29. The Goddess Rarely Changes Her Mind

Without waiting for an invitation, Kyle stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. His face softened as he murmured, "I rushed back from a hiking trip the moment my mother called to tell me the good news that you're alive. Seeing you now, it still feels unreal. Why didn't you reach out to me?" he asked, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

Cara stiffened in his arms, the gesture unsettling. "Well, you could've reached out to me first," she said, pulling away from him. "But even if you had, it wouldn't have mattered, I don't remember you."

Kyle's expression faltered, confusion clouding his handsome features. "Seriously? You don't remember me?"

"No, I don't," Cara replied firmly, though her gaze lingered on him. "I've seen your pictures on my phone, and, I'll admit, you look even better in person."

Kyle's lips curved into a dazzling smile, his perfect teeth flashing. "Oh, thank you," he said, the faintest blush coloring his cheeks.

"You're welcome. But as I was saying, those pictures, and well, seeing you now haven't jogged my memory," Cara lied, though she couldn't help but notice his chiseled jawline, the intense blue of his eyes, and the way he towered over her.

'God, I wish I had that face. If the goddess ever changes her mind and makes me a man again, I want to look like Kyle.'

[So, you want to be him?]

'Yes, is that even possible?'

[I thought you were adjusting to life as a woman?]

'Let's be real, that's never going to happen. But far worse things have happened, I guess.'

[I'll ask the goddess. Don't hold your breath, though. She rarely changes her mind.]

Kyle's voice snapped Cara out of her thoughts. "This is... awkward. So, I'm basically a stranger to you now?" he asked, trying to maintain a cheerful demeanor despite the hurt in his eyes.

"I guess so," Cara said with a shrug. "At least until I recover my memories."

Reading his mind, she saw the sadness he tried to mask. But her probing revealed something else, Kyle had been sleeping with his personal assistant during the two days she was presumed dead.

'Well, that's one way to grieve. Nothing says mourning like getting your dick wet.'

[Are you being sarcastic?]

'What do you think, Hagrit?'

[Sarcastic it is.]

Kyle reached for her hand, his voice softening. "Can I at least be by your side while you regain your memories?"

Cara raised an eyebrow. "If seeing you this up close isn't sparking anything, how would you hovering over me help?"

"Come on," Kyle said, his tone turning persuasive. "Being around me might be exactly what you need to remember. Besides, my mother wants to see you. She's been dying to witness this miracle. You know it is not every day people die and come back to life."

The last thing I need right now is some guy hovering over me, Cara thought, suppressing a sigh.

"I'll think about it," she said, sidestepping him. "But as you can see, I was already heading out when you showed up."

"Where are you off to so early?" Kyle asked, moving to block her path.

"The diner," Cara replied. "Where I apparently work as a waitress."

Kyle frowned. "You're still working there? It doesn't make any sense. Your stepfather is the mayor of this town and a wealthy businessman, and you were into investigative journalism or whatever. Why would you settle for being a waitress at one of your stepfather's establishment? It just makes no sense."

"It must've made sense to me before I died and resurrected," Cara said dryly. "So, I'm sticking with it until I figure out why."

Kyle sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Fine. But I'm driving you to work today. I want to spend time with you and make up for those two days. I've missed you." He stepped closer, his hand sliding to her waist as he stared deeply into her eyes.

Cara immediately pried herself free from his grip. "You're still like a stranger to me, Kyle. Please don't do that again."

"Sorry. Old habits die hard," he said with a sheepish grin. "But I insist on taking you to work."

Reading his thoughts, Cara realized she wouldn't be able to dissuade him, so she reluctantly agreed.

Kyle opened the passenger door of his sleek silver sports car, and Cara slid in without a word. Moments later, he joined her and drove off.

As they reached the gate, Max was standing there, his posture tense, like he'd been waiting for them. He exchanged a pointed look with Kyle, and Cara didn't need to read minds to recognize the jealousy simmering in Max's eyes.

'Max clearly sees Kyle as competition. I bet Cara was never into Max, but he can't help but be obsessed with her.'

[I'm sensing the same thing.]

Max greeted them with a stiff nod. "Ma'am, I hope you have a lovely day," he said, his voice tinged with something unspoken.

Cara responded smoothly as they drove past. "Thank you, Max."

Kyle's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles whitening as tension radiated from him. Cara leaned back in her seat, smirking inwardly at the palpable strain between them. The atmosphere was almost amusing, but her thoughts shifted as she remembered the sample she'd managed to scrape from the cellar. Darren needed to analyze it.

As luck would have it, just as they turned a corner, Cara spotted Darren stepping out of his house, heading toward his car. She saw her opportunity and acted quickly. "Stop the car," she instructed Kyle abruptly.

Kyle hit the brakes and turned to her with a mix of curiosity and hope. "What happened? Do you remember something?" he asked, his eyes lighting up with anticipation.

"No," Cara replied coolly, "I just need to talk to that man over there." She pointed toward Darren, already moving to open the car door.

Kyle frowned, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Who is he? And why do you need to talk to him?"

Cara grabbed her bag and stepped out of the car before Kyle could pry further. "He's the guy who brought me home from the hospital. I just want to say hey," she said dismissively, shutting the door behind her.

As Cara walked toward Darren, he looked up from where he was unlocking his car. His face immediately paled at the sight of her approaching with a smile. Panic flickered in his eyes, and he fumbled with his keys, clearly intent on getting into his car and escaping.

But Cara was quicker. She reached the driver's side door before he could retreat, effectively cutting off his escape. Behind him, his wife and two young children stood on the porch, watching curiously as the scene unfolded.

"What do you want?" Darren hissed in a low, urgent tone, his eyes darting nervously between Cara and his family.