Essential Company by Crystal Perkins

Father. Genius. Liar. Boss. Xavier James love nothing and no one more than his son. The woman who left him can’t have a place in his heart again, since she’s going to leave him again—just like everyone else. The only way to protect himself is to ignore his heart and his brain, because both are telling him to love her the way she deserves to be loved. Friend. Assistant. Loyal. Mother. Seriyah knows she shouldn’t have come back to X. Yet she did, and now she has to live with her choice—literally.

He comes to her bed every night and lets his son call her “Mommy” but he’s not hers. He’ll never be hers, no matter how much she wants him to be. Secrets. Heartbreak. Love. Everything. When Seri’s forced to repay a debt she owes, X realizes what he’s almost lost and vows to fight for her love. Too bad he’s not ready to divulge his secrets or give her the only thing she asks him for. She thinks he doesn’t want or need her, but having her in his life is as essential as breathing. Now, he’s just going to have to prove it to her.