Page 60 of His Surrender

Aubrey standing in her bedroom.

The surprised look on her face when I walked in. The way I looked at her. How I couldn’t stop thinking about her afterward.

I let out a slow breath. “Dammit.”

I spent half the night trying to convince myself to let it go. The other half proving I couldn’t.

Liana cries again, louder this time.

“I’m coming.”

I throw the covers back and stand, grateful for the interruption.

Anything is better than spending another minute inside my own head.

As I walk toward the nursery, one thought settles in with startling clarity.

This has to stop.

She’s twenty-two, she lives in my home, and she works for me. None of those facts change because I find her attractive. If anything, they make the attraction more dangerous.

I spent years building a life around discipline and control. It’s time to start acting like it again.

No more inviting her to Central Park. No lingering over dinner after Liana goes to bed or looking for reasons to spend time with her.

Our relationship needs to remain professional, friendly. Nothing more. Because the alternative ends with someone getting hurt.

I push open the nursery door.

The moment Liana sees me, her cries soften into little whimpers before disappearing altogether.

A smile spreads across my face despite everything. “Morning, Peanut.”

She kicks both legs excitedly.

At least one person in this apartment isn’t making my life impossibly complicated.

With Liana balanced against my shoulder, I make my way into the kitchen. The rich smell of coffee hits me immediately.

Aubrey is standing at the counter, pouring herself a cup, her hair twisted into a messy bun on top of her head. She glances over her shoulder the moment she hears my footsteps.

“Morning.” The smile she gives me is warm. The kind that’s become routine over the last few weeks.

For a split second, instinct takes over. I want to smile back and ask what she has planned today. Instead, I tighten my grip on the bottle in my hand.

“Morning.” I head straight for the coffeepot, avoiding her eyes as I grab a mug from the cabinet.

“She slept pretty well,” Aubrey says, glancing down at Liana. “I only heard her once.”

“Yeah.” I pour my coffee. “I noticed.”

An awkward, unfamiliar silence takes over. I can feel Aubrey looking at me. Normally, we’d already be talking about what Liana did yesterday or laughing over some ridiculous moment.

Instead, the only sound is the coffee filling my mug.

“Everything okay?” Aubrey asks carefully.

I nod. “Just tired.”