bChapter /bb95 /b

    I blinked, “What?b” /b

    He smiled a little, endearingly. “Not without any effort, of course. I want to start over, woo you like we just met.” There was a spark of hope in his eyes. “This is me dering to you, I intend to pursue you.”

    “But I thought… you only came here for Alice…b?/b”

    “I want to provide for Alice, and be her father. I would love to take Alice back to the safety of my pack and raise here there among family and friends. But I want to do things at your side, Amber.”

    He inched closer still, moving more metaphorical mountains to stand right in front of me. Physically.

    Emotionally. Then his gaze dropped to my lips.

    He was close enough to kiss me, and I was stunned enough to let him.

    Inside of me was a whirlwind of emotion. I had tried long ago to bury all feelings for Julian deep down within myself, and yet here they were, foolish, hopeless things,ing back to life like they’d never been

    buried at all.

    I wanted him to kiss me, to pursue me, to help me raise Alice.

    He leaned closer still. I could feel his warm breath on my face. I held my own, waiting, anticipating, as I turned my face upwards, making my lips more essible.

    Then, the door behind me opened.

    “I knew it!” Alice said as she rushed to my side.

    I stepped back from Julian at once.

    b“/bYou’re here!” Alice said, voice full of excitement.

    Julian recovered from the near–kiss quicker than me. “I’m here,” he said, smiling kindly at our daughter.

    “I knew Mom was taking itoo /ilong to talk to the pizza man,” she said. Then, her eyes lit up as an idea

    struck her. “You have ito /istay for dinner!”

    Julian paused, then looked at me somewhat sheepishly. “Only if it’s okay with your Mom.”

    Talk about being put on the spot!

    Alice and Julian both hit me with the doe eyes, and I could see now where Alice had inherited this trick

    from.

    “Fine,” I said, in part because my mind was still reeling from that kiss, giving no effort to thinking this situation through.

    Alice cheered, which made Julianugh. My heart warmed, but I worried I might regret it.

    Olivia’s POV

    Sitting behind the seat of her rental car, parked out on the street a few houses down from Amber’s ce, Olivia watched everything unfold. Though she couldn’t hear the words spoken, she could piece things together well enough.

    Julian and Amber were reconnecting.

    Irritation spiked within Olivia. Even from this distance, she could tell that Julian was showing more affection to Amber, who abandoned him, than he had to her in years, even though she has always

    remained at his side.

    She wasn’t prone to helplessness, but in that moment, she felt a twinge of defeat. This made her so angry, she very nearly got out of the car to interrupt the scene herself.

    But she stopped herself, knowing such an action would only hurt her in the long run.

    She wanted to ruin this perfect family moment, but the smarter game was to wait, and to n for long

    term.

    Her eyes on the disgustingly almost–perfect little family, Olivia reached into her purse for her phone. She found a familiar number, one she had cleverly hidden in her phone under ‘Cleaning Service‘ and hit call.

    The line rang a few times, but then, ever dutiful, the man on the other end answered. “Olivia. I thought you were going out of town.”

    As vicious ideas popped into Olivia’s head, she found herself filled with hopeful determination. Julian would still be hers.

    She certainly wasn’t going to lose him to someone like Amber.

    Into the phone, she said, “I need a favor.”