After everything my family had been through, finding my dad again seemed like a miracle. He’d left my mum and I when I was five, and it wasn’t until I went and found him after her death that I realized he’d started another family. It’d taken a lot for us to get to this point.

Next to the photo of Dad and me, was one of Ash and me at the opening party for Pulse. He was looking totally swish in his suit and tie, and I was totally out of character in my slinky black dress. We stood together, his chest squished against mine, our eyes locked on one another like the crowd and the cameras didn’t exist. Another Kodak moment.

Moving onto the third photo, I frowned when I saw an enlarged print of the photo I kept in my things at Beat. After she’d passed, a lot of sleepless nights had been spent staring at the picture of my mum and I. We were sitting on a picnic table in a park, and her arms were around me. I must’ve been seven or eight, my long, dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and I wore a plain, red T-shirt and blue jeans. My mum looked totally nineties with a floral dress and hiking boots on her feet.

“Where did you get this?” I asked, not sure how I felt about having the photo on the wall. I kept it hidden, close and protected, since it was one of the few pictures I’d kept of us after she’d passed away.

“I had to go through your stuff,” Ash replied carefully. “I didn’t read your diary if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I don’t have a diary, smart-ass.”

“I thought you’d like it,” he murmured, unsure at my reaction.

I stared at the photo a moment longer, taking in the grainy image someone long forgotten had taken on an old film camera. “I love it.”

“Are you pissed that I snooped?”

I shook my head. “No secrets, remember?”

Taking Ash’s hand, I moved through to the bedrooms, inspecting each of the three. The two smaller rooms had a bathroom attached with a modest bath, shower, and vanity which had a black and white marble bench top with black tap ware, but it was the master suite that had me swooning.

Ash had put in a king bed with a black leather headboard. A recessed wall above had little reading lamps and photo frames inside, all matching colors with the artwork on the opposite wall. Huge floor to ceiling windows opened out onto a small private terrace, and beyond that, I could see the entire Melbourne city skyline. There was so much to look at, I didn’t know what to gush over first. The view that would light up the night like nothing else, the walk-in closet or the bathroom with the huge bath, double shower and underfloor heating.

It was totally posh and belonged on the pages of a design magazine. I couldn’t believe we were going to live here. Me and Ash. Ash and me. It was ours.

Kicking off my shoes and peeling off my socks, I curled my toes into the plush carpet and breathed in the new smell that clung to the apartment.

“I’m taking your silence to mean you like it,” Ash said from beside me.

“Are you kidding?” I asked, throwing my arms around his neck. “I love it.”

“Good,” he replied, moving his mouth to cover mine.

I parted my lips, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue merging with mine. I curled my fingers into his hair and held him against me, letting everything that he was overtake my senses to the point where I began to ache between the legs. Every time Ash kissed me, my knees buckled. Nothing had changed since day one in that department and neither had my need for him to be inside me. If anything, it’d gotten stronger as each day went by.

“I love you,” I murmured, pulling away.

“I love you,” he echoed, running his hands up and down my back before cupping my ass. “When are you moving in?”

“I’ve gotta stick around Beat until Dad finds someone to take over management,” I murmured, tracing my fingers over his lips.

“When’s that? I’m dying without you.”

“Suck,” I said with a laugh.

“True story, Spitfire,” he retorted. “Every night that you’re not in my bed… Let’s just say my hand ain’t the same.”

“Deviant.”

“When?” He pressed.

“A couple of days I hope. Dad’s coming back next week.”

“Good. Can you feel how happy that makes me?” He moved his crotch against me, and boy, could I ever.

“Do you have anything to do right now?” I asked, reaching for the hem of his T-shirt and pulling it up.

Ash swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to my breasts, which were squashed against his chest. “I’ve got an hour. What did you have in mind?”

I bit my lip and smiled sweetly. “Shower time with Ash Fuller.”

Two

Ash

“Dammit!”

I smashed a fist down on the kitchen counter in frustration.

“What’s up your ass?” Ren asked from her perch at the island.

She was sitting there in a tiny T-shirt and pajama bottoms, spoon in hand with a bowl of her favorite cereal in front of her. All Bran and berries. The blue ones always got eaten first so she could save the red ones for last. Point was, she was watching me with a raised eyebrow looking sexy as hell.

I gestured at the toaster, which wouldn’t toast. “The fuckin’ thing won’t thing.”

“The fuckin’ thing won’t thing?” she asked, raising her eyebrow even higher. Sliding off the stool, she rounded the island and stood next to me. “Ah, I see the problem.”

Leaning around me, her tits pressed against my arm, and she smiled coyly...and flicked the switch on at the wall.

“It has to be on first,” she said with a smirk. “Give it a try now.”

Pushing down the lever, the bread stayed down, and the toaster began to do its job. “Hallelujah.”

“Where would you be without me?”

“Sittin’ here eatin’ cold bread.”

Pulling in a deep breath, I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms over my chest. I cast my gaze out across the apartment that I’d built for my one and only, taking it all in. It was brilliant and all, and I had spared no expense making her dream home come alive, but something wasn’t right. There was a feeling in the air that something was unfinished, but I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was. Pulse was doing great, and it ran like clockwork these days, the apartment was finished and paid off, Violet was finally happy and living her life up in Sydney, and drama was at an absolute zero.

Maybe the fact that Violet was absent was the thing that had me on edge. She was my baby sister who I’d protected through some of the worst years of our lives like a parent. I had to after ours had abandoned us like unwanted furniture on the side of the road. Maybe the absence of a family was what I was missing.

Ren edged closer and placed her hand on my arm. “What’s on your mind, Maverick?”

“Nothin’.” Every time I had a shift in mood, she was onto me like a hawk. The toaster popped and I turned and pulled the hot slices out and began spreading margarine and jam on them.

“What’s that look on your face?” Ren asked, standing beside me.

“What look?” I asked, wrapping my arm around her waist.

“The one that says the cogs are turning in your brain.”

I shook my head, casting my gaze across the apartment. It was perfect. She loved the home I’d built for her, she loved the gym downstairs, she loved her life and she loved me. What else could I ask for?

Ren pinched me on the ass. “Maverick, spill.”

“Do you ever wonder about what’s next?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Where’s this going?”

I shrugged. “I’ve been so focused on getting this place going and now that it’s done…” I sighed, pulling Ren into my arms.

“You need a goal, fighter?” she murmured against my chest.

I grunted.

“Well, what about Cole and Ryan? They’re getting pretty good. It’ll be time soon for qualifiers. Do you think they’re ready?”

Ren was thinking about the business and the two stooges downstairs, but I’d been thinking about something else.