s just as much a Riggens as she is a Miller.”

He tried walking past her, but Brianna grabbed his arm, pulling with all her weight to stop him. “Kaden, stop. It’s Christmas. Let’s just spend today together as a family, and then tomorrow, when it, comes deal with it. Teresa doesn’t like that you weren’t there for me when I was pregnant. Actually my whole family has a problem with that.”

Kaden looked crushed. “I’m sorry. I’ve told you a billion times how sorry I am but I can’t take it back. What the hell am I suppose to do? I’m here now. Doesn’t that count for anything?”

Brianna took a deep breath. “Kaden, listen to me. They aren’t going to get past it until you prove yourself worthy of me. I accept you, Kaden, exactly the way you are with the past we share and everything. Shouldn’t it matter what I want, instead of them?”

“But you don’t know what you want,” he yelled. “You lead me along like a little puppy on a string. I’m so frustrated right now, I can’t see straight.”

Shiloh started to cry amidst the argument, and Kaden stopped, his expression softened, as he walked to the highchair to pick her up. He pulled her against him, kissing her to quiet her down.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Daddy didn’t mean to yell.”

“Kaden,” Brianna tried talking to him again, but he brushed her off. “Kaden, stop brushing me off. What are you mad about? I had to put up with your family threatening to take my daughter away. How is that any better?”

He turned, holding the baby against his body. “Don’t try that, Brianna. I’m a lawyer, and it’s in the job description to fight dirty. Don’t you dare make me say things that will end up making you cry.”

“Like what, Kaden? We’re already fighting, because that’s the only thing we ever seem to do when alone.”

“Who’s fault is that?”

“Yours!” She turned away, hating that the holidays were going in the crapper.

He sat Shiloh in her play area and turned toward Brianna, glaring. “How the hell is it my fault?”

“Because! You get mad over stupid stuff.”

“Oh, like you don’t lead me on and then cut me off right at the last second? Might as well cut off my balls while you’re at it.”

“I don’t lead you on. You start shit, and I stop it. There’s a difference.”

“Oh, yeah?” He stepped closer pushing her back into the bar. “If I start something, are you planning on stopping it or going all the way?”

“Don’t you dare try to weasel sex out of me now.” She turned in his arms, feeling nothing but his body heat surrounding her.

“Why not? Are you wet?” He slid his hands to her thighs, pushing the skirt up to her waist as his hands slid upward. “I’ve tried slow and seductive but I think it gives you too much time to think. No thinking. No talking. Just action.”

Brianna spread her legs wider, giving him better access. She gasped when he touched her, a gentle sweep of his thumb across her folds. His gaze met and held hers for a brief second, and then he did it again, and again.

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