“And I lookstoopid.”
“You look hot.Don’t tell me you didn’t know what you were doing when you were sucking on that helpless mango.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
Her brow crinkled like an amnesiac who’d just been told her real name.Couldn’t she see how beautiful she was?How every room lit up the moment she walked in?
She shook her head and laughed.“I don’t think anyone’s ever called me hot before.Not even Elli—oh, never mind.”
That turd…Had he knocked her confidence?“You do know your ex is an absolute fucking tool, don’t you?”
“Yes.”She snort-laughed.“I do know that.Which is why I hate that I…that…”
“What?”
“That I begged him.I literally sobbed at his feet to let me stay until at least Karim was born.I’m so ashamed that I got so desperate.”
“You’ve got nothing to be ashamed about.It’s him who should be ashamed.”
“Yeah.”Libby let out a shaky breath.“But going through something like that… Well, it doesn’t do wonders for a woman’s self-esteem.”
“I don’t doubt it.”Dan immediately hated the turd even more.She’d sobbed at his feet and…“What happened afterwards?”he asked, trying to keep his voice even.“That’s not when he told you to move out, was it?”
When she nodded, he ground his teeth together.
“Elliott said he needed time to think and that I should leave by the end of the week.It was a Wednesday night.”
“He gave you two days?What a—”
“Oh, I know.I’ve called him every name under the sun.But…” She looked at her hands.“But even up until Karim was born, I still thought he might take an interest in us.I sent him a photo of Karim when he was two days old.I thought Elliot would…that he’d become besotted with his son, just like I was, and that he’d want to be in his life.I was so stupid.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.I saw that he’d read my message, but he didn’t reply.”Libby raised her gaze to meet his.Firm and strong.Defiant.“I then sent the photograph to his parents.At least they replied.”Her eyes turned hard.“They asked me who the father really was.He’s too dark skinned to be Elliot’s, they said.”
Dan tensed—this was none of his business; he had no right to feel so protective of Libby and Karim—but he absolutely could not believe what he was hearing.Swallowing his anger, he said, “I hope you told them all to fuck off.”
Libby choked out a laugh.“Of course, I did.Believe me, I’m not always all sunshine and rainbows, and you know?Once I got over the hurt and anger, I felt like I’d dodged a bullet.I’m so glad I didn’t go down the route of a paternity test to force him to pay child support.I had good health insurance.I didn’t need his money for that.But at one point, I actually thought Elliot and his toxic family had a right to be part of my baby’s life.”She shook her head.“I mean, no way.Karim is my world, and I’m his.No one undeserving will ever be allowed to enter it.”
Dan’s admiration for her shot through the roof.“You want to know what I think, Libby?”
“What?”
“You’re the most fun, optimistic, kick-butt person I’ve ever met.And you’re beautiful, inside and—”
Libby’s lips were on his, stealing his breath.Her skin smelled of coconut and petals, but before he could even close his eyes and savor her velvet warmth, she pulled away.
“Thank you,” she said.“You’re a sweet friend, Daniel Jones.”
“Wha—uh…”
Sweet?A friend?
Of all the words…
Those were not the ones running through his mind right now.
