Chapter Eighty-Seven
Kelley had gone to sleep with anger pulsating in his veins. He wasn't mad at Milana anymore, he was mad at himself. Black had reported to his study and relayed the events of what had happened. Kelley had only seen Hanson touch her and left immediately. He now regretted his actions and his words and he couldn't blame her for avoiding him.
Sleep hadn't come easily and he was up again at four am, pacing his study and resisting the urge to go knock on her door. He knew at some point he'd have to make an effort because that little clause in the contract would hang over his head until he did.
Kelley sat at the dining table and looked at Milana where she sat looking down pushing her food around. She hadn’t left the house since his outburst, not even to go into the garden and he felt like an even bigger asshole. He'd stewed with it the whole weekend, giving her space but now he hated the idea of her being afraid of him, hated that she kept herself holed up in her room.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
Milana looked up shocked to hear Kelley speak to her. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not. I was being an asshole and Black reported that day’s happenings to me after I had already yelled at you.”
“I see.” Milana’s words were short and clipped.
“I have history with Hanson Chadney. My first girlfriend cheated on me for two years with him. I saw him touching you and … I don’t know … my mind went back there. It wasn’t fair to you and I apologize.”
“If you’d given me the chance to say anything I would’ve told you that I got out of there as fast as I could, that I didn’t want anyone touching me.”
Kelley linked his fingers together in front of him. “You’re right. It’s something I’ll have to work on.”
Milana looked him over again before going back to pushing her food around. “Can I go to lunch with Marley today?”
“You don’t have to ask my permission.” Kelley felt like an ever bigger asshole now.
“If I don’t go anywhere you won’t have any reason to yell at me.” Her voice was soft and sad.
“I’m not one to grovel, Milana. I admitted my wrongdoing and I apologized. It won’t happen again so don’t lock yourself away because your perception of me is of this controlling asshole that I’m not.”
“Okay.” Kelley could see that she wanted to say more. The words were burning in her eyes and he wouldn’t even get mad if she said that he’d been an asshole the entire time she knew him because it was true.
Kelley took a breath and decided to try another tactic. “Has Marley told you about her secret wedding?”
Milana’s eyes widened slightly and she looked up at him. “How did you know about that?”
Kelley smiled, instantly transforming his face from fierce to friendly. “She shouldn’t have asked Hilary at the boutique to design a dress for her and then not answer her phone. She phoned me to confirm payment for the dress.”
Milana smiled genuinely then and Kelley decided that a smiling Milana was more beautiful than her pretentious sister could ever hope to be. “Am I supposed to tell her that you know?”
“No, but you can work it into the conversation that I’m her only brother and I’d like to be at her wedding.”
Milana smiled again and nodded her head slowly. “I can do that.”
“Maybe tonight we can make some time to talk.”
Milana swallowed nervously. “You want to talk?”
“I thought maybe we could go to dinner and start over, actually get to know one another.”
She smiled again and Kelley decided he liked that more, her smiling. “I’d like that.”
“It’s a date.”
The words had just slipped out. Kelley smiled awkwardly and then left the dining room. He had to focus on Mason now. He was glad he’d kept that letter that came with Grace, had kept it hidden in his personal safe, just for in case.
His ‘in case’ had arrived and Mason would need it to fight to keep Grace. Connor raised an eyebrow when Kelley slid into the backseat of the SUV with a smile on his face. “What?”
“You’re smiling, did you have a happy dream?”
Kelley laughed. “Asshole.”
“So what’s the deal with this ex that just turned up on Mason’s doorstep?”
“She’s Grace’s mother and wants her kid. Mason’s freaking out.”
Connor nodded his head absent-mindedly. “He’s a good father. She left Grace so why show up now?”
“Exactly, Connor, exactly.”
The rest of the drive was in silence as they headed to the warehouse. Lee hadn’t called with a plan yet and Kelley assumed he was still waiting to hear from the experts. He’d leave no stone unturned and no avenue unexplored when it came to Grace.
He’d always wanted a son but after living with Grace for six years, he wanted a daughter too. His own little princess. If tonight went as planned he’d be one step closer to showing Milana who he really was, not who she thought he was.
The car pulled into the empty slot inside the warehouse and he climbed out of the SUV. He was greeted by employees and Connor fell into step next to him as they headed towards the back offices where Mason and Lee were.
They convened in one of the casual sitting areas, reserved for them only, a private area where they could talk freely. It was swept for bugs twice a day and was also soundproof. Mason and Lee were already inside when he walked in.
“I just meant that finding you on top of her hours after your screaming match was a shock.”
Kelley raised an eyebrow as he sat down. “What did I miss?”
Connor moved to the coffee bar and started making coffee for himself and Kelley. Lee shifted in his seat with a chuckle and Mason looked guilty. Kelley looked at them in turn and then he took his jacket off before fixing a glare on Mason.
