Page 24 of Rockstar Daddy's Second Chance

Cass chuckles, breaking the tension but not the heat of his gaze. “Can you blame me?” he murmurs, his eyes still gazing into mine.

Emily slips her arm through Cassidy’s. “Come on, Cassidy. Let’s go find a snack downstairs and give your mom and dad a few moments alone.”

Cassidy glances between us with a sweet smile before allowing herself to be whisked away by her wiser aunt. Cass and I are left alone, the silence stretching between us, filled with all the things we’re too afraid to say.

After a moment, Cass steps forward, reaching out to brush a strand of my newly blonde hair behind my ear. “You have no idea how beautiful you look,” he whispers, his gaze intense, unguarded.

For a moment, I’m completely lost—in the warmth of his touch, in the closeness that feels both familiar and electric. He looks at me like I’m the only person who’s ever mattered.

Cass’s heated gaze sends a shiver coursing down my spine. “I’m glad you like it,” my voice sounds breathy, and I suddenly feel like my younger self. The girl who practically swooned whenever Cass got that certain look in his eye.

He has that same look now, and I feel all of my girly parts start to tingle, and I feel breathless as he leans in. My eyes flutter closed as I wait for his lips to brush mine. When they don’t, I slowly open my eyes to find his gaze locked on mine.

As if that’s what he was waiting for, he slowly cups my face with his hands and covers my lips with his. He doesn’t hurry, acting as if we have all the time in the world.

It’s like he’s savoring my taste as he gently explores my mouth. Lifting his head, he softly nibbles on my lips before he dives in again. My arms go around his neck as I pull him closer, so close that I can smell his spicy cologne and that masculine scent that is his alone.

The years seem to disappear, and I’m that young girl who was head over heels in love with him. I feel his strong arms tighten around me. Then his hands slip down and cup my ass, pulling me against him so that I can feel his body’s response. I give a soft whimper as I helplessly rub against his growing arousal—lost in a cloud of sexual sensations. As I feel him harden even further, I forget where we are. I’m only aware of him and how he makes me feel.

As if through a fog, I’m dimly aware of the distant ding of the elevator, but it’s Cass who hears it clearly and reacts. He quickly steps away from me, abruptly turns, and walks to his bedroom just as the elevator doors slide open.

I blink in confusion, feeling bereft without his strong arms around me. I look up as Emily and Cassidy step into the room. Taking a deep breath, I work to steady the emotions threatening to spill over.

Cassidy is oblivious, not sensing anything amiss, but Emily’s eyes hold a knowing look as she takes in the look on my face, my erratic breathing, and swollen lips. She gives me a wide smile.

Emily glances down at Cassidy. “Hey, I have an idea. I think we should go shopping for some new clothes. So we can dress up and go out on the town. It’s our last night in New York, and we ought to celebrate. Don’t you think so, Cassidy?”

“Yes!” Cassidy says as an excited expression lights up her face. She turns to me. “Can we, Mom? Please? It would be fun to dress up.”

Giving her a slight smile as I try to gain my equilibrium, I say faintly, “I’m sure your father would agree. But we’ll have to ask him.”

“Where is he?” Cassidy asks, her eyes darting around the empty rooms.

Emily grins down at Cassidy. “He probably high-tailed it out of here when he saw us coming,” she says jokingly. “Why don’t you put those extra snacks in the kitchen area.”

As Cassidy walks away, Emily looks over at me, not even trying to hide her delighted amusement. “Should we have stayed away longer?” she says with a twinkle in her eye.

I can feel the hot color as it creeps into my cheeks, but suddenly, a huge smile spreads across my face. “No, but I think you were right about changing my hair color,” I say with a toss of my head.

As I walk toward the kitchen area to find my daughter, Emily’s delighted laughter follows me.

Twelve

Cass

Later that evening, after a couple of hours of shopping at some of the finest stores, we make our way to an exclusive restaurant in the heart of New York City. It’s a place that caters to celebrities, and when our limo pulls up to the curb, a discreet doorman appears. His eyes search the gloom of the interior, and once he spots me, he nods. “Party of four, Mr. Wild?”

“Yes, thank you,” I confirm with a nod of my head. The doorman turns to a younger man behind him. “Cass Wild, party of four,” he murmurs, and the young man hurries into the restaurant.

Stepping out of the limo, we’re greeted by a cascade of flashing lights as the paparazzi swarm, their cameras firing in rapid succession. It’s a relentless barrage, and the night flares whitefor a moment, the brightness turning the street into a pulsating blur. Yet, through the chaos, all I can focus on is Kendrick.

She stands tall beside me, poised and appearing unaffected by the frenzy around us, her gown understated yet stunning, the kind of elegance that commands attention without asking for it. The sleek fabric hugs her figure gracefully, the deep navy accentuating her blonde hair and illuminating her eyes. Her quiet elegance reminds me of the unshakable confidence she’s always had, as if she was born for this world—even though she chose to leave it behind. And tonight, it’s as if she’s returned to her natural element.

Beside her, Emily manages to stand out, wearing an equally stylish dress, her dark hair swept elegantly back to reveal the striking resemblance in our shared blue eyes. As the cameras click and flash, I catch a small smile from her, amused by the spectacle but holding her own in the spotlight.

Then there’s my daughter, standing her ground like she’s been doing this for years. In her youthful dress and carefully brushed hair, she takes it all in. Cassidy looks almost as composed as her mother, but I can see the childish excitement that shines in her eyes.

Feeling the urge to shield them from some of the chaos, I slip my hand warmly into Cassidy’s and take Kendrick’s arm. She glances up at me, surprised, and for a fleeting moment, we share a look that holds years of history and unspoken words. We step forward together as a unit, ushered along by the doorman acting as security. He does his best to be a formidable front against the onslaught of lenses. Making our way into the discreet entranceof the restaurant, I can’t help but feel an unfamiliar emotion settle over me—Having them by my side feels right.

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