She had Xander’s silent support. Cassidy’s friendship and the knowledge that her career was in good hands. She also had Xander’s family. Aurora had texted earlier, asking if they could get together for lunch to talk about her charity work. Aside from Cassidy, Sasha had had no time for female friends, lunches out, or girls’ nights in. Thank God Cassidy traveled with her or she couldn’t imagine the loneliness she’d feel.

She met her mother’s gaze. “I need you to hear me. I don’t know if I want to work this hectic pace anymore. I have a home I’m rarely in, I live out of hotels, and now I have a stalker. Is that the kind of life you wished you’d had instead of being married to Dad and tied down with me?”

Her mother jerked at Sasha’s blunt question. “I don’t regret having you. I just wish your father had been around so I could have had my career as well.” But once Sasha had to be enrolled in school, her mother couldn’t travel with him from state to state for gigs, and he’d abandoned them both.

Sasha nodded, trying her best not to let her emotions show. The words were correct but she wasn’t sure she trusted them. Her mother’s singular focus on her daughter’s career above all else told a different story. A sad one.

“Well, it’s my life and I’ll make the choices I feel are best for me. And if that includes Xander, so be it.”

Annika opened her mouth to reply, but as if Sasha had conjured him, she heard the snick of the lock and Xander’s footsteps entering the apartment.

He strode into the kitchen dressed in a pair of black running shorts and a royal-blue tank top, stained with sweat. And she was unable to tear her gaze away from the masculine perfection in front of her.

He lifted his shirt and wiped the sweat from his forehead before any fell into his eyes, and Sasha stifled a groan.

“Ladies,” he said, his gaze falling on her, a knowing grin lifting his lips.

Her mother turned around. “Xander.”

“Annika. How are you?”

Her mother’s gaze drilled into him as if she could read his mind from her long stare.

“I’m fine, thank you.” She swallowed hard. “Sasha has been filling me in on the stalker situation and why she had to come stay here.” She glanced down before drawing a deep breath and meeting his gaze. “I… Thank you for making sure my daughter is safe.”

The words were hard for Annika, Sasha knew, and she shot her mother a grateful look.

Xander nodded, jaw tight. “I’d do anything to protect her.”