“Sometimes.”

“Then it wasn’t wasted time.” She smoothed Shiori’s hair from her forehead. “None of your time away was squandered.”

“So what happens now?”

“With your future with Okada? I’d love to dangle a huge promotion in front of you to keep you and my impending grandbaby close by.” She smiled through her tears. “It really destroys my plans to spoil that child when you’re in love with the baby’s father and I doubt he’ll be down with his child—and you—living in Japan.”

Shiori managed a small smile. “Knox grew up in a single-parent home. He’ll never agree to a periphery role in his child’s life, and I’d never ask him to. I don’t want him to have a secondary role in my life either.”

“Then tell him, Shiori-san. While I’m glad you came to me, now you need to go to him and figure this out.”

“I know.”

“Has he called you?”

“Like twenty times.”

“Call him back.” Her mom clasped her hands and pulled her upright. “As much as I love having you here, I do have a social engagement tonight that I cannot break. Tell you what. Go to your apartment, change your clothes, figure out what you’re going to say to him. Then look around and see if you can envision yourself living in that space with a baby.”

Shiori envisioned herself living in Knox’s house with him and their baby.

Soft lips brushed her forehead. “Have the life you were meant to. If that life means I’ll be making a lot of trips to the States to see my grandchild, so be it.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“It’s what I’m here for.” She stood. “I’ll call for a car. I don’t think you’re feeling well enough to take the bus.”

*   *   *

SHIORI arrived at the Okada building an hour later, feeling somewhat better. She’d needed the comfort of her mom, the comfort of home more than she realized.

She didn’t recognize the security guard on the main level. Since this was a public building, security procedures were minimal until the fortieth floor, which was where private residences started. In the elevator she swiped her keycard and punched in a code.

Nothing had changed in the small waiting area on her floor, and she cut down the left hallway.

Home sweet home.

Shiori unlocked the door, dropped her duffel bag on the floor, and tossed her keycard on the catchall table like she always did. That’s when she noticed her spare keycard was already there. Strange. Had Amery left it?

Awareness of something being not quite right set the hair on the back of her neck on end. She quietly removed her shoes and listened.

Nothing.

But wait. She closed her eyes and inhaled. The scent that hit her nearly buckled her knees. Warm skin with a hint of male musk and laundry soap.

Knox.

Don’t be silly. He’s not here. It’s just wishful thinking.

As Shiori turned the corner from the foyer into the living room and stopped, a loud gasp escaped her lips.

Knox was here. Shirtless, stripped down to his boxers, on his knees, head bowed, facing away from her.

Holy fuck.

Knox.

Was.

Here.

On. His. Knees.

Waiting. For. Her.

Immediately she closed the distance between them. She fell to her knees behind him, stretching herself over his back, pressing her face between his shoulder blades. The familiar scent of him filled her lungs, quickened her heartbeat, and soothed her soul. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.”

“You’re not dreaming, Mistress.”

Shiori held on to him for the longest time, letting her tears fall freely onto his back.

She gathered herself as she placed kisses up his spine to the nape of his neck. She moved to stand in front of him. “Look at me, please.”

Knox lifted his head. Those blue eyes held such resolve.

“Why are you here?”

“Because I love you. It’s been the worst three days of my life, not knowing what I’d done or said to make you leave.”

She curled her hands around his face. “Say it again.”

“I love you.” He blew out a breath. “Have I fucked this up beyond repair, Nushi? That would kill me.”

“Why?”

“It’s been my greatest joy to belong to you. To love you.”

Such simple, beautiful words.

“But if you don’t want me here, don’t want me as yours—”

She slammed her mouth down on his to shut him up. The kiss was electric from the start. A reunion, her affirmation, his repentance.