CHAPTER 3

KAYLA'S POV- THREE YEARS LATER.

I was running late, and it was all because of the freaking traffic. I glanced at the clock on the dash of my car and blew out a shaky breath. I had a little over fifteen minutes to make it seven miles across the small town and with the traffic; it didn't seem possible.

Not when the cars ahead of me were at a standstill, with multiple horns blasting and the shouts that filled the air did nothing to move the traffic. How I lost track of time was not much of a mystery to me. I had lost track of time and the bar where I worked was busy, busier than usual for a Thursday, one of the worst days of the week. I and the other girls there had to work harder tonight, and it took me a while to get off my shift.

Rumors were, a bunch of multi-billionaire investors were in town for a new business deal, and the bar I worked at was the perfect place for dodgy business meetings and backhanded deals. It wasn't the most outstanding bar in the town, but it was the only bar where shady men in suits came during the night.

I ignored it mostly and did the only thing I did. I was a complete stranger to the darker side of life and I surely didn't want to get familiar with it or care about their illicit deals.

The engine of my Chevy sputtered, reminding me of my beat-up engine and I chuckled when it blew out a plume of fume from the exhaust my smile turned into a wistful one as I looked at the wipers that were stuck halfway, unable to completely clear the foggy screen. I picked up a small towel and outstretched my hands outside to clean the glass.

When the car in front of me moved, I rolled my tires to move forward.

My legs couldn't stop shaking as I thought about the extra fee the daycare would charge me.

Extra fee I couldn't afford right now.

"Fucking hell, move!" I joined the sea of angry drivers to scream. I didn't know who or what I was shouting at, but I felt immensely better.

Screaming always helped.

I reached across and fished my phone to call the daycare and let them know I would come late. I couldn't afford the fee, but I had no choice but to pay it, so I could keep Estelle there. A sigh left my lips as I calculated the bills I had to pay and the money I had left.

"Fuck." I cursed softly.

I couldn't let my grandma know about my piled-up bills. I wanted to go through this phase on my own, with no chip-ins.

I was no longer the young and naïve nineteen-year-old Kayla; I was a twenty-two-year-old adult and mother, and I needed to act like one.

I told the daycare I'd be late, biting my lower lip when they disclosed the fees, and then abruptly hung up.

My whole body refused to relax as my car crawled through the traffic.

Thirty minutes later and I was pulling my car into the parking lot of the daycare, I stepped out and jogged through the chilly air into the building.

I smiled with relief when I saw who was standing in the waiting area with my daughter. My tensed body relaxed and my whole mood changed when my eyes landed on her. She giggled when she saw me, her cheeks deepening from her dimples and her green eyes sparkled with innocence. She mumbled and thrashed as I ran to them, trying to get to me faster. I instantly took her into my arms, placing her on my hips with my arm wrapped around her. I peppered kisses all over her round face. After signing off on the fees to go straight to my invoice, I left the daycare.

I was thankful it was the last day of the week and I had Saturday and Sunday off. I was tired and I wanted to spend the next two days resting and having a mother and daughter time with my girl.

Being a single mother was tough, but I couldn't decide if it was even tougher in a new town and as a young mum. The judgemental stares and hushed whispers always followed me wherever I went.

Nothing was ever good enough and there was never enough time to balance things out.

But I always coped and I never regretted my decision to keep Estelle and the life I chose to live.

Sure, I wished things were different but that was just wishful thinking and reality was a cruel bitch.

I hurried to my car, placed Estelle into the car seat in the car, adjusted her coat, and strapped her up. She gave me a grin as I moved her bangs out of her forehead and she giggled when I leaned down to kiss her nose before shutting the door.

I jumped when a car door slammed close behind me and I looked behind me to find striking blue eyes staring at me, I shivered at the hard look in the eyes and I dragged my gaze down to find a sharp jaw with a full beard and full pink lips, he had broad shoulders and a muscled torso encased in a gray cashmere sweater that probably cost half of my closet, black pants that hugged thickly corded thighs and Italian loafers on his feet.

I noticed that as I ran my gaze over him, he was also doing the same to me, my clothed skin prickled under his gaze and I suddenly felt naked. I looked up and I wasn't surprised when I found his heated gaze on me, his eyes turned a different shade, one that brimmed with unbridled lust, and every part of me clenched.

As if realizing what had just happened, his jaw clenched harder and his lips curled.

In disgust, lust, or anger at himself, I had absolutely no idea.

I snapped out of my daydreaming when a little body walked between us.

I looked down to find a little girl, around six years old, staring up at the mountain of a man before me. She had the same blue eyes and dark hair as the man standing in front of me and she was pissed. I could tell by the way her small hands folded over her chest and her lips were in a pout.

I looked up to find a pink tint on my stranger's cheeks.

I smiled, I guess I wasn't the only one ruffled.

I watched as she looked between the stranger, who I beginning to think was her father or guardian. She gave him an impatient look, and pointed to the backseat of their car.

There was a little communication going on here. 

I could tell when the stranger's eyes widened a little. Then he said, "Sure, hunny. Let's go get your ice cream."

His voice was rich and husky voice and I was getting a little breathy from it.

Jesus. What the fuck was wrong with me?

I cleared my throat and my sexy stranger gazed at me but I refused to meet his eyes, instead, I met the blue eyes of the younger version of him. The female version.

"Hello." I gave her a little wave and a friendly smile.

Only to be met with a blank stare before she turned her back to me and stared at him. He scooped her into his arms and tucked her into the seater in the backseat.

Then he gave me a nod and a small smile in apology, and my stomach dipped in excitement.

I watched as he rounded the black BMW, my eyes trained on his tight, round behind, gazing at it while he never looked back.

It wasn't until he started his car and drove off I shook my head and blew out a deep breath while simultaneously asking myself what the hell had just happened.

I had just met a freaking millionaire, judging by his expensive taste in clothes and loafers.

I must've looked stupid standing next to my beat-up car, wearing worn-out clothes and shoes, lusting after a man who treated people like me as objects before dumping us in the trashcan.

Fuck, what if he was married?

I was lusting after a man who could've been married, for heaven's sake, Kayla!

This was very much unusual considering the mess I just pulled myself from.

Getting attracted to a man who looked as powerful and dangerous as my hot stranger was a huge ass no in my books.

I looked around to make sure no one was had watched what had just happened. I sighed in relief when I didn't see anyone.

I chose this daycare because it was in the quieter and nicer part of our little town. It was more expensive, but it was better than the ones nearest to the bar I worked at and the ones close to the apartment building where we lived. The distance didn't matter if my daughter was cared for and looked after adequately. So it was easier for me to meet strangers like him here.

I stepped into the car and held my breath as my car engine rumbled aggressively and threatened not to start, but then it started and I backed out and drove out of the lot, rejoining the traffic.

I looked down at my clothes and winced. I must've looked stupid to the little girl and her dad.

I must've looked like a freaking beggar.

It had been months since I last saw my grandma and, if she should see me, she would clutch her pearls and gasp in horror.

I looked horrendous, tired, and exhausted.

I always took her calls straight to voice mail. I knew how insistent she could be if she wanted to help.

I drove through the city, past the city center, and down the lower end where my apartment building was situated.

It was a run-down building, owned by a corrupt landlord who would rather use his money to buy and snort drugs than pay for the things that needed repairs in the building. But it was cheap and affording anything else was impossible.

It was growing darker by the time I pulled into the lot outside the building, it was much colder now and I rushed to pick Estelle and her bag from the backseat, curling my body over hers to protect her from the weather before jogging inside the building and taking the stairs.

Once inside, I locked the door and slid the bolt for extra measure. I placed Estelle in the playpen set up in the living room and put on the TV. It was old, with a crackdown on the left side that disturbed the cartoon on the screen. Loud and happy voices came from the coco melon playing on the screen and it distracted Estelle while I rushed to the kitchen to prepare dinner for us.

I quickly washed the dishes that I left the previous night and began cooking. I boiled the pasta and cooked the chicken in a cream sauce for the pasta and sauce I was making.

Once it was ready, I placed our plates on the table then picked Estelle from the floor, and placed her in the high chair at the table before taking the chair next to her.

The next few minutes, she turned into a mess with pasta and cream smeared all over her face and chubby little hands and I struggled to keep my cheeky smile in. I ate in silence and let her shove her hand filled with food in her mouth.

I stopped eating and picked up her plate to feed her properly.

Once our plates were cleared and washed, I switched off the TV and lights before getting Estelle and me ready for bed.

In the bedroom, it was dark and it had begun raining as I cradled my daughter to my chest. She curled into me, snuggling her face against my chest before letting out a little yawn.

It didn't take long for her to go right to sleep as I rocked her, and I got comfortable, placing the cover over us.

My eyes got heavier the more I thought about how it has only ever been Estelle and I against the world.

The last thing that flashed through my closed eyes as I drifted off, was a pair of piercing blue eyes.

And I then realized how much trouble Mr stranger was.