Page 219 of The Tempted

“Happy birthday, Jack,” she whispered, tapping the neck of her bottle to mine.

“Thank you, Sunshine,” I said huskily, before taking a long gulp of my beer, watching as she sipped hers. She pulled the bottle away and giggled.

“You know what I realized on the way here?”

“What’s that?” I questioned, taking a seat at the head of the table and leaning back against the chair, watching her intently.

“I don’t even know your last name,” she stated, bringing the bottle back to her lips for another sip.

I stared at her for a moment before taking another gulp of my beer. I had avoided the truth for as long as I could but I always questioned this moment in the back of my mind, wondering about when I told her my last name if she would connect me with Danny. The last time I spoke to Danny was nearly four years ago. He had paid me a visit while I was doing a bid at Ryker’s. He dropped in, gracing me with his presence just to tell me he was changing his name because he didn’t want to be associated with me. He took our mother’s maiden name, Gregorio.

I brought the beer down mid-way and met her curious eyes.

“Parrish,” I revealed, gauging her reaction.

“Jack Parrish,” she said, letting my name roll off her tongue. Nothing changed in her eyes, leading me to believe that Danny had definitely changed his name and never looked back. I also realized he probably never told this woman he had a brother.

“Well, aren’t you going to ask me what mine is?” she asked, playfully.

“What’s your last name?” I asked, humoring her.

“DeCarlo,” she murmured. “Seems like it’s something we should’ve told one another by now,” she added, glancing down at the table.

I leaned forward, looking toward the kitchen door before looking back at Reina and placed my hand on her knee.

“You mean before you knew what if felt like to have me…”

“Don’t,” she interrupted.

“Why not?” I taunted, her face flushing. “Can’t pretend it didn’t happen. I won’t let you.”

She averted her eyes to my hand on her knee, watching as I drew circles with my thumb along her silky pants.

“Dinner is served,” Lacey announced, walking into the dining room carrying a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs that were the size of softballs. I gave Reina’s knee a squeeze before removing my hand and smiling up at my daughter.

“Looks good, baby,” I said.

Her face lit up as she filled my dish before passing the bowl to Reina. Lacey grabbed herself a coke and popped it open. Sitting back, she watched hopefully as I twirled the pasta around my fork. I lifted it to my mouth, felt both women stare at me as I took my first bite.

I closed my eyes and moaned in mock appreciation. Lacey’s smile widened and she settled back in her chair as I reached for my beer to help wash down the under cooked pasta.

“Delicious,” I winked at my baby before nudging Reina. “Go ahead, you’re in for a treat.”

She smiled at me and fuck, the urge to keep her smiling tugged at me.

Reina loaded her fork up with spaghetti and opened her mouth wide, closing her full lips around her fork, giving me a glimpse of the playful side of her. My dick strained against my jeans as the sweetest moan escaped her lips.

“Really?” Lacey asked, taking a bite herself to see what all the fuss was about. “It is pretty good.”

“I don’t cook much but I’d love the recipe,” Reina added, finishing her beer.

“It’s pretty simple,” Lacey said, lifting her coke to take a sip. “How come you don’t cook?”

Reina shrugged her shoulders. “It’s just me, by myself,” she replied, moving the food around in her dish before reaching for my beer, claiming it as her own. “I guess I don’t see the point in making a mess for just one person.”

“Funny, he says the same thing every time I badger him about cooking for himself,” Lacey said, throwing me a look.

“She worries about her old man,” I remarked, nodding toward my beer. “Want another or are you good with that?”

---