Page 13 of Angels Are Falling

“The only way to guarantee that is if I turn into you,” I snapped. With his endless resources, I could provide everything for Amelie. Then she would have no reason to leave me.

“Is that your wish then? You wish to be me?”

“I haven’t agreed, but if it were up to me, then yes.” Only one title was up to par for a woman brought up like a princess. “I wish to be the Prince of Darster.”

Chapter

Three

AMELIE

He was quiet on the ride home and climbed to the rooftop the moment we walked through the door. He hadn’t done that since our high school days, when I used to sneak in after his parents fell asleep. We’d light up a joint and discuss our big plans to take over the world. I had never met anyone as remarkable as Stefan, and he proved it when he moved back home to care for his siblings.

I tucked the kids in before climbing the rickety ladder. He was sitting on the ledge, his long legs dangling off the edge of the roof. His boyish good looks, which made him seem naturally youthful and carefree, couldn’t hide his unease tonight. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and the sight gutted me.

Nowadays, his moods were part happy, part sad, and completely bitter. He’d always wanted to escape his humble upbringing, but circumstances forced him back into that life. It was a tough pill to swallow. He tried to shield me from it, but he was getting sloppier at hiding his resentment over how life had turned out.

Tonight, I sensed there was more to his odd behavior than bitterness. What could have happened? We just had an amazing dinner experience. A true treat.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” Stefan replied monotonously.

I waited for him to explain why he was meditating on the rooftop in the middle of the night. “Did you have a good time tonight?” I asked after realizing he was lost to the world.

No response. If only I could see those dark brown eyes, they always gave him away.

I took a step toward him as the gentle summer breeze played with my hair, and I pushed it out of my face. “Stefan, is everything okay?”

“He wants you.”

I stilled while he continued to look out into the darkness. “I don’t understand.”

“What’s there not to understand? Cavendish thinks you’re swell and wants to be with you.” His voice was sardonic.

Be with me? Kai Cavendish? Impossible. “There must’ve been a misunderstanding.”

“No misunderstandings. He was pretty clear about his intentions.”

I stared at his profile, confused. Kai had never hit on me or said anything inappropriate. At best, he was attentive and polite.

However, Stefan wouldn’t make wild accusations just because a man paid me attention. My husband wasn’t the jealous type. Kai must have said something explicit.

Moving tentatively, I sat next to him on the ledge. “When did he talk to you about this?”

“When you left with Bella for story time.”

“That couldn’t have been longer than fifteen minutes.”

Stefan shrugged. “It was long enough to have that conversation.”

It made no sense. Even if Kai was interested in me—something I’d never reciprocate—why would he approach my husband instead of me? He was practically begging for a beating, and while Stefan wasn’t the jealous type, no man would tolerate someone making advances on his wife.

They must have had a verbal altercation, though I didn’t recall hearing raised voices, nor did I sense any awkwardness when Kai saw us off. He merely slipped Stefan his business card and asked him to keep in touch. Stefan had seemed unsettled ever since.

“What exactly did he say?”

“That he wants a wife and a family, and mine is exactly what he’s looking for.”