One Last Time(70)

I smile unapologetically as I get to my feet. “I like holding you,” I admit as I move toward her. “I like that you drop your panties.” My arms wrap around her middle. “And I like that you love me.”

She starts to melt a little, moving her hand across my chest until another knock sounds. “Mommy. I want cereal, please!” Aubrey whines.

“Coming, baby! Why don’t you get a zoo animal to sit with you,” Kristin suggests and then turns back to me. “Clothes, and then you have to go.”

“Kris, there’s nowhere to go, we’ll handle it like adults.”

Her eyes narrow, and I realize that wasn’t the best thing to say. I clearly am in the wrong for not leaving last night, and she’s going to beat me with my own arms. “Remember the window? You’re going to use that.”

I’m not a small guy by any means. Sneaking out of windows was never really an option. “I’m not . . .” When I get a glimpse of her face, I stop.

Looks like I’ll be finding a way to make it happen.

“Go.” She pushes my chest. “And then you can ring the doorbell or something, but they can’t know you slept here.” I’m not even sure what’s happening, but Kristin is shoving me in the direction of the window.

“You want me to climb out the window, go around the house, and then ring the doorbell?” I ask for clarification.

“Yes.”

“Instead of just explaining to the kids?”

She huffs. “Explain that their mother had mind-blowing sex with the guy they met yesterday?”

“I wasn’t suggesting any details, but I’m glad it was mind-blowing.”

Kristin runs her hands down her face. “Less talking and more climbing.”

The things men do for women are ridiculous.

I lift the window open and look back to be sure she’s serious. She moves her hands and shoos, so I guess this is actually happening.

“You’re going to owe me.” I try to joke.

“You’re damn right you will.” She huffs. “Now, go before my six-year-old finds a way to pick the lock, and if you think I’m kidding, I’m not.”

Aubrey might not be able to, but I don’t doubt that Finn can. Instead of prolonging the inevitable, I do as she asks . . . demands. Yesterday was a crazy day for the kids, and she’s right to keep this a secret. Plus, I’d like to keep my current status with them both for a while.

“I’m going, sweetheart.” I kiss her softly.

Here I am, thirty-eight years old and sneaking out of my girlfriend’s room so I don’t get caught spending the night. I guess you’re never too old for this shit.

I sit on my ass, legs hanging a little, but because of my size, there’s no way that I won’t tear my back up. I flip around to my stomach, thinking if I can touch the ground first, it might not be as bad, it’s only a ten-foot drop. I look up, trying to get my toes to find the grass, and see Kristin standing there trying not to laugh.

“You’re lucky I love you,” I grunt as I feel around.

She heads to the window, takes my face in her hands, and kisses me hard. “Yeah, I totally am.”

The bang on the door causes us both to jump a little. “Go,” I tell her.

“Mom-my!” Aubrey’s voice is loud, and she keeps hitting her hands on the wood. “You’re taking forever!”

I drop out the window while her back is turned and lean against the siding.

“Sorry, sorry!” Kristin’s voice carries to me. “I’m here now.”

“What took you so long?” she asks her mother.

“I couldn’t get rid of a shirt I really love.” I can hear the smile in Kristin’s voice.

“Huh?” Aubrey sounds confused. “What shirt?”

“Nothing, honey. Let’s get you breakfast.”

“You made me throw away my favorite dress,” Aubrey continues. “Can I keep it, too?”

Kristin’s laughter starts to float away as I try to contain my own.

My phone rings, causing me to jump. I quickly silence it and pray no one heard it as I rush around the side of the house and make it to my car without incident.

“What’s up, Sebastian?” I answer when my agent calls for the second time in a row.

“I need you to get on a plane today.”

“Today?” I ask, looking at Kristin’s front door.

He sighs. “They need you to do a read through for the movie. I know they said a few weeks, but they changed the timeline.”

My hand grips the steering wheel, and I twist against the leather. “I can’t.”

“No, you have no choice.”

“It’s too short of notice,” I tell him. “I’ve got things here that I’m working on. There’s no way I’m leaving now.”

Kristin and I have a lot of things we need to talk about. I’m not getting on a plane today when last night I told her everything. I’m not a fool; it’ll look like I’m running away. Plus, I haven’t told her about this fucking movie. Six months of filming in France isn’t going to go over well, not when we’re this new.

Something makes a loud noise in the background, and I wouldn’t doubt he threw something. I frustrate the fuck out of him. “I hope it’s more than eight million reasons as to why you can’t get there.”