Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Her mother’s extreme reaction forced Sasha to feel like she had to justify herself. At twenty-four years old, she was beginning to resent it. “That’s not what happened. Xander is the one who has put limits on our relationship. He wants me to pursue my career.”
And Sasha didn’t blame him for the anxiety his tour of duty had saddled him with or the things he needed in order to be happy. She also didn’t feel like he was putting his needs ahead of hers. Like her mother, he believed in her talent and didn’t want to keep her from further success.
Her mother pursed her lips. Clearly she wasn’t buying it. Was it any wonder? She wasn’t a Xander fan no matter what she was told.
Sasha decided to keep trying to make her understand because Annika was her mother and she had invested a lot of time and money into Sasha’s career. No matter how misguided her reasons.
“I was concerned about my career before I ever saw Xander again. I’m tired,” Sasha said, recalling telling Cassidy as much in LA.
Although Sasha had to admit, she wasn’t feeling that exhaustion pulling at her here or while working on this movie.
Because here she had more than just acting in her life, a little voice in her head reminded her.
She had Xander’s silent support. Cassidy’s friendship and the knowledge that her career was in good hands. She also had Xander’s family. Aurora had texted earlier, asking if they could get together for lunch to talk about her charity work. Aside from Cassidy, Sasha had had no time for female friends, lunches out, or girls’ nights in. Thank God Cassidy traveled with her or she couldn’t imagine the loneliness she’d feel.
She met her mother’s gaze. “I need you to hear me. I don’t know if I want to work this hectic pace anymore. I have a home I’m rarely in, I live out of hotels, and now I have a stalker. Is that the kind of life you wished you’d had instead of being married to Dad and tied down with me?”
Her mother jerked at Sasha’s blunt question. “I don’t regret having you. I just wish your father had been around so I could have had my career as well.” But once Sasha had to be enrolled in school, her mother couldn’t travel with him from state to state for gigs, and he’d abandoned them both.
Sasha nodded, trying her best not to let her emotions show. The words were correct but she wasn’t sure she trusted them. Her mother’s singular focus on her daughter’s career above all else told a different story. A sad one.
“Well, it’s my life and I’ll make the choices I feel are best for me. And if that includes Xander, so be it.”
Annika opened her mouth to reply, but as if Sasha had conjured him, she heard the snick of the lock and Xander’s footsteps entering the apartment.
He strode into the kitchen dressed in a pair of black running shorts and a royal-blue tank top, stained with sweat. And she was unable to tear her gaze away from the masculine perfection in front of her.
He lifted his shirt and wiped the sweat from his forehead before any fell into his eyes, and Sasha stifled a groan.
“Ladies,” he said, his gaze falling on her, a knowing grin lifting his lips.
Her mother turned around. “Xander.”
“Annika. How are you?”
Her mother’s gaze drilled into him as if she could read his mind from her long stare.
“I’m fine, thank you.” She swallowed hard. “Sasha has been filling me in on the stalker situation and why she had to come stay here.” She glanced down before drawing a deep breath and meeting his gaze. “I… Thank you for making sure my daughter is safe.”
The words were hard for Annika, Sasha knew, and she shot her mother a grateful look.
Xander nodded, jaw tight. “I’d do anything to protect her.”
At his words, gratitude and an emotion Sasha absolutely refused to name washed over her. They hadn’t put a label on their relationship, nor had they admitted to what each of them felt for the other. Sasha understood his need to protect himself from her given their past, and she couldn’t make promises while her career and decisions were so up in the air. She had a film to focus on right now. Choices would have to wait.
“I’m going to shower and make myself presentable. If there’s anything either of you needs, let me know.” Xander strode off and Sasha watched him go.
Her mother’s prolonged sigh broke her focus. “What?” Sasha snapped, tired of the judgment.
Her mother glanced at her, eyes wide. “I don’t appreciate your tone, Sasha.”
“And I don’t want to hear another lecture on choosing my career instead of a man.”
Did it have to be an either-or situation? Could she make movies and be a part of Xander’s more solitary life? She didn’t know. And a big part of her was afraid to find out.