Page 47 of One More Time

After several moments of quiet, Derek looked at me. “I appreciate your feedback on a child showing up out of the blue. I’d heard about that. You guys are kind of like the hot family in town.” He waggled his brows, the lightness of his tone much needed at that moment.

I rolled my eyes as Jack chuckled. He kept his fingers laced with mine and ate his bagel with one hand, sipping his coffee between bites.

A short while later, I stood, glancing back and forth between them. “All right, guys, I have to go to work. Stay out of trouble today.”

Derek winked at me. “You take Jack tonight, please.”

My cheeks were hot as I narrowed my eyes at Derek while Jack grinned at us. I was turning away when he caught my hand and squeezed. “I’ll see you tonight.”

My entire body was on fire as I walked out. It felt as if sparks of joy danced inside me.

Now what?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jack

That evening, anticipation was a rolling crescendo in my body when I stood in front of McKenna’s door. I took a breath and knocked quickly.

The moment she opened the door, the electricity sizzled between us. I took a step inside when she stepped back, kicking the door shut with my boot while I cupped her cheeks and kissed her.

When we broke apart, she looked up at me. “Wow,” she breathed.

I didn’t even try to hide my smile or play it cool. “It’s been a long few weeks.”

Everything that followed was a blur. We tugged at each other’s clothes while kissing. Our teeth banged, and our foreheads collided. At that point, McKenna yelped, “Ouch!”

I lifted my head. “Are you okay?”

She stood in front of me, naked save for a pair of fuzzy hot-pink socks.

Her eyes were bright as she nodded. “Are you okay?”

I was naked too, and I didn’t even have my socks on. “More than okay.”

She started to lean down and take one of her socks off. “Oh no, don’t take those off,” I said.

She peered up at me. “Why not?”

“Because you’re adorable in hot pink socks.”

She giggled when I kissed her again and lifted her in my arms.

For the first time in weeks, I carried her into her bedroom and stretched her out on the bed. I didn’t mean for it to feel this way, but the atmosphere was intense and intimate. We couldn’t get enough of each other. We were in a hurry the first time. When I brought my weight down over her and sank inside her, I brushed her tangled hair away from her forehead, whispering, “Look at me, sweetheart.”

When her eyes lifted and I rocked my hips back to fill her again, I couldn’t look away. I watched until I felt the torch song of her body rising to a crescendo. I followed her over the edge, and we cried out together.

Lounging in bed a little while later, I couldn’t stop touching her. I wanted her soft weight against me, the feel of her skin, sliding my fingers through her hair and stealing every touch I could.

I remembered her words earlier—that one way or another, it would be okay. I was starting to wonder if I was falling for her.

With all my worries about my brother, hope was busy shooting flares into the sky for him. With his daughter coming in the thick of this, I wasn’t afraid, but it was a lot to face.

Amidst all that, McKenna felt like my sanctuary, the calm center of the storm swirling around me. I couldn’t talk myself out of my feelings. I couldn’t talk myself out of needing her more than just physically.

I might have to pay a price, but it was a price I was more than willing to pay.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

---