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With one last kiss, he rolled off her and stood. “Your things are in the closet.” He nodded toward his big walk-in closet that was almost as big as the bedrooms in her apartment. “I’m going to get breakfast started.”
After he left the room, she scrambled into the bathroom to shower. She usually spent several minutes standing under the spray trying to wake up, but she didn’t need to do that this morning. Daniel had taken care of waking her up in the best possible way.
The warm feeling in her chest grew as she washed and dried her body. He made her feel loved. Wanted. Needed, even. When it was only them, she felt as if she were the most important person in the world to him. She’d never had that before.
Going to his closet, she walked in to find all her clothes on one side. Her suits for work were hung up, along with her T-shirts. Her jeans and leggings were stacked neatly on three shelves. For some reason, seeing her stuff there, mingled with his, had her close to tears. She loved him so much, had for a long time, but she never thought anything would happen between them. Not like this. This felt like a dream. One she was afraid she’d wake up from.
Taking a moment to get hold of herself, Ali removed her favorite suit from the hanger and got dressed. When she opened the bedroom door, she could smell cinnamon. Her mouth watered as she made her way into the kitchen.
Daniel was putting cinnamon rolls onto a large plate when she strolled into the kitchen. He heard her and turned. His gaze raked over her, male appreciation in his eyes as a slow grin pulled at his lips. She knew exactly what he was thinking.
She walked toward him, and he opened his arms, welcoming her into his embrace. He pressed his lips to the top of her head before tilting her chin up to give her a proper kiss. “Take a seat. I’ll bring everything over.”
Bradley came in while they were eating. He grabbed a plate, plucked a cinnamon roll from the serving dish, and sat down. “Morning.”
“Morning.” She gave him what she hoped to be a friendly smile before going back to her breakfast. They were on a time crunch this morning and the last thing she needed was to be late to work. Her boss was already going to be ticked off because she didn’t have his report finished. Her only hope was that he would come in late. Another hour or two and she’d have it done.
As they were cleaning up, her mother made an appearance. She was dressed, and her hair and makeup were done, something Ali had never seen from Zelda this early in the day. Typically, the first twenty-four hours after her mother’s return were all about wallowing. It was rare she even brushed her hair, let alone styled it.
“How’s everyone on this beautiful morning?” Zelda asked the room at large as she helped herself to coffee.
“We’re good, Mom.” Ali paused. “What are you doing up this early?”
Her mom giggled. Giggled.
Ali frowned, but her mom didn’t notice.
“It’s a beautiful day. Why would I spend it in bed?” Zelda went to the refrigerator, opened it, and removed the milk. “Are those cinnamon rolls? They smell divine.”
Before Ali could think of anything to say in response, Daniel stepped in. “Help yourself to the cinnamon rolls. Ali and I need to get to work, but Bradley will be around if you need anything.”
Her mom waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll find something to keep myself busy.”
Daniel placed a hand on the small of Ali’s back. “Come on. We need to get going or you’re going to be late.”
That got her moving. She grabbed her purse, and they hurried out the door, leaving Bradley and her mother alone in the house.
Once they were in the car and heading into the city, Daniel spoke, “Did your mother get any type of inheritance from your grandmother?”
Ali shook her head. “No. Grandma didn’t have much, but what she did have she left to me.”
He nodded.
When he didn’t say anything more, she asked, “Why? Did she say something to you?”
Daniel glanced at her before returning his attention to the road. “She did, but that doesn’t have anything to do with my question. Not directly, anyway.” He paused as he took the exit ramp. “I’m more concerned with her transient lifestyle. Where does she get her money when she’s not with you?”
“Her boyfriends,” Ali said right away. She’d seen how her mom used the men she was with. Zelda Foster had no shame. She’d seen her mom talk a man she’d known less than a week into taking her to Paris.
“What about after the relationship ends?”
It took her a moment to put the pieces together as to what he was asking. “You mean how does she get to me from wherever she was?”
He nodded.
That was a good question and one she’d never asked. She’d always assumed her mom had some access to money, but Ali realized she had no idea what it was. “I don’t know. When my mom shows up on my doorstep, it’s like a whirlwind. And by the time I get my head wrapped around it, she’s usually found another guy and is off again.”
“How does she meet these men?” Daniel asked.
