Page 178 of Felonies are Forever

She’s still taking photographs for the local shelters, but her family is her focus, as is mine. Martin and I have already talked about selling the business and retiring. In the next year or so it will be time, because truth is, I could spend every day at home with Holly and the kids for the rest of my life and die a happy man.

No, I take that back.

I don’t ever want to die. I’ve got a billion reasons to live.

Forever.

1005 DADDY WAY

ONE

Jack

Turns out,deciding not to shove an ice-filled Ziploc down the front of my pants was poor judgment on my part.

My best friend’s sister, well, pseudo-daughter, is here. And somehow, she’s more fucking beautiful and perfect than the last time I saw her, impossible as that seems.

Jesus, I’m a terrible friend.

Carter would kill me twelve different ways if he knew what I was thinking about right now as she comes through the front door, bouncing and hugging my own daughter, her best friend, in gleeful excitement as they jump up and down and squeal as only girls can do.

I’ve barely slept or been able to eat since he called last week, saying the girls wanted a last-minute visit before my daughter, Arianna, left to teach at a camp this summer. Carter had a training event come up near Cherry Falls and thought it would be a good opportunity for us all to spend some time.

The only problem is, there was a last-minute change of plans. Now, Arianna is leaving tomorrow instead of Monday. He askedif I would mind if Layla stayed here while he was at training, even though Arianna would be gone. Of course I said I didn’t mind. I told him I could take her to the marina with me, give her some work and pay her, since he’s too fucking tight with her to let her have a summer job out of his sight.

He’s as protective as I would be over Layla, and as much as I knew it was a bad idea, it was the best news I’d had in a long fucking time.

Now, I just have to figure out how to keep my hands off my best friend’s sister for the next week.

Stop looking at her fucking tits, you deviant.

I can’t.

Stop thinking about the sweet flavor you dream about every fucking night with your cock in your fist, gritting your teeth and shooting off, swearing it will be the last time.

I.

Can’t.

Stop.

“Mr. Aria!” Layla beams as she and Arianna finally let go of each other and she comes skipping and bouncing my way, tumbles of dark hair an inch longer than the last time I shared a space with her.

She’s a bit thinner, but still filled out in all the right places.

“Don’t fucking call me that,” I manage on a grunt, my throat constricting as I clench my teeth so hard I hear them crack. “You make me sound so old. For the thousandth time, call me Jack.”

She flashes me that trillion-dollar smile, white teeth set off with lips as red as dark cherries and my dick takes on a life of its own. Her milk-chocolate dark hair tumbles around her face, her cheeks pink, arched dark eyebrows highlighting her magnetic hazel-silver eyes.

“I know.” She screws up her face, throwing her arms around my neck as I back away. I can’t let her touch me, the strand ofcontrol I have left is already unraveling. “You’re such a grumpy Gus.”

She pokes out her bottom lip as I reach up and untangle her arms, forcing them down by her sides as I struggle for breath.

“He’s not a hugger.” Carter steps into the foyer and extends his hand. “Man, how the fuck do you get older and uglier every time I see you?”

“I’m afraid my pageant days are behind me.”

“What fucking pageant days?” He snorts a low chuckle. “Maybe if they had a Homely Motherfucker contest…”

---