Page 87 of Stay With Me Forever

West said, “She’s busy, Wyatt, and it may take a few days.”

“No, no, it’s okay. I’ll see Amber and my friends tomorrow for lunch. So I’ll ask then.”

Wyatt smiled, looking happier than I’d seen him since the water fight with his dad in my pool. “Thanks, Emmy!”

He gave me another hug. Not to be outdone, Avery did the same. Then they raced to the front door and waited for their dad.

Alone, West came up to me and gave me a quick, gentle kiss. I leaned toward him, wanting so much more, and yet I knew I couldn’t have it tonight.

He whispered, “Are we still on for dinner in three days?”

Despite everything looming with the Zara Jones wedding, I wouldn’t give up this one thing with him. “Damn straight it’s still on.” He smiled, looking even sexier, and I growled. “Go before I do something rash, like jump you, uncaring if your kids find us.”

Laughing, he caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers and then headed toward the door. “Goodbye, Emmy, and sweet dreams. Maybe you can share some of them with me via text.”

His wink made me laugh, and once they had gone, I leaned against the front door and sighed. It hadn’t been the first time I’d eaten with his kids, or even West for that matter. But all of us together, in my kitchen, had seemed familiar, like we’d done it a million times already.

And I wanted more of it.

I only hoped West wouldn’t lose interest over the coming months, when I couldn’t spend as much time with him and his kids. Because even if I’d mostly kept my heart protected, it would still fucking hurt if what I had with West and his kids all came crashing down.

ChapterThirty-Four

Weston

Emmy:Are you really not going to tell me where you’re taking me tonight?

Me:Nope.

Emmy: I’m not sure I like surprises.

Me:You’ll like mine.

Emmy:And the ego comes out to play.

Me:There’s nothing wrong with confidence. You like it. Admit it.

Emmy:I plead the Fifth.

Me:I have more confidence for you—I’m going to make that dream of yours come true, and you’ll be a boneless heap of pleasure by the end of it.

Emmy:I can’t really see you doing role-play, Mr. Wolfe.

Me:Do you want to wager on it?

Emmy:What will I get if I win?

Me:I’ll fix the wobbly chair in your kitchen.

Emmy:You’d do that anyway. But fine. If I lose?

Me:Then I get to tie you up, blindfold you, and have you at my mercy.

Emmy:That doesn’t really sound like losing to me.

Three days later, as I knocked on Emmy’s front door, my heart raced. It was fucking ridiculous, as I was thirty-six years old with two kids.

But I hadn’t taken a woman out on a date in years. Plus, Reno had been its own bubble, sort of a break from reality, and I had no fucking idea how things would play out, where people we’d known our whole lives would see us.

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