Page 98 of Tempt

Not that her job is the reason I was asking.

The idea of me going on an early morning coffee run then returning to our hotel to wake her with caffeine, to be the first thing she sees when she opens her eyes, feels so right.

“I have class.”

Disappointment fills me.

In the five seconds since I suggested it, I was already imagining the three of us together.

“But I can stay with him if you want to go.”

It’s my turn to be surprised.

“No, that’s asking too much.”

“Or we could ask his grandparents.”

“No,” I say immediately.

I don’t like the idea of having Andy’s grandparents in my house. I trust them with him, but I don’t trust them not to try to find evidence I’m a bad dad.

Could they take my son from me?

Probably not.

But the fact that they tried is enough to make me set against them.

Kat, on the other hand, I’m getting extremely used to having in my house.

“Seriously.” She wraps her arms around my waist. “I can handle it.”

The crazy thing is, I believe her.

She handled me. Issues and all.

And she doesn’t judge me for what I’ve been through or how I dealt with it. She calls me on my bullshit one moment and gives me nothing but compassion the next.

I’m falling for this girl.

Honestly.

Uncontrollably.

She cocks her head, misunderstanding my stunned silence. “I get that it’s scary to leave him. But you’re going to have to, eventually.”

It would be a huge benefit to have this paper presented.

And it’s only three days.

I take a deep breath. “Okay.”

* * *

“You sure about this?” I finish packing and reach for the suitcase zipper.

“Yes. We’ll have lots of fun flying solo.”

The zipper catches and I yank on it. Kat waves me off and fixes it with a deft flick of her wrist. She turns and wraps her hand around my tie, pulling me closer. “Relax. Everything’s going to be fine.”

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