Page 39 of Tempt

Put on a cute outfit.

See guys my age.

Drink a little.

Forget about the single dad who made me feel one inch tall this afternoon.

It’s the perfect way to get back to being a normal student and blow off some steam. I’m twenty-two. I don’t want to be sweating about my hot boss or anything bigger than making it to tomorrow.

I text back.

Kat: I’ll be there.

I file my nails into points, painting them neon yellow.

Next, I flip through all the clothing I brought.

Nope to a red dress.

Nope to skin-tight jeans.

Perfect.

Daniel hasn’t come out of his office all night.

After feeding me and Andy and getting him bathed and into bed, I went to my closet.

Now, I pull out a black faux-leather mini skirt and a bustier top. Then style my hair in sexy waves and apply liner and shadow, plus a slick of lip gloss before checking myself out in the floor-length mirror.

A surge of confidence flows through me.

The past week, I’ve been wearing more practical clothes. Tonight is my excuse to put on exactly what I want.

My attention lands on a set of fox ears I picked up at the Museum of Nature with Andy. I slip them on my head.

Hell yes.

After I grab black boots and a tiny clutch, I go down the hall to Daniel’s office door.

I start to knock but it’s ajar. Through the inches-wide gap, I spot Andy in his pajamas curled into his dad’s lap, his dad talking in low tones.

My anger softens in seconds. No matter what he said to me, it’s obvious how much love this man has for his kid.

When things got hard for these two, Daniel doubled down. Committed to be everything his kid needed, even when his life was challenging too.

This isn’t my family. They’re not mine, either of them. They’ll go back to this and I’ll be alone and that’s how I like it.

As if feeling my attention, Andy looks up.

“Kat!” He’s sleepy but still awake.

I push the door wide. “Hey. I didn’t hear you get up.”

“He wanted another story.” Daniel’s gaze runs over me, lingering on my heeled boots and mostly exposed legs before making its way to my face.

I tug my skirt so it covers my ass and a good quarter of my thigh. “I’m going out to a thing on campus.”

He crosses to the doorway, stopping just out of reach.

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