“Being engaged means you’ll be moving out soon,” Aimee says as we climb the stairs to our apartment building. “Just tell me that you moving into that big ol’ place of Drew’s won’t mean that I will rarely see you.”

“There’s no way you’ll be getting rid of me,” I assure her as we reach the front door. “This just means that you’ll be hanging out with me at Drew’s more often, which also means you’ll be seeing Remy more.”

I don’t miss the smile on her face.

“Speaking of Remy,” I say as we pause at the elevators, waiting for one to arrive, “care to let me in on what you two did over the last few days? The times you snuck off for hours or those mornings you came downstairs, looking like you’d lost a battle.”

“Lost a battle?” she asks with curiosity.

“Yeah, a battle,” I repeat. “Your hair going in every direction, your mascara smeared under your eyes.”

The ding announces the arrival of our car, and I remain silent until we step inside. Once the doors close, I turn to her and cross my arms over my chest.

“You’re staring,” Aimee says without looking at me.

Again, I’m waiting in silence for her to spill the beans.

“Oh my hell, you are so eager to know my business.”

Her smile shows she is eating this up and in no way is irritated by my need to know.

“Fine,” she huffs. “Remy is nothing like I thought he would be.”

I roll my eyes. Does she honestly think I’d be satisfied with such a bleak attempt to ease my worries.

“And,” she says slowly, her smile growing wider, “he is very giving.”

The elevator arrives on our floor, and once the door slides open, she hurries out, leaving me staring behind her.

“Wait,” I say as I rush out, dragging my bag along the floor. “What do you mean, giving?” I ask. “I think I know what you mean, but really, I need to hear it. I need to hear it in great detail, please. Like every single little tiny detail because nothing is too small to leave out.”

She laughs as she unlocks the door to our apartment and steps inside.

“Aimee.” I am fully aware of the fact that I sound as if I am whining. I am okay with it because this is a need-to-know, and, damn it, I need to know now.

“You are ridiculous,” she adds with a laugh as she drops her bag in the center of the living room and flops down on the couch.

“Fine, I’ll take it. I’m ridiculous,” I say, joining her. “I’m nosy, pushy, and a pain in the ass. We’ve established that. Now, tell me.”

She attempts the stern look, trying to make me back off but fails. Her mouth tilts up in a smile, and I slide in closer, like an eager teenage girl.

“He spent the night in my room. We talked and got to know each other, but he kept a safe distance from me,” she begins. “But you know me, I sorta teased him. Wearing my skimpy shirts, a tank top with no bra. It was fun, and Remy is seriously hot.”

I have to agree with her. Remy’s a very good-looking guy.

“I got what I wanted the next morning when I walked into the bedroom after my shower wearing the smallest towel I could find.”

“What? A hand towel?” I ask, partly as a joke. When her smile widens, I laugh. “You didn’t.”

“I did,” she says with a smirk. “From that point on, it was like I’d unleashed a hungry beast, and he was so very hungry.”

“Aimee.” I feel the heat rise in my cheeks.

Remy is so sweet.

“He’s insatiable and seriously gifted,” she adds.

I lean back, trying to picture Remy in this light.

“His hands, his mouth, and that tongue.” She sighs, and my eyes widen. “Then, there is his—”

I cut her off by holding up my hand.

“What? You wanted details.” She laughs.

“I thought I could take them,” I confess as I shake my head. “Only I can’t because I have to look at him every day at work. Knowing this version of him, I’m not sure I can do it without blushing.”

“Well, it was a fling, and though enjoyable, it won’t go anywhere.”

I look at her with confusion. “Why?”

“That man’s a mystery,” she says, the earlier look of happiness and excitement leaving her face. “He’s so closed off.”

“But I thought you said you guys talked and got to know each other.” I question her.

“Yeah, but it wasn’t deep or anything that I couldn’t find out on Facebook or Instagram. He mostly listened to me and sure it was nice, but every time I asked him about something personal he’d change the subject.”

“Oh, and more than once, he might have mentioned a woman he has feelings for. One who is out of his reach.”

“Really?” I’ve never heard him ever mention another woman. In a way, it pisses me off, knowing he willingly slept with my best friend while holding feelings for another. I make a mental note to question Drew because, if he knows of this, he should’ve said something.

“It was a fun weekend, and you got engaged.” Aimee pulls me back to our current conversation. “I’d say it was a win.”

* * *

I’m fully invested in the file before me when Drew enters my office.

“I think you get more beautiful each time I see you,” he says as he moves toward me with one hand tucked behind his back.

“You’re biased,” I say with a smile.

As he rounds the side of my desk, he leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. “Yes, but it doesn’t make it any less true.” He brings his hand around from his back and hands me a strawberry smoothie. “I had lunch with a client, and it was near the café you love. I couldn’t resist getting you your favorite.”

“Always so sweet,” I say as I take the opportunity to kiss him once more.

“I wanted to talk to you about that friend of mine who’s moving to town.” He kneels next to me and places his hand on my thigh. “He called and said he’d be in town this weekend.”

“I thought it wasn’t for another two weeks.”

“It was supposed to be, but his company feels the need to transfer him sooner. Some type of merger that is struggling, and they need him to close the deal,” Drew clarifies. “He’s coming in town this weekend to get settled, and Remy and I volunteered to help him move.”

“Always the hero,” I say with a smile.

It is still sometimes hard for me to imagine that the cold, arrogant man I first met was only a mask for the man I see today.

“Sunday, we thought we’d have a get-together at my parents’ place,” he continues, only smiling at my hero comment. “They have a bigger place, and they have a staff, so it seems a more appropriate place to have a welcoming party.”

“What do you need me to do?” I ask as I place my hand over his. I am fully aware of the way his palm is now sliding my leg, getting obscenely close to the apex of my thighs.

“The only thing I need you to do is show up at the party, wearing something I’ll be able to remove easily later.” He moves in closer, bringing his lips closer to mine. “After a weekend of guys, I’ll need my woman.”

“Are you telling me that I won’t see you all weekend?” The idea leaves me feeling unsteady.

“Not a chance,” he whispers as he skims over my lower lip with his thumb. “But it will be limited, and you know how much I crave you.”

“Andrew Powers, stop mauling my assistant.”

I jump at the sound of Miranda entering my office. She walks across the room and lays a stack of files on my desk.

“Keep in mind, your fiancée is still my right hand here at the office.”

The smile on her face is mixed with the joy in her eyes as she looks over at me, making my heart race.

“I already look at you as a daughter, but I’m ecstatic to know that my dear son has now decided to make it more official.”

Drew reaches out for my hand. As I stand, too, Miranda moves around the side of my desk and wraps me in her arms.

“I couldn’t be happier to have you in our lives. You make Drew so happy.”

“He and Dawson make me so very happy, too,” I confess as I look over her shoulder and lock my gaze on Drew.

He smiles at me before mouthing, I love you, only furthering that deep ache inside me.

This is my life. A road from hell led me here, but they have made me whole.

Nothing and no one will change that.

The only thing missing is my mother.