Page 123 of Keeping Kasey
James:What do you mean you “have her?”
Logan:She’s sitting beside me on our plane, ready to give us everything we want.
James:I have a million questions.
Logan:We’ll be back at the manor late tonight. We can talk then.
James:Is she coming back as a guest or hostage?
I left his last message unanswered, but it only takes one look at her to know the answer.
Kasey stops when we enter the foyer, looking to me for instructions.
My brothers share a look that I ignore.
I’m about to nod to the steps, but the sound of paws against hardwood echoes through the house, stealing her attention. When Kane comes running into the room, Kasey falls to her knees to greet the eager dog.
She murmurs barely audible praises, and his tail hits the floor so hard it must hurt, but he doesn’t seem to mind. After several seconds, she kisses his head and stands.
With one hand still petting the dog, she returns her gaze to me.
“Your old room,” I tell her.
Head held high, Kasey ascends the steps, with Kane staying dutifully at her side. She doesn’t look like someone being held against her will—she looks regal.
Kasey is every bit as beautiful as the day she left.
And I hate her for it.
I follow her with the bags, and my brothers watch from where they remain in the foyer.
When we reach the door, Kasey pushes it open, but she doesn’t step inside.
I already know her hesitation has nothing to do with defiance, but rather the state of the room.
It’s exactly how she left it.
Decorative pillows lie haphazardly on the floor, two drawers are halfway shut on the dresser, and her excessive hair products cover the bathroom counter. Her clothes still hang in the closet, and a pile of dirty laundry sits in a hamper by the door. The comforter is piled at the bottom of the bed, and the sheets are pulled so far to one side that they brush the floor—just how she left it.
Howweleft it.
The only change to this room is the matted dog hair-covered circle on the bed that Kane goes to now.
Every so often, Kane sits at the door and whines until one of us lets him in. He spends hours sitting on the bed like he’s waiting for his owner to return.
Kasey takes a shaky breath before finally stepping inside.
I put the bags down and block the doorway with my body. She barely left this room when she was a welcome guest. I doubt she has much interest in roaming the manor now.
But since I don’t put anything past her, I say, “Under no circumstances are you allowed out of this room without my permission.”
She stiffens but doesn’t turn even as she nods.
“Be ready at seven tomorrow morning and not a second later. James will be up soon to take Kane.”
She whips around at that, and the look of dejection doesn’t feel as gratifying as it did earlier. “Take him?”
“He stays with James now,” I tell her.
