Page 6 of Hard Hearts

“You know, my wife was a wedding planner back in the day. Why don’t you two come over for dinner? I’m sure she’d be happy to help and provide suggestions.”

“That would be incredible.” This time it’s me who’s first to speak. I know an opportunity when it comes knocking. Plus, I’ve already started down this path. Not by my own choice, but there’s really no turning back now.

This would really get my foot in the door with Jasper. I would rather not lie, but I think it partly comes with the job. That's what I tell myself. I'm a lawyer; I can be cutthroat. At least in some areas of my life I can be.

"Tomorrow then? I know my wife is free."

"Perfect," Kaden answers. "Frankie gets her ring back tomorrow. The jeweler was resizing it. She's been dying to show it off." Did he actually say that?

"Tomorrow at seven, then," Jasper confirms as the valets pull up with both of the fancy sports cars that I bet cost more than many people's homes.

"Tomorrow," we both agree. I keep a smile pasted on my face until Jasper is pulling away.

"I'm driving," I tell Kaden, daring him to try to stop me, but he doesn't. I didn't actually mean it. I was trying to annoy him, but he merely holds the driver's side door open for me. I slip inside. Kaden jogs around, jumping into the passenger seat. “You’re really going to let me drive?”

“Put your seat belt on first.” As he says the words, he’s already leaning over and grabbing it for me. His arm grazes my breast as he pulls it across me, clicking it into place. He, however, doesn’t move, his face a mere inches from mine. “Your makeup is wearing off.”

“What?” I snap. What the hell does that mean? He gives me a warm smile. I call it a warm smile because that’s what it alwaysdoes to my insides when he does it. How does he make a smile so damn alluring?

“You cover up your freckles.”

“Itryto cover them up.”

“They’re beautiful.” I open and then close my mouth, at a loss for words. For one, I don’t think anyone has ever called me beautiful. Secondly, who’s into freckles?

“You’re strange. You know that?”

“Because I find your freckles sexy?”

"Freckles aren't sexy." I didn’t think they were. My childhood would agree with me. I put up with enough crap and jokes about having them growing up. Kids can be real assholes.

"Yourfreckles are. I didn't mean everyone's. Only yours, Frankie." Kaden drops back into his seat, pulling on his seat belt. "You know how to drive a stick, right?" My eyes drop to his crotch, and I immediately want to murder myself. "Not that stick, dirty girl."

Heat rushes to my face. I divert my eyes to look out the front windshield. I can see the smirk on Kaden’s face out of the corner of my eye. I can barely drive, let alone drive a stick. The car’s or his, for that matter.

What the hell am I doing? Why did I even get in the car with Kaden? I could’ve called an Uber and been on my way home already. Yet here I am.

“I can’t drive a stick,” I admit. I’m not willing to fake it in front of all these people out on the sidewalk. I’d end up killing the engine.

“I can teach you, but not here. Somewhere safer.”

“I’ll just call a ride.” I click off my seat belt and slip back out.

“I’m driving you home. It’s already late.”

“You can’t boss me around,” I huff, knowing I sound like an annoyed teenager, but I can’t help it. Kaden always gets me outof sorts. He ruffles my feathers like no other. I both love and hate it.

“Please let me drive you home.” He holds the passenger door open.

“Fine. But only because it’s late and you’ve inconvenienced me at this point.” I walk around keeping my chin up. It only makes his smile grow, so I elbow him in the stomach before dropping into my seat.

“Easy, Kitten,” he teases before closing the door for me once again. I take a deep breath and pull myself together as I put the seat belt on before he gets in. My nipples are still hard from the graze of his arm on them.

“Don’t call me Kitten,” I tell him when he pulls away from the curb.

“But we’re engaged. We should have pet names.” I’m not going to survive this. How the heck did I even get into this situation with him?

"Why don't you worry about that ring?"

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