He slid a hand through her hair and smiled to reassure her. “I can more than handle being here with you. Don’t worry about me. Come on. Let’s get you home.”

And hopefully they could avoid dealing with her mother for one more day.

***

Saturday morning, Sasha woke up in Xander’s bed, rolled over, and reached for him only to find his side empty but still warm. He must have gotten up recently.

She sat up, pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes, and glanced around. His glasses were on his nightstand, so she assumed he wasn’t in his office working. Maybe he was in the kitchen.

Without warning, Bella came running from the other room, taking a leap onto the bed and curling up by her side.

“Hey, pretty girl,” Sasha said, rubbing her fur. “You know your daddy likes you to sleep on your own bed, right?” Because a seventy-pound dog and two adults were a bit much for one bed.

Bella rarely agreed and Sasha liked having her there, too, so Xander had caved. With Bella’s head in her lap, Sasha picked up her cell for a quick check before she went looking for Xander. He’d sent a text.

At the gym. Appointment with trainer. Will be there awhile. Enjoy time with your mother.

No doubt he’d escaped to the upstairs gym in the building to avoid Annika’s judgmental glare. Sasha didn’t blame him.

She’d convinced her mother to enjoy the city and go shopping yesterday, promising her they’d get together on Saturday. Although she’d bought herself time, she needed to shower and get ready to deal with her mom soon.

An hour later, Annika arrived. The doorman called upstairs for permission to let her come up, and Sasha opened the door to let Jared know her mother was arriving, then she waited to greet her.

Her mom stepped off the elevator, looking elegant in a designer dress and heels, as stunning as ever. She saw Sasha and walked toward her, her gaze settling on Jared.

“Who is this lovely man?” she asked, her gaze running over him.

Sasha felt a flush rise to her cheeks. Her mother had no shame. Young men, older men, all were fair game.

“Annika Keaton, this is my security, Jared Wilson. Jared, my mother.”

“Ma’am.” Jared extended a hand, which her mother eagerly shook.

“Come inside.” She gestured for her mother to follow her into the apartment.

Once the door shut and they were alone, her mother pulled her into a hug, and Sasha inhaled her familiar perfumed scent.

“So? Why aren’t you at the hotel?” her mother immediately asked, pulling back and looking around.

Bracing herself for an argument, Sasha replied. “This is Xander’s apartment, and before you say a word about him, I have a serious stalker situation, and we decided this would be the safest place for me.”