“You think you know me so well.” I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Better than you know yourself, Caldwell.” Our eyes locked until his drifted to my lips. He groaned when I gave him a slow shake of my head. Last thing I needed was someone in Drew’s family to catch us the way Josh and Brianna had.
Victoria’s laughter drifting from the living room brought me a little relief. I pointed to the living room before stealing a quick look to make sure she was having fun.
“The boys don’t know whether to be impressed or mad that Victoria is beating them so badly,” a blonde woman noted from behind me. “I’m Angie, Jesse’s wife. I’m sure all our names are swimming around in your head from that whirlwind introduction.” Angie smiled and seemed about my age. Her features were light, her pale hair brushing her shoulders as she laughed at the kids on the couch. “I’m glad Drew brought you guys over. He said you met at school, but you’re a culinary student. “
“Yes, I baked a cake for tonight.” I cringed at my clipped response. It was as if we were both on display tonight but, thankfully, Victoria was too engrossed in playing to feel it.
“Drew needs to bring you around more. I bet you make all kinds of awesome things at school. I only know the basics, but the guys, even the big one, only eat five things.” We shared a genuine laugh. “There’s Sangria in the kitchen if you’d like to help yourself to a glass. I know I’d need something if I met us all at once.”
“You know, I’d love some. Thank you.” I tried to give her a more relaxed smile before I made my way into the kitchen. Drew was speaking with his aunt in loud whispers when I approached, and the tension made me stop in my tracks.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into, Andrew. She has a child. That’s a double obligation I don’t think you’re ready for.” My blood chilled at the accusation in her voice. As much as I hated it, I had to agree with her. Drew was too good to realize it.
“She’s not an obligation, Aunt Maria. I care about Sara . . . a lot, and her daughter is a great kid if you bothered to get to know her.” Hearing him so irritated unnerved me. I never heard him be cross with anyone, other than Chase that one time on the track. He was upset and fighting with his favorite aunt—because of me.
“You need to be careful. These women . . . they see a young guy like you with a bright future and—”
“So, after meeting her for two minutes you think Sara sees me as a meal ticket?” He scoffed. “She is the most hard-working, brave person I’ve ever met. You have no right to—”
“Did you find it?” Angie asked behind me and startled all three of us. Drew turned and grimaced at the sight of me standing there.
“No. But it’s all right. Victoria and I are going to go.” My eyes locked with Drew’s. His jaw clenched as he took a step toward me.
“It’s fine.” I held up my hand. “I’ll let her finish this game, and we’ll take a cab back to Josh’s. I’ll see you back at school. No big deal.”
His aunt’s expression softened when her gaze stumbled on mine. I nodded with a slight shrug. I couldn’t blame her for her opinion, especially since there was so much painful truth to it. I’d never use Drew, but wewerean obligation he wasn’t ready for. My feelings for him clouded my judgment, but friendship was all I had the right to offer him. I slowed my breathing to ward away the burning in my nose, the weight of disappointment heavy on my chest.
“You guys aren’t going anywhere. Excuse us.” Drew pulled me by the wrist into a small storage closet by the kitchen. He turned the light on and shut the door, caging me against the wall with his arms on either side of me.
I grasped his arm and pushed, but he wouldn’t budge. “You should be with your family anyway. Don’t worry about us, please.” His angry eyes rooted me to the floor. I couldn’t move or lie. Hiding anything from Drew was impossible, and I’d never resented it more than at that moment.
His eyes narrowed as he inched closer. “Five minutes ago, you had no problem staying and were excited about our plans for tomorrow. You aren’t running, Caldwell.”
I exhaled a defeated gust of air. Why did he have to make this so damn difficult?
“I heard you and your aunt just now. She’s right. You don’t need an older woman with a kid dragging you down. I thought that . . .” I trailed off as his dark eyes heated through me.
“You thought what? My aunt doesn’t know anything. Don’t use her ignorance as an excuse to bail on us.”
I let out a long sigh and shook my head. I framed his face, my thumbs running over the stubble tempering his cheeks. He was chiseled perfection, even while pissed off. Maybe especially.
“You know how I feel about you. That’s why I can’t let you—”
He cut me off with a kiss. A deep, determined kiss that took everything. Drew possessed me with his mouth and his hands as he pinned me to the wall. I whimpered into his mouth as his tongue tangled with mine, our teeth scraping as the two of us couldn’t get close enough.
“You were saying?” He panted as he leaned his forehead against mine. I was dizzy and confused and so turned on my hands shook as I pressed them into Drew’s chest.
“I want you,” I whispered, “but we can’t—”
Drew’s hand fisted in my hair as our lips crashed back together. My mouth was sore and bruised but I still wanted more. With Drew’s family—and my daughter—only on the other side of the door, we were lost in each other. He looped my leg over his hip, pushing his erection between my thighs. His aunt had just warned him away from me, and here I was dry humping him against the wall in his family’s house, but the realization didn’t make me stop. There was no running or walking away. My body wouldn’t let me. It needed him too much.Ineeded him too much. My teeth sank into his bottom lip as our kiss slowed, pulling a groan out of his throat.
“Did I get through yet?” he whispered against my lips. “I’ll do this all night long until I do.”
I dropped my head into his chest, breathless. He tightened his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.
“Look at me.” His voice was husky and rough.
