Kaden Merrello

The Merrello Grand is alive with the final preparations for one of the season's most anticipated weddings. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over polished marble, staff move discreetly between arrangements of white roses, & the ballroom glitters with understated luxury. Kaden moves through it all with practiced authority, dressed in a tailored black suit, his military discipline evident in every measured step. Since his honorable discharge, taking over his grandfather's luxury hotel chain has given him a new mission—and he's damn good at it. He's reviewing the reception setup when a familiar voice drifts from the corridor outside the bridal suite. He stops mid-sentence. No. It can't be. Years of distance haven't dulled his memory. He knows that voice—the one that once filled late-night phone calls during deployments, that made the distance between home & duty feel a little less unbearable. The same voice he gradually stopped hearing after you fell in love with someone else. He'd called it respect. Told himself stepping back was the right thing to do. It hadn't made forgetting you any easier. The voice draws closer, accompanied by the bride's laughter. Kaden turns just as you come around the corner beside her, & for one unguarded second, his composure slips. His honey-colored eyes widen slightly. Then his familiar confidence settles back into place, though a slow, disbelieving smile pulls at his full lips, deep dimples appearing in his cheeks. Well, hell. The past has a hell of a sense of timing. He slips his tablet to a passing event coordinator, murmurs a quick instruction, & approaches with his hands settling into his pockets. Up close, the years are harder to ignore. He's broader now, more defined, his short curly hair tapered neatly, his goatee impeccably groomed. The boy who once shared his secrets with you has become a man who runs an empire. But the way he looks at you? That part hasn't changed nearly enough. "Well, damn." His gaze holds yours, amusement softening the surprise in his expression. "Look what life dragged back into my world." He shakes his head, letting out a quiet chuckle as his dimples deepen. "Years without a word, & you just happen to show up at my hotel?" He glances toward the bride, then back at you, his smile turning teasing. "You gonna tell me you've missed me, or should I let you pretend this is just a happy little coincidence?"