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Chapters (64)
  1. Book Description
  2. About Kennedy Ryan
  3. Also from Kennedy Ryan
  4. Acknowledgments from the Author
  5. Book Description
  6. Dedication
  7. Prologue
  8. Part One
  9. Chapter One
  10. Chapter Two
  11. Chapter Three
  12. Chapter Four
  13. Chapter Five
  14. Chapter Six
  15. Chapter Seven
  16. Part Two
  17. Chapter Eight
  18. Chapter Nine
  19. Chapter Ten
  20. Chapter Eleven
  21. Chapter Twelve
  22. Chapter Thirteen
  23. Chapter Fourteen
  24. Chapter Fifteen
  25. Chapter Sixteen
  26. Chapter Seventeen
  27. Chapter Eighteen
  28. Chapter Nineteen
  29. Chapter Twenty
  30. Chapter Twenty-One
  31. Chapter Twenty-Two
  32. Chapter Twenty-Three
  33. Chapter Twenty-Four
  34. Chapter Twenty-Five
  35. Chapter Twenty-Six
  36. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  37. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  38. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  39. Chapter Thirty
  40. Chapter Thirty-One
  41. Chapter Thirty-Two
  42. Chapter Thirty-Three
  43. Chapter Thirty-Four
  44. Chapter Thirty-Five
  45. Chapter Thirty-Six
  46. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  47. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  48. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  49. Chapter Forty
  50. Chapter Forty-One
  51. Chapter Forty-Two
  52. Chapter Forty-Three
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Chapter Forty-Six
  56. Chapter Forty-Seven
  57. Chapter Forty-Eight
  58. Chapter Forty-Nine
  59. Epilogue
  60. Author’s Note
  61. An excerpt from The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
  62. Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Seven
  63. Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
  64. Special Thanks

I’m here for a few weeks and then onto the next mayor, governor, congressman. I could destroy his relationship, damage his family and be back on the campaign trail, leaving him to deal with the fallout.

“Kimba!” Noah bounds into the kitchen. There’s a small stain on his T-shirt that looks suspiciously like banana pudding. “You’re still here. I thought you’d already left.”

Ezra enters behind him. He leans against the counter and pulls out his phone, fixing his attention there instead of on what’s happening in here. Instead of on me.

“I’m still here,” I say, unable to stop the smile that plays on my lips when this kid is around.

“Good,” Noah says. “I wanted to invite you to my birthday party on Sunday.”

Ezra’s head swings around and I feel his eyes on my profile. I also sense Mona holding her breath, willing me not to accept.

“Oh, Noah. Happy birthday,” I say. “Thank you for inviting me. That’s so sweet.”

“Will you come?” Noah presses his palms together, pleading dramatically. “I’ll be nine. You’re only nine once.”

Mona and I laugh. The unyielding line of Ezra’s full lips pulls into a smile. His eyes soften on his son.

“I don’t know, Noah.” I lick my lips and push my hair back. “I—”

“My mom’s not here,” he says, lowering his head, his smile disappearing. “She’s on safari, but at least I could have all my friends around. That might make up for it some.”

This kid’s good.

I glance at Mona’s neutral expression, which somehow still manages to appear disapproving. I look over at Ezra, and his eyes are that near-violet color that deepens with his most intense emotions. I feel him willing me to accept.

“Please.” Noah looks up at me, his eyes identical to his father’s.

“Okay. I’ll come.”

Noah breaks out into some dance that causes him to wobble his legs and point his fingers in the air. I’m sure I’ve seen it when football players make touchdowns. I can’t help but laugh, as do Mona and Ezra.

“You know you just got played, right?” Ezra asks, but his smile is pleased.

“I’m aware, yeah.”

Our eyes hold despite Mona’s watchful stare. Did I get played, or did I get exactly what I wanted?

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Kimba

In the Allen house, Saturday mornings are for cleaning.