Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Five
The weeks sped by and Kelley became broodier and quieter than ever before. He spent more and more time in his study catching up on work and spreading their business further, moving across continents and into other markets. He sat next to Kyzer's crib late at night, just watching him and taking him in. He did it to avoid Milana and to keep the anger at bay. It was anger he didn't completely understand and he wondered sometimes if the fall wasn't influencing it in some way.
He went to sleep each night with his back turned towards Milana but they always woke up attached to each other in some way. Today would be a test for all of them. They were planning a family dinner and Kyzer was already three months old.
He rubbed his temples, wishing the headache would go away. It was the one constant ever since the coma. He had one every night and probably would for the rest of his life. He had an hour before everyone would knock down his front door.
Milana walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body as Kelley closed the bedroom door behind him. She didn’t look at him but rather looked past him. His grip on her arm made her waver because he hadn’t hurt her, not once since that night he gave his ultimatum.
“Mila …”
“I need to get ready, Kelley,” she said and pulled her arm away.
Kelley let her go and instead walked into the bathroom and took his own shower. In their dressing room he dropped the towel and started to get dressed. Milana glanced at him every now and then and he sighed at the lack of emotion on her face. He hated the distance between them even though he knew he had some part in it, he still disliked it.
“You look nice,” Kelley said as Milana walked past him.
She stopped but didn’t turn around. “Thank you.”
Back in the bedroom, Milana was putting in her earrings and Kelley stopped behind her. Her necklace was on the table and he picked it up and moved her hair to the side before slipping it around her neck. Her breath hitched as she watched him in the mirror.
“Sylvie will be here tonight,” Kelley said as he fastened the clasp of her necklace. He felt her stiffen beneath his fingertips and he trailed them over her bare shoulders and down her arms as he moved closer to her, pressing into her from behind.
“She’ll be welcomed into the family.” Kelley watched her face as she masked the split second of pain that showed in her eyes. “As Mason’s date. They’re together now, I’m not sure in what capacity but I know that at some point Mason will wear her down and marry her.”
Milana turned in his arms and their gazes locked, her breasts pushed against his chest as he looked down at her. “Why?”
“She’s pregnant and Mason will do the right thing. He’ll marry her and raise his child.”
Milana’s gaze lowered and she nodded her head. “Do you still love her?” Kelley knew how much it had taken for her to ask that question and in some sick way he liked her uncertainty, liked knowing she still felt something for him.
“I love you.”
“That’s not what I asked you, Kelley.”
Kelley lowered his head and she closed her eyes, like she expected him to kiss her. His lips brushed against her ear. “I never loved her.” Kelley stepped away from her then and he saw the shiver that went through her.
She opened her mouth to say something but Kelley opened the bedroom door and then held his hand out towards her. “Pretend to like me for one night.” Milana seemed to deliberate his statement but then she squared her shoulders and took his hand.
Kelley and Milana reached the last stair in the foyer just as the front door opened and Mason appeared in the doorway. Milana’s fingers tightened around his as Sylvie stepped into the house. Kelley looked at her and realized with relief that he really didn’t feel a thing for her.
“Milana, this is Sylvie,” Mason said as he kissed Milana’s cheek and stepped back.
“Hi,” Sylvie said and he could tell that she felt uncomfortable. The last time she’d been in Kelley’s house had been the night he told her he loved Milana.
There was an awkward pulse of silence as the seconds ticked by and Mason cleared his throat. “Maybe we should get a drink while we wait for the others.”
“Yes, of course. Mila,” Kelley said as his hand moved to her back and he let her walk first.
Connor and Jeannie were waiting in the parlor and Connor fixed drinks for all of them. Milana turned towards Sylvie and mustered a smile Kelley was proud of. “We have juice as well if you prefer that over water.”
“Juice sounds great, thank you.”
“I’ll get it,” Jeannie said and all but ran out of the parlor.
Marley, Jesse, Lee and Marella arrived together and the family were complete. They had a few more drinks before moving to the dining room and Kelley wished they could skip dinner and leave so he could go drink in his study, alone.
In between small talk Marley kept glancing between Milana and Sylvie. Nobody else seemed to notice, but he did. He always noticed. “Marley, knock it off.” Silence ensued as everyone watched them.
“I’m sorry, I just think it’s weird that they’re both sitting here at the same table and nobody’s saying anything. It’s not like you haven’t slept with the others,” Marley said and the moment she did her eyes widened.
You could hear a pin drop. “Excuse me?” Lee asked as he looked at Marley.
“Nothing,” she whispered and seemed to shrink next to Jesse.
Mason barked out a laugh and Kelley glared at him. “You slept with Marella and Jeannie?”
Lee growled as he pushed his chair backwards and his eyes raged with murderous intent. “You slept with Marella? Fuck you, Kelley!”
Connor stood up as well, his fists balled. “Jeannie came to work here after I was here. That means you fucked her after we started dating.”
