Page 3 of Beautiful Mess

Scrunching up my nose, I shake my head. “No. It’s uncomfortable,” I mutter, pulling out my phone to connect it to his Bluetooth. “I don’t ever wear one.”

With his truck stopped in the middle of the parking lot, Conway reaches over my body, my breath catching as I breathe him in. He grabs the seatbelt, sliding it over my chest before clicking it into place. Sitting back in his seat, he fixes his gaze on me for a moment before putting the truck into gear.

“Don’t let me hear about you not wearing a seatbelt again, Grace,” he says gruffly. “It’s dangerous and foolish.”

Okay, Daddy.I’m nearly panting as I get my phone hooked up and pick a song. At this rate, I’m going to come in my panties before we even get into his bedroom. The music fills the space, and Conway glances over at me out of the corner of his eye.

“Didn’t take you for a John Mellencamp kind of girl,” he murmurs, and I giggle.

“Music from the 80s and 90s is my favorite. It’s all my mom played when I was younger when I’d help her bake on the weekends.”

He nods, hand gripping the top of the wheel, causing the veins in his forearm to bulge. “Good song.”

“What can I say? I have good taste.” I shrug and breathe out a laugh.

“Cole didn’t tell me he was coming to town this weekend,” Conway mutters as he merges onto the highway.

Annnndjust like that…mood soured.

“That’s because he’s not in town.”

“Oh.” I can feel his attention flick to the side of my face. “You two usually come back together.”

Annoyance flares inside of me. He’s supposed to be removing my soaked panties with his teeth, not discussing his loser son with me.

“Yeah, well, he’s an asshole,” I huff out before I can stop myself. Really, I should watch what I say in front of Conway. Heishis dad, after all, but fuck that. For a moment, I wonder if Conway already knows. He and Colearepretty close, and I could totally see Cole telling his dad in that disgusting braggy tone he has.

“He’s young and stupid,” Conway offers. “Doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

Yup. He totally knows.

Guess it’s time for Daddy to swoop in and save the day. I chew on the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling as I press my thighs together, trying to relieve some of the growing ache.

The rest of the drive is spent in mostly silence, save for the music playing from my phone. Conway is a man of few words, I’ve come to realize. But even with neither of us talking, the air in the truck is electric. It’s like my body has a magnetic pull toward his, and I can’t wait until his hands are all over me soon.

Turning onto our street, he comes to a stop next to the curb in front of my parents’ house.Hmm, weird that he wouldn’t pull into his driveway, but whatever.Maybe he’s not assuming I’ll come home with him, giving me the option to go to my parents’ house if I want. Butyeah rightif I’ll do that.

Shifting the gear into neutral, he uses his left foot to push the e-brake before breathing out a heavy exhale and looking my way.

This is it.My heart thrashes in my chest, every inch of my skin tingling as I await what’s coming.

“Thanks for driving me home,” I say softly, lips lifting into a flirty smile. “Such a gentleman.”

He nods. “It was no trouble.”

I don’t know what washes over me, but it’s as if my body is acting of its own volition. I’m lunging across the seat before my brain can even register what I’m doing. Hands coming up to his face, the scratch of his beard against my palms lighting me up, I crash my mouth into his. I hear Conway suck in a breath as he grabs onto my arms, and just when I think he’s about to pull me in closer, he shoves me away. His eyes are wide, I’m sure matching my own, as I stare at him.

“What are you doing?” I ask, brow pinched in confusion.

“Grace.” My name is a deep rumble. It almost sounds punishing, and it sends a shiver down my spine. Running his fingers through his hair, he shakes his head, jaw tight.

Oh, god. Did I read this entire situation wrong?“What’s the matter?”

“Cole is my son,” Conway says, almost growl-like. He won’t even look at me. “He may have fucked up, but he’s my son.”

The embarrassment starting to well up inside of me is quickly tamped down by a new emotion. Anger. I huff out a dry laugh, feeling like a fucking idiot. “Oh, I see. Like father, like son, right?”

“What?” When his eyes finally find mine, an emotion swirls within them that looks an awful lot like anger. “No. Not only are you my son’s girlfriend?—”

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