Belong (Seven Year Itch #3)(29)
Then I heard them, the two crazy characters I was about to spend more time with, hooting and hollering as they made their way into the room. Harper was wrapped in a towel. She stood and held it on her body as Chad lifted a small pair of panties up so she could step in them. After that, Harper dropped the towel and lifted her arms to allow the nightgown to slide over her body. She climbed up on the bed and turned around, while Chad grabbed a hairbrush. She scrunched up her face as he smoothed out her wet hair. Once he was done, she got under the covers and propped her little body up.
They both stared at me for a second, as if I was supposed to know what they were waiting for. “Are you coming over here?” He asked.
I headed over to stand next to the bed, but Harper patted the opposite side her father was on. “You can sit here.”
He picked up a book while I got comfortable, all the while feeling as if I was intruding. When I heard him start to read the story something happened. I didn’t look at the pictures as he turned the pages, or watch Harper’s eyes to see if she would immediately fall asleep. I was captivated by Chad. He read with an energetic style, acting out a personality for each character. He got into it, seeming as if he enjoyed it as much as his daughter. It was the sweetest thing.
When our eyes met I couldn’t deny what was there. He knew it too. There was no camouflaging it. I shouldn’t have agreed to have dinner with them. I should have never put myself in a situation I knew I wouldn’t want to get out of. Chad had everything I could ever want and more. He was like a huge piece of chocolate when you’re heavily dieting. He was the one thing I wanted more than anything in the world, but I knew he wasn’t mine to have. Now I didn’t know what I was going to do to try to avoid the elephant in the room, and as his eyes stayed fixed on mine, I realized he had me exactly where he wanted me.
Chapter 15
It was obvious Rachel was about to let her guard down. The longer I spent around her, the more I knew I needed her back in my life, even if we were only friends.
I'd be kidding myself if I said I was okay with a platonic relationship, especially after being cheated on with another woman. In the back of my mind I wondered if I wasn't doing my job as a man, and I knew one women who would give it to me straight.
She'd let her hair down while I'd been upstairs. When I first saw her in the doorway I was inclined to say something about it, but chickened out before I could follow through.
As soon as Harper had fallen asleep I kissed her goodnight and slid off the bed. Rachel stood on the other side, watching as I approached her. She didn't pull away when I took her hand and led her out of the room, not even when I stopped and stood close enough to feel her breathing. "Did you come upstairs because you missed me already?"
"No!," she defended. "I heard ?screaming and laughing. I was curious what the commotion was about."
"Now you know my weakness. I'm a sucker for my little girl. I worship the ground she walks on. Everything I do is for her future."
She licked her lips. “I know what you’re doing. It’s probably time for me to go,” she said while still letting my fingers lace with one of hers.
“Are you sure that’s what you want to do? Gracie probably headed home. I figured we’d relax by the fire for a little while.”
“What is your idea of relaxing? Does it involve the removal of clothes?”
I snickered. “Clothing is optional.”
“You’re terrible.”
“I’m desperate,” I whispered. God, she was so close. I wanted those lips on mine, but I couldn’t make the first move, at least not yet.
Her hand was still playing with mine. “I told you why I didn’t want to stay.”
“And I told you why you should anyway.”
“It will only hurt the both of us worse.”
I used my free hand to stroke the side of her cheek. When I did it, she leaned into my touch. “You haven’t changed, Rach. You’re still beautiful inside and out. You captivate me in ways no other woman is able. I’d be a fool to let you walk away from this again.”
With me still touching her face, she focused on my eyes again. “What is it about you that I can’t turn away from? I thought I was over you. I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved in your life again.”
I inched closer, almost touching her lips to mine. “Come downstairs with me. Stay. Please.”
She nodded quickly. “Okay.”
We were still standing in the same position. I brought my hand around to the back of her head and ran it through her long hair. She closed her eyes like it felt enjoyable. Her neck was exposed, begging for attention, though I refrained. I had to go slow for the sake of keeping her around. I couldn’t scare her away, at least until she knew my full intentions. At the moment I wasn’t even sure where it could go. All I did know was that it was going to change everything.
I stepped backwards, breaking my hold on her. Her eyes fluttered open in a way to appear shocked I hadn’t made a move. I held my hand out again and waited for her to take it before heading down the staircase. “About those clothes,” I teased.
“Don’t push your luck,” she retorted back.
When she began to walk away from me I fetched her hand and tugged her back. She fell into my hold, her body pressing firmly against mine. “I don’t have to push with you, Rach. Don’t you see how perfectly you fit in these arms?”