Chapter 4
Bleeding Halos, Beignets, & Bad Decisions
One day. That’s all the time Kylee had left before she boarded the plane to New Orleans, the city of jazz, mystery, and memories she hadn’t dared revisit until now.
Standing in front of her bedroom mirror, she smoothed the fabric of a silky black dress she’d pulled from her closet. It was beautiful, but she wanted something fresh, something electric, and something that screamed new Kylee.
With a deep breath, she grabbed her phone and called Kelly.
The sound of her sister’s familiar, upbeat voice filled her with warmth and a little daring.
“I’m going shopping tomorrow,” Kylee said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.
“I need something that’ll make me forget everything else for a while. ”
Kelly laughed. “Girl, you deserve to feel like a queen. Hit the boutiques and find you a look that turns heads. Maybe even Rio Riot won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
Kylee smiled, biting her lip. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
The next day, she wandered through sunlit stores and buzzing malls, the hum of the city fading behind the music playing in her headphones, rock ballads and old New Orleans jazz mixing in her ears.
She ran her fingers over soft fabrics: lace, velvet, leather, silk.
She tried on a deep crimson dress that hugged her curves perfectly, a daring neckline daring enough to catch a spotlight.
In the dressing room, Kylee studied herself, imagining the concert, the roar of the crowd, the pulse of the bass, and the intensity of Rio Riot’s gaze meeting hers.
One day felt like both a lifetime and a heartbeat away. As Kylee packed her bags, a storm of emotions churned inside her. Excitement pulsed through her veins the thought of New Orleans, the music, and most of all, Rio Riot’s electric presence.
But beneath the thrill was a heavier weight: guilt, anger, and a hollow ache every time her mind drifted to Jake.
She loved the life they’d built the kids, the home, the memories.
But somewhere along the way, that love had twisted into something unrecognizable.
She wasn’t sure if it was denial, fear, or sheer exhaustion that had kept her silent about Jake and Rachel.
Yet now, with the trip looming, the tension was unbearable.
Unable to shake the gnawing suspicion, Kylee found herself driving to Jake’s clinic. She hadn’t told him she was coming. Lillian was already watching the girls, and Kylee had rehearsed what she needed to say over and over in her head.
The office buzzed with its usual rhythm, but her eyes immediately locked on Rachel, who was perched behind the reception desk, dressed in that sleek black dress Kylee knew too well.
Taking a deep breath, Kylee approached with a cold resolve.
“Rachel,” she said, voice low but fierce. “I’m leaving for New Orleans. And I want you to know if you’re fucking my husband while I’m gone, I will make sure you regret it.”
Rachel’s smile faltered, eyes flickering with a mix of surprise and something unreadable.
“Kylee, that’s not”
Kylee cut her off, shaking her head. “Save it. I’m not here to play nice.”
With that, she turned and walked out, leaving Rachel frozen behind the desk and Kylee’s heart pounding with a mix of relief and sorrow.
Back in her car, Kylee gripped the steering wheel tightly. She wasn’t sure what this trip would bring, but one thing was certain she was done pretending.
Rachel stormed into Jake’s office, her jaw was tight, eyes flashing with irritation. “Kylee came by,” she said, leaning casually against the edge of his desk. “She wasn’t exactly nice.”
Jake looked up from his tablet, eyes glinting with amusement. “She came by?” he repeated, shaking his head. “What did she say?”
Rachel shrugged, biting her lip. “Said if I’m fucking you while she’s gone, she’ll make me regret it.”
Jake’s laugh deepened. “God, Kylee’s got fire. I’ll give her that.”
He tapped his fingers on the desk, then looked up with a cold edge. “You know what, Rachel? Take the week off. Clear the schedule. I’m going to stay home with the kids. We’ll pick things up when she’s back.”
Rachel’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of jealousy and anger flashing through them. “A week off? Seriously?”
She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to argue, but the sharp look Jake gave her stopped any protest. She forced a tight smile instead. “Fine. Whatever you say, Dr. Waterman.”
Rachel stepped out of Jake’s office, the sound of her heels echoing down the hallway like a countdown to her unraveling. A storm of frustration and jealousy brewed inside her, fierce and unrelenting.
Damn it, she thought, biting her lip to keep the edge from her voice. A whole week off? Just when things were heating up.
She hated the idea of stepping back, of giving Kylee space to swoop back in and pretend everything was fine. Rachel wasn’t the type to back down, not from a man she wanted.
Jake wants me to play it cool. Keep quiet.
But this isn’t over. Her mind raced through possibilities.
How could she make sure Jake stayed hers, even when Kylee was in the picture?
How to keep that fire between them burning without losing control?
She clenched her fists, fighting the swirl of anger and desire tangled inside her.
The jealousy gnawed at her, he's hers, but I want him to be mine. Completely.
Rachel wasn’t just angry about the week off. She was mad that Kylee still had that hold on Jake. And she was determined to break it, one way or another.
Jake’s tires crunched softly on the gravel driveway as he pulled into the garage, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the quiet yard.
Inside the house, Kylee moved through the living room with a calm, almost clinical precision, her suitcase zipped shut and neatly placed by the door, clothes folded, and everything ready for her trip.
The air felt charged, the silence between them thick with unspoken tension.
He set his briefcase down and glanced at her. “Rachel said you came by the office today,” he said, voice low.
Kylee’s eyes flicked up, wary. “What did she say?”
Jake ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “She just told me you stopped by. Said you weren’t exactly nice.”
Kylee’s jaw tightened. “What else?”
Jake gave a dry chuckle. “She said if she’s fucking me while you’re gone, you’ll make her regret it.”
Kylee’s eyes narrowed, “Sure did.”
Jake laughed and ran a hand over his face. “I told her to stay home this week. No work. I’m handling things with the kids. You don’t have to worry.”
She studied him for a beat, then simply said, “Good.”
The weight of what was about to happen settled between them like a storm on the horizon.
Jake shifted on his feet, sensing her restraint like a wall between them.
He wanted to say more, apologize, explain, rewind time but Kylee had that look again.
The one that said don’t push me. It was new.
And it scared him more than her yelling ever could.
She smoothed her hands over the sides of her suitcase, her fresh manicure catching the light. She looked calm, collected, stunning, really. Hair curled, lips glossed, dressed in soft blush tones that made her glow. Jake stared a second too long.
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly.
Kylee finally looked at him. “Thanks.”
It hung between them, delicate and uncertain.
He walked over and reached for the suitcase. “Let’s go. You’ll be late.”
The ride to the airport was quieter than usual. Not tense just... cautious. She looked out the window, sunlight flickering over her features, and Jake felt something ache deep in his chest. He didn’t know if it was regret or fear.
The car rolled to a smooth stop at the curbside departure lane. People bustled past with rolling suitcases, kids dragging backpacks, couples exchanging kisses and last-minute goodbyes. Jake put the car in park and stepped out, grabbing Kylee’s suitcase from the back.
She followed, adjusting her purse strap over her shoulder, heart pounding with a strange blend of nerves and anticipation. It wasn’t just the trip. It was space. The shift. The feeling that, for the first time in a long time, she was stepping into something for herself.
Jake set the suitcase upright beside her and paused, watching her with a mix of hesitation and something else, maybe longing, maybe guilt. Maybe both.
“I meant what I said,” he told her, keeping his voice low so only she could hear. “Rachel’s off all week. I’ll be home with the kids. I want you to go and actually enjoy this.”
Kylee nodded, blinking against the glare of the glass above the terminal. “Okay.”
“I know I’ve given you every reason not to trust me lately,” he added, “but I’m trying. I really am.”
Her eyes met his. Something in her expression softened, just barely. “I know.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the air between them still heavy but no longer sharp. Jake stepped forward, instinctively brushing his hand down her arm.
“Have fun,” he said. “Let yourself breathe a little.”
“I plan to,” she said, stepping back with a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
He watched as she turned and headed toward the sliding glass doors. She didn’t look back.
Kylee stepped onto the plane expecting cramped rows and a middle seat near the bathroom. But as the flight attendant checked her ticket and gestured toward the front of the plane, she blinked in surprise.
"Welcome, Mrs. Waterman," the attendant smiled. "Right this way seat 2A."
First class?
Her shoes slid softly against the carpeted aisle as she approached the oversized leather seat. It looked more like a luxury lounge chair than something belonging on a plane. She hesitated a moment, glancing down at the ticket again as if to double-check. But no it was hers.