Page 40 of Like You Love Me

She hesitated and drew in a few deep breaths to settle her nerves. “That was Collin.”

Bianca could see the puzzlement on his face before his eyes lit up with recognition at the name. “Collin?Sierra’s father?” Bianca had barely nodded her head before he released a string of profanity. “What the hell is he doing here?”

She gave a dry laugh. “He lives here now. Collin’s a teacher at the elementary school, so chances are he’s interacted with several Beaumont children.”

Jaden glared at his sister. “You’re telling me he’s a schoolteacher in Sheraton Beach?”

She nodded. “Yes, Collin now lives here.”

“That bastard,” She heard a mumble under his breath. “Does London know?”

“No, and don’t you dare tell him,” she warned.

“Are you serious?” he sputtered in disbelief. “You’re keeping this from your husband?”

“No,” she said. “I just need a moment to figure out how to tell him that he’s back.”

“And what the hell does he want?” Jaden’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me he’s trying to wiggle his way into my niece’s life.”

She stared up at her brother and didn’t even bother to answer because he already knew.

“Are you freaking kidding me? Wait until I tell Jace this.”

“You promise you wouldn’t tell anybody,” she reminded with a groan.

He turned his dazzling smile on her. “Oh, that was before you told me that man was Collin.”

“Don’t you dare do anything.” She warned and then sucked her teeth. “I first have to tell London and let him know he’s here. And I also need to let him know that he wants to be in Sierra’s life.”

“I thought London paid him to go away?”

“He didn’t.” She waved a dismissive hand and shook her head. “Collin doesn’t want my money.” She held up the check he refused to take, but Jaden barely looked at it.

“And you believe that!” he barked with laughter.

Bianca released the sigh. “I think I do believe him.” And that scared her more than anything else. She could deal with that conniving, ruthless Collin, but the man she just witnessed, the remorseful husband and father of three, scared her more than any other man.

London pulled his SUV into the parking lot. A wide grin was on his face before he even shifted the vehicle into Park. His eyes went left and then right. Hilton Woods Plaza. The abandoned strip mall was the home of his fire-damaged restaurant and now belonged to him. He slapped his hands covered by leather gloves together in excitement. Thanks to Ryan he would soon be able to rebuild and expand. And if his plans worked out, this complex would no longer be a ghost town. Instead, new customers would fill the parking lot.

Pop, if you could see me now.

London pushed out a deep, heavy sigh. His grandfather had been determined to leave behind a legacy, and London intended to continue everything he and his father Clarence Jr. had done to put the Brown family on the map. And with the franchise expanding, London hoped to build something his family could be proud of for generations.

His brow furrowed as he thought about last night. Bianca had come home with an assortment ofDebbiecakes,yet something had seemed off about her. The previous few weeks, Bianca had been distant and easily distracted. When he asked her about it, she denied that anything was wrong and even made love to him to prove it. But as soon as they were curled into each other’s arms drifting off to sleep, he wondered and worried that maybe the incident with Troy disturbed Bianca more than she wanted to admit. Jace had mentioned that Sheyna was back at work but still trying to adjust. Throughout the night, London stared down at Bianca’s delicate features while he cradled her in his arms as she slept. By morning, London decided a romantic evening might be what Bianca needed to ease her thoughts and return the fire in her eyes. This week, he planned to arrange a relaxing Valentine’s Day getaway.

At the sound of music drawing close, London looked in his rearview mirror to find a black Bentley pulling up beside his SUV. He killed the engine and climbed out. Cold wind stung his cheek as he walked around the vehicle while a tall figure stepped out of the car. Rance Beaumont. He and his siblings were known as the Force MDs: Rush, Roman, Remy, Reese, Rance, Sedona, and Sage—half African American and half Samoan—were educated and gorgeous doctors in their unique ways. Rance was known as Dr. Dribble. The NBA player was a center for the Philadelphia Sixers.

“Man, what are you doing here?” During the basketball season, Rance usually had a strict conditioning regiment.

Standing at seven-two, Rance walked over and gave him dap. “Debra told me you had a deal for her, so I had to come out here to see for myself and make sure you weren’t ripping my girl off,” Rance drawled, wry humor curving his mouth.

“Rumor has it, she can afford it,” London replied with a hearty chuckle that turned into a bruh hug and a firm slap on the back.

The passenger side door opened on cue, and Debra stepped out in a full-length winter white wool coat. She had a smile on her mouth bigger than life. “Hey, London.” She whipped a pair of designer glasses from her eyes and glanced left then right at the building. “So, this is it.”

“Yep, all twenty-six thousand square feet.”

“All right then.” She walked around the car strutting in a pair of high heel boots.

---