Free Three Rings and a Rose by Mia Ashlinn Page B

actually was Caedon, she was not in the mood to talk to him.
    All she wanted was Micah to be here. She needed to talk to him.
    She needed him to comfort her and be there for her. But he wasn’t.
    Just like Caedon wasn’t. She was on her own. The one time she would freely admit to needing help, and she had no one. My life just fucking sucks like that. I’m not sure it could get much worse than this. But, of course, it would. She knew that. Something this disastrous, this huge, had no chance of settling down without a major fallout. And it was heading straight for Ella.
    She picked up her Egyptian cotton robe with shaking hands and pulled it around her before knotting the belt at her waist. Disregarding the ache in her chest, she went straight for the kitchen and grabbed two essentials—an overpriced box of dark chocolate truffles and a bottle of tawny port. Without missing a beat, she hauled the decadent items over to the counter and sat down then waited for the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
    When it didn’t, she theatrically threw her hands up and screamed,
    “What are you waiting for? Come and get me.” 66
    Mia Ashlinn

Chapter 7
    Present day…

    “Caedon, this isn’t about forgiveness,” Ella said. “I forgave you a long time ago. And neither is it about how I feel about you. I love you, and I will always love you, but we can’t do this to each other again. We just can’t be together. It won’t work.” Without uttering another word, Ella spun on her heel and walked out of her office, leaving the men behind. She strode through the store and then out the front door before continuing on the path to where she’d parked on the street earlier. She didn’t stop—until she got to her car and realized that she’d forgotten something essential.
    In reality, she’d forgotten several important things like her keys and her wallet. But that had nothing on the fact that she’d left behind her heart and her soul—again. And she wasn’t about to go back in there and try to get either of them. Or anything else she needed.
    Looks like I’ll be walking home tonight. She sighed and started to do just that.

    * * * *

    Oh hell no you don’t, Ella Embry Dawson.
    By the time Ella had made it through the door leading to The G
    Spot’s showroom, Micah was on his way after her. She wouldn’t get far—because he wouldn’t let her. If he allowed her the freedom to run this time, he would lose his chance to tell her how much he loved and Three Rings and a Rose
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    wanted her. He would forsake the opportunity to share his big secret with her.
    Unlike earlier, he no longer had a choice about it. When he’d tried to tell her before Caedon had showed his handsome face, he’d chosen it willingly. Even with her stubborn, overprotective sisters on his ass, he had wanted to finally confess everything. Now it wasn’t an option.
    It was a necessity. He had to do it.
    With Caedon back, Micah had only one shot at winning her over.
    And it had to be right now. He had to lay his heart and pride on the line. He had to tell her the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Otherwise, she would choose Caedon by default, and he would lose her forever. That was something he couldn’t and wouldn’t contemplate. It was one thing if she didn’t love him or want him. But it was completely another to not even try to win her hand with his undying love and unconditional commitment.
    “Ella,” Micah shouted as he shot through the store then out the door behind her with the speed of a bullet. “Get your ass back here.
    Now !”
    Did she listen? No. She kept moving. Only he wasn’t sure if it was that she hadn’t heard him or if she was just disregarding his command. It didn’t matter either way. He had to either get to her or get her back to him.
    Since demanding her return had not worked for him, he decided to chase her. Picking up his speed, he sprinted toward Ella who had stopped by her car but didn’t get inside.