Prologue

       “I wish I’d never met you,” she muttered as she ripped clothes from hangers, tossing them into a tattered suitcase.

       “Jasmine, I’m sorry you feel that way,” Austin DuGrandpre responded. “The truth is that we’re toxic together, so it’s best to end things now.”

       A cold, congested expression settled on her face as she hurled a string of profanity back at him.

       Jasmine was leaving town with her best friend, and Austin thought it was a good idea. They needed some separation. They had dated for two years and the relationship was tumultuous at best. For the past month, Jasmine had been pressuring Austin for a marriage proposal. When nothing came of it, she decided to give him an ultimatum—marry her or she would leave town and find a new man.

       Austin chose the latter. Jasmine was free to start over with someone new. Perhaps she’d be much happier.

       Her mouth took on an unpleasant twist as she shot daggers toward him with her eyes. “I can’t believe I wasted all this time with you. I should’ve known better than to get involved with someone like you...”

       Austin opened his mouth to utter a retort, but remained silent. He would not allow himself to be baited into another argument with Jasmine.

       “Did you ever love me?”

       “That wasn’t the problem.”

       She frowned with cold fury. “Then what is it? I’m not good enough to be your wife—the wife of a lawyer?” Jasmine folded her arms across her chest. “What? You wanna be with some snobby ivy league graduate...huh?”

       “Jasmine, the problem is that you and I are not a good fit,” Austin stated. “You can’t go around starting fights with every woman who looks my way. I come home to you every night, but you still accuse me of cheating...we’re just not good together. You like to party and you get angry when I tell you I’m tired.”

       Her face was marked by loathing. “Why shouldn’t I have a good time? When you’re home, all you do is work. It’s always about your clients.”

       “You knew I was an attorney when we met.” He paused a moment before asking, “If you find me so boring, why have you been pushing so hard for marriage?”

       “All of my friends are getting married and it’s not like I’m getting any younger, Austin. Any man would want me for a wife...anyone but you.” Jasmine met his gaze. “But it’s cool. You see, I know what you really want and it’s the one thing you won’t get. I’m gonna make sure of it.”

       He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

       Jasmine shrugged, then closed her suitcase. “Doesn’t matter.”

      Coming out of the musing, Austin looked down at the birth certificate in his hand as if seeing it for the first time.

      He wasn’t.

      He had stared at it many times since procuring the copy from Jasmine’s former best friend, Cheryl. They left Dallas, Texas, with Las Vegas in their sights.

      Then one day Cheryl was back home. She requested a meeting with Austin, shocking him with the news that Jasmine was pregnant when they left town.