She turned quickly to Lacey and pleaded with her eyes. “Can we go?” she whispered.

Lacey nodded and tightened her grip. “Daddy, we’ll be upstairs.”

“Baby, wait,” Cason said. “Maybe they need a minute to talk.”

Hannah could feel the blood drain from her face and looked at Cason instead of Cullen. “N … no. That’s okay, Cason. We had a chance. Besides, his girlfriend probably wouldn’t like him talking to an old one.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Cullen snapped.

Her gaze snapped to his and then away. “I’m sorry. I hope you guys can resolve your issues. She is very beautiful.”

“We need a minute,” Cullen said. “I have things I have to make clear to you and apologize for.”

She pleaded with Cullen with her eyes. “Not now,” she burst out. “I’ve got work to do.”

Cullen sighed. “We’ll talk later.”

Hannah pressed her lips together and turned to Lacey.

“We’ll see you upstairs, Daddy,” Lacey said.

They stepped onto the elevator. Hannah’s last look at Cullen made her stomach tighten.

Lacey pulled her into her arms the moment the doors closed. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Yes, but not here. Can we get together later?” Hannah asked.

“Yes. Would you mind if a few of the girls are there?”

Hannah smiled. “No, not at all. It would make me happy to see them, and I trust them all.”

She felt she needed to purge some of her pain, or she wouldn’t be able to function. Telling the littles was the best thing she could do because she knew they wouldn’t tell a soul, not even their daddies if she asked them not to, and they’d never judge her.

Chapter Five

Cullen thought he was hearing things when he heard Hannah’s giggles over the hammering around him. That distinctive laugh always made his cock hard, and a smile crossed his face. It was deep but carefree.

He made his way toward the sound, and the sight of her made his nerve endings sizzle and his heart race.

The first expressions he saw on her face were surprise, pain, and then nothing. He knew she was trying to cover them, but she’d never been good at hiding anything until then. She was better at concealing her feelings, but he knew her better than anyone.

Fuck. His stomach twisted when they talked about his pretend girlfriend. He knew he fucked up, and he’d regretted it as soon as it was out of his mouth. He knew she didn’t believe him when he confessed that Tracy wasn’t his girlfriend, and that had to be resolved soon.

He decided it was time for their talk. Hopefully, some things could be put to rest, and maybe they could move on?

Later that day, he looked for her office and found the light out and the room empty. He drove home, showered, and then drove to her house.

Her brother opened the door and scowled. “What do you want?” Rhys asked belligerently.

“I want to talk to Hannah.”

“You had your chance, man.”

Cullen studied the man. “We used to be friends. What happen?”

Rhys pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed before looking back at him. “She’s been through enough, and all that got her through was you waiting here for her. When we get home, you show off your new pretend girlfriend, and it destroyed her again.”

“What the fuck happened?”