Page 35

With a soft sigh, she whispered, “I really wish I could tell you. Even though I knew I was doing what I needed to do for Mom, I wanted you with me to raise a baby. Like you said, I didn’t have anybody out there except for the friends I made over time, but it wasn’t the same as having a real support system when Liam was an infant.”

And Mom had robbed her of that. She robbed us both out of selfishness, snobbery, and some sick, misplaced sense of protecting her only child from a gold digger. That said more about how her mind worked than it did about Winter.

She checked the clock on the nightstand and almost yelped. “Eight thirty? I really should go. I’m sorry, I would love to stay longer, but⁠—”

“But you have a little boy waiting for you.” And oh God, I wanted to go with her. How had everything changed over the course of a few days? I had a son. A son I’d never met or even set eyes on, but he was mine. “Have you given any thought to when I can come over to meet him? As far as I’m concerned, it could be immediately.”

“Tonight?” she asked, wearing a skeptical look before removing the towel from her head and combing her fingers through her wet hair.

I bit my tongue before the impulse to agree won out. “I’m not trying to rush it.” I had already lost her once. I could wait a little longer. I couldn’t expect her to completely forget all of the threats she had lived in fear of for four years in the blink of an eye. “But I’m crawling out of my skin, wanting to know everything about him.”

“You will. You…” She bit her lip, her chin quivering, before she smiled. “You have no idea how many times I’ve wished you could.”

Watching as she dressed, I could imagine her sitting alone in a nursery with a crying baby, thousands of miles from home, nobody to lean on. And what was I doing at the time? Trying to forget her, convincing myself it was my fault for caring about her in the first place. She had needed me, and I had no idea. There was no way I could ever make up for it.

But I would do everything I could now to make things right. “See you in the morning,” I murmured before giving her one final kiss at the door. Letting her go wasn’t easy, but I forced my way through by watching her walk down the hall. She was still dazed, smiling from ear to ear, when she looked over her shoulder and shook her head a little like she couldn’t believe how the day went.

The taste of her lips still lingered on mine as I turned my attention to one final task. I hadn’t wanted to do it while she was here, but now there was nothing stopping me from calling Isobel and setting the record straight. If I’d called her before confronting Mom, she would have blown the whole thing.

“There you are.” So that was her excuse for a greeting? It didn’t matter. I wouldn’t be speaking to her again. “I was wondering if you’d have the balls to call. My dad just told me everything is off.”

“So my mother has been making phone calls, then.”

“So he wasn’t bullshitting me?” Bitterness dripped from every word. “You’re kidding. I thought we understood each other, Jackson.”

“I think we understand each other just fine,” I agreed, walking to the window to look out at the glowing lights below. “But that doesn’t change anything. I’ve decided to turn down the offer.”

“Excuse me?” Her laughter was sharp, fierce, and it disgusted me. “I know I’m not hearing you correctly.”

“No, I think you are. And neither you, my mother, nor anyone else is going to tell me how to manage my business. I don’t need the money, but I thank you for the offer.”

“For the offer?” she snapped. “I told you I need this just as much as you do.”

Some people needed things spelled out for them. She was one of those people. “I know it sounds harsh, but how is that my problem?” I snapped back. Fuck her feelings. “You’re going to have to find another prospect. The answer is no.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she snarled, reminding me again how lucky I was to leave her behind. “You don’t get to decide you’re going to change your mind.”

“I think I do. My mind was never made up in the first place. Is there a ring on your finger? Have we made plans? Give it up…” I warned, “… because it’s not happening.”

“I swear to God…” she whispered, breathing hard, “… you are going to regret this. I was so close to having what I wanted, and so were you. You fucking idiot.”

“This was fun. Gotta go.” It was a real pleasure hanging up on her while she sputtered and snarled, wasting her time. Let her and Mom cry on each other’s shoulders for all I cared. They weren’t my problem.

For me, it was time to step into a new phasea

A new beginning.

As far as I was concerned, Mom would never touch anything having to do with Bennett Entertainment again. It was mine, and Liam was mine, and Winter was mine, whether or not she knew it yet.

She always had been.

14

WINTER

The final notes hung in the air, the action on stage having come to a complete stop. The dancers remained in position until the lights went down, casting the stage in darkness.

Sitting at the technicians’ table, I released a long breath, glancing to my left and right. Harrison removed his headset, his head falling back with a sigh. On my right, Sophie quietly thanked her lightboard and sound system operators, as well as her assistants.