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“You aren’t alone.” I drop a kiss onto her hair. “I can be with you every step of the way.”

April pulls back and looks up at me. “You’ll come with me?”

“Little dancer, of course, I’ll come with you. I’ll do whatever you need. You only need to ask.”

She reaches up, her lips touching mine.

“Can I think about it?”

“Take as long as you need,” I say, pulling her closer and into my lap.

My body cannot hide the effect she has on it.

Mason pulls up outside April’s apartment.

April drops her gaze, moving back, as Mason jumps out and opens the door for us.

I get out and walk her up to her apartment.

She opens the door before turning to face me. “Are you coming in?”

I take her head in my hands and draw her lips towards mine. “No. You have things to think about.”

April nods, her bottom lip disappearing behind her teeth.

“But if you need me, call. I’ll be here in a heartbeat, or we can talk. I’m here for you. You’re not alone.”

“Thank you for an amazing evening,” she says, her arms coming up and around my neck.

I pull her flush against me and lower my head, my tongue begging for entrance as I nibble and tease.

When I pull away, we’re both breathless.

“Good night, April,” I say, stepping away and adjusting myself.

April smirks when she catches the movement.

“Do you need help with that?” she asks, and I like the fact my cheeky April is back.

“I’d not be proving everything I want to prove, if I say yes.” I say through gritted teeth.

“I appreciate your sacrifice. Goodnight.” She steps inside her door, her face deadpan apart from the twinkle in her eyes.

“Goodnight,” I say, waiting until she closes the door and engages the lock. I make my way back down to the car and a solemn Mason.

I know as we drive away, I’m in for a long night and an ice-cold shower.

CHAPTER 61

APRIL

Itoss and turn for most of the night. Dinner with Caleb was something else.

The way he squirmed when his ex appeared. How much I miss him, and not just his magic dick. I know in my heart I’m done for. All I can do now is damage limitation.

He reassures me he can control the fall out of my past. But I don’t know what to believe. I can’t see how we can spin it without it coming back to haunt us.

Then there was his final bombshell. My mother. Is she really looking for me? Do I want to meet her? I’m twenty-five. She left me when I was three. Do I have hangups? - hell yes. Does my past bother me? I know it does. The unknowing is painful. Why did she leave me? Why did she never come back for me? I know deep down I was too young for it to have been my fault, but there’s always a nagging doubt in my mind that I wasn’t good enough, loveable enough.