"No."
She blinks. "No?"
"I'm not going to hide anymore." The words come out rough, but determined. "I've spent too long hiding, Sloane. Keeping people at a distance, convincing myself I didn't need anyone, that it was easier to be alone than to risk letting someone in."
I cup her face in my hands and stare into her pretty eyes.
"I'm done with that. I'm not hiding you. I'm not hiding us." I stroke my thumb across her cheek. "I refuse to be ashamed of the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Her eyes go bright, and she smiles—this radiant, trembling smile that hits me right in the center of my chest.
I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. "After breakfast…and maybe after some fun in the shower…I want to take you somewhere."
She chuckles. "Where?"
"Wade's house. I want you to meet my best friend. Properly."
Her smile widens. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I pull her against me, wrapping my arms around her. "And Riley's going to lose her mind."
Sloane laughs. "She's going to be so smug. She's been giving me looks all week."
“That kid picks up oneverything.”
“That she does.” She tilts her head back to look at me, her eyes dancing with mischief. "So...you mentioned something about fun in the shower?"
Heat flares through me. "I did."
"That sounds like a plan I can get behind."
"Sweetheart…" I lean down until my lips brush her ear. “Daddy’ll be the one getting behind you.”
The little shiver that runs through her has my cock rock hard in seconds.
Breakfast can wait.
An hour later—thoroughly clean and even more thoroughly satisfied—I pull my truck into Wade's driveway.
And feel my nerves kick back up.
It’s stupid really. I've known Wade since we were teenagers. I've seen him through his marriage, his divorce, the chaos of raising a daughter alone. And he’s seen me through every bad day, brutally long shifts, and moments of doubt.
He's not going to care that I'm dating a much younger woman.
Right?
Sloane's hand finds mine, her fingers threading through my own. "It's going to be fine."
"I know." But I don't sound entirely convinced.
"They're going to be happy for you."
I look over at her—this woman who's already learned to read me so well. She's wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, her tawny hair down around her shoulders. She looks beautiful and calm and completely confident in me.
I shake my head. "Aren't I supposed to be the one giving you advice and reassurance?"
She smiles, squeezing my hand. "This is a partnership, Ike. That means I get to take care of you too when you need it."
