I barely recognize the person staring back at me from the mirror. It’s Monday morning and I’m dressed in one of my new outfits for my first day of work with Lia. Yesterday, I watched movies and surfed the Internet while Max did some work. I did wonder if he was trying to avoid spending time with me, but I couldn’t really blame him after my sudden invasion into his life. I know he’s a private person, and it must be hard to share his space with me. He went out to pick up some Thai food for our evening meal and came back with a new cell phone for me as well. I’d argued, saying it could wait until I received my first paycheck, but he’d been adamant about me needing it in case of emergencies. After finding myself out of an apartment and a car just days before, I couldn’t really argue with that. Instead, I’d thanked him and secretly added it to the amount that I already owed him. I wonder briefly how my parents would even reach me, but I also feel relief that my father can’t use the phone as a means to control me any longer. If he wants to find me, he’ll damn well have to put some effort into it.

Again, last night, I’d gone to him when the darkness proved too much to bear. I didn’t tell him I was afraid of hurting myself, but I was certain that he knew. He invited me into his bed in the same manner as the previous night and I’d been weak with gratitude.

Today, I needed to tell Lia what had happened while she was gone. I had decided to swallow my pride and ask her if I could possibly have an advance on my paycheck so I could afford somewhere to live. I knew that she would invite me to stay with her and Lucian, but I won’t do that. I have no doubt they would welcome me with open arms, but they’re newlyweds with a baby. They deserve their privacy to enjoy this special time in their lives.

My stomach growls as the smell of coffee drifts down the hallway. I study my appearance for another moment and feel my throat tighten. I look nothing like my usual self. I’ve never worn anything other than traditional, tailored pieces. Conservative and expensive. Today, I’m wearing a form-fitting red pencil skirt with a leopard-print silk blouse along with a black belt and strappy, matching sandals. It’s modern and sexy while still being dressy enough for the office. It’s the type of outfit I’d often looked at longingly in magazines but was never free to purchase. My parents would have told me I looked like a whore. Maddens didn’t dress in trendy clothing. It was considered trashy and common. I had to admit that it looked better than I could have ever dreamed. I no longer looked like a repressed virgin.

Why then is my skin crawling? Why is my heart threatening to pound from my chest? Sweat gathers on my forehead and begins to trickle down my temples. My hands are trembling and my head is light. You look cheap. What if someone sees you like this? You’ll be an embarrassment. The voices of disappointment in my head are at an all-time high as I stumble away from the mirror, trying to get away from the ugliness shown there.

On unsteady feet, I make my way to the bathroom and begin looking through the cabinets. Towels and washcloths litter the floor and I toss them aside in search of something to help me dull the noise that threatens to consume me. I am frantic by the time I remember the razor in the shower that I used earlier. For the first time, I don’t bother to try to hide what I’m doing by using my thighs. Instead, I pull up a shirtsleeve and push the razor against the sensitive skin of my inner arm. I feel a small bite of pain as it pierces my skin. The protective guard keeps it from cutting deeply, but it’s enough to give me what I need.

I lean back against the wall as the familiar peace fills me. As I look down at the bead of blood that wells from the cut, I suddenly feel sick. What is wrong with me? How had I let it come to this? I’d have been better off dying than living this way. I was hurting myself over the style of my fucking clothes.

Then I hear his voice and I know there is no way to hide what I’ve done. He sounds upset and pained as he says, “Rose, baby. Why didn’t you come to me?” Why didn’t you come to me? Why did he ask that? I’ve never had anyone to turn to. I couldn’t understand why he asked that question. That’s it. I drop the razor to the floor and sob into my hands. I hear him leave the room before returning a minute later. He gently pulls my recently injured arm toward him and cleans it before putting a bandage on it. He sighs as if not sure what to do before pulling me into his arms. I melt against him and give in to the tears of desolation that seem to be never-ending. He doesn’t say a word, just lets me get it all out. When I’m down to the occasional jerking hiccups, he calmly picks me up and sets me once again on the bathroom counter. He pushes my skirt up to get closer to me. A cool washcloth is pressed against my eyes as he cleans the makeup that is now completely ruined away. I wince as I see smudges of it on his neatly pressed dress shirt. “You’re going to need to change,” I say huskily as I point at the mascara smears dotting the expensive fabric.

He tosses the washcloth into the nearby hamper and presses closer between my legs. Cupping my face, he murmurs, “It doesn’t matter.” As he stares into my eyes, he rubs his thumb almost absently across my bottom lip as if trying to discern what’s going on in my head. “I can’t stand you hurting yourself, sweetheart. What brought it on this morning?”

My first instinct is to say something flippant and pull away. I’ve never shared this part of me with anyone else, and I feel raw and exposed. I take a deep breath, along with a leap of faith, and tell him the truth. “It’s the outfit,” I admit, feeling beyond absurd that something so trivial drove me to cut. Surely other women never feel this way.

He’s quiet for a moment as he ponders my words. He then shifts back slightly to inspect me from top to bottom. “You look beautiful,” he says quietly. “But you don’t have your shield. You’re exposed for the world to see.”

“What?” I blink up at him, puzzled by his statement. Is he trying to say that my outfit is too revealing?

He surprises me by leaning down to press a brief kiss on my upturned lips before replying. “You’ve hidden behind the pearls and the demure sweaters for a long time. Other than Lia and Jake, it’s kept people at bay. You’re intimidating as hell when you want to be.” He laughs. “I’ve no doubt that you can stop some poor bastard in his tracks with a single look. You’re sophisticated beyond your years, and I’m sure that’s exactly how your parents wanted it. And after a while, you used it as a way to control those around you. Instead of insecurity, they only saw cockiness and confidence.”

I gape at him, not certain if I’m offended or in awe. He has effectively opened me up and pointed out the parts of me that I’ve worked hard to keep buried. I barely know him, and he’s seen through the smokescreens to the insecure woman hiding behind them. “I … no, that’s not it,” I deny weakly, but we both know I’m grappling at straws.

One of his hands settles around the nape of my neck, and he pulls me to rest against him. “All right, baby, whatever you say.” He’s backing down as if sensing my agitation at his all too accurate assessment. I put my arms around his waist at some point and we remain there for a while longer in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Finally, he says, “Let’s go have some breakfast. I’m starving.” I nod my head in answer but can’t imagine forcing a bite down at this point.

While I’d been getting dressed, Max had fixed us both a garden omelet. Despite the churning of my stomach, I find my mouth watering as he sets the plate before me. I take a hesitant bite and close my eyes in bliss. “Wow, this is yummy,” I manage to get out between bites. Really nice. Distract him from what he saw in the bathroom by inhaling your food like a starving animal. If the smile on his handsome face is any indication, he’s vastly amused that I’ve eaten half my food, while he’s barely had a few bites of his. “Sorry,” I mumble, “I guess I was hungrier than I thought.”

He waves his fork as if to say, carry on. He opens the newspaper sitting beside him and flips through it while I sip my coffee. “So I was thinking,” he begins without glancing up, “there is no use in you moving all of your things to Lia’s until you find an apartment. Why don’t you continue staying with me? I find your company stimulating—er, enjoyable and—”

“You want to keep an eye on me after my latest razor incident,” I insert and know that I’m right when he releases a sigh.

He makes eye contact now and what I see there kills whatever smart comment I’d been about to add. “Honey, I’m worried about you. I realize that I’m probably the last person you wanted to know what was going on in your life—but you’re stuck with me. I care about what happens to you, Rose. If you don’t want to talk to Lia about what you’re going through, then please stay here. You don’t have to hide anything from me. If the walls are closing in on you and it’s all becoming too much, then tell me. Believe me, I’ve been at the end of my rope before, and I know what it feels like to sense the freefall just inches away.”

Giving him a disbelieving look, I ask, “Are you trying to say that you’ve hurt yourself in the past? Because I have a hard time believing you’ve ever been that weak.”

He runs an unsteady hand through his perfectly styled hair, and I swallow hard at the sexy, rumpled look it leaves behind. Damn the man for being so unbelievably gorgeous that I have a hard time concentrating on anything else. “No, I’ve never cut, Rose. But I have been so overwhelmed to the point that I considered other … options. It was a long time ago, but I’m not sure I’ve fully recovered to this day. I was lucky enough to have a friend who stepped up and supported me through the worst of it. I’m not certain of where I’d be today without him.”

I stare at him, fascinated by what he has revealed to me. If I had one word to describe the Max who I’ve come to know, it would be unflappable. The man bailed me out of jail not once but twice after I did insane things to my ex-boyfriend. He might have been exasperated with me, but he nevertheless did his job and didn’t flinch when I confessed my latest offenses to him. He might react to the world around him, but he recovers almost immediately. Outside of the surprising hand-job I interrupted, he’s usually nothing if not predictable. Now, I am forced to reassess everything I thought I knew about him. I’ve often sensed there was something below the surface that holds him back, and now, he’s as good as confirmed it for me. “So you want to what—pay it forward?” I ask, knowing I sound sarcastic, but it’s either that or crying all over him yet again.

Instead of being pissed off over my flippant comments, he says gently, “Call it whatever you need to, sweetheart. But I refuse to let anything happen to you.”

“That’s not your choice,” I snap, irritated for no good reason. Other than Lia, I’m not used to anyone in my life giving a shit about what I’m going through. If my parents weren’t worried enough after my suicide attempts to lay off the snide comments and pressure to be perfect, then they certainly wouldn’t give a shit about me slicing myself. Well, unless I ruined the carpet or forced them to call their doctor friend. Max’s concern for me feels intrusive somehow even though I know it’s coming from his heart. He’s getting too close, and I want to put some distance back between us. “I’m going to ask Lia for an advance on my salary today so I can find somewhere to live. I really appreciate all that you’ve done for me, and I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.” I get to my feet, taking my plate to the sink. Max remains at the table, not bothering to argue with me. I feel a sense of relief followed by a strange feeling of disappointment that he’s letting it go that easily. Doesn’t that prove I don’t really matter to him? I’ve never had a man who was willing to fight for me and he’s no exception. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never be worth attention.

Then he says something that halts me in my tracks and changes the course of my life forever. “Give me two months, Rose. We’ll tell Luc and Lia that we’re involved and you’re living with me since the issue with your father. That way they won’t ask questions you’d rather not answer. We’ll be a couple for all intents and purposes as far as the rest of the world is concerned.”

I’m completely floored at his suggestion and my voice reflects that. “Why would you do that? What are you hoping to accomplish?”

“I’m going to save you, sweetheart, and you’re going to let me.” I can only gawk at him, thinking he must be insane. But the tiny part of me that is still capable of hope wants to believe him so badly.

“I’ll be fine,” I insist, knowing that neither of us really believes it at this point. “I’m not your responsibility. We’re basically strangers, and you want to babysit me for sixty days?”

He stands, walking over to me and taking my hands in his. “No bullshit, give me an honest answer. Are you afraid that one day you’ll go too far and kill yourself?”

He just voiced the one fear that terrifies me above all others. I’ve already tried to take my life twice, and I’m petrified I’ll eventually succeed. “Yes,” I whisper.

He closes his eyes briefly before opening them again. “Stay with me, baby. I’ll be your support every step of the way. You have to trust someone eventually—let it be me.”

I nod my head and take a huge leap of faith. “Yes.” Sixty days. With those words, I realize that I will bind my fate to the man before me for sixty days. I want that for longer. I want him to become my all—my everything. But that is not what is on the table here. Sixty days, Rose. Be thankful. It’s not forever. But I now realize, more than ever, that forever is what I wish for.

---

I drop Rose at her new office before driving the few miles to Quinn Software. I can hardly fathom what has transpired in just a few hours this morning. I’ve gone from avoiding relationships and commitments with women to urging someone I barely know to live with me and be my pretend girlfriend if anyone questions it. If that’s not putting the cart before the horse, I’m not sure what is.

When I walked in on her this morning and found that she’d cut herself again, I’d damn near freaked out. Of course, I knew she was having a hard time dealing with everything. After all, she’d been sleeping with me every night since she’d been at my house. During the daylight hours, though, she had mostly seemed at ease. Possibly that had lured me into a false sense of security that I couldn’t afford to have where she was concerned. She had blindsided me today. The injury hadn’t been anywhere near as severe this time, possibly because it had been a razor and not a sharp kitchen knife. That wasn’t really the whole issue, though. It was the fact that she’d been upset enough to need the pain that bothered me. That was what Matt had helped me understand, anyway. And she’s needed to do that for years if the scars were any indication. How long has she hidden this? How long has she silently suffered? Alone …

Since I knew she did not intend to confide in Lia, I just couldn’t stand the thought of her leaving me to go pretend to her best friend that she was perfectly okay. And I knew that’s exactly what she would do. Hadn’t I bought into the show for months now? The woman with not a care in the world. Underneath her public face, it was a different matter. From what I’ve read, and believe me when I say I have read every article I could get my hands on, most people cut to help them cope with an even deeper emotional pain. It’s a form of relief, an escape from building pressure and pain. How is that possible? Treating one pain with another. It’s hard to say no to something that feels so good. She was crying out for help, and no one wanted to hear it. Least of all her self-absorbed parents. They kept heaping the pressure on with no regard to what it was doing to their daughter. I wanted to pay the Maddens a visit and tell them exactly what I thought of their parenting skills. Unfortunately, I knew it would just widen a rift that was already the size of the fucking Grand Canyon. If I ever saw them around, though—all bets were off.

I desperately need to talk to my friend, Matt, and get some advice and the list of names he is gathering for me. I can only hope Rose will agree to try a session with one of them. I will help her in any way I can, but I’m not naive enough to believe I have the skills to completely cure what ails her. I also don’t want to risk doing something to push her closer to the edge. As difficult as that all sounds, the hard part ahead will be convincing our friends that we’re suddenly not only acknowledging we have feelings for each other but have decided to live together as well. Holy shit. I am a lawyer and as such, used to dealing with any situation, but this is unfamiliar ground to me. Will she tell her friends her father kicked her out of her home?

I park in my reserved space at the office and slowly make my way through the restored old building that houses the corporate offices of Quinn Software. I had originally planned to start my own practice at some point after completing law school. I worked with a big firm in downtown Asheville to get some hands-on experience before taking a job with Lucian. And I’ve been here ever since. I wasn’t just the legal counsel; I was a trusted advisor, confidant, and a friend. That was something you didn’t find every day. Lucian, Aidan, and I had become the team that propelled Quinn to the top. We all had very different personalities, but somehow, it worked. Now, with Aidan on indefinite leave, it was up to Lucian and me to ensure that the pending sales, mergers, and contracts that were in the works continued on without a snag. Aidan was a very charismatic man and as such had always been the closer. His absence from our lives, both personally and professionally, had been felt almost immediately. I know it’s been especially hard on Luc as he and Aidan have been friends for most of their lives. I’ll catch him staring out the window of his office sometimes, and I know he’s wondering where Aidan is and if he’s okay. True to his word, when Aidan left town, he cut off most forms of communication. He’s sent a couple of brief emails letting everyone know he’s all right, but that’s it. As hard as it must be for him, Luc has respected his wishes and not contacted him.

I go directly to Lucian’s office since we have our usual morning meeting to discuss any open issues. His secretary—and second mother—Cindy sits in her usual spot, guarding the keys to the castle or in this case, the doorway of her boss. She’s a formidable foe if crossed, but a loyal friend otherwise. She treats us all like wayward sons at times, but we don’t mind. Actually, I’m not sure what any of us would do without her—especially Luc.

“Good morning, Cindy.” I smile. “You look beautiful today.” Yeah, I haven’t been on the earth for this long without knowing how to kiss a little ass. Plus, she always looks perfectly put together and deserves the acknowledgment. Although, I’m certain that Sam—Luc’s driver and Cindy’s boyfriend—has probably beaten me to it.

She studies me for a moment as I stand at her desk before she asks, “What have you been up to this morning?”

Instantly, I feel guilty. I have no idea how she does it. I feel as if I have the word liar pasted across my forehead. Which is insane because she couldn’t possibly know about the deception that Rose and I are going to undertake? I console myself with the fact that it’s necessary to allow Rose time to deal with her demons, but I don’t like keeping secrets from those who are close to me. I shrug my shoulder casually before saying, “Just the usual. Is Luc already in?”

I’m relieved when she appears to let her curiosity go and nods. “Yes, go on through. He’ll be expecting you. I’ll give you a few minutes to get settled, and then bring a tray of coffee in.” I’m almost to the door when she tosses out, “You’ve got lipstick on your collar, in case you missed it.”

I resist the urge to slap a hand over my neckline, knowing it will give her too much pleasure to see that reaction. Instead, I step inside Luc’s office and shut the door on her soft laughter. In retrospect, it’s actually a good thing. It’ll lend credibility to my claim of being involved. I still can’t help but feel like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. I’m usually a little more discreet than this with my liaisons. Again, I find Luc standing before the wall of windows in his office, looking out onto the street below. I clear my throat before saying, “Good morning.”

He takes another moment and then turns to face me with an easy smile. Since I’ve known him, an internal, restless sort of energy has always seemed to crackle just below the surface. I doubt his mind is ever truly at rest. Now, he has Lia, though, and there’s a peace to him I never thought to see. He’s blissfully happy with his wife and doesn’t care who knows it. The new baby, Lara, they’ve recently had only amplifies that contentment. At times, I find it hard not to envy him, and it has nothing to do with his monetary wealth. He’s living the life that I always saw for myself. The one that was so close then slipped through my fingertips like a fine mist. It’s unsettling and no coincidence that I’ve thought of the past more this weekend than I have in years. Being with Rose has brought it all rushing back, and I’m struggling to deal with the memories that threaten to burst through the walls I’ve locked them safely behind. “How was your weekend?” he asks as he moves to the chair behind his desk and settles there.

My standard answer of “Good” is on the tip of my tongue when I remember that I need to be a man enchanted by a woman this morning. Hell, I’m not sure at this point if that’s even far from the truth. “Surprisingly, very good,” I reply easily.

Lucian misses very little, so he immediately notices my unusual answer. He gives me an inquisitive look before asking, “What happened?”

So it begins. I take more time than necessary to settle comfortably as I gather my thoughts. Rose and I had agreed earlier that I could fill Luc in on the issues with her parents. I felt it best that we stick as closely to the truth as possible. “Rose called me around midnight Friday near her apartment, extremely upset. When I got there, she was on the pavement. Cold, wet, and hurt.”

All traces of amusement are gone from Lucian’s face as he barks out, “What in the hell happened to her?” That’s one of many things I admire about my friend. He’s fiercely loyal and protective of his inner circle, and Rose entered that by being such a good friend to the woman he loves. I go on to tell him about her disagreement with her father and his retaliation. “She should have called us.” He shakes his head looking pissed off. I know it has nothing to do with Rose and everything to do with her parents. “Sam could have let her into our place so she didn’t have to worry about somewhere to stay. I assume you found her a hotel?” he asks, and I know it’s not really a question. He would never consider for a moment that I would leave any woman helpless, much less a friend.

Showtime. “Yes, of course,” I reply. “She’s going to be staying with me. If she decides that she wants a place of her own later on, then we’ll address that then. For now, we’re both happy with our arrangement.”

“Your arrangement?” Lucian repeats as if testing the sound. “What’re you saying? That she’s going to be your roommate or something?”

I adopt what I hope is the look of a man in love or in lust and say, “I believe the correct term is girlfriend. Rose and I have decided we’re going to give a relationship between us a go. We probably wouldn’t have normally moved in together this soon, but we felt that maybe this was some type of sign for us to take things to the next level.” Fuck. I delivered that whole thing with a straight face—amazing.

Lucian looks at me as if I’ve taken leave of my senses. His voice is full of disbelief as he croaks out, “You’re involved with Rose? Since when? The last time I saw you two together, you parted ways at the hospital door after Lara was born. Then you’ve both acted for months as if the other one didn’t exist. Now, you’re living together. Man, what the holy fuck?”

Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass to have people who know so much about you. I hate that he’s quizzing me so heavily because it forces me to lie more than I want to. It can’t be helped, though, and I’d like to think that Luc would understand if it meant the difference between life and death to Rose. Actually, he’d likely be pissed about both of us for not including him in the full story, but that’s not my decision. I promised to be there for Rose, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep my word to her. She needs the support from someone in her life, and right now, I’m that person. The words flow easily, as the truth usually does. “You know there’s always been something between us. No matter how hard I’ve tried to deny it, she’s been under my skin almost from the start.”

“No shit,” Lucian deadpans. “I’d have to be blind to miss that. Hell, probably not even then. I’m just not sure when you stopped with the denial and let it happen?”

“I’ve missed her the last few months, even the crazy stuff. I can’t see an NRA advertisement without remembering her blowing out Jake’s tires. I guess I’m just tired of fighting what seems inevitable.” Again, there is a lot more truth than not in my words. It’s starting to appear as if pretending to be Rose’s boyfriend isn’t going to be that much of an act. I feel almost vulnerable, which is strange. Barely one day in and I feel like a train wreck. By the end of the week, I’ll probably be sobbing on Lucian’s shoulder while asking Cindy to bring me a warm blanket and hot cocoa.

He stares at me as if trying to figure something out. I know he senses there is a lot more that I’m not saying, but he can’t put it together—yet. He has little choice but to accept my statement at face value and see where it goes. I know a warning is coming, though, and I’m not disappointed. “Lia would be thrilled to see you two end up together. She’d have been doing some nonstop matchmaking this entire time if I’d gone along with it. And while I think you two could potentially be good for each other, I’m wary about the possibility of it not working out and a rift forming between all of us. Therefore, I’ll ask that you be aware of the consequences and treat Rose accordingly. She may scare the ever loving hell out of me at times, but she’s a good person and deserves a helluva lot more than that pussy Jake gave her.”

“Agreed,” I snap as I think of the punk who cheated on Rose. She delivered a lot of her own brand of justice to him in the end, and I have to believe he’d think twice between dipping his dick around town next time. I’d still like to kick his ass, though. How in the world could you have a woman such as her and stray?

After that, we move on to actual work, and I find myself able to relax with the grilling session over. I wonder how Rose is faring with Lia and vow to call her later to check in. I have a feeling we’ll both be ready for a drink before the day is through.

---

“Yourdoingwhatwithwho?” Lia’s words come out garbled as she gapes at me. I’d filled her in on my weekend as we sat sipping a cup of coffee in my new office. We’d been reviewing existing employee files today and are sitting in the small seating area in the corner.

“Um—Max and I have decided to pursue a relationship. You know, a little bam bam,” I joke, trying to keep the mood light. Lia doesn’t expect serious from me when talking about men, thank God.

“But you’ve been avoiding each other like a scalding case of herpes,” she murmurs, causing me to burst out laughing. That’s totally something I can hear myself saying. I think I’m finally rubbing off on her.

“You know I’ve been hot for the man since the moment I laid eyes on him wearing one of those sexy suits. If I spend more than five minutes in his company, I need a panty change. He’s just that gorgeous, and if you could feel the size of what he’s packing between those muscular thighs.” I make a big production of fanning myself. “Chick, when the chance presented itself, I jumped all over it—and him.” Oh, how I wish that were true.

Lia’s eyes are round as saucers as I continue to tick off Max’s many considerable attributes. It’s scary how I’m not even pretending. He’s everything I’m saying and more. Finally, she holds up her hand and halts me when I circle back to the size of his cock. “Hey, I know,” she snaps her fingers to make sure I’m listening, “let’s go out to dinner together.” She’s practically bouncing in her seat now, which is cute for someone who is usually more reserved. God, when did my best friend turn into me? “Anna has already said that anytime Lucian and I want an evening out alone, she’d be happy to babysit Lara.” Grabbing her cell phone, she says, “I’m going to text Luc right now and tell him to arrange it with Max. Her fingers are flying over her phone while she talks. I see her hit the send button and then she freezes. “Oh crap, has Max told Lucian about you two? If not, I just totally betrayed your confidence.” She’s wringing her hands now and the devil in me wants to let her sweat a little, but I just can’t do it. Not after all she’s been through in the last year. Torture her with talk of Max’s dick size, hell yeah, but I can’t accuse her of being a bad friend. I don’t have it in me. Not for this girl.

“Cool your jets, sister,” I say dryly. “If your hubby doesn’t know by now, he will soon. Max was going to tell him this morning, so it’s all good.” Lia visibly sags in her seat, clearly relieved to be out of loose-lips prison. I give her another moment to relax before I say idly, “So are we talking a swap kind of date or what? I know we can’t do it at your place with the whole baby thing happening there, but I’m sure Max would be willing to host. Are you and Luc all caught up on your STD checks?” I smack my lips dramatically while her mouth drops to the floor. “I’ve wanted a go at Mr. Quinn forever.” I throw my arms around her and pull her against me. “You might be the best friend I’ve ever had!”

Silence … complete and utter silence fills the room as she remains ramrod stiff against me for all of a minute before she dissolves into a fit of laughter. “You ass! You really had me going there for a while. I swear I could almost picture the whole thing playing out. You’re such a pervert!”

We both continue to giggle like teenage girls. I’m fanning myself before it’s over and hoping that no one is close enough to my new office to overhear our conversation. Just in case, though, I lower my voice for one last zinger before we get to work. “I was kidding, but admit it, you’re curious about what my chief counsel is packing under those suits, aren’t ya? And trust me, it’s—”

She claps a hand over my mouth as her face turns an adorable shade of red. We both let the topic of penises drop while we get to work. We’ve been at it for a few hours when there is a knock on the door and Lia’s father Lee Jacks strolls in. Holy hot daddy. I’m not lying when I tell Lia that her father is a stud. As if sensing my thoughts, she turns to me and shakes her head. “Don’t go there,” she whisper-hisses before turning back to Lee.

I let myself be drawn into their discussion and feel warmth invade me as they both express their pleasure at having me on board. For one of the few times in my life, I feel as if I belong. I’m part of something that my father can’t take away from me. I’ve only felt like this one other time and that was this morning standing within the circle of Max’s arms as he vowed to save me. For years, I’ve felt as if I had nowhere to go in life and nothing to gain. I’ve existed as would an expensive, well-maintained figurine. Shone to ensure its beauty but voiceless to ensure its silence. Alone. Now, I fear that I have everything to lose, and I pray I’m finally strong enough to stand against those who would take great pleasure in seeing me fail. How could the man who raised me so easily discard me, throw me literally out onto the streets? How could he? In contrast, Lee Jacks has done everything possible to be included in his daughter’s life, to shower her with love despite not knowing of her existence for so many years. My father probably doesn’t understand that the cost of his victory could well be my life. And a part of me has to wonder if he would care either way.