Page 103 of Never Let You Go

“That’s right. You know Haley?” A small smile forms on his lips.

“From game nights,” I inform him.

“Right. Well. you’ll soon meet the whole family. Craig and Lynn have a bunch of people over for dinner once a month. We have an open invitation. Skye loves it, and you will too. Right, Skye?”

“Are you sure I’m invited?” I say. “I think I’d rather stay h—”

“You’re coming.”

Is it normal that my panties heat up? And not because of the word he used. Because he’s ordering me around, and I like it.

I glance at him, my cheeks flushed.

“Alek-zandra has lawyer problems, Daddy,” Skye cuts in.

Christopher faces me, and Skye wiggles in his arms to look at me too.

I tuck my hair behind my ear and clear my throat. “It-it’s nothing. Skye, it’s nothing to worry about. No lawyers,” I add, suddenly concerned I’m causing her some stress. Clearly, she’s used to being in tune with grown-up problems, and I feel the need to shield her from that.

“What’s going on?” Christopher asks.

I shake my head. “Really, nothing.”

His gaze goes right through me. Is it care I see in his frown? It warms me to the core. “We can handle ‘nothing,’ right, Skye?” he says, and she nods. “And, if it becomes something, I’m here for you.”

I’m here for you. When was the last time someone said those words to me, except Sarah on one of my rare drunken nights?

twenty-eight

Alexandra

The day Skye has been so excited about finally arrives. Sunday dinner at King’s Knoll Farm. After we sell out of bread, Christopher hangs the “ Sorry, we’re closed” sign, and I run upstairs to get ready. I keep my shower short but still wash my hair. Not gonna lie, I’m nervous about meeting so many people at once. Nervous but happy.

I wrap my hair in a towel and slip on the plush robe that magically appeared in my bathroom the day Christopher had my whole bedroom redecorated. I’m applying foundation when Christopher knocks lightly on the half-open door.

“Hey, come in.” I close the bottle of foundation and grab my makeup pouch.

“You almost ready?”

“Just need to finish my makeup and blow dry my hair. I’ll be quick, I promise.”

He closes the door behind him. “There’s no rush,” he says, wrapping his arms around my middle and kissing my neck. Our eyes connect in the mirror, and we both grin. I pause my blush application midair.

He leans into me to grab the small beige bottle off the countertop. “What is this.”

“It’s foundation,” I answer. “It unifies the skin tone.” I dab some powder on my face but am more interested in what Christopher is doing now than in my makeup.

With both arms still around me, he drops a dollop of foundation on his finger and plops it on the tip of his nose, then spreads it around. “Like that?” he says.

“That’s totally too light for you,” I giggle. “You look like you’ve been in the sun with a clown nose on.”

He groans and wraps his hands back around me, nuzzling my neck. “You smell so good.”

“I just showered.”

“Unh-unh. You always smell good.” Taking a deep breath, he straightens himself, pulls the towel off my head, and runs his fingers through my hair, then massages my scalp.

I groan. His fingers knead the right places, instantly relaxing me, and I close my eyes for a second.