Steven insisted on driving me home in spite of my protests, and that is how at the end of the argument, I find both him and Aaron accompanying me to my apartment.

“If you are greeted by a mess, just know that it’s your own fault. And that I told you not to come.” I warn them.

Steven just grasps my hand and entwining his fingers in mine, raises it to kiss my knuckles, promising in a sober tone, “I’ll pretend I saw nothing.”

Aaron stuck his head in-between our heads, and asks, “Do you live in a big house, Abby?”

I laugh, and force his head back with my hand, “Seatbelt, Aaron. Or we go back.”

I hear the tell-tale click of the belt and glance over my shoulder at him, “It’s much smaller than your house.”

The child crosses his arms across his chest, “But why do you have to go back? I thought you were going to spend Christmas with us?”

I grin at his pouting face, “And I will. But I need to take care of some things. And there are still two weeks for Christmas.”

“What do you have to do?”

I wink at him, “I have to do my Christmas shopping. Maybe check out the Christmas markets. They have very nice things.”

When his eyes lit up, I touch the tip of my tongue to the roof of my mouth, instantly regretting my words, and knowing what he was about to say.

I mouth a ‘sorry’ to Steven who just rolls his eyes, in what I could only call amused exasperation.

“Can I come?”

“Ah,” I stare at Steven, waiting to see what he has to say.

“Sure,” Steven replies, easily. “But why don’t we go to the Christmas markets together, in the evening, once I’m back from the office?”

But Aaron was his son, and he pipes up, “Okay, then you can join Abby and me after we go shopping.”

Steven gives his son a look from the rear-view mirror, and I just glance out of the window, not wanting to get dragged into this.

Of course, Steven wouldn’t want Aaron out in the public without being able to look after him. I could understand his dilemma.

It wasn’t safe.

However, I hear him say, “You can go with Abby, but you two can’t go alone. I’ll send someone from my security team.”

I open my mouth to say that having someone follow us around would be weird, when I see the wide excitement on Aaron’s face and I bite my tongue.

I see Steven glance at me, and I return it with a smile, “It’s fine with me. Whatever puts your mind at ease.”

I looked back at Aaron, “We’re going to have fun, won’t we?”

“Yeah!” Aaron throws his fist in the air, unable to contain his excitement, and as I sit back straight, I see that strange gleam in Steven’s eyes again, the one I could never decipher.

Scarlett was pleased to see me.

She threw her arms around me and dragged me into the room, “I have so much to tell you!”

However, when Steven follows me in, accompanied by Aaron, she blinks wildly, “Uh, hello.”

I wince, “I’m sorry. I should have called ahead.”

“No, no.” She waves off my excuses and studies Steven, “So, you’re Steven Tanner.”

She makes a small sound of dissent, “You’re prettier on the magazine.”

I clasp my hand over my friend’s mouth, and ask, brightly, “Who wants some coffee?”

Steven doesn’t seem to be ready to leave, “I’ll take it.”

As I drag Scarlett into the kitchen, his gaze meets mine, “Your apartment is very you.” he says with a quiet smile.

I am unsure what to make of his comment, as I see him lift up a pillow which had a multitude of coloured patches sewn together as the cover.

“What?” Scarlett hisses when I close the door behind me.

“Do you have to be so rude to him?” I make a face at her.

She gives me a repentant smile, “Sorry. I’m still upset about what happened with Travis.”

I had had a few days of Steven showering me with constant attention to forget about Travis, and when his name is mentioned, my blood boils.

“Tell me he didn’t call you.”

“I called him,” Scarlett informs me, heat in her eyes. “He won’t be bothering you again.”

I shrug, not wanting to pursue the topic more, and I pull out some cups from the shelf, preparing coffee and hot chocolate.

Scarlett seats herself on the counter, “So?”

“So, what?”

Scarlett nudges me with her bare feet, “You’re so much more relaxed. Does that mean you slept with Steven?”

I pour the coffee in the cup, saying lightly, “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“That’s not fair!”

I grin at her, “I’ll tell you later. So, how did your date with Collin go?”

When she blushes, something so unlike her, I laugh and carry out the tray.

Steven must have heard me laughing because he looks up when I enter the room.

“Here,” I hand Aaron a steaming cup of hot chocolate. “Be careful not to burn your tongue.”

The mugs are distributed, and everyone chooses a seat.

“So, Steven,” Scarlett began, eyeing him. “What exactly are your intentions with my Abby?”

I groan, “Oh, God. Not this again.”

“What?” Scarlett protests. “I want to know. It’s my job to protect you!”

Steven smiles, a slow curling of the edges of his lips as he looks at me, “That depends on Abby.”

When Scarlett gives me an expectant look, I raise a brow, “We’re not fifteen. You’re not giving me the boyfriend talk.”

“Oh,” My friend gives a sly grin. “So, you admit he’s your boyfriend?”

“I didn’t say that!” I stammer.

“Dad’s not your boyfriend?” Aaron looks so disappointed that I blink.

“Uh, that’s not what I’m saying. Steven, say something!”

The man in question gives me a forlorn look, “I’m just as baffled as they are.”

I scowl at him, trying to hide the loud thumping in my chest that was threatening to drown me.

Why didn’t he deny it?

Even as I bid them goodbye, Steven leans down to press a hot kiss against my mouth, leaving me dazed, my mind confused. After reassuring Aaron that I wouldn’t renege on my promise, I watch them leave.

Closing the door, I lean my forehead against it, struggling to understand why Steven was so complicated.

“The man looks at you like he wants to eat you up.”

I turn around to see Scarlett watching me from her seat.

“He cares about me. He’s said that much.” I admit, slowly.

She snorts, “Cares about you, my ass. He’s besotted by you.”

With my hands behind my back, on the door, I lean against them, “Why would you say that?”

“His eyes never left you, Abby. Not even once. And the way he watches you, there is this possessiveness in his eyes. He’s not going to let you walk away. Not this one.”

Her words make something inside me flare but hope was a dangerous mountain to climb, and I choose not to say anything.

“Don’t pretend like you’re not into him.”

I raise my head to meet Scarlett’s steady gaze and my cheeks turn red, “I like him. A lot. I’ve never met anyone like him, Scarlett. But I’m too scared to trust him with my heart. I keep telling myself this is a fling, nothing more. But I think I’m a little far gone.”

I see the worry in Scarlett’s eyes and she glances at my hands, “If he wasn’t serious about you, he wouldn’t have invited you to spend Christmas with them.”

I walk over to her and sink down next to her, “Scarlett, I’ve only known him a handful of weeks. I kept pushing him away, but he’s so goddamn stubborn. He wouldn’t budge, and now I think –“, I feel the tears burning my throat, “- I think I’ve fallen in love with him, Scarlett. And I’m so scared!”

I feel Scarlett’s arms wrap around me, engulfing me in her warmth, “Honey, what do you have to be scared about? The man clearly has incredibly strong feelings for you. The amount of shit you threw his way, he took all of that and still showers you with affection. I know men. And I know when one is completely wrapped up and tied with a bow.”

“Even if that’s true, we’re from two different worlds. I have no place in his. I know next to nothing about him. What kind of lifestyle does he lead? Is he the type who parties all weekend and sleeps around with models?”

When Scarlett pulls away and stares at me, I wince.

“Your man is a single father who is raising his kid alone. For a billionaire, he leads a very quiet lifestyle. The worst thing about him is probably that he might be a closet workaholic. Honey, I know what you’re doing. You’re looking for excuses to push him away so you’re stereotyping him. Please tell me you didn’t say that to him.”

I bite my lips, guilt written all over my face, and she shakes her head, “The man is a saint if he still chose to look past that.”

I flop on my back on the couch, staring at the ceiling, “I’m a terrible person. I’m in love with him. I love his son. But I’m so scared of being hurt that I was an asshole to him.”

“Offer to apologize with sex. He’ll forgive you in a heartbeat.” Scarlett mutters, and I raise my head to see her looking down at her phone.

“What’s going on with you?” I ask.

She studies me, and I see the uncertainty in her eyes, “You know how I go traveling for my Christmas vacations?”

“Yeah?”

She swallows, “Ah, well, I invited Collin along with me, and he said yes.”

I stare at her, “You’re going vacationing with my boss?”

She looks both excited and unsure, “We were holed here for the past few days as well. I – he’s not just amazing in bed, it’s different.”

“Different good?” I ask.

She nods, “He makes me feel special, Abby. The way he looks at me.”

There is a soft hitch in her voice, “Nobody has ever looked at me that way before. I want to see where this goes.”

I feel my heart lighten, a smile forming on my face, “Then, let’s go get our men.”