The urge to calm her wins out and I bring my lips back to hers, this time on purpose. Even though I kiss her more firmly than before, I wisely keep my tongue in my mouth. “Your secret’s safe with me,” I whisper against her lips.
Noise in the hallway has her jerking away from me as if she’s afraid of getting caught. When my brain catches up to my actions, I’m right there with her. What the hell was I thinking? She’s my wife’s daughter.
I track her with my hungry stare as she scurries out of the restroom. Kissing her just now was really fucking stupid. Being the older, wiser person here, I should have laughed off her kissand let her apologize for being inappropriate. But my dumb ass just had to try and make her feel better about it.
Selfish prick.
I run my tongue over my bottom lip, tasting the remnants of her vanilla-flavored lip gloss. My cock is hard and straining in my dress slacks. I’m a damn mess.
Scrubbing my palm over my face, I attempt to figure out a way to undo what just happened. Maybe later I can get her alone, while at home, and discuss how what we did was wrong.
Or you could kiss her again…
Someone enters the bathroom, jolting me into action. I dart into one of the stalls, heart racing wildly in my chest.
My ex-wife is looking for anything to drag me over the coals with. And what does my stupid ass do? I kiss my new wife’s eighteen-year-old daughter in a fucking bathroom while both my previous and current wives are fifty feet away.
I have to get my shit together or I’m going to lose everything.
Fuck.
Chapter 6
Mei
It’s been three days since the kiss. Kisses. Neither of us have mentioned it again. Owen is friendly enough, but he doesn’t allow himself to be alone with me. Though he promised to hug me when I’m sad, I don’t pull that card on him. We both know what happened was reckless and stupid.
College started back up today which I was glad for. At least for a few hours, I was able to focus on anything but this sham marriage and my incredibly good-looking stepdad. But, once I pick up Penny from the babysitter, we’ll be back in the tense environment where I can’t even look Owen’s way without blushing profusely.
One day, someone besides him, is going to notice.
As I pull into the driveway at Carol’s house, my phone buzzes. When I see Owen’s name, my heart hammers in my chest.
Owen: Addison and Cason are going to their mom’s after school. Rhett said he’ll be out late at Riko’s place and your mom said she has some errands. Looks like it’s just the three of us. Be thinking about what you want for dinner and we can order in.
My stomach twists and my skin flushes. This isn’t a date, but it kind of feels like one. Aside from Penny being there, I mean. Okay, so it’s not a date. Ugh, a girl can dream.
I climb out of my car, thankful for the blast of winter wind that chases away the inferno blazing inside me. Brakes screech from nearby, drawing my attention. A bearded man in a silver sedan parks at the curb directly across the street from Carol’s house. I’ve been coming here for nearly two years and haven’t once seen this man. Something about the way he stares at me has every hair on my body standing on end.
Creep.
Tearing my gaze from him, I hurry inside the small, cozy home. Carol is in her eighties but still gets around just fine. Penny is the only child she watches, so naturally Carol spoils her like crazy.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Carol says as I enter. “Come in and get yourself some tea.”
The house smells like cinnamon and vanilla. A smile tugs at my lips. Penny is sitting on the floor near the refrigerator, focused on mashing buttons on her toy which has it making different animal sounds. I squat to give her a kiss on her head, then make my way over to Carol for a hug.
“Smells good in here,” I say after I pull away. “What are you making?”
Carol gestures an arthritic hand toward the oven. “Coffee cake. I figured you could take a loaf to your new family.”
I let out a strange laugh. “Still kind of weird hearing that, but thanks. Will do.”
Carol hums something charming as she makes me a cup of tea. I gratefully accept the hot cup and bring it to my lips.
“You know how to make a girl’s day,” I say, grinning at the elderly woman.
She beams at me. “You know I love you like a granddaughter, sweetheart. I may not have a lot of money, but I know the way to a girl’s heart is through her stomach.”
