Page 51 of Exposed

By the time I’m headed back to Miami, Simon is worn out from socializing and is nodding off in the backseat. This has been one of the longest days I’ve had in a long time. I’m tired, but I’m also happy Pepper finally told me what’s wrong.

I hope she’s home when I get there. Buying her a phone is on the shopping list for tomorrow. I don’t own a landline, and I need her to be able to get a hold of me when she’s watching Simon while I’m at work.

Pepper pulls into the driveway in her new SUV just as I’m getting a cranky Simon out of his car seat.

“You ready for a bottle and bed time, little man?” I cradle him against my chest and sling his diaper bag over one shoulder.

Pepper sniffles as she opens her door.

“What’s up?” I ask as I lead the way to the front door.

“I talked with the lead tonight, and she said she’s not paying me for my last two weeks since I’m not giving two weeks notice,” she sniffs.

“No way, that’s illegal.” I unlock the door and let her walk in first.

“I can’t fight her on it since I didn’t even give her a real ID.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay you. And who knows? That lead may have been talking out of her ass. Payroll will probably cut you your check for the past two weeks,” I encourage.

“I need the money.”

I drop the diaper bag on the floor and walk to her. “If I wasn’t holding Simon right now, I’d kiss you until every one of your worries melted away.” Instead, I pull her into the other side of my chest with one arm while holding Simon.

“Let me get him to bed, then I can erase your fears for tonight, at least.”

“I’d like that,” she whispers against my shirt.

“Done.”

Simon wriggles against us, and when we pull back and look at his face, he’s smiling an adorable toothless grin.

“You like our hugs, don’t you, little man? I love you.” My heart lights on fire for my son.

“He’s precious. You’re a good boy, Simon. You’re so loved,” Pepper says softly.

I want to tell Pepper she’s loved. Has she ever felt loved? Because I get the feeling that her parents didn’t cherish her like they should’ve.

Spoiler alert: I’m going to cherish the fuck out of her tonight.

After I get Simon down,I turn on the sound machine my mom gave me today. Fingers crossed he’s tired and sleeps well for a few hours. Shani assumes her post by Simon’s crib, and I pat her side. “Watch our little man.” It may be my imagination, but it seems like she nods at me, then licks her chops.

Before I head to Pepper’s room, I put a condom in my shorts pocket because I’m an optimist. With the baby monitor in hand, I pad across the hallway.

I knock softly, then wait for her to open the door.

“Hey,” she gives me a soft smile.

“Hey, yourself,” I smirk. Pushing the door open, I step inside, then close it and set the monitor down.

My t-shirt I gave her to workout in the other day covers her slight frame.

“I bought you clothes.”

“Maybe I like your shirt better,” she shrugs.

She likes being inmyshirt. That makes me want to growl like a possessive caveman, and I stalk toward her.

“Is there a guy in your other life? Do you have a boyfriend waiting back home for you?” I ask, cupping her cheek. Damn, her skin is soft.

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