Page 5 of Mine to Keep

“I’m youronlydaughter,” she deadpans, still with her back to me, and I brace myself for the moment recognition sets in.

Then she turns, and our eyes lock. A collision course set by fate or damnation, I can’t tell which. Realization flashes in her brilliant blues, mirrored by the storm in my own eyes.

“Tommy,” she breathes, her surprise masterfully masked by a polite smile.

“Katie Jane,” I respond in a steady tone, despite the chaos churning inside me. A handshake would be appropriate, safe. Instead, we’re both frozen, clinging to discretion as our only lifeline in the most awkward moment of my life.

“N-nice to meet you.” She stumbles over her words as our shared secret coils around us. The weight of what happened in Miami is as heavy as lead in my stomach, threatening to pull me under.

“Excuse me for a moment. You two get to know each other. I’ll be right back.” Geoff steps away, drawn by an acquaintance across the room. Our eyes dart to his retreating figure, then back to one another while sharing a silent scream.

“Small world,” she murmurs, a masterclass in keeping cool.

“Tiny,” I reply as my mind races through scenarios where this ends well, only to come up empty. “Please, have a seat.” I pull out the chair next to mine, a gallant invitation loaded with peril.

As she sits, poise personified, I know I’m playing with fire. But oh, how the flames beckon, and I can’t resist trailing my fingertips along the smooth, bare skin of her upper arm.

“Sorry about that.” Geoff returns to the table and takes his seat. “Gotta play nice with the city inspectors.” He laughs, oblivious to the tension between me and his daughter.

After ordering our meals, my friend launches into a proud monologue about Kate’s accomplishments and her future plans.

“She graduated top of her class, you know,” he boasts, his chest once again puffed out like a peacock.

“Please, Dad, Tommy doesn’t want to hear all this,” she interjects, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Or maybe it’s pleasure as she skims her leg against mine beneath the table.

“No, I want to hear more,” I insist, forcing each word out in an attempt to remain civil. “I’m very interested in everything about such a charming, beautiful girl.”

It’s true. Damn it all.I lean back in my chair, crossing my legs in a futile attempt to ease the discomfort of my aching cock.

“Thanks, Tommy,” she says, her voice velvet and sin. And there it is again, that invisible thread, tugging us closer with every glance, every word loaded with meaning only we can understand.

“Katie Jane’s always been driven,” Geoff continues, unaware of the silent exchange happening right under his nose.

“Clearly. I can tell she’s the kind of girl who gets what she wants.” I take a sip of Scotch, the liquid fire doing nothing to quell the blaze Kate’s proximity is fueling. My grip on the glass is white-knuckled, an outlet for the tension that threatens to shatter my carefully-constructed composure. “Tell me more.” It’s both an invitation and a plea. Desperate to shift my focus from the pull of her lips, the curve of her neck, the memory of her whispered moans that echo in my mind like a siren’s call.

“You don’t have to ask me twice. I could go on about my girl all day.”So could I.Geoff chuckles as he launches into another story, and I nod along, pretending my entire world isn’t sitting inches away, dressed in a sexy black dress and breathing in rhythms that match my own. Pretending I’m not one wrong move from betraying my best friend’s trust in the most unimaginable way. “Isn’t this great?” Geoff beams, continuing to be clueless. “Finally, dinner with my best friend and my daughter. Only took twenty-three years to make it happen.”

“It’s perfect,” I lie, my tight smile a façade. Inside, I’m a tempest, havoc and desire waging war with every beat of my heart. I hold the line because I have to, because the alternative is unthinkable.

The clink of fine china and the hum of conversation are a distant murmur compared to the internal cacophony in my head. Geoff’s words become background noise as I feel Kate’shand on my thigh, shooting a jolt of electricity that threatens to burn through every shred of self-control.

“You feeling okay, man?” Geoff’s voice cuts through my fog of desire. His brow is furrowed with genuine concern, and it’s an ice bath over my simmering thoughts.

“Of course,” I manage, plastering on a smile. Yet inside, I’m tumbling into an abyss. If he ever found out about Miami...

The thought alone is a vise around my chest, squeezing until I can’t breathe. He trusts me, and here I am, battling a lust that could shatter a lifelong friendship. What kind of man does that make me?

A man ready to go to hell for the sexy goddess sitting next to him.

“Actually, I’ve got a proposition for you.” Geoff’s tone shifts, lighter now, and I brace myself. “Why don’t you stay at our place while you’re in town? I never get to have my two favorite people together and I want to make the most of it. Hell, it could be another twenty-three years before I get you two together again.”

No, the fuck it won’t.I need her too much to wait another five minutes.

My heart stutters as I weigh the potential risks. A glance from Kate, quick and laden with silent words, makes my blood sing with the kind of danger that’s sweet and addictive.

“Geoff, I...” The hesitation is palpable, clogging my throat.

“Come on, it’ll be like old times.” The warmth in his eyes is enough to make me hate myself for even considering it.

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