Page 9 of Texting Dad's Best Friend

“Rhett!” she cries out, her nails digging into my shoulders and back through my shirt as she clings to me.

I nip the thrumming pulse point on her throat with my teeth, not enough to hurt her, just enough to add to the sensations. She’s so reactive, and finding more ways to send her spiraling is my favorite hobby.

Just as Rayna begins to fall apart around me, dragging me over the edge with her, a loud knock rattles my front door. We both freeze, panting and flushed, as another knock comes, more insistent this time.

“Oi, Rhett. I know you’re in there, mate!” a very familiar voice calls out.

“Fuck!” Rayna curses under her breath, scrambling off me frantically.

I shoot to my feet, suddenly very thankful I didn’t get undressed fully, yanking my pants back up as Rayna rushes out of the room. I hear the sound of the bathroom door closing and the lock sliding into place just as Paul shouts through the door, “I’ll just let myself in with the spare key if you’re too lazy to come open the door!”

I throw myself in the direction of the front door, yanking it open but standing in the doorway so he can’t come in. “Don’t do that,” I say, realizing too late how incriminating that sounds and how out of breath I am. I clear my throat and run my hand through my undoubtedly messy hair, trying to regain some composure.

Paul looks at me with confusion and suspicion all over his face. I force myself to meet his eyes, as though I wasn’t just inside his daughter two minutes ago. God, this is awkward.

“What’s wrong with you?” Paul asks, craning his head to peer over my shoulder with narrowed eyes. He goes to step forward for me to let him in, but I stand firm, refusing to move.

“Uh, nothing,” I lie, cursing myself for not being a better liar in the one moment it matters most.

“Is there a body or something on your couch you don’t want me to see?” he jokes, and honestly, that might be easier to explain than the truth.

“No bodies,” I say, trying to laugh.

Paul casts his gaze over me, and then his eyes widen almost comically. “Rhett Collins, do you have a girl over?”

“Yes,” I say, grateful to be able to tell a little bit of the truth. “Yeah, I have a girl over.”

Bet you can’t guess who?

“Why didn’t you just say that?!” Paul laughs, slapping me on the shoulder as his suspicion turns into a huge grin. “Fucking finally, mate. It’s about time!”

I force myself to smile back, trying to relax my posture but failing miserably. Lying to my best friend is not something I’maccustomed to, and it feels like shit. But I care about Rayna far too much to blurt our secret out to her father like this. She matters more than anything or anyone else in my life.

I love her, and I will never do anything to jeopardize how safe she feels with me.

“Yeah, yeah,” I snark back, rolling my eyes at him. “You’re kind of ruining the mood, though.”

Paul laughs again, and the guilt doubles. “Fair enough,” he agrees, backing up as though in surrender. “We on for Friday, yeah?”

“As always,” I agree, giving him a wave as he turns to go to give me and my girl privacy.

The second he’s out of sight, I close the front door and triple-check the locks.

“He’s gone, baby!” I call out, giving Rayna the all-clear.

She appears from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel to cover her lingerie, her eyes wide like a deer in headlights. I walk up to her, wrapping her in my arms, offering her comfort while needing it in return. The second she’s in my arms, the stress melts away from my body a little, making everything feel better.

“Fuck that was like something out of a horror movie,” Rayna murmurs, shaking her head as she pulls back a little to look up at me.

I laugh, for real this time, and drop a kiss on her lips, unable to resist her. “I know, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack,” I admit, leading Rayna over to the recliner and pulling her onto my lap.

“We nearly got caught,” she breathes, cuddling up to me.

“We did,” I echo, blowing out a breath. “Are you okay?”

Rayna nods, chewing her bottom lip. “Yeah, I’m alright, but we need to tell him soon. I can’t go through that panic anymore.”

I nod, knowing she’s right. “We’re meeting up as usual on Friday. What if you come with me, and we tell him then?” I suggest.

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