Page 10 of Wilde Flame

I squeezed my eyes shut to keep the tears at bay.

I rolled over and pulled my knees to my chest. Had I sealed my own fate by sticking to my vow not to give myself to anyone unless I truly loved them? I was turning thirty in the spring, and here I was, still alone.

“Is there a soul mate out there for me?” I asked the universe.

Grabbing the quilt from behind me, I pulled it over my body and let the tears fall until I was so exhausted, I eventually fell asleep.

Ding-dong.

I rolled over and moaned.

Ding-dong.

My eyes snapped open and I quickly sat up. “Shit!”

I flung the quilt off of me and looked at the clock. It was nearly nine thirty. “Oh shit!”

Ding-dong.

Whoever was at my door was now banging on it with what sounded like their fists.

Rushing from my bedroom to the front door, I nearly tripped over the stupid sweater dress. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

Ding-dong. Bang. Bang. Bang.

“I’m coming!” I cried out, as I unlocked the door and flung it open. The man standing there was the last person I expected to see.

“Caden?”

His eyes slowly raked over my body. It was then that I realized I’d just jumped up and ran to the door in what I’d passed out in the night before—a black lace bra and a matching thong.

“Oh my God!” I cried, slamming the door shut. I quickly went to my hall closet, grabbed a long coat, slipped it on, and tied the belt tightly.

With a deep breath, I opened the door again.

Caden raised a single brow. “Do you always open your door dressed in next to nothing?”

I scowled at him. “No. You woke me up with all the banging and I panicked. I’m late getting to the store.”

“Hence the reason I’m here. Moreen is freaking out, wondering where you are. She said she’s been trying to call you for the last hour.”

“Moreen called you?”

He leaned against the doorjamb. “No. She called Emeline, who called Ensley, who called me, because she’s already at work this morning. She asked if I’d come and make sure you were okay. So that’s what I’m doing.”

I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand, turned, and walked toward the kitchen. I just left Caden standing there. I heard the door shut and silently prayed that he’d just turned and left.

“Is everything okay?”

My body sagged when I realized he came in, instead.

“I overslept.”

“Late night, Flower Child?”

Before answering him, I put a coffee in my Nespresso and reached for a cup. I hit start and turned to lean against the counter. “I was just tired. I fell asleep before I turned my alarm on.”

Caden searched my face and frowned slightly. “Have you been crying, Lilibeth?”