Pretending She's Mine

“Who is Nicole?” There was that uncomfortable wave of jealousy again.

“Avajean’s nanny. She’s great with her. She travels with her at all times.”

In my mind Nicole was a perfect twenty-something blond with big boobs and a tiny waist. I already disliked her and it was completely unfair.

“Oh, I see.”

Asher tipped my chin forward. “She needs a mother, J. A real mother.”

My heart started to race. I could practically feel the sweat on my palms. We were charging ahead like a runaway roller coaster. Were we about to do one of those spirals where we would flip upside down?

“A mother?”

He grinned. “Someone smart and funny. Gentle and kind. Someone who is down to earth, but confident in designer couture. Someone like you.” He pressed his lips to mine and I fell into the kiss.

“Me?” I mumbled as my arms circled his neck.

He nodded. “Too fast, too soon?”

It was. Everything we did was, but I couldn’t say no. It felt right. Being back together felt like the world was once again in balance.

“No, I want to meet your daughter,” I purred.

“Ok. Let’s get you to the next safe house.”

And that’s when I remembered that with this beautiful new love story we were writing, there was still a nightmare waiting for an ending.

Fifteen

Journey

I knew Asher didn’t like my idea. It was clear from the scowl on his face, but Asher swore this time we’d listen to each other. It wasn’t a one-way street anymore. We were on new footing. This was our second chance.

I felt as if we were in an armored vehicle as we rolled out from the Big Bear cabin. And we probably were. Asher had access to the most elite security devices and systems. During dinner last night, he explained how his first private sec

urity contract landed him a million dollars. After that, he branched out, moving into body armor, weapons, and cyber tech. His experience in the military and stint in celebrity private security, provided him insight few security experts had. He was one step ahead of everyone.

His hand was on my thigh in the backseat of the car. He dug into his suit jacket and held up my phone.

“I get it back?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, yes.” There was a line between his eyebrows. “But I encrypted it. So if any of those emails come in, they automatically alert my phone. Nothing goes through Dante anymore.”

“Did you tell him this?”

“Dante is going to learn there is a new set of rules.”

I eyed Asher. “He isn’t trying to get in your way, you know. He has a job to do.”

“Good. Then we should be on the same page.”

“That means you’re going to my dress fittings?” I teased.

He laughed. “I’ve been to a few of those.”

I saw the glimmer in his eyes. My cheeks heated. He was remembering the same moment I was. The first time we had sex was in a dressing room. The seamstress had left me with a broken zipper and no way out of the beaded fabric. I had called for help and Asher had run in, thinking I was in actual distress. The way he looked at me, I didn’t have to ask for help with the zipper. He was going to devour me. We had been dancing around it for months.

Sexual tension like that was tangible. I knew it was going to get us in trouble when I hired him.