Adam grabbed his phone from his suit jacket to check the text message he’d just received. Even though it was after eight, he was still at the office, opting to work late instead of going home and stewing about Ashley.

He glanced at the display, then froze when he saw the text was from Ashley.

Want to come over tonight?

He took a deep breath then typed, Sure. Are you okay?

Yeah. A bit lonely. You said we could talk.

His heart soared. She was letting him in again.

Of course, he responded. I’ll be there in half an hour.

He didn’t know why she wasn’t with Dare tonight. It was Friday and they only had another few weekends together. But then Dare liked to be in control—Adam knew that only too well—and he liked to keep his partner guessing and a little off balance.

Didn’t matter. He was just glad Ashley was free and had asked him to come over.

He cleaned up his desk and locked his office, then headed out of the building, his heart pounding, anticipating being with Ashley again. She was alone and lonely and she’d called on him. He would do everything he could to leverage this in his favor. To win her heart and her body.

*   *   *

Dare walked along the stone path toward the front door of his house. God, he missed Ashley. He wished she was coming over tonight and he could hold her in his arms. Kiss her smooth, sweet skin. Feel her soft hands on him.

He unlocked the door then stepped inside. Helen sat in the living room and stood up when he entered.

After their unfortunate event the other night, she’d slipped out the next day and stayed away. He hadn’t known if she’d decided to return home to Cambria or gone to stay with friends, but she’d left her big suitcase behind and a lot of her clothes, so he’d been pretty sure she was still in town. Though you never knew with Helen.

“Dare, I’m sorry about the other night. About getting drunk and…” She bit her lip. “For what I did.”

This was a good sign. She wasn’t calling him Daddy, and she actually seemed contrite about what had happened.

“Do you forgive me?” she asked.

“If you really mean it. And if you’ll really try to stop drinking again.”

“Yes, of course. I really will.”

She stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist, giving him a hug. He relented and wrapped his arms around her, too.

Then she gazed up at him, her head resting on his shoulder.

“You know I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too, Helen. And I’ll always be there for you.”