Page 39 of Hot Dad Summer

I thought about everything I knew about Daisy. How quickly she jumped up when someone needed something. How easily she spent herself taking care of everyone around her. How hard she worked to make herself impossible to leave.

“You’ve spent enough of your life proving your worth to everyone else.” I lifted my other hand and cupped her cheek. “Let me prove mine to you.”

A tear slipped over my thumb.

“That's a pretty big promise, Calloway.”

“I know.”

“And you're kind of an asshole.”

“I know that, too.”

Her mouth twitched. I leaned closer but stopped before my mouth reached hers. I wasn’t taking anything from her this time. “Can I kiss you?”

Her expression softened. “Yeah, I’ve already made enough questionable decisions this summer. What’s one more?”

I laughed and then I kissed her. There was nothing frantic about it. Nothing like the last time I’d gotten my hands on her and lost my fucking mind. I held her face and kissed her slowly, feeling her relax against me until her hands settled against my chest. I wanted her to feel safe again. When I pulled away, Daisy kept her eyes closed for another second before looking up at me.

“Goodnight, Wes.”

“Goodnight, Daisy.”

She started down the hall. “Daisy?”

She glanced back.

“I meant what I said.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.” I held her gaze. “But especially the part where I prove it.”

30

***Max***

My bike was the one thing I let myself have that wasn’t rigidly controlled. I needed to feel the sharp wind on my face every so often as a relief from how tightly I was wound the rest of the time. Even still, I kept my speed under the limit and made sure I stayed responsible. I had Poppy at home waiting for her dad to come back. That weight wasn’t light on my shoulders.

Things were too tense in the house and I was started to feel frazzled. Having Daisy around was a constant test and it was made even worse by knowing Wes and Flynn were both trying to go after her. I’d never known any of us to go after the same woman but it seemed Daisy had a way with Calloway men. Since the night I’d eaten her out and come on her face I’d been extra careful to not be alone with her. That didn’t mean I didn’t think about dragging her away nonstop. I’d been suffering with a never-ending hardon.

That was why when I slowly made my way down the main street of the village and spotted Daisy, I was half convinced that I was making it up. Traffic was moving slow enough that I managed to lock gazes with her. Her quick grin turned frown convinced me I wasn’t imagining things. My fantasy Daisy didn’t frown at me.

I wanted to stop. I wanted a few minutes alone with her. That wasn’t a good idea, though. I looked away from her and kept going. I could almost hear her scoff of annoyance and I got a bit of joy at the thought of annoying her as much as she annoyed me. I got to the outskirts of Sweetwater Cove and pulled over. It was a fucking terrible idea to go back. I had no business going back. I’d told Wes and Flynn that I wanted nothing to do with her.

I turned around and went back. I stopped thinking because if I let myself think, I’d start thinking about the way she tasted and the sounds of her moans and the sounds of her laughter. No, definitely no thinking.

I spotted the back of her near the same spot I’d first seen her. Her hourglass figure was wrapped in a white dress with enough flare around her hips to keep every male gaze locked on the bottom hem. Her hair bounced as she walked, the old-timey curls pronounced and put together in a way that made me want to destroy it by grabbing a fistful.

At the sound of my motorcycle her shoulders stiffened. Wanting to push her the same way I felt pushed I pulled on the sidewalk behind her, scaring several tourists and breaking a few traffic laws.

Daisy finally turned to face me, hands on her hips. Her bright red lips were set in a firm line but I could see a dare in her pretty eyes. She yelled over the engine. “What do you think you’re doing, Max?”

I nodded towards the back of the bike. “Come on. Get on.”

Her eyes widened. “You can’t be serious. Look at me, Max. I’m in a dress and heels. My hair-”

“Will survive. Come on. I’m not leaving until you get on.” I smirked at the way her will was crumbling. “If I keep blocking the sidewalk, you’re going to catch an earful from all these business owners.”