Page 5 of Filthy Rich Temptation
Meanwhile, Lottie’s busy making her juice carton burp.
Thank God someone’s keeping it classy around here.
I try to act normal, wipe up the spill and pour milk on Lottie’s cereal, but nothing about me is normal. Nothing about this situation is normal. Nothing about my life is normal.
Six years ago, I had it sussed. I met Danny. A guy who made me stop fantasising about the impossible with the man behind me. A guy who loved me and wanted me and whisked me right off my young and naive feet. Fast forward to now, I’m bruised and battered, inside and out, running from one toxic relationship into the home of the man I’d run from in the first place. How’s that for a twisted life story?
Taylor would never have suggested I come here if she knew, of course.
My big sis is blissfully unaware of my feelings for Theo. Hell, I wish I was blissfully unaware…
‘Are you trying to wear a hole in my floor?’
The bemused murmur comes from just over my shoulder and I die a thousand deaths.Get a grip, Mercedes!
I force an easy smile and stand. ‘Don’t want to leave a sticky residue behind.’
‘Tell that to my hallway.’
‘Oh God,’ I groan. ‘Did she get there too?’
‘It’s no bother, Maggie will see it gone today.’
I frown, swiping a hand through my wild, blonde mop. ‘Maggie?’
‘My cleaner. She comes every Saturday morning. She’s gonna love Lottie.’
I puff. ‘You’re being sarcastic…’
‘I’m not. She’ll be torn between work and play. Maggie that is, not Lottie.’
‘She shouldn’t have to clean up after us. I’ll take care of it.’
‘You’ll do no such thing.’ He glances at the view beyond the glass. ‘Looks like it’s going to be a great day. Why don’t you get out, take Lottie to the park?’
I chew on my lip, my eyes drifting to the glorious blue sky stretching over London, and my tummy twists. ‘Maybe.’
I won’t, but he doesn’t need to know that.
The toast pops and I jump in sync, dashing for it while my nerves stay strung up to the ceiling…
* * *
Theo
Sadie plucks the bread from the toaster like she’s afraid the thing is still on, and I add another dash of coffee to my very full mug, desperate for something to focus on that isn’t her.
Her and thirty seconds of pure, unfiltered temptation pressed up against me.
Jesus.
Less than a minute of contact and my brain short-circuited like a teen crushing on his first girl. Not a man who should know better. A manwaytoo old to be crushing on anyone, especially a girl twelve years his junior.
Hell, Taylor’s more mum than sister to Sadie, which makes me more… No. Don’t go there. Daddy fantasies arenotmy thing. Never have been, never would be?—
She leans past me to squeeze the cloth under the tap and so help me God, I almost combust. Coffee sloshes over the side of my mug, and her eyes snap to mine.
‘Don’t you start making a mess too,’ she says with a soft laugh.
