“That was close,” I breathe. One thing is for sure: we can’t keep this a secret for much longer.
Chapter 27
Rhyland
Ican feel the tension leaving Payton’s body as Ollie disappears upstairs. His heavy footsteps remind me of a petulant child having a tantrum. I wrap my arms around her, holding her to me for a moment, wishing I’d never have to let her go.
Today has been my best birthday in years, and it’s all because of this woman in my arms. The only thing that could top it would be if I didn’t have to hide what she’s become to me—both of them, actually.
It’s getting harder and harder to keep my growing feelings from others, and I know that it’s wearing on Pay, too.
When we know the coast is clear, she turns and buries her face in my chest.
“I hate this,” she muffles.
“I know.” There’s so much want in my two words. “I’m ready to tell them if you are.”
She has no idea how badly I wanted to jump on the table and scream that the man she is dating is me. That I’m the one who put a smile back on her face. We went from one awkward topic to another.
“Not today. I don’t want to make more of a spectacle on your birthday.” She looks up at me, and the world disappears around us.
I press my lips to hers as a promise of “soon.” After a few quick moments before we return to the chaos, I pull back and brush the hair out of her face.
“Now, what do you say we take this cake out there, sing happy birthday to me, where I can make a wish to eat this off you later once everyone has left?”
“Rhyland,” she scolds, but I can see the desire swirling in her baby blues and the pink painting her cheeks. “You’re not supposed to tell your wishes out loud. If you do, they won’t come true.”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so. I think if I say it out loud, it willdefinitelycome true today. And that way, as you watch me take each bite, you know that in my mind, you’re spread out in front of me, begging for me to fuck you after every swipe of my tongue.”
My words meant to tease her, but shit, it backfired because my dick definitely approves of this imagery.
“For fuck’s sake, will you get the fuck out of here?” She gives me a giant shove, catching me off guard.
“Just remember what I said,” I taunt back, chuckling as she turns her back to me and finishes up whatever she was doing before I interrupted her.
Instead of going back to my seat, I detour to where Connie sits. Gabby, who is now awake—I’m sure thanks to her uncle’s dramatic reaction moments ago—reaches her little arms out to me, and I scoop her up. My focus is on her, but I still hearConnie’s small gasp of surprise. I’m not sure if it’s because her granddaughter reached for me right away or if it’s for the fierce bond she and I have formed. Slowly, her look of shock transitions into a smile.
“I won’t take it personally with you being the birthday boy and all,” Connie jokes.
I smile and walk us over to my seat. “Hi, Princess, are you having a good day? I bet this has been a lot for you, and you’re going to sleep good tonight, huh?” I know I will, after I unwrap my present and spend hours worshiping Payton. That’s the least I could do for all she’s done today.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Carefully, I adjust Gabby to retrieve my phone. My brows furrow when I find a text from Ollie.
Why the fuck is he texting me?
I open the message to find an image, and my heart sinks. It’s a photo of Payton’s purple bra. The same bra I took off this morning.Shit, I forgot that was on my floor.
Thank God there wasn’t anything identifiable that it was hers.
Another text quickly follows.
Ollie:What the fuck, man? I get that you’re a bachelor and shit, but I thought we had a talk about this that I didn’t want you bringing random fucking women around with my sister and niece here.
Ollie:Keep it in your fucking pants, Rhy.
Payton finally walks out holding a cake and starts singing “Happy Birthday” with a giant smile on her face, completely unaware of this debauchery.
Ollie quickly appears behind her in the doorway, wearing a completely new outfit. I avoid his gaze, but I can see him through the corner of my eye as he rounds the table and takes his seat beside his wife as if nothing happened.
