1

Introduction

Inside a couples' hotel room.

I was two seconds from pouring my heart out to the man in front of me.

Bang. The door slammed open.

A swarm of people burst in, shouting, "Police! Hands on your head, get down, don't move!"

I stared at the cold-faced man leading the charge, frozen solid.

It was my ex.

Chapter 1

Since coming back to the States, I'd been so buried in settling the new house and handling my father's funeral that I barely paid attention to my son.

I never imagined he'd use that window to find me a boyfriend online.

Tall. Handsome. Son of some big political family. Power and money — the whole package.

I went to the police academy, for God's sake. One look and I knew exactly what it was: a romance scam.

But I was already too late.

Yesterday, Andy had wired the man almost thirty thousand dollars.

My heart sank. And then sank lower.

Andy picked up on the shift in my face and started explaining. "Mommy, he just needs the money for an emergency. As soon as he sorts out the thing with his company, he's going to pay us back first thing. Don't worry."

He said it so easily. Like thirty thousand dollars was nothing.

I closed my eyes and forced my voice steady. "Okay, sweetie. Go play in your room. If Mommy's going to date someone, Mommy handles it herself, alright? You don't have to worry about this part anymore. Trust me."

"Okay, Mommy!" Andy chirped, completely happy, and ran off to play.

I already had my plan. Keep talking to the guy. Keep the conversation going. Get him to send the money back on his own.

What I never, ever saw coming was someone cutting in at the last second.

Felix walked over, looking me up and down. That sharp stare of his made my skin crawl.

Of all the ways to run into him right after coming home. Of all the circumstances.

Seven years had smoothed him into something steadier, harder. Those cold black eyes hit even deeper than I remembered.

"Miss Lawson really misjudged this one. The man in front of you isn't from any powerful family. He's a con artist running a romance scam."

He bit down hard on the words *romance scam*.

I looked at the man they had in cuffs and my brows pulled tight.

The plan had been to get my money back first, *thenhand him over to the cops. Now the cops had moved in early, and whether I'd ever see that thirty thousand again was anyone's guess.

Felix, of course, assumed I was standing there stewing because I'd picked the wrong man. He wasn't even trying to hide the contempt on his face.

I couldn't be bothered to set him straight.

That's when Andy burst in, threw himself into my arms, and clung to me. His voice cracked with tears. "Mommy, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I'm so glad you're okay…"

I smoothed his hair. "It's alright, baby. Mommy's not mad at you."

Then, out of nowhere, Felix said, "This is your son?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What, you thought he was *yours*?"

"…"

Andy had blond hair and blue eyes. Obviously he wasn't Felix's kid.

Felix's face locked up for a split second. Then he turned away, cold again, and spoke over his shoulder to one of the officers. "Bring them all in for statements."

I watched his back and couldn't stop the memories from rushing in.

I'd had a crush on him since high school. Followed him every step of the way, right down to the same university, before I finally worked up the nerve to chase him.

Landing him was something I'd never even dared dream about. Back then I genuinely thought I was the luckiest girl alive.

Now? Now I'd give anything to go back and *neverhave been with him at all.

Junior year of college. My father drove into the city to visit me and got into a car accident. It was bad — really bad.

I couldn't begin to afford the medical bills. And I sure as hell couldn't just stand there and watch my father die.

And while I was drowning, while I was losing my mind trying to save him — my boyfriend was at a matchmaking dinner with some heiress his family approved of.