Page 57 of Vow of Revenge
“Yeah, funny. I’ll have a housekeeper when I’m all grown up.” She shook her shoulders lightly from side to side. “I’m really looking forward to meeting his parents. The estate is just over the northern border. I think he has deer.”
“Wow! He’s a keeper!”
“Even if he wasn’t the heir to a ninety-acre historical estate, I’d still love him.”
My eyes popped. “Love? Are we talking about the same thing here? Like heart forever, ever?”
“Brett makes me believe that I can actually do things for myself. Like I have the ability. All my life I’ve had everything I wanted handed to me on a plate. I didn’t see the point in actually having my own fashion boutique. He’s made me realise that it’s not about the money, it’s about doing something that sets my soul on fire. You know I love catwalks and fashion designers. So why not start up my own business instead of just thinking about it.” She paused. “I feel like I have a purpose, or even future that’s my own – and he’s in it.”
“Syrah,” I cooed. With wide fingers I pressed my palm to my breastbone. “Finally! It’s like a real life fairy-tale.”
Syrah’s expression changed from loved up to stern. Her fingers stretched across the table to meet mine. “Freya, be cool. Kaleb is over there with a kid. Oh, wait. What the fuck? That must be Brett’s daughter. I haven’t met her yet, but that little girl is the same kid on his phone screensaver.”
Without thought or composure, my head flicked around to look over my shoulder. He hadn’t noticed us, but I swear if the room was silent, he would’ve heard my heart hurtling towards him.
The pretty little girl had her tiny hand in his, looking up at him while he ordered at the counter. I could only see the back of her head with springy dark curls, but I knew she dotted on her uncle, just by the way she was stuck to his side. The knife in my heart twisted like he was doing it on purpose, making me want him even more.
“Freya? Come on, don’t look.” I angled my head back around to give me something else to focus on other than him. “He’ll probably sit near the door and not even see us. We can sneak out now, if you want?”
Too late. I sensed his approach before he even suspected I was there. My nails tapped the table, and I shuffled uncomfortably on the red leather upholstered bench. In slow motion Syrah nodded, and her voice broke through the loud thrumming pulse in my skull. “Kaleb.” Her smile was tight and unsure.
He stopped by our table, and I purposely lowered my eyes, linking fingers for something to do. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the movement. The young girl held out her hand to me. “I’m Tilly.”
My smile was forced, and I lifted my gaze, keeping my eyes directly on her freckly face. I took her hand with a gentle squeeze. “Nice to meet you. I’m Freya.”
“I love that name.” She looked up at Kaleb, and I instantly followed her gaze, finally finding his handsome face. “When you buy my puppy, I want to call her, Freya. Can I, please?”
A lock of Kaleb’s hair curved over his brow, and the soft black shirt that he obviously just threw on and half buttoned, was tucked into his signature black jeans. His eyes flicked to mine and then back to Tilly. “It’s a very pretty name. This is Syrah.” Kaleb looked away leaving me cold inside.
Syrah bounced off her seat and hunkered down. “Hey, I’m Syrah. I know your daddy.”
Tilly’s bright smile was infectious, but I still couldn’t reciprocate the feeling of happiness that she projected.
“Do you like my daddy?” Did she know who Syrah was?
Syrah’s eyes bugged. “Yes. Very much.”
“He showed me a picture of you. He said you were very special.”
Just force the knife harder into my dying heart already. This was killing me, and the fact Kaleb turned his torso a fraction so he could watch me without being obvious, was making the whole situation agonising. His stare was burning into my face, like he was daring me to look up. I couldn’t meet his gaze, even though I wanted to smile up at him with detachment, but I knew he’d see right through it.
“Well, guess what, he showed me a picture of you on his phone and told me that you are his entire world.” Syrah fixed a curl behind Tilly’s ear and beamed.
“You’re pretty,” Tilly said softly, then turned her head back to me. “You’re pretty too. Would you like to go on a date with my uncle Kaleb?” Tilly shook Kaleb’s hand and gazed up at him like the sun shone from his ass.
Where the hell did that question come from. “No.” The word blasted from my mouth before I could censor my tone.
In an instant, Kaleb dropped to one knee and cupped her chin with one hand. “Tilly, I don’t need a woman in my life. I’ve no time for their bullshit.”
Tilly’s jaw slackened. “You said a bad word.”
“You’re the only girl in my heart. Just you, always you. Come on. Your milkshake will get all warm and yucky.” He stood and put his palm down on the crown of her head. “Let’s go, princess.”
The knife wedged in deeper, until he turned around and stared right at me again. “Freya.” This time I looked up at his dreamy baby blues and watched him nod like he secretly was trying to say something. Whatever it was, I missed it because he sauntered over to a nearby table and sat beside his niece, with his back to us.
“I need out of here. Now.” I gasped, holding my hand to my heart like that would stop it from breaking.
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