Page 18 of Dirty Secret

"No. It, uh, God . . . I am so sorry. It's just that my daughter needs . . .. You know what? Never mind." I shook my head. "That's not an excuse. I was going to overcharge you and that was wrong of me. I'll just pick up a few of the tools I left here and be on my way. I'm sorry you have to look for a new plumber."

I wanted to run, but I forced myself to stand and calmly walk toward the kitchen entrance.

"Max, where are you going?"

Just before I reached the refrigerator, I came to a stop. "I'm grabbing my tools. I left a few in the basement. Don't worry, I'll be out of here in a minute."

My eyes remained unwavering as they focused on the floor, but I heard her move close to me. Her hand, warm and electric, softly landed on my shoulder.

"But you haven't finished your cinnamon roll."

Wait . . .. What?

My head whipped up to find her smile bright. She's acting like I accidentally stole her pen and didn't just admit to trying to swindle tens of thousands of dollars from her.

"You want me to eat the roll?"

Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip causing my mouth to salivate. I don't know what was more tempting—her sweet rolls or that succulent lip.

"Of course." She slid her hand down my arm and it felt more like an electrified butterfly wing brush over my skin. Clasping my hand, she tugged me back toward the stool.

"Now, tell me why you would overcharge me that much? Did my father speak to you?" She tilted her head as we both sat on the stools at her kitchen counter.

"Your father? No, I don't believe I have ever spoken to your father. Does he live here?" I glanced around and wondered if an older man was about to walk in at any moment.

I swallowed, hard, at the thought of explaining my deception to the man who raised her.

She shook her head. "No, he doesn't. You would know if you spoke to him."

Something stirred beneath the zipper of my jeans as she released a breathy laugh.

"Why? Is he sweet and funny like you?" I immediately wanted to turn the clock back so those words never exited my mouth.

It wasn't that I didn't mean them. But with overcharging her for the job, I didn't want to add inappropriate behavior to her list of things she could hate and, possibly, sue me for.

It's obvious I made her uncomfortable by the flush of her cheeks.

"No, he's not. He's more the opposite of that. Anyway, why did you overcharge me then?"

A million reasons—all garbage—swirled around my head as I pondered an explanation that wouldn't damage my business.

I didn't know why she did it, but Heidi took my hand again in hers, rubbing the back of it. I swallowed but that did nothing to alleviate the burning embers that pinched and prodded up my arm before they finally exploded throughout my body.

"It's uh, it's my daughter. She needs—" I was about to confess everything to her. There was no use sugarcoating it, she deserved the truth. But a funny thing happened as I spoke. I caught her staring at my mouth. Watching each movement with anticipation and she leaned closer.

I did the only thing I could do. Which just so happened to be the dumbest thing I could do, too.

My lips fell to hers and I kissed Heidi. She was more delicious than anything she's baked. Her mouth tasted like cinnamon and lightness. My teeth tugged at her plump bottom lip until she opened for me.

Her lips parted with a sigh. I was about to consume her. I cupped her face with my hands when a vibration on the counter snapped me back.

We both gazed over to see her phone light up with the word Felipe.

Shit. I forgot about her boyfriend.

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