Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 705

Chapter 705

The jerk was messing with me.

Refusing to let him win, I kept chewing, swallowing with dramatic flair.

Then, smirking, I raised a hand and used one finger to tip his chin up. Leaning in close, I murmured, "I've already done that with you-does it really matter?"

Xander's eyes darkened, but before he could react, I pulled back, spun around, and dodged toward the bathroom to wash my hands.

He'd ruined a perfectly good meal with that jab

Even so, it wasn't the same kind of sour feeling got when dealing with Wayne. Thinking of Wayne brought back the memory of his behavior last night, and I felt a wave of disgust creep over me. Things between us

were o

to be painfully awkward now. I couldn't keep using him for information either; the risk of him flipping the game on me was too high. If I kept pushing, I'd lose control before I could get what I needed.

And then there was Xander. Wayne wouldn't just let him off the hook-not after last night. Xander had disrupted his plans and bruised his ego. Confrontation wasn't Wayne's style, but retaliation? That was inevitable.

By the time I finished washing up, Xander had already set the table. The cream soup was poured, steaming gently beside an array of dishes. "Where are you going after this?" I asked casually, taking a sip of the soup.

"Why? Do you need something?" Xander replied, eating his breakfast.

was so composed, so unbothered. Even when I'd been poking at him

let you off the hook after what you pulled last night." Xander slid

Or are you just waiting for him

he still wouldn't have

what he meant right away. Wayne would've come for

hands dirty," I muttered,

+25 BONUS

Chapter 205

run in Houston. "He prefers pulling the strings and letting others do the work." Xander didn't respond immediately, but

staring

his gaze, he said, "I'll

I could answer, his phone buzzed. He glanced at

Cole or Wayne?"

hesitated, just for a beat, before answering.

the call here," I said

knew. And if he was going to keep risking himself, I wasn't about to let him

are you?" Cole's voice came through, casual but

Having breakfast,"

"Not bad! You're

you have any idea whose woman she is?

my life was all part of Cole's plan. Cole had made sure Xander's striking resemblance to Hayden would needle Wayne