“I heard you say you want me but not like this. Tell me what you want, Lindy. We’ve shared so much over the years. You can’t start holding back on me now.” He leans back against the counter and crosses those arms I love over his chest, and his shirt stretches so damn tight around his biceps. My God. It should be illegal to look that damn good.
“Easton . . . Haven’t you ever noticed I never talked to you about this? Not about you. Not about any guys. I’ve never crossed that line,” I tell him because I don’t know how to give him what he wants.
“I was kinda hoping it was because there weren’t any guys.”
My blood burns with indignation. “You’ve got to be kidding. You used to FaceTime me with women in your bed, but you didn’t want me dating? Seems awfully hypocritical, doesn’t it, E?”
“I never said I was a saint, princess. But think about it for a minute. No matter who I was with, I always ended up calling you. Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?” His hazel eyes are so damn intense, I’m not sure how much I can take.
“You don’t actually think I liked it when you’d call me with a woman in bed next to you, do you?” I demand.
“Tell me why it bothered you,” he pushes back.
“Because . . .” I stammer.
“Use your words, Madeline.”
“Ugh . . . You’re infuriating.” I push back from the counter stool and march across the kitchen to him. “You want to know why it bothered me?”
“Yeah, I do, princess.” He stands tall as I stop in front of him, ready to scream.
“Because I was jealous.” I throw my hands up. “There. Happy?” I yell. “I was jealous they got to be with you like that. In a way I was sure I never would. I was so goddamn jealous because I wanted to be them.”
Easton leans in slowly, careful not to touch me. “None of them could ever be you.”
“But they had you in a way I couldn’t, and I hated that,” I admit, a little quieter.
“Then tell me why you were so pissed when we woke up married,” he pushes again.
“You’re really going to make me say this?” I ask as my voice shakes from frustration mixed with embarrassment.
“Yup.”
“Because I’ve wanted you for years, Easton Hayes. And I finally got you, but it was because we were drunk. You never gave a shit about me sober. But I got drunk and flirted with someone in front of you, and you thought, Fuck that, I’ll marry her.” My stomach twists as the words keep coming. “I woke up and was married to the one man I’ve dreamed of marrying, and I couldn’t remember any of it. You don’t even love me. You—”
“Stop.” He slides his hands up my neck and cups my cheeks. “Forget the fact that we’re married for a minute. What do you want from me, Lindy? Do you want me? Want us?”
I lift my eyes to his, and the softness there just about kills me. “Have you listened to anything I just said? Of course I want you. I’ve only ever wanted you, you idiot. But I’m scared, Easton. You’ve been my protector for so many years. What if this doesn’t work out? I can’t lose you.”
“You’ll never lose me.” His thumb caresses my skin. “I’m in this for the long haul, princess.”
“But you can’t know that,” I fight back, desperate to get him to feel my fear and take it seriously. “You can’t be sure.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, princess. It was always supposed to be you and me. The timing was just never right before.” His words are whispered against my skin, wrapping around me like a safety blanket.
“Easton . . .” I plead.
“Give us a chance, Lindy.” He presses his lips to my forehead.
Ugh. How am I supposed to think when he’s doing that?
A chance.
Can I do that?
Can I give him that?
Can I let go of that fear?
“A chance?” I whisper back, and Easton tilts my face up to his. “Fine. If you want a chance . . . If you want to even think about staying married to me . . . We need a reset. We need to date. We need to go back to the beginning and redo all the steps we skipped. You’re going to have to woo me.”
“Woo you?” A smile spreads across his perfect lips. Lips I desperately want to trace with my tongue.
“Yes, Easton. If you want to be my husband, then you’ve got to start with the baby steps and win my heart.” I don’t bother telling him he’s had it for a lifetime.
“Woo you,” he repeats again.
I lick my lips and nod.
“I can do that,” he whispers, and just when I think he might kiss me, he runs his thumb over my lip. “Game on, princess. Prepare to be wooed.” Only instead of kissing me, he smiles a devious smile and walks away.
“Where are you going?” I ask, shocked . . . again.
“Oh, baby. I’ve got work to do.”
My head spins from whiplash as I watch him head for the steps and wonder where, exactly, I lost control of the night. And how, exactly, I ended up here.
Rumors are running rampant for the Revolution, and Easton Hayes is at the center of them. Is there already trouble in paradise for Kroydon Hills’ favorite It couple? I feel like we need a nickname for them, but at this rate, they may be over before they even started. Sources tell me the new Mr. Madeline Kingston is fighting with her brothers. His hockey captain in particular. Looks like Jace Kingston just gave Easton a black eye. Could it be that he’s already mistreating Madeline? Stick around and see.
#KroydonKronicles
EASTON
“Glad to have you back home, brother.” Pace squirts enough ketchup on his plate to drown every french fry in the place as he sits across from me at The Busy Bee Café on Main Street.
“I’ve been home for a few days, man. It’s not my fault you were flying around the country visiting your other clients.”
He stuffs another fry in his mouth. “It’s not like you’re my only client, Hayes. You know you can be a real diva when you want? Maybe I should start calling you princess instead of your wife. How’s it going on that front, anyway?”
“We’re dating.”
“The fuck?” he asks, confused.
“She’s agreed to hold off on the annulment for now. So I’m counting that as a win, and we’re going to date.”
“But you’re already married . . . Wait. Don’t they say blow jobs stop once you’re married? Maybe this is a good thing. Get all the head now, while you can.” The asshat laughs like a fucking clown, and I kick him under the damn table.
“Pace, man, were you dropped on your head as a baby?”
“Pretty sure I was once or twice. I blame my brother, Hunter. It’s his fault.” He takes a bite of his BLT, then opens his mouth full of food. “Anyway, how’s the new team been?”
“Dude, fucking chew before you talk. Most of the guys are okay. Jace is gunning for me. So that’s awkward as fuck. Max threatened me on my first day, but I haven’t seen him since. Oh, and I like Coach Fitz. He seems like a good coach, so far.” Fucking Kingstons.
“You sure she’s worth it?”
I don’t bother answering, and Pace smiles.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought. Have you seen Juliette?”
I finish my burger and wipe the grease from my mouth. “Nah. She and Becks are down in DC for a few days. Some White House Christmas party. I’ve talked to Becks but not Jules.”