Every morning on the dot, Jason saved the day. He arrived early enough that we could share a cup of coffee together and I could get ready without interruptions. Sliding the dark red shade of lipstick across my lips, I stared at my reflection and a grin pulled against my mouth.

Confidence had been reborn within me the very moment Jason Nightingale told me in no uncertain terms that every fucking inch of me was beautiful. It wasn’t his words that made me believe it, but the way he proved it to me with the grip of his hands on my hips, the crash of his lips against mine, and the way our bodies intertwined and became one. Everything I thought I knew about being in love was destroyed in that laundry room.

Jason was everything Zach wasn’t. He was attentive, not only to me, but to Luxe as well. I knew Zach loved our son, but his priorities were backward. Luxe felt more affection from Jason in the short couple months that he’d been babysitting him, than Zach had shown him in ages. And while it filled my heart with joy, my heart broke at the same time.

I fluffed my hair on my shoulders, switching off the light in the bathroom and walking down the hall. Laughter from Jason and Luxe bounced off the walls and danced on my eardrums. I peeked around the corner of my son’s room. The boys were playing superheroes, as usual.

With a soft knock on the doorframe, Luxe looked back at me while Jason whooshed the Superman action figure through the air.

“Hi, Mommy!” Luxe gave me a big, cheesy grin.

Jason’s eyes drank me in from head to toe and he waggled his eyebrows. “Meow!” he purred, and laughter poured out of me.

“We’re not playing cats, Jason. You’re Superman, ‘member?” Luxe sighed, exasperated, and it made Jason and I both laugh harder.

“I know, Spidey. I forgot for a second, that’s all.” Jason tried to hold back his amusement, forcing a serious expression onto his face.

I stepped into the bedroom, swooping down to pull Luxe up into my arms. He wrapped his arms around my neck and grunted loudly as he gave me a big squeeze.

“I love you, Mommy!” He pulled away from the hug, cupping my cheeks with his small hands.

“I love you more, buddy.”

Luxe puckered his lips at me and gave me an exaggerated smooch. I set him down, and noticed that I’d left a trace of lipstick on his lips, beginning to rub at it.

“I got your lip stuff on me again, huh?” Luxe placed his hand on his hips and rolled his eyes. “Can’t you give me kisses goodbye before you put that yucky stuff on?”

“Next time, I promise.” I held my pinky up to him, and he reached his hand up to curl his own around mine. I used my other hand to wipe the last remnants of the red smudge from his bottom lip, much to his distaste.

Jason stood up. “Hey, Little Man, there’s been a bank robbery. Can Spider-Man take care of that while Superman takes a short breather?”

“I’m on it!” Luxe puffed out his chest before reaching for the action figure.

Jason rose from the floor and came toward me, a light shining in his eyes and a grin on his face—a grin that made me want to head right back into that laundry room with him, and “wash” every damn piece of clothing in my apartment, even the clean ones. I backed away from him slowly, heading further down the hall, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth.

“You better watch what you’re doing, pretty lady, or you’ll be late for work.”

“I’m not doing anything.” I gave him a devilish grin as he stepped closer, towering over me, pressing his firm chest against mine. A gasp escaped my throat and my head tilted back as he inhaled the scent of perfume I’d dabbed on my neck.

“Just like I’m not doing anything either, right?” Jason whispered just before nipping at the sensitive skin on my neck, a sensation that created a puddle of wetness between my legs.

Fuck.

“Okay, stop. You’re just being evil now. I have to go, and Luxe is right there in his room,” I whispered, softly smacking his chest to push him away. But his hands grasped my lower back.

“Have a good day.” His gaze fluttered between my eyes and my lips. I stood on my tiptoes and pushed my lips against his. I felt his hand travel through my hair and rest at the back of my head.

I will have a good day, because all of my days since you’ve come into our lives have been good. But today would have been even better if I could’ve had a little sex with my coffee.

“You too.”

***

DRAGGING MYSELF UP the stairs of the apartment building, a tantalizing aroma danced into my nostrils, spreading through the hallway. The closer I got, it dawned on me that the delicious scent was coming from my own apartment.

Seriously, what did I do to deserve a man like this? It all seems too good to be true.

I unlocked the door and opened it slowly. The sound of something sizzling in a pan met my ears. I stepped in and locked the door behind me, then slid out of my uncomfortable high heels.

Jason had a dishtowel tucked in the back pocket of his jeans and his shirt was nowhere to be seen, his back muscles suggestively shadowed by the dim kitchen lighting. As I stepped closer, I could see faint pink scratch marks along his shoulder blades, and a giggle escaped me. Heat rose swiftly in my cheeks as I thought of how those marks had gotten there. I knocked two knuckles against the wall to let him know I was home.

“Oh, hey.” Jason scooped shrimp, onions, and a colorful array of peppers onto a plate.

“Hey, yourself. Get a little hot in here or something?” I winked at him playfully.

“Actually, yeah.” He chuckled, scooping another helping of the gorgeous meal onto another plate, then pulled a few tortillas from the warmer. “I figured Luxe probably wouldn’t like this kind of thing, so I already made him a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. He’s in his room watching a movie. Hope you don’t mind?”

“Of course I don’t mind. I appreciate it, greatly. You know you don’t have to do all of this?” I said through a soft smile.

“I know I don’t. I do it because I want to, Leah.” Jason turned away from the stove to face me, and my eyes focused on his abs. “You two have given me so much to look forward to, you know that, right?” He wiped his hand on the dish towel, watching me.

I stared back, appraising him with a crooked grin. “Well, like I said, we really appreciate it.”

I turned away from him and headed toward Luxe’s room. Opening his door, I saw my little guy sitting in the middle of his room playing with his toy cars while he watched his favorite movie for probably the twentieth time this week. I snuck in behind him and wrapped my arms around his small frame.

“I gotcha!” I roared, laughing menacingly.

“Not for long!” Luxe squealed as he began kicking his feet, trying to wriggle away from me. I set him down and he turned to face me, wrapping his arms around my waist for a big hug.

“Did you have a good day, buddy?” I asked him, leaning down to press my lips against his forehead. Luckily, my lipstick had worn off, otherwise I would have accidentally broken my promise to him from earlier this morning.

“Yeah! Jason is the funnest! We played superheroes and trucks, we put together my big puzzle, and he even taught me a new game!” Luxe squealed in excitement.

“Oh, yeah? What game is that?”

“Hot Lava! We put the pillows from the couch on the floor and a pillow from my bed, too, and he pulled the chairs from the table and put them in the living room too so we hopped on all of them trying not to fall on the carpet because the carpet was...hot lava!” he exclaimed, his hands waving excitedly as he spoke.

His animated story hit me hard, and tears stung my eyes. I’d never seen my baby boy this excited about anything before. Pulling myself together, I straightened my posture and blinked back the tears, furrowing my eyebrows as I stared down at his big, brown eyes.

“You two hopped on the couch pillows? You know what that means...” I brought my hands up and curled my fingers, making them look like claws, just as Luxe’s face had started to falter. “That means I’m gonna get you!” I growled.

“Uh oh!” Luxe screamed and bolted around me out from his bedroom. “Jason! Mommy is gonna get us for hopping on the couch pillows!” He ran and hid behind Jason’s tall, broad frame.

“Don’t worry, buddy. I can take care of this.” Jason narrowed his piercing eyes at me and quickly came toward me, lifting me up as though I were weightless and hanging me over his shoulder.

Laughter from the three of us filled the apartment, and I didn’t even care if we were being too noisy. This was the most fun Luxe and I’d had in a long time.

Jason carried me to the couch and laid me down, then turned back toward Luxe and held his hand up for a high-five. “See, buddy? We make a great team, huh?”

“Duh!” Luxe smacked his hand against Jason’s. “Mommy?” His tone had changed. It was sweet and innocent, and he batted his long lashes at me.

“Yeah?” I figured it was probably on the tip of his tongue to ask to stay up late tonight since it was Friday.

“Can Jason stay here with me tonight, Mommy?”

Oh, my God. Can Jason what? I can’t believe this child of mine just asked that.

“Uh...um...” I failed to find a proper response because I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.

“Yeah, Leah, can I spend the night tonight?” Jason batted his lashes at me, playfully mocking Luxe and exaggerating his pleading expression. His bottom lip puckered out and everything.

“Oh, good grief. I suppose. But, you two better go to bed when I say so.” I winked, then had to turn away from them, despite Luxe’s exuberant cheers. I swallowed hard as the butterflies from my gut crept up into my throat.

What had I just agreed to?

***

LUXE HAD GONE TO HIS bedroom to finish his movie while Jason and I dined on shrimp fajitas. After we finished eating, I shooed Jason away from cleaning up and instructed him to go play with Luxe. He had already done enough for us; he didn’t need to clean, too. As I was cleaning up and putting the dishes into the dishwasher, my phone started to ring. Drying my damp hands on a towel, I picked up the phone and saw Zach’s name lighting up the screen.

Great. What does he want? To cancel for tomorrow night?

“Hello?” I knew my tone wasn’t the most pleasant, but to be fair, it was because I was so used to being let down by him that every time he called I assumed that was what was about to happen.

“Hey, I was just calling about tomorrow night.”

I knew it, the fucking prick is going to cancel again.

“What about it?” I bit out, rage already coursing through my veins.

Luxe and Jason laughed as Jason held him in his arms, whooshing him through the air like one of the action figures.

“Faster, Jason! Faster!” Luxe yelled at the top of his lungs.

My stomach dropped, knowing Zach must’ve heard them.

He cleared his throat. “Who’s Jason?” I could tell by his tone that he was holding himself back from blowing up at me.

“A friend,” I lied. “So, what about tomorrow?” I asked again, quickly redirecting him from the topic as guilt began to crowd my stomach.

“Uh, okay. Well, I’m going to be a little late picking him up tomorrow night, and I just wanted you to know.”

“And you had to call and tell me that?” I asked through an irritated sigh.

“I’m really trying here, Leah.” Zach’s voice grew firm, but I just rolled my eyes.

“So what time should I be expecting you? I have plans.”

“You have plans?” The condescending ass put emphasis on you because I wasn’t a woman that ever had plans outside of him, Luxe, and work. I’d never gone out with girls from work, and after having Luxe, I lost touch with a lot of my friends from high school as they weren’t parents yet.

“Yes, I have plans.”

“With who?” I could hear the jealousy breaking through his teeth as the question slowly and firmly spilled from his mouth.

“Does it matter? What do you and what’s-her-face have planned with Luxe tomorrow?” I tried to keep my tone hushed and not raise my voice. I didn’t want Jason to know I was having a spat with Zach. But, most of all, I didn’t want Luxe to hear a word of it.

“You’re right, it doesn’t matter. Sorry for asking.” Zach’s voice was laced with thinly veiled hatred.

I ended the call, a small grin of satisfaction tugging at my lips. It seemed that the playing field between us had been leveled a bit, and I had to admit, I kind of liked the idea that it’d taken him completely by surprise. He didn’t like any of it much, but I couldn’t decide which part Zach disliked more—that I’d moved on, or that I’d risen from the ashes of what we’d once been, becoming someone he didn’t fully recognize.

***

THE BRIGHT SUN SHONE through the blinds of my bedroom, waking me. I turned to find Jason sleeping soundly, the sunlight stretching across his bare chest, his dark hair a complete mess I wanted nothing more than to tangle my fingers in.

I’m in love with him. The realization hit me with the force of a tidal wave. This is the man I want to wake up to every morning from this day forward.

Sneaking out of bed, I slipped into my fluffy pink slippers and threw my hair into a big, messy topknot, then headed down the hallway toward the kitchen. I set up the coffee pot to brew, then sought out the box of pancake mix I knew I’d bought, with every intention of cooking Jason and Luxe a decent breakfast while I enjoyed my first cup of caffeinated heaven.

Warm breath graced the nape of my neck, startling me, and Jason’s fingertips traced down the bare skin of my neck, all the way to my arm, causing goosebumps to rise in its wake.

“Good morning, pretty lady. You’re up awfully early.” His voice was raspy from just waking up, and it did something to my insides.

I flipped one of the pancakes over, then turned to face him. He drank me in from head to toe, his gaze finally focusing on my eyes. I’d realized I was still in pajamas, hair tousled, no makeup, and had splatters of pancake mix on my t-shirt. I was a complete mess, yet the way he looked at me made me feel like I was dressed in my best.

“Good morning to you, too, handsome. I know, I woke up before my alarm even went off.” I smiled coyly.

A moment of comfortable silence came over us, but Jason’s face slowly shadowed into a more serious expression. “Can I ask you something?” His voice softened, but his gaze grew stronger.

“Isn’t that what you just did?” I winked, turning to face the stove again, afraid the pancakes would burn if I got distracted for much longer.

“Cracking jokes at this early hour, I see?” Jason’s hand gripped my hips again and he nibbled at my sensitive earlobe, causing a soft giggle to escape me as I tilted my head, shooing him away.

“Okay, okay, my bad. I’m going to burn breakfast if you don’t stop. What’s the question?” I turned the stove off, facing him again.

His hand reached out to my cheek, and he brushed his palm against it lightly before pulling me in for a kiss. Resting his forehead to mine, I could tell he was trying to muster up the courage to speak.

“What is it?” I whispered, concern bubbling within me.

“I love you, Leah.” He cupped my cheeks in his hands and stared deeply into my eyes. “I want you, all of you, and I want Luxe, too. I want us.”

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

“I want to be with you. To take this to the next level,” he continued. “I love Luxe as if he was my own son, and I love you like I’ve never loved anyone else before. I can’t even begin to imagine a life without you or Luxe in it, and quite frankly, I don’t ever want to.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I swallowed hard past the lump in my throat. I could feel tears of happiness brimming my eyelids. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about it, but I felt the same way about him, too.

That feeling created vulnerability, though, and I hated it. I trusted Jason, but I’d once trusted Zach as well. I wouldn’t be able to handle another heartbreak.

Jason must have seen the uncertainty in my eyes. “We can take it slowly,” he promised. “Just one step at a time, I’m okay with that. But, I want to be with you in every sense of the word, Leah, no matter how long it takes us. I’m in this with you and Luxe one hundred percent, okay?”

The man exuded confidence in every word he spoke, and I had no doubt in my heart or my mind that he meant everything he said. I inhaled deeply, slowly and softly pressing my lips to his before responding. “I want the same, Jason. I do. Just...one step at a time. I can’t go through another heartbreak any time soon.”

“You won’t have to, Leah. Mark my words, I will never break your heart.”

A loud, exaggerated yawn pulled me out of the moment, and both Jason and I turned to see Luxe, stretching his arms above his curly red bedhead.

“Good morning, Spidey!” Jason ducked down to scoop him up, throwing him up in the air and catching him, much to Luxe’s amusement.

“Morning, Superman.” The boy’s voice was still thick with sleep. He reached his arms out toward me and I took him from Jason, earning myself a bear hug and kiss on the cheek.

“Morning, Mommy.” He rested his head on my shoulder, still groggy.

“Good morning, buddy. Ready for some pancakes, eggs, and bacon?”

Luxe’s head shot up and he looked at me with wide eyes. “Yep!” I lowered him to the floor, and he ran to the table without another word. Heck, you’d have thought I rarely fed the poor boy.

Jason dished up our plates and I poured us some milk. Warmth filled my chest as I took in the scene happening before me, the simplicity of us waking together and sharing a breakfast so comfortably, like we’d done it a thousand times before. I was excited for our future. And moments like this were something I would continue to look forward to.

After breakfast, Jason took over with the cleanup so I could get ready for work, and I glancing sporadically at the clock while I did so. I knew Zach would arrive within the next hour and a half. I hurried to get ready, throwing on a red blouse and a black pantsuit, then pulled my hair into a slick bun.

“Luxe, come here! Your daddy is going to be here soon,” I hollered down the hallway.

He immediately came running. “I don’t get to stay with Jason today?” He puckered his bottom lip out in disappointment.

“Not today, buddy. I’m sorry, but you’ll have lots of fun with Daddy, okay?” I tried to reassure him, but I knew, just as he did, that he’d have much more fun with Jason since he actually paid attention to him and played with him.

Jason snuck down the hall and scooped Luxe into his arms again, surprising him enough to make him squeal shrilly. “I’ll be here to watch you in a couple days, sound good?”

“I s’pose so.” Luxe pouted anyway, and my heart broke for him.

I grabbed his toothbrush and put toothpaste on it, then handed it to him. The little boy knew the drill, and he stepped up onto the stepstool by the vanity and began to brush his teeth. I knew that would keep him occupied long enough for Jason and I to sneak out of the bathroom and exchange goodbyes.

“I’ll be seeing you later.” Jason growled the words against my ear, kissing my neck lightly enough that I could tell he was holding himself back.

“We’ll see.” I teased, winking.

His eyes narrowed, but he knew I was kidding. “I’d better get out of here so your drop-off with Zach goes smoothly.” Jason arched his brow, shrugging. “Or, I could hang out and introduce myself?”

“Definitely not. Get out of here.” I laughed.

He pulled me against his chest, hugging me to him as he leaned his head down, pressing his lips to mine. We pulled away reluctantly, and he held me there. I watched as his eyes flitted between my eyes and mouth.

“I love you.” He brushed his fingers from my temple, down my cheek, and jaw, sending chills down my spine.

“I—”

Jason’s finger pressed gently against my lips, and he shook his head. “One step at a time,” he whispered, smiling coyly. He let his finger trail across my lip as he pulled away, then left.

I was left standing there, my body screaming for one more touch. I was about to say those three words out loud, damn it!

I sighed, dreading the fact that Jason wouldn’t be here with my little dude today, making him happy and having a blast with him. Instead, Luxe would probably be told to go watch TV because Zach had work to do, just like always. Real quality time, I thought drily.

I finished getting Luxe ready. Shortly after, a loud knock announced Zach’s arrival.

It never failed, every time Zach came to pick him up, my mind usually flooded with all the awful things he’d done to our family behind my back.

But, today was different. Today, I didn’t care.

***

ENTERING THE APARTMENT building again after getting Luxe safely tucked into the backseat of Zach’s Civic, I was experiencing mixed feelings. Sadness tugged at my heart because I wouldn’t be coming home to Jason and Luxe playing together, but I was anticipating some much-needed time with Jason all to myself tonight.

Almost at the top of the staircase, I stopped dead in my tracks. I could faintly hear Jason’s voice.

And a woman’s voice I didn’t recognize was responding to him.

“We were so good together,” was all I could hear her say, which was more than enough.

I slowly and quietly made my way up the stairs, making sure Jason couldn’t see me. My heart dropped to my feet, my stomach churning wildly as rage pooled in my veins. Shock and disappointment crept up into my throat at the sight happening down the hallway, only a handful of feet from my doorway.

The woman leaned in, kissing him. And Jason came forward, leaning into the kiss, too.

He didn’t back away.

The fucking asshole kissed her. And, to make matters worse, she looked a whole lot like me from what I could see. Red hair, curvy hips, same height.

If that’s not a slap in the face, I don’t know what is. Hell, maybe her name is Leah, too.

I looked away, ducking into my apartment so I didn’t have to bear witness to his blatant betrayal. I heard the door close behind the two of them in Jason’s apartment as well. Tears burned my eyes as I fell against the door, sliding to the floor. With my head in my hands, I ripped the elastic from my hair and let the crimson strands topple over my shoulders. I ran my hands through it, pulling harshly, just to feel any other pain than the betrayal searing my insides.

I’m a fool. I fucking knew better. I knew it was too good to be true, and I still let myself fall for the son of a bitch.