I never thought I’d see the day my father would not only encourage me to have sex but find a way to leave the house to make it easier.
“Well, thank you. That’s…appreciated.”
Dad laughed as a smile broke out on his face.
“You know, we haven’t argued in a couple of days, maybe more.” He shot me a smirk as he turned the doorknob. “Claudia is good for both of us.”
“That she is,” I agreed, stepping in front of him to push the door open and hold it for him to pass. “I’m not going to walk you to the car, just being polite and holding the door open. Since you like to point out all the time how you raised me with manners.”
“Oh hey, I’m glad I caught you before you left,” Claudia called out, jogging over to us with a cardboard box in her hand from where she’d parked her car in front of our house. “Are you sure you don’t want to hang out with us tonight?” She gave Dad a hello hug, finding my gaze over his shoulder and flashing a tiny but sexy-as-hell smile.
“No. I’d love to hang out with you, but he’s boring,” Dad said, waving a hand without looking back at me. “And all your problem tonight, sweetheart.”
“That’s okay,” she said, wrapping her arms around my waist and beaming up at me when she met my gaze. I was so lost in her, there was no way to fight it. I’d already exhausted myself trying.
“Hey, handsome,” she whispered, her eyes narrowing at me with a dirty intent that kicked up my pulse.
“Hi yourself, beautiful,” I whispered back, pressing my mouth against hers as I pulled her closer.
She swiveled her head toward my father and shrugged.
“I’ll take him. I’m getting used to him.”
I caught his gaze over her shoulder and spied a slow grin spreading on his face, along with something I hadn’t seen in his features for months.
Pride and relief.
He turned, slowly descending the few steps in front of the porch as I fought the urge to help him. His therapist and aide both assured me that he was gaining mobility every day and I had to let him move forward unassisted whenever it was possible.
Even if I still couldn’t shake all the fear, I couldn’t hold either of us back anymore.
My uncle came to the passenger’s side of the car to take my dad’s walker and fold it into the trunk. He gave me a tiny nod of acknowledgment before climbing into the driver’s seat and pulling out of our driveway.
“Getting used to me, huh?” I swatted the side of her hip and yanked her closer.
“Well, you definitely grumble less.” She traced the collar of my T-shirt with the tip of her finger as she peered up at me. “You’re a work in progress. A very sexy work in progress.” She lifted her shoulder. “It gives me the motivation to manage.”
I laughed, exhaling with an exaggerated sigh as I dug a hand into her hair. “Well, thanks for tolerating me I guess.” I rested my forehead against hers. “I’m glad you’re here, but I wish you would have let me pick you up.”
“I’m glad I’m here too,” she whispered before brushing my lips. “And don’t be silly. I was at the bar with Cece learning a few things before Larry signs it all over to me next week. Then”—she tightened her hold around my waist—“you really can’t get rid of me.”
I pressed my knuckle under her chin to tilt her head up, the urge to take her mouth already too tempting to stop myself.
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m not letting you go anywhere.”
I ran my thumb along her bottom lip, a groan rising from my throat when she opened her mouth to bite it.
“Fuck,” I hissed, ready to back her against the door and give her a real kiss hello when I felt eyes penetrating my back.
I turned my head and found our next-door neighbors standing in their driveway, gawking at us and not hiding how they’d stopped heading to wherever they were going to stare.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. McCormick. Anything you need?” I asked, trying not to laugh at Claudia’s smirk in my periphery.
“Oh no. Just, um, going out for a walk,” Mrs. McCormick stammered out. “We all feel so safe with you around. You and your…friend have a good night.”
“Oh, you too,” Claudia replied, waving to them both as she cuddled into my chest. “Nice to meet you!”
They nodded, darting their eyes between us for one more minute before heading down the sidewalk.
