Page 17 of Make Me Whole

I rolled my eyes. “I know that. Besides, if the police weren't in Eli's pocket, I’d have suggested a restraining order, which is a lot easier to get, dipshit.”

“Right. Go on, and I’ll shut up.”

I sighed and continued, “We move her into the puke house. It’s clean now, and I have one room completely ready. The bathrooms are ugly but functional, and I can tackle the kitchen next so she’ll be more comfortable. Since it’s one of many properties under the company’s name, it’ll easily fly under Eli’s radar, and I can keep an eye on her while I’m working. We’ll install an alarm and good locks for the nights. She’ll be safe there.”

Al was quiet for a while, his gaze far away, his mind lost in thought. Then, he nodded. “That could work. I’m not sure she’ll go for it, but we can try.”

The comment caught me off guard. “Why wouldn’t she go for it?”

“We’ll have to support her financially, and she’ll hate that. While she’s here, sherepaysme” —he did air quotes to emphasize his point— “by cleaning and cooking. I know my daughter. She would rather take her chances with Eli than become our charity case.”

Though I admired her independence, the thought of her refusing help because of it bothered me. “Let’s hire her, then. You’re always busting my ass to get a secretary, so I’ll hire her. She’s polite and organized. It’ll be a good fit.”

“That’s brilliant!”

I smirked at him because I knew it was. At least for Skylar. For me it would be a terrible case of blue balls, but I could handle it as long as she and Ella were safe.

A knock came from the front door, and my shoulders tensed thinking it could be Eli or one of his minions. I got up from my chair as if it were poisonous, fists already balled.

“It’s just the pizza guy, Max.” Realizing that he was right, I released a breath and relaxed. He shook his head. “Go call Sky and tell her our plan. I’ll get the pizza and the kids.”

I nodded and made my way upstairs while Al answered the door. It was, indeed, the pizza.

Soft music echoed from Sky’s door as I approached. I titled my head toward the sound and smiled. She was listening to blues. My favorite kind of music.

Both my heart and my cock stirred at yet another alluring side of this woman. My good idea suddenly seemed too stupid for my own good. I adjusted myself, exhaled a deep breath, then knocked.

“Come in,” she called.

My heart raced as I turned the knob and pushed the door open. The voice of reason screamed that I had no business entering Skylar’s room, but an invitation from her was something I would never resist. That much I knew for certain.

When the door opened completely, I lost my breath. Sky stood by her vanity in a flimsy silk robe with one long leg propped on the bench while she applied moisturizer to her skin. A vision of me kneeling in front of her as she stood like that, mouth buried in her pussy, instantly filled my mind. A tent fit for at least ten people formed in my pants as my cock responded to her.

She looked over her shoulder, golden eyes widening as she saw me standing there. I expected her to lower her leg and assume a more modest stance, but she didn’t. Instead, she gazed down at the goddamned circus in my crotch, parted her lips, and pulled in a breath so deep her tits bounced.

Mother of sexy shit, please help me.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and tried to rearrange my dick as discreetly as possible—which turned out not to be discreet at all. “Sorry to bother you, Skylar, but the pizza is here.”

She smiled, and as if able to read my silent pleas for modesty, lowered her leg. She turned to face me, silk robe clinging to her curves and hugging her peaked nipples, making everything so much worse. “Thanks, Max. I’ll be right down.”

I nodded and turned to walk away, grateful that this torture was over. Then I remembered I had more to discuss with her and begged the universe for help as I turned back around.

“One more thing,” I started, and she nodded. Her golden eyes fixed on mine and her pouty lips opened just slightly, as if waiting for the kiss I desperately wanted to deliver.

Focusing on what was important, I told her my plan. She seemed a bit upset about moving, but after I told her about the job opportunity, her face lit up and she bit her lip. “Is it an actual job or a made-up one?”

“Of course, it’s real,” I deadpanned, even though it didn’t start that way. Her eyes filled with tears. “And I’ll expect full commitment from you.”

“You’ll have it. I won’t disappoint,” she said with the sweetest smile. She tucked a lock behind her ear and added, “And you’ll be at the house every day?”

I nodded. “Until the reno is done. Every once in a while, I take on a solo project to clear my head. I’ll drop Aiden off at school in the morning, head over, and spend the day there working.”

“Okay. I could pick him up for you when I go get Ella,” she suggested, a little breathless herself. “We could have dinner together, if you and Aiden want. I think Ella would like that. Besides, if your goal is to keep me safe, then you should be around the house as much as possible.”

It could be just my blue-balled imagination, but she seemed as excited about this whole thing as I was. Unable to help myself, I muttered, “You have no idea how much I’d like that.”

Her cheeks turned pink, my cue to leave. I was playing with fire, I knew that, and unless I could calm the fuck down, our upcoming proximity would make my whole life burst into flames.

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