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“Believe it or not, I don’t set out to intentionally hurt people. If being honest makes me an asshole, I’m okay with that, because at least I don’t make promises I don’t keep.”
Maggie nods at me with a soft smile that’s laced with pity. As though she can see something in me that I don’t. And if she can, I don’t want to know about it. I’m a lucky guy. I do what I love and I get to have this incredible life. I don’t need her to pity me. More than that, I don’t want to find something to tarnish the shine of the life I’ve built for myself.
“Still want me to take the kids to tennis this morning?” I ask, changing the topic.
“Only if you’re sure you can handle them,” she snickers back at me.
“They love me.”
“They love that you let them cause chaos.”
“Same thing. What are cool uncles for?” I take a sip of my tea as I head back up to the guest room I’ve taken over to get ready.
By the time I’m back downstairs, the kids are waiting for me with goofy smiles that promise mischief. Grabbing their gym bags, I let Maggie reiterate the instructions she’s given me at least four times since she asked me to help her out. Once she’s done, I take the kids out to my rental.
The Wrangler is a hit as we head to the country club via the sea front, enjoying the morning breeze with the soft top off. The sun is already beating down and Blaire is in control of the radio as she bellows along to a country song with a catchy melody.
“Think you can sing any louder?” I tease her, practically yelling over her and the radio.
“I can try,” Blaire sasses back with a broad grin, instantly going back to the song and doing as she said while bobbing her head along.
The little shit loves to see how far she can push her luck, and luckily for her, I’m not going to be the one to stop her. She’s got spirit and a ton of attitude that I don’t want to cross.
Turning the radio down a notch or two, I ask, “Who is it?”
“Rueben Knox.”
“She loves him,” Blakely groans with a roll of her eyes.
“He’s cute.”
“And old,” Brooks grimaces at me in the rearview mirror.
“How old is he?” I glance over at Blaire, unsure of whether I should be skipping the track and nipping this crush right in the bud. “You’re eight years old, dude.”
“Yeah? And? I still got eyes.” With a shake of her head, Blaire swishes her dirty blonde ponytail as she goes back to singing, and I’m left confused about what I should be doing about the situation.
Is it a situation?
I keep deliberating over it while vowing to never have kids—or at least not daughters. I couldn’t handle this level of crazy twenty-four seven. More than likely, I’d end up in jail for beating down every boy that looked their way.
Why the fuck am I even thinking about this?
I shake myself from my thoughts as we park up at the country club and I walk the kids to the changing rooms before delivering them to their instructor. He is a middle-aged former Pro that I recall seeing at events before. I’m heading back inside, checking my phone and deciding whether to get some strength training in, when someone falls in step with me.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Rosie smiles at me when I glance her way.
My own smile struggles to contain itself when I ask, “Are you stalking me?”
“Don’t sound too disappointed.”
“Disappointed?” When I turn to face her, walking backwards as we navigate the path back inside, Rosie clutches my arms. She moves me out of the way with an apology to the couple walking past us.
If I hadn’t already been dying to kiss her last night, I’m overwhelmed by the need right now as her hands linger on me. They’re small, but strong. She’s got a tight grip that has my hands aching to hold her just as tight—tighter maybe. The tied strap of her white polka dot red jumpsuit slips over her shoulder, and instead of fixing it, she follows my gaze to her bare skin. It’s slightly flushed from the sun. When I anchor my hands on her hips, her steps falter with the sudden flash of her eyes back to mine.
“I’m not disappointed,” I say, entranced by the way her tongue slicks over her bottom lip before her teeth sink into the plump flesh. “My day is made.”
“Well…” Rosie pauses, dragging in a breath before she smirks at me, “Don’t you sound eager?”
