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“He didn’t like you for a while. You have to admit, the things you were doing once you left high school were pretty unlikeable. You drove everyone important in your life away from you.”

Summer is right. I need to let everything that’s happened go for good. What’s done is done. I can’t change the past.

But I can work on myself for the future.

“I take responsibility for my actions, but my mother had a hand in that too.” She was always so careful, isolating me when she felt outside influences were creeping too close. Letting me go away to school was tough on her. Witnessing me making friends, seeing how other people acted and lived probably scared her. She wanted us to have our own little world.

Just me and her.

Spencer showed up and made things worse, I can see it now. His influence was the strongest yet. I wanted him. I thought of him and no one else. And she hated that.

So much.

Losing control of me made her do desperate things. Dangerous. I’m lucky I’m alive.

I realize that now. More than ever.

“I know. We both know. She’s returned to the city, though I guess I already mentioned that, right? Whit saw her. Says she looks ten years younger. To the point that it’s kind of freaky.” Summer breaks out into a smile, then tries to hide it with her fingers.

I can’t help but smile too. It’s always fun, when Whit picks on our mother.

“Is it bad?” I can imagine a botched facelift. Or maybe her skin is too tight, her lips too plump.

“No, it’s good. Too good. She looks so young.” She goes quiet for a moment, and I see an internal struggle there. As if she wants to tell me something, but she’s not sure if she should. “She actually looks just like…you.”

THIRTY

SPENCER

“I’m nervous.”

I glance over at Sylvie to see that she is indeed visibly nervous. She’s shuffling her feet from side to side, shaking out her hands every few seconds, like she’s got sweaty palms.

I’m guessing she does.

I grab one of her hands, noting the clammy palm, and give it a squeeze. “It’s just my mother.”

We’re in the elevator on our way up to her penthouse at this very moment.

“Do you realize I’ve never met her? Not even once? Whit has. He said she’s a dragon lady.” The worry in my woman’s gaze is almost comical. Whit’s description of my mother even more so.

“He lied to you.” I lift her hand to my lips, dropping a kiss on the top of it. “She’s not a dragon lady. She’s sweet. My father is the one to watch out for.”

“That makes me feel so much better.” Her smile is weak and she startles when the elevator jolts to a stop, the doors sliding open. “Oh God.”

I give her hand a squeeze and lead her out of the elevator, stopping in front of the single door in the short hallway. Before I even get a chance to knock, the door swings open and my mother is standing there, a welcoming smile on her face.

“Spencer!” Her gaze cuts to Sylvie, curious. Vaguely assessing. “And you must be Sylvie.”

“Yes.” Sylvie’s voice is shaky and she lets go of my hand, a soft “oh” falling from her lips when my mother yanks her into her arms and gives her a fierce hug. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Aren’t you a precious little doll?” Mom holds Sylvie at arms’ length, studying her. “Oh Spencer, she’s lovely.”

“Mom, she’s standing right in front of you. Don’t talk about her like she’s not here.”

“Sorry, sorry. Come in.” Mom lets go of Sylvie and we follow her inside. I shut the door behind us, turning the lock. Valerie Donato is big on safety. Locks and security alarms and cameras. Her building is one of the most secure in all of Manhattan and she chose it for a reason. The wrath of her ex-husband’s enemies terrifies her, and I don’t blame her.

Though they’re not interested in her any longer thanks to my father not being interested in her either. Like he told me, women are a liability. Problem is, I can’t live without the one standing next to me, so I’m willing to take the chance.


Tags: Monica Murphy Romance