Page 30 of Reckless

“How do youfigure?”

She doesn’t answer right away, until I give her an exasperated look, and she sighs again. “I’m staying out of your way. This is your house, and I know you’re not used to having a strangeraround.”

I frown. “You’re not a stranger. Well, not anymore. And I feel like a giant ass enjoying your cooking without you joining us. I mean, it’s fine if you’re sick of me and my kids and need somespace—”

“I’m not sick of your kids. Not atall.”

It pains me to think of what she’s not saying. “Okay, so then… just sick of me?” I dig deep for the next words. “Do you still think I’m a dick? I know I’m not always the nicest guy or the most patient,but—”

“Shut up. I’m not sick of you either. And you’re not a dick, okay?” Rolling her eyes, she gets up in a huff and stomps over. Without shoes, she’s tiny, barely coming up to my shoulders. I’m thinking Tinkerbell’s gonna shove me out of her room and slam the door in my face when she grabs my arms and turns me. “I’ll watch anything with you but the Rangers,okay?”

I smile as she manhandles me out of her room. “How about the Cubs? They’re playing the Dodgers.” This close, I can smell the coconut fragrance of hershampoo.

“Fine.”

After I find the game on TV, I collect the ice cream and two spoons, drop down next to Tori on the couch, and hand her a spoon. “Chocolate Cherry Garcia or Chocolate Chip CookieDough?”

“Chocolate Cherry,please.”

“Here ya go,m’lady.”

I adjust the volume on my flatscreen and settle in. I’m about to pat myself on the back for getting her to relax when she moans, and my dick sits up and takesnotice.

Reflexively, I turn toward her and immediately wish Ihadn’t.

The look on her face is pure ecstasy. Her eyes are closed as she wraps her lips around the spoon and moans.Again.

Throb. Throb.Throb.

Fuck.

Reaching down, I yank my jeans at the knees to make more room and stretch the hem of my t-shirt out before I strategically place the ice cream over myerection.

What the fuck?I glare down at my lap, wondering how the hell I’m sporting spontaneous wood when I’ve barely noticed a woman in the last two years, much less popped a boner around one like a hornyteenager.

“This,” she mumbles around a bite, “is sooo good. Thankyou.”

“Welcome.” I muster agrunt.

We eat in silence while the Cubs get their asses kicked.C’mon,guys.

The tension in my shoulders finally starts to ease, which is when I remember the phone call thisafternoon.

“I heard from the babysitting agency thisafternoon.”

“Oh?” She stills next tome.

“They told me I was shit outta luck. That no one wants to come out this far, but they’ll keep me posted if somethingchanges.”

“They did not say you were ‘shit outta luck.’” She makes this little sound in the back of herthroat.

Laughing, I shrug. “No, but you get the gist.” I look over at her hesitantly. “So what do you say? Think you could stay on longer? I know we initially said we’d start with two weeks to see how things went, but I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you rightnow.”

Her eyes soften, and she gazes into her ice cream like it holds all the answers.Please sayyes.

“I might have someone interested in subletting my place, so…maybe?”

“Maybe is better than no, so I’ll take maybe. What if I promise unlimited Ben &Jerry’s?”

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