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I pause as I wait for the elevator. When I go to ask him what he means, the call drops. I reach for my tie and tug it loose. I need a signal to make a call to get a location on Danika.

Right now, I don’t think it’s best if I try to call her. I’m pissed and might not say the right things. Why haven’t I met her mother?

If Danika is ashamed of dating me, then this isn’t going to work. Her ties to the business, her double life, those are things I can overlook. I honestly haven’t been angry with her for keeping her secrets.

However, now, I’m questioning why I’ve allowed this to go on for so long. Pain sears through my chest as the answer whispers back to me. As long as I allow it, this isn’t real.

If it isn’t real, she doesn’t get hurt and I don’t lose her. If there’s no deep connection, I can’t be broken again. However, thereisa deep connection.

For all our dancing around the true, we’ve bonded in a different way. I can sit in a room and have a silent conversation with this woman and feel like we’ve had the deepest, most involved discussion of my life.

We anticipate each other. I go to bed with her in my arms and on my mind and wake still holding her as she’s my first thought. This hasn’t been about sex in a long time.

Although sex between us is an experience like none other. I will never forget my past and what I experienced as a young lad, but Danika is a fresh start; she has her own place in my heart.

“Mom, leave that man alone and come on. Oh, I’m so sorry. Excuse me.”

I snap my head up from my phone as I step off the elevator and a soft body I know well collides with mine. My body reacts to hers immediately.

“Ronan?”

Without a word, I grasp the back of her neck and crush my lips to hers. I devour her mouth like a starving man. She whimpers into the kiss and clings to the lapels of my suit jacket.

I move my free hand to her ass and tug her against my body. God, I’ve missed her. Someone clears their throat, but I don’t stop taking my fill. Instead, I nip at Danika’s lower lip and tug as she tries to pull away.

“So that’s the problem. I’ve been looking at the wrong flavor. Here I am looking at all these fine-ass chocolate brothers and you’re into the colorless variety. No offense, vanilla cream.

“Red hair, gah. You do know their asses are crazy. Black, white, every redhead I’ve ever known has been out of their damn mind, including your daddy.”

“Mom,” Danika gasps.

“Ach, it’s fine. She doesn’t tell a lie,” I say through my laughter.

“Ooooh, an accent and that voice. I can’t say I’m missing the appeal,” her mother says as she looks me over.

I hold my hand out. “Aye, it’s nice to finally meet ya. I’m Ronan McGowan. Danny’s man.”

Her brows shoot up as she looks down at my hand. I wrap my free arm around Danika’s waist and tug her into my side. I think she’s still in shock.

“Danika Peoples, I know you didn’t go pay one of them Magic Mike dancers to come and fool me so I’d get off your back.”

I scoff out a laugh. I like her already. I think we’ll get along just fine.

"Mom, this is Ronan. Ronan, this is my mom. Wait, what are you doing here?”

“Braxton and Heather just got married in one of the suites. It was last minute, but my sister and the family are here to support him. The lad wouldn’t have forgiven me if I didn’t come.”

“Oh, you have a friend who has tied the knot? Love is in the air then.”

The way her eyes light up at the mention of a wedding piques my interest. It seems if I get her approval then I’ll have an ace in my corner to get what I want. I want Danika as my wife whether she knows it or not.

“Ach, not a friend. My nephew. One of my sister’s youngest. He’s a good lad and has been in love with the lass since they were wee ones.”

“Well, what do you do for a living, Ronan? How old are you?”

“Mom,” Danika bites out and groans.

“What?”