Page 29 of Doctor I Do

Tahlia takes a seat, her face pinched. I lean down to whisper in her ear, “Are you okay?”

Her chest heaves, and I swallow a groan. Her breasts move up and down in her sweater, and the way the skin is teasing me, I have to take a seat to hide the tent that’s forming in my pants.

I haven’t even fucking touched her. Or even tasted her. Yet I’m rock hard and desperate to sink myself inside her.

That part of the marriage I could be good at.

Sex is easy.

A relationship, I’m doomed.

Everyone calls me the playboy, and that’s all I am.

At least, I think so…

The steak, vegetables, and potatoes look delicious, and even though my thighs are spread while I wait for the uncomfortable erection to calm down, I focus on the food, which helps the deflation.

Sonya speaks once we’ve all taken our first bite. “How many children will you have?”

“Mom,” Tahlia shrieks, her mortified expression making me cough.

Was she expecting kids? Because I really didn’t sign up for that.

“What it’s a legitimate question. He’s…”

And I know she’s asking me how old I am.

I swallow my mouthful of food and answer. “Thirty-two.”

“See, in the next few years, he’ll be thinking of children, Tahlia.”

I lower my fork and knife, suddenly not as hungry. “We want to travel a bit before we have children. Right, honey?” I turn to Tahlia, trying to act calm, even though my body temperature is rising. As I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she melts into my hand with a soft smile. Her eyes have a sheen of relief, as if she’s glad I got us out of an awkward conversation.

I finally drop my hand, skimming her exposed shoulder so I can touch her teasingly warm skin. It’s tempting to keep my fingers there and seek more, but we are at dinner with her parents. So I curl my fingers and return them to my lap.

My gaze catches her father’s, and it flicks to Tahlia and then me, a frown pinched between his brows. Suddenly, a slight worry runs through me. I try to think if I’ve not acted attentive or like a fiancé, but I’m coming up empty.

Maybe he just doesn’t like the idea of me touching his daughter. Unfortunately for him, I seem to like it, and so does she.

“How long have you two been dating?” Hector asks, his finger rubbing along his bottom lip.

I tug at the collar of my shirt. It’s a little hot in here.

“About six months,” Tahlia answers.

“How did you meet? Seems like a rushed engagement. You’re not pregnant, are you?”

My eyes widen. Immaculate conception, I want to say, but I keep my mouth shut.

“I’m not pregnant. And Alice’s husband is Alex’s brother,” Tahlia explains. She speaks so easily. She’s a damn good actor.

I wash down my food with more soda, welcoming the cold beverage.

“That makes sense,” Sonya mumbles.

“It doesn’t to me,” Hector grunts, lifting his glass to his mouth to take a drink. He watches me over the glass.

This is not fucking good.

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