Page 15 of One Kill

The tone he uses is authoritative, completely unlike the boy I once knew… I like it. It sends a tingle between my legs, making me crave him again as much as I did last night. But it’s still a bad idea.

Totally a bad idea.

“I’ll follow behind the bus on my bike. Apparently, Bridget called her a liar so she has something to prove. Not that she should have to, but I’m all for showing up smug bitches in front of her friends.” I sip at the last dregs of my coffee, a little sad that it’s gone and wishing I could have another before I head out. Coffee made by someone else always tastes better.

“You don’t have to. Bridget will be her best friend again by next week. They’ve been on and off like lovers since kindergarten.” Murphy stands and holds out his hand for my empty mug. “I’ll make us another.” It’s not a question, he’s just going to do it, and there’s something hot as fuck about him anticipating my needs like that.

“Thanks.” I stand and follow him through to the kitchen to continue our conversation. “I know I don’t have to go, but I want to. I’m not working until later, so I’ve got plenty of time.”

“You gonna tell me what you’re up to these days, Jaybear?” Pouring the coffee, he raises a questioning brow as he looks at me, but he knows I’m not about to give him a straight answer.

“No.” I take the fresh mug of coffee he offers, shrugging as I blow the hot liquid over the rim.

“Ca—”

“No, you can’t ask questions. And yes, I’ll keep my work away from Hallie. That’s all you need to know.” My interruption has Murphy taking a deep, steadying breath, and I know he wants more answers than I’m willing to give, but I just can’t.

“Ready! Bus is outside. See ya later, Dad.” Hallie bounds into the kitchen to hug her dad, kissing his cheek before turning to me. “Will you still be here after school?”

Her little eyes are so wide and round and pleading, and I now realize why some parents find it so hard to leave their kids for a weekend away.

“Sorry, Kid. Gotta work. But I’ll be by again soon, and I’m following you to school so we can show Bridget that you’re not a liar.” I wink at her, placing my mug down and heading to the front door where my leather jacket is hanging on the hook. I didn’t get undressed, so I’m still in my riding clothes from the early hours of this morning. I’ll head back to my place and shower before checking in with my Reapers this afternoon.

“What? Seriously? Yaaas! She’s going to eat shit!”

“Hallie!” Murphy scolds her, but he has a smirk on his face he’s trying desperately to hide. Mine… not so hidden. I can’t help the laugh that escapes.

“Sorry, Dad.” She looks suitably chastised as she bats her lashes at him and I smile again at her relationship with her dad. She has him wrapped around her little finger and he loves it. And they’re both happy. “Anyway, laters, Dad!”

She bounds out the front door, school bag in hand, and heads toward the yellow bus sitting on the corner with a few other kids boarding. Before she climbs on, she looks over to me watching her, waves her little hand, grinning widely, and shouts, “Later, Mom!”

Fucking kid’s gonna be the death of me.

“You sure you want to show up at a school full of kids just to prove our daughter isn’t a liar?” This is also something he already knows the answer to.

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

He smirks, that beautiful fucking smirk that makes my knees weak, and it’s then I realize how close we’re standing to each other in the open entrance to his home. His scent overrides anything else, his warmth causes my hairs to stand on end just to be near him, and his every breath is like an invitation to kiss his plump lips. I’m leaning back against the door jamb, my palms on the frame behind me, and he leans forward, one hand resting above my head, the other coming in to stroke my chin with his thumb. He’s intoxicating.

Before I can speak, his mouth is on mine in the most gentle kiss known to man. We don’t move, we just stay there for a few moments, breathing each other in with our joined lips until the honk of the school bus as it drives off catches our attention and I take a deep breath as he pulls away.

“I should go. Made a promise and all that.” I nod, patting Murphy’s arm like a fucking dick as I walk away, not hanging around to hear or do anything else with this temptation of a man.

I slide my helmet on over my head and straddle my bike, starting the engine and loving the rumble, the smell, the sheer sense of power between my thighs as I roll back the throttle and easily catch up to the school bus.

The school isn’t far away, so it doesn’t take long before the bus pulls up to let the kids off and I ride over close to the entrance to wait. I don’t remove my helmet as I’m scanning the area; the people who killed my family still want me dead, and when they all thought I was… Hallie and Murphy were safe.

Fuck.

Maybe this isn’t such a good idea after all. I’ve been brash and rushed head first into this situation, using fucking none of the actual skills I’ve learned over the years that have kept me alive so far.

Hallie comes rushing over at the same time I see another face from my past, but it’s too late to send my kid away and pretend I’m not here for her.

They look over curiously at Hallie wrapping her arms around me and I awkwardly pat her back before moving away, ready to ride the hell on out of here.

I need to get to my Reapers, and I need to get my fucking head screwed on straight, because this little dalliance into parenthood may just be one of my biggest fuck-ups in a long time.

Chapter Eight

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