Page 15 of Keeping Skylar (Fractured Hearts #1)

Kaden

I step through the front door, carrying an arrangement of Sky’s favourite flowers: roses, orchids, chrysanthemums, and lilies. I’ve been thinking about her all day, eager to come home and spend more time with her. I’ve missed my wife.

Putting some space between Lucia and me over the last few days has helped revive the spark in my marriage that has been dormant for some time.

Tonight, my wife is treating me to a delicious home-cooked dinner.

But what I’m really looking forward to is some steamy, one-on-one time with her later tonight.

I walk into the kitchen to find her singing and dancing to Alicia Keys’s Girl on Fire , as she stands in front of the stove. She looks absolutely radiant.

As I linger in the doorway, I take in the sight of my wife swaying her hips, belting out high notes into an egg flipper like it’s a microphone.

Her eyes are closed, completely lost in the moment.

Her voice is smooth, soulful, and effortlessly captivating—and for a moment, I forget everything else.

I can’t even remember the last time I saw her like this.

The first time I ever heard her sing was just after we moved in together. I caught her in the shower, serenading to a bottle of conditioner, blissfully unaware that she had an audience of one. The second her voice filled the air I was instantly mesmerised.

Skylar truly had it all—the voice, the beauty, and the brains. My wife was, without a doubt, the complete package. And she’s all mine. How did I ever stop seeing her? Hearing her find her voice again fills me with an overwhelming sense of pride. It’s like falling in love with her all over again.

A short while later, she stops singing and carefully pulls a baking dish from the oven, the rich aroma instantly filling the kitchen. When she turns around and spots me standing there, she jumps in surprise, nearly dropping our dinner to the ground.

“Kaden! You scared the hell out of me! How long have you been standing there?” She pants, setting the dish onto a cooling rack.

I stride towards her, my eyes drinking her in from head to toe. She’s wearing a peach summer midi dress under a beige apron, her hair pulled into a soft, wavy ponytail. She’s so stunning it hurts.

I kiss her gently on the lips and hand her the bouquet. “For my beautiful wife,” I say as she accepts the flowers with a grateful smile. “And to answer your question, I hadn’t been standing there for long. I didn’t want to interrupt your singing.”

Her cheeks flush, possibly from embarrassment, as she sets the flowers into a glass vase and fills it up with water. “Thank you, Kaden. These are beautiful,” she murmurs, lifting the flowers to her nose, taking in their floral scent.

“Not nearly as beautiful as you, my love,” I reply, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. “It’s so wonderful to hear you sing again. There’s no sweeter sound in the world. What’s put you in such a good mood tonight?”

“I had a great day at work, that’s all. It feels good to be back in the classroom again,” she says as she stirs the food in the baking dish with a wooden spoon.

I slip out of my suit jacket and drape it over the chair at the counter. Taking a seat, I watch as Sky dishes the food on to separate plates. My eyebrow arches when I see her pull out a third plate and set it on the counter.

“Why are there three plates?”

Just as she’s about to respond, the doorbell rings. With a broad grin, she says, “We have a guest joining us for dinner,” and strolls over to the front door.

My teeth clench at the thought of Kirstin staying for dinner. What was meant to be a quiet, intimate evening with my wife has now morphed into something awkward and uncomfortable. Fucking fantastic!

But the moment I hear her voice—one I know too well, my stomach sinks, and a wave of anxiety surges through me. No. It can’t be!

A minute later, Sky steps back into the kitchen, and trailing behind her, is none other than Lucia, my fucking mistress. Our eyes meet, and she flashes me a devious grin. You have got to be kidding me!

I haven’t spoken to or seen her since last Friday night at Hawkins.

That was three days ago. I’ve been keeping my distance from her so I could work things out with Sky.

In that time, Lucia’s been blowing up both my phones non-stop and even called my office this morning.

Thankfully, my receptionist answered and told her I’d be out of the office for two weeks.

And that was the last time I heard from her.

I guess she’s here now as my punishment for ghosting her.

As she approaches me, I can feel her gaze burning into my skull. She leans down to kiss my cheek and I’m instantly hit with her strawberry and kiwi scent that always seems to make my dick stir.

“Hello, Kaden. Good to see you’re alive and well.” She smirks. I swallow the lump in my throat and force a smile. “What a lovely surprise. It’s good to see you too, Lucy,” I reply.

We’re so engrossed in our staring contest that I don’t hear Sky calling my name. I snap my gaze from Lucia and glance back at my wife, my expression softening instantly.

“Sorry, my love. What did you say?” I ask sweetly, noticing the slight flinch Lucia makes at my use of endearment. I choose to ignore her.

“Could you please set the table, while I quickly clean up this mess. Oh, and Luce, there’s chilled wine in the fridge. Please, help yourself.”

I head to the dining area, carrying plates of food and utensils to arrange on the table.

Moments later, Lucia appears on the opposite side, holding a bottle of Prosecco and three wine glasses. She places them on the table and pours wine into each glass while her eyes remain locked on mine.

Once the table is set, we both sit down, waiting for Sky to finish cleaning. I take my place at the head of the table, while Lucia settles into the seat to my left.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Lucia?” I whisper angrily, but quietly enough for Sky not to hear.

“What do you mean what am I doing here? I was invited, Kaden. By your wife,” she whispers back, her hushed tone filled with indignation.

“I swear to God, if you’re only here to start trouble, you’ll be fucking sorry.”

Lucia scoffs and then rolls her eyes. “Oh, calm down. I’m not here to cause a scene. What do you take me for? I’m just here for a decent home-cooked meal.” She feigns an innocent smile.

I narrow my eyes at her, unsure whether I can trust her or not.

Softening my tone, I choose my words carefully, not wanting to provoke or aggravate her.

“Listen, I’m sorry for not calling. I’ve just been on edge ever since we almost got caught.

It really scared me. We could’ve ruined everything.

So, I had to keep my distance from you for a little while, to avoid suspicion. ”

She stays silent, her head bowed, as she processes my words. Lately, we’ve been so caught up in our own little world that we overlooked the risks of being seen together in public. The close call with Sky and Kirstin at the restaurant shook me to my core, and I vowed never to let that happen again.

I reach over and rest my hand on hers, all while keeping a watchful eye on Sky in the kitchen. “I’ve missed you a lot, and you’ve been on my mind constantly. I just want you to know that.”

Lucia nods slowly, her pained expression slicing through me like a knife. I want nothing more than to pull her into my arms and tell her I love her. I wish she could see the torment etched across my face and understand that I’m doing the best I can with an impossible situation. God, this is agony.

Once I hear the kitchen tap shut off, I quickly pull my hand away from hers just as my wife steps into the dining room. I avert my gaze from Lucia, unable to endure the hurt in her eyes.

Soon, baby. Just hold on a little longer. We’ll be together, soon.

We’re all gathered at the table, enjoying the baked garlic and rosemary chicken that Sky prepared for us. The food is incredible, the wine is flowing, and the conversation has remained relaxed and easy so far.

The girls chat about the upcoming school term, while I share updates on the new line of luxury cars my company has recently invested in for our high-profile customers.

I watch with quiet amusement as their laughter echoes through the room, their animated gestures drawing a genuine smile to my face. In moments like this, when everything feels so light and effortless, I almost forget the weight of my betrayal. If only it could be this easy all the time.

Sky is in mid-conversation when I feel Lucia’s foot gently gliding up and down the side of my left leg underneath the table.

I steal a glance at her, catching the playful glint of mischief dancing in her eyes as she rests her chin on her hand.

She may appear to be watching and listening to Sky, but her attention is unmistakably on me.

Her foot slides upward, her heel settling on my thigh. I catch it firmly in my hand, anchoring her in place as my fingers knead into her sole and toes with slow, deliberate tenderness. All the while, Lucia’s gaze remains fixed on Sky.

Pushing the moment further, I guide her foot higher until it’s pressed firmly against the hard bulge in my pants. Her eyes widen slightly, a mix of surprise and desire flashing across her face. Then, without warning, I release her foot, letting it drop to the floor with a quiet thud.

I turn my focus back to Sky, a faint grin playing on my lips as I work to keep a straight face. Beside me, Lucia sits quietly, her body rigid and tight with tension as she wrestles with the heat simmering beneath her cool exterior.

When our eyes meet, I let my gaze linger just long enough to send a silent warning— Careful, baby ... mess with the bull, and you’ll get the horns.

The sound of my wife clearing her throat jolts me back to the present. “So, Lucy. How’s Kaden’s new workout plan going?”

She frowns, looking all kinds of confused. “What new workout plan?”