“Let Aunt Tammy take the room. We’ll be fine,” she says to her sister, and then she turns back to her parents and asks, “Where’s Grams and Gramps?”
“Gram wasn’t feeling well. They decided to stay home tonight so that they’ll be well rested for tomorrow,” Diane answers as she leads us into the rest of the house.
The small gambrel-style home sits on a quiet street right outside of Denver. And although neighbors abut the property no more than ten feet away on either side, inside feels spacious and homey. Light gray couches sit on top of a plush white rug. Cherry-stained end tables and entertainment center bring depth to the space, as well as the off-white walls. Pictures hang on the wall. Jack and Diane’s wedding photo. Evelyn and Jeff’s wedding photo.
And a picture of Brielle at her college graduation.
While the family chats, I walk over to get a better look.
She looks so young. So innocent. Her dark hair flows around her shoulders under the black graduation cap. A bright red gown covers her from her shoulders to her knees, a beige sash around her neck. She looks so damn proud of herself as she smiles widely at the camera.
“Can’t believe it’s already been six years since she graduated. Ten years since she moved away.” Jack stands beside me now. He’s a big guy in a lot of ways. Not overly tall or broad, but rugged in a way that takes up space. Other than the fact that he is nearly, but not fully, bald, the little hair he has left mostly gray, I probably wouldn’t have thought he was in his mid-fifties.
“Time does go by fast,” I say.
“Especially when your little girl is two thousand miles away, and you have no idea if she’s happy, if she’s being treated right by those she lets into her life.”
I turn to face him. “Brielle is smart. And opinionated. Bold. Courageous. She’s more than capable of taking care of herself and deciding whom she lets into her life,” I assure him. His impulse to make sure his daughter is safe and happy is admirable. I can’t even imagine how I would be as a father, not that that’s in my future plans anytime soon.
Or ever… Not that that’s in my plans ever, I remind myself.
“But I’ll tell you this,” I add, “I have no intention of hurting your daughter. She’s become extremely important to me, and I’ll do everything in my power to be the man she deserves.”
The words haven’t even left my mouth yet, and my stomach is already in knots. Not because I’m lying to Brielle’s father.
But because I’m not. Not about how important she is to me, anyway. The part about treating her right, well, that’s for someone else to do. And that thought makes me sick just thinking about Brielle with someone else.
“Good,” Jack says with a head nod. “Good.”
Brielle comes up to me, wrapping her arms around my waist like it’s something we do every day. I lean down and place a kiss to the top of her head.
It’s so fucking domestic, and I have no idea why I’m not internally squirming to get away from her, but I’m not. I pull her closer to me, chatting with her family like the world’s best boyfriend, the subtle floral scent of her shampoo floating around me.
Only one thought crosses my mind.
This weekend is going to be hell.
Brielle opens the bathroom door of our newly acquired hotel room, and I look up from my phone at the sound, my eyes eating her up from toe to head.
Her bare feet show off her red-painted nails.
Rounded calves lead up to her creamy thighs.
The pink dress she’s wearing flows loosely around her legs, hitting just above her knees but entirely respectable in length. The material forms to her torso, hugging her waist. My gaze travels up further,getting pulled into the hypnotic shape of her tits. The dress continues all the way to the delicate column of her throat, but the way it molds to her form takes it from dowdy to really fucking sexy.
Her lips are painted a cherry red, dark lashes frame her ocean blue eyes. But she didn’t cover up the freckles that dot across her nose. I catch her gaze, and she smiles a sultry, knowing smile as she watches me take her in.
“You done in there?” I ask.
Her face falls, and she swallows down a lump. “Yeah, it’s all yours.”
I get up, making my way to the bathroom. Making my way to her.
She sidesteps, moving out of my way, but I loop my arm around her waist and drag her to me. Her chest bumps into mine, a quick intake of breath on her sexy red lips.
“You look radiant, Brielle. Fucking edible. With the way my hands are going to be all over you, no one will doubt who you belong to.”
She tips her chin up, and without even thinking, I place my lips on hers.
