Page 54 of Falling for the Single Daddy

“Speaking of love…”

I laugh. “What are you hinting at?”

“Gray had a loved-up look in his eyes, Callie. It’s my job as your father to tell you to be careful, but I also know how mature you are compared to other women your age and how capable you are of making your own decisions. Ever since you were a girl, you’ve chosen yourownfate. So if my instinct is right, I’m happy for you.”

Tears make my vision blurry; my heart speeds up even more. It’s difficult to imagine that, not too long ago, I was walking nervously up to this castle-like house, wondering if Gray would like me. My defenses were high, my past creeping darkly around the edges of my thoughts. But not anymore.

“Thanks, Dad. Talk to you later.”

I hang up. Katerina is staring at me expectantly.

“Gray drove into the city to see me,” I see with a note of wonder in my voice. “Just think, Kat. We could’ve passed each other on the way here.”

“Star-crossed lovers,” she says warmly. “You and Gray, oh, you’re like a fairytale.”

I almost roll my eyes, but I can’t force myself to be cynical about this. I can’t make myself cold or dismissive. I can’t compel myself not to care. Thereissomething special happening here. I felt it at the start, even if I wanted to deny it. And now, it’s stronger than ever.

“I’ll wait with you,” Katerina says. “And then, I think I’ll be leaving you here?”

I swallow. “I don’t know. We still have to worry about Emery. And his ex-wife.”

“You don’t have to worry about anything. I can see it, Callie. You care about each other too much to let anything get in the way.”

I clasp my hands together, hoping she’s right. Katerina tells me funny stories from her most recent client as we wait, but I’m pretty sure she can tell that my mind is elsewhere. It’s simply unbelievable that we chose the same moment to surge toward each other, driven by the intense, deep need, the desire that won’t ever quit.

Soon, headlights flash in the rearview mirror.

“Go, go,” Katerina whispers excitedly. “Don’t leave your Romeo waiting.”

“You seriously need to read that play,” I joke. “It ends in tragedy.”

“You are choosing yourownending,” she says firmly.

I climb from the car, butterflies batting their anxious wings in my chest. Gray jumps out, looking wild, the starlight bouncingoff his hair. He rushes toward me with wide, frantic eyes. His voice trembles when he speaks. “Callie—I can’t do this. Push you away. Forget about you. I’ll go insane, more insane than I already feel.”

“If you’re crazy, I am too,” I whisper.

He smiles, then pulls me into his arms. When he sweeps me into his arms, I feel like I’m in a movie, like this should be the end of our story. The credits should roll, with happy music playing. But in the back of my mind, I know it’s not that simple. I know that when the sun rises, our problems will still be there.

But none of that seems to matter as he holds me firmly against him. His hard, muscled body sends heat through me. I wrap my arms around him, giving myself completely to our deep, passionate kiss, my tongue finding his in a fusion of lust.

“I need you,” he growls between kisses. “I need you now. Badly.”

I just about managed to stop. “Wait. I need to tell my friend…” I smile when I see that she’s already driving down the street. She sticks her hand out the window, wiggling her fingers at me as she waves.

“I think she knows I’m not letting you go anywhere.” Gray loops his arm around my waist and pulls me close again.

I throw myself at him. He catches me as I wrap my legs around him, holding me as though I weigh nothing, his hands greedily sinking into my ass. I’m sure I can feel his hunger pressing hard through his pants, the urgency of his desire making my core warm and wet.

In the back of my head, the problems howl, the specter of this having to end, the fear that has been trying to hold me back ever since I was a kid.

“What?” he says huskily, ending the kiss and stroking my hair from my face.

Anxiety tries to coil around my neck. “Take me inside,” I whisper, deciding I won’t let the nerves win, not tonight, at least. “But… we have to be careful, quiet.”

For a moment, he looks almost angry, as if he doesn’t want me to address the very real importance of us not disturbing Emery. But then his hands find my hips again. It makes me feel so freaking hot when he sinks his touch into me, greedily grasping me as if he’s the luckiest man in the world that I’m so curvy.

“Let’s go,” he grunts. “I’ve been waiting for you, Callie.”

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