“You stay away from him. I don’t give a shit what his problem is. If he touches you again, I’ll rearrange his ugly mug.”

My thought process regarding the man sitting next to me was shooting off on a million different tracks. Leo was an enigma. With his prowess, he could fight professionally, but instead he fought illegally, risking his safety. If that paid better, why was he working for my mother or at bars?

I asked a question I’d wondered several times. “Do you fight just for the money?”

He looked at me and briefly closed his eyes. “It’s complicated.”

I leaned across and kissed him. It was meant to be quick, but he bunched the front of my t-shirt and held me close so he could deepen the kiss. It was completely futile fighting my body’s natural reaction to him. Was I being selfish? I wondered as I closed my eyes, savouring the taste of him as his tongue explored my mouth. He might be an undefeated fighter, but outside the cage was I dangerous and unhealthy for him? Would he be better off with someone who could ease his burden with a clear head and an open heart?

Leo pulled back and held my face. “Stop thinking and kiss me properly, woman.”

I smiled against his mouth, and then I kissed him properly.

“When can I see you again?” he asked when we finally came up for air.

Sighing, I contemplated my week ahead. I had to sort out whatever was going on with Richard. “I’ll call you.”

“Wow. Getting the brush-off already. Don’t call me, I’ll call you, hey?” Leo asked, raising his eyebrows.

“It’s not like that, Leo. I promise.” I placed my hand on his thigh and his hand quickly covered mine, his thumb gently tracing the rises and falls of my knuckles.

“I was only kidding. You call me when you’re ready, but considering you don’t have my number, it’s going to be hard.”

I reached for my phone. “Tell me your number. I’ll call you tomorrow night.” When he gave it to me, I programmed it in and then dialled it. “There you go. Now we have each other’s numbers. Problem solved!”

“I’ll speak to you tomorrow, then. No pressure.” He got up from the couch and retrieved his other belongings. I went down with him in the lift and we crossed the lobby. He held my hand the whole time as if he needed to maintain contact with me. We stepped outside and stopped beside his bike.

“I do want to see you again.” I meant it.

He smiled and pulled me to him. “I really don’t want to go.” He hugged my body like I was the most precious thing in the world, and I couldn’t help snuggling into his rock-hard chest. I was again surprised by how comfortable I felt against a wall of steel. We just seemed to melt into each other.

“And I really don’t want you to go.”

Leo moaned as his lips crashed hungrily into mine. I was the one to pull away and douse the flames of our hot connection. I didn’t want reality to set in, but I needed time to think.

“Thanks for last night.” I clenched my teeth in a half smile, cringing. Had I just thanked him for sex?

“You’re very welcome.” He winked as he slipped the black helmet over his head. “Bye, Jules.”

I held my hand up to wave as he pulled away.

Walking into my apartment lobby, I glanced down at my old sweat pants and faded t-shirt and realised I must look a complete mess. If only my mother could see me now. There’d be no mistaking me for a society princess in this outfit. I waved to Barry at the front desk. A concerned look passed across his face as he waved me over.

“How are you, Juliette?”

“Surprisingly good.” My cheeks warmed with the memories of just how good.

“Sorry to be a downer, but the night concierge told me Richard was here around midnight looking for you, drunk and angry. Can I presume you have parted ways?”

“Presume away. I hope he didn’t cause any trouble.”

“Nothing Joel couldn’t handle.”

“Please tell him I’m sorry. Richard isn’t taking our breakup very well.”

“You look after yourself.” His serious expression was filled with concern. “Richard has an aggressive edge and I don’t trust him. Never have.”

Another man I trusted didn’t like my ex-boyfriend. It was humiliating. I knew I wasn’t in love with him, but I hadn’t seen what everyone around me, other than my mother, seemed to see.

“I can take care of myself, but thank you for the concern. I appreciate it.”

As I took the lift to my apartment, my phone buzzed with an incoming text from Richard. When I read it, my blood ran cold.

Did you have fun last night?

I replied immediately. None of your business. Leave me alone.

You are my business, Juliette.

With anger boiling in my veins, I hit the call button as I let myself into my apartment.

“The bartender, Juliette. Really?”

“You have no say in who I spend my time with now. Actually, you never did.”

“You’re mine.”

“We’ve broken up!” I screamed, losing my patience. “It’s over.”

“Your mother is right. You’re such a disappointment. I am still willing to forgive you though.”

“Is this about money? You’re worried about losing your precious client?” I scoffed. “Trust me. Your business is safe. And if you do anything to jeopardise the foundation, you’ll have a lawsuit on your hands quicker than you can say ‘money for jam’.”

I could hear Richard chuckling. “Your father would be so proud of you. Oh no, that’s right. He doesn’t give a crap about you.”

I staggered a little and leaned against the doorframe leading to my bedroom. “Fuck you, Richard. Just leave me alone.”

“Can’t do that, princess.”

After a short pause, I looked at my screen and realised he’d hung up. Gutless dickhead, I thought to myself.

I threw my phone on the lounge. Richard was becoming a bigger problem than I’d thought. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, allowing my mind to relive the motorbike ride and every second with Leo after that.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Juliette

I missed Sia. She was going to be on leave all week spending time with family who’d flown in for Juniper’s wedding. Richard left messages at regular intervals, alternating between declarations of love and flat-out abuse. It was exhausting. His emotional torment, together with an undercurrent of worry for my mother I couldn’t switch off, was making it hard to breathe again.

As promised, I called Leo on Monday night when I got home from work, and just hearing his voice calmed me.

“You called,” he whispered on an exhale.

“I told you I would,” I replied, smiling. I took a deep breath in and relaxed as I, too, exhaled.

“How was your day?”

“It was okay, I guess.”

“That bad?”

I sighed. Did I want to let him share my burden? I really wanted to see where this could go with Leo, and telling him more about my crazy ex didn’t seem like a great way to go.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just busy at work. I’m fine. What about you? Tell me about your day.”

He didn’t respond.

“Hello?” I thought maybe we’d lost the connection.

“I’m here. Sorry. I… I was at the farm.”

I sucked in a breath, unsure of how to respond. All I knew about that place was that it was his family home and no one lived there anymore. He obviously had some kind of negative associations with the place, but he was a closed book. “What did you do there?”

“I’ve been restoring the drywall and the cobblestone driveway.”

“Wow. Leo, you’re a man of hidden talents.” I was brimming with questions, but I wanted him to offer things to me freely when he felt comfortable. I wanted to earn his trust.

“I come from a long line of stonemasons. My dad taught me the craft before he died.”

My heart broke hearing him say the words.

“I’m sorry.” I suddenly wished he was next to me so I could wrap my arms around him and offer physical comfort to him. “When did he die?”