"That's a good idea." Mr. Brighton's voice rumbled from behind. "Looks like you'll have to break out your tux to see if it still fits, Max."
I felt a loss from the warm embrace of Max's arms as I pulled away and turned toward his father. Mr. Brighton had a grin on his face that reminded me of his son.
"No, I couldn't ask that of Max. I think I have made it quite clear that my father isn't a good man. He will be at the gala."
"You both know I'm right here and can speak for myself," Max said.
Max's father sighed. "My son cares for you. I know him. He will go to the ends of the Earth for the people he cares about. Whether you like it or not, Ms. White, you got good people on your side. Like good versus evil. Good always prevails. It's like Star Wars, and you're Luke Skywalker and your father's Darth Vader. We won't let you turn to the dark side."
"I never said he was luring me into politics."
"Maybe not exactly like Star Wars, but you get my point. Anyway, who's up for watching Star Wars while eating chicken salad sandwiches?" Mr. Brighton's blue eyes shone with a happiness that I suspected came from years of love and fulfillment. I wondered if I would ever be that happy.
He rubbed his hands together. "Max, you explain to her that I'm right. I'll get lunch ready."
Maybe I was tired of being under his control. Perhaps I needed not to fear the public's reaction anymore. Or it could be time for me to stop hiding behind curtains and baking cookies while the world had fun. I nodded and felt relief that I had people who cared enough to help me go against my father's wishes. The first time I tried—when I was in college—no one was there to help me. It was freeing and comforting to know that I had support.
Max's father left with a grin on his face. I chuckled at his quick mood change. Was this what it was like to have a loving father? I can't remember a time I laughed with love as my father or mother walked away.
"Now that you know what my father's really like, are you sure you still wish to be seen with me?" Max tried to stop the smile from overtaking his face.
"I figured I would be the one asking you that." I inched closer and wrapped my arms around his strong, and as I found out today, defined middle. "You have a wonderful father and an amazing daughter. I'm completely jealous."
Max swept my hair off my shoulder and ate up my mouth with his gaze. I bit my lip in anticipation of his kiss I knew was coming. All the signs were there—the devouring stare, him leaning toward me, Max whispering how he was "going to kiss me now." It was obvious, but instead of relaxing after everything he did to my body today, it felt like he was going to kiss me for the first time.
There were butterflies in my stomach.
My skin buzzed and warmth traveled up my neck.
A loud crash came from behind us. Wait . . . That's not something that happened with a kiss.
We both jumped and turned to find the curtain rod, along with the sheer gray curtains, had fallen.
There was a hole in the wall just above the window.
Max pointed to where the drapes had been. "Still jealous?"
"Hey, I'm sure patching a hole in the wall and hanging curtains is way cheaper than replacing all your pipes."
Stiffening, he winced. "Ugh, your pipes. I tried so hard to get out of that. I really am sorry."
"I tell you what. If you fix my pipes, at a reasonable price, and be Felipe's date's date to the gala, I'll come here and help you fix up your house. Remember, I got tools!" I smiled and batted my eyes to sweeten my offer.
"My father was right. I would walk to the ends of the Earth for you, Heidi," Max said before brushing his lips over mine.
Chapter 12
Max
"USE YOUR WHOLE BODY to work it. Just like that."
Heidi's voice was too deep to have me believe this was part of making pie crust. Out of the corner of my eye, I discovered she was staring at my chest.
I tried to focus on what she said, but the woman had a monopoly on my body's reaction. And based on the increased pounding of my heart, her grip on my heart was stronger too. I was falling for her.
This tired father felt like an excitable, foolish teenager when I was around Heidi. If she asked me to run around naked on Pennsylvania Avenue during rush hour, I would.
"There are a few holes. Do I need to start over?" I curled the side of my mouth, turning to watch her. She was much more entertaining than the dough I was currently fondling.
Despite her desire to turn every baking lesson into something sexual, I did wish to learn how to make a pie. Since Heidi and I started having sex a few weeks ago, she always found a reason to make my cock strain against my jeans. It was to the point that we had almost been caught in the act by my daughter on three occasions.
Heidi would promise to help me fix up my home or make my family dinner, but by the end, we were sneaking off to my bedroom or locking the door to the bathroom so she could have her way with me.
"Press a little more over the holes. Pinch it. Massage and smooth it until it's nice and tight," Heidi said though her fingers told a very different story.
Instead of demonstrating this on the rolled-out pie crust, her hands slid up my bare chest until they found my nipple. A bolt of awareness shot down straight to my cock as she demonstrated her point.
This was my fault. If I wanted Heidi to take the pie lesson seriously, then I should have left my shirt on from the beginning.
"Can't a man be half naked in his own home while working on pie?" I said with a smirk.
She ignored my protest as her other hand drifted down the dark fuzzy line from my belly button until Heidi found my hardening bulge under my shorts.
"Of course, you can. In fact, I encourage it. As your pastry chef teacher, I mandate all lessons in the future be shirt free." She shimmied herself between the counter and my body. "Who knew pastry school would be useful in other ways."
"You gonna be shirtless, too?" I couldn't help the eagerness in my voice.
"Maybe." She winked and circled my nipple with her finger.
I groaned, weak to her touch. This pie making idea I had seemed like such a good idea at the time. I wanted to learn how to make one as a surprise for Kat since she's been working so hard these past two weeks sticking to the routine the therapist set for her. But considering Heidi's outfit today consisted of a yellow tank top, barely-there jean shorts, and an apron that covered just enough to give the appearance that she wasn't wearing anything under it, I was thinking of putting off the baking lesson until later.
I slid my arms around her waist and gave her ass a good squeeze, which rewarded me with a sound I'd recently become addicted to—her adorable little squeal. Not to mention the aroma of peaches mixed with Heidi's honey-lemon scent which made my mouth water.
"How can I resist someone as beautiful as you, Heidi? Even sweet pie can't tempt me away from a chance of tasting your lips." I barely finished the words before my mouth consumed hers.
Heidi vibrated with a moan as my tongue slipped past her plump lips. My hands, still firmly gripping her ass, pushed Heidi over my rock-hard cock.
I wanted to turn her around, bend her over the counter so I could watch her ass cheeks ripple as I pounded into her, but she had other ideas.
She lowered herself and before I could stop her, the most beautiful woman I knew was on her knees and unfastening my jeans in record time.
"My father will return soon with Kat. Maybe we should . . . uh, oh yeah."
I couldn't take my eyes off her as her tongue flattened on the tip of my cock. With a swirling action, Heidi's mouth played with me until all logical thought vaporized.
How could one woman's mouth taste so sweet but do such dirty things? Not that I was complaining. In fact, I should compliment her on her talents.
"Oh, Heidi . . . so good."
I tried.
Her mouth was so intense. The way she watched me as she sucked, I nearly blew my load before she even got going. Her eyes had that power. I could fall a thousand times and never hi
t the ground.
She knew it, too. Like a sexy devil, she winked at me before working my cock between her lips. I gasped, slipping my fingers through her silky hair and gently glided myself in and out of her mouth.
"That's it, dirty girl. Do you want more?"
I've never spoken like that to other women, but Heidi brought something out in me. Something wild and I couldn't hold back.
Back and forth, I shifted as her lips curled. A tear slipped out of her eye and I swiped it with my thumb, bringing it to my lips.
She couldn't wait her turn and it's not like I could blame her. Heidi moved her free hand past the edge of her tiny shorts and shifted her hips as she sucked on me.
My knees almost buckled, but I managed to stay upright when the rumble in Heidi's throat and her hand tightening around my cock made me realize she was coming.
"That's it."
I barely got the words out before I released into her mouth. My head fell forward, and it took a few minutes for my heart to stop beating wildly in my ears.
Her face was bright and pink as she sat back on her legs. "You look beautiful." I wanted to say more but not all the blood supply had made it back to my head yet.
I helped her up, kissing her on her return to her feet. We both were smiling. The last time another person made me this happy was when Kat was born.
I would pay the keeper of time every cent I had if I could make this moment, with Heidi in my arms, last forever.
But our smiles soon faded as a loud and very distinct noise stopped all laughter.
I released Heidi, and she stepped away to the sink to wash her hands so quickly that I had to wonder if our kiss ever happened. A loud rumble came from the hallway.
"We're home," Kat announced and before I said a word, something small but powerful tackled me from the side.
"Dad! Are you cooking?" Kat asked with her long arms clinging to my waist and she gazed at the faux-wood laminate counter.
"No," I said at the same time Heidi said, "Yes."
"Well, which is it? No or yes? As it seems someone is making something." My dad, ever the keen observer, pointed to the circle-shaped dough.
"What I mean is, I'm helping Heidi with, uh . . .."
"A new recipe. I'm testing it out on your father," Heidi said as she dried her hands on the towel that hung from the oven handle. I was thankful she was eager to help me cover my surprise.
Kat's hands rubbed together, trying to peer past us to the dough rolled out on the counter.
"Oh, can I help? I can be the taster." Her brows moved up and down.
"You all have fun with taste testing, but I got to run. Have a hot date with an old client of mine."
This was the first I was hearing of a date. I made the mistake of stepping away from the counter and toward my dad.
I needed my dad to answer a few important questions before this date. "Where are you two going? Have I met this woman?"
My father chuckled and waved before leaving.
"What was that? He didn't even answer my questions?"
"Maybe because he's a grown man and older than you. Let him go and have fun." Heidi shrugged her shoulders and began to pinch the dough.
"Oh, are you making pie? I love pie." Kat reminded me about the point of this whole lesson—if it really was a lesson anymore. I'd question my father later tonight, but now I had to save this situation from unraveling into a pie fiasco.
I scanned the kitchen, and that's when a red container, seated on the top corner of the black refrigerator, caught my eyes.
"We were going to ask you if you wanted to try some when we were done, but there're raisins in it." I walked over, plucking the container of raisins from the top of the fridge, and presenting it like a statue to my daughter.
Her eyes rounded as she frowned. "On second thought . . . I think I have some homework to do. I'll be upstairs."
She raced but not before I yelled at her, "But it's Saturday."
"I take it Kat doesn't like raisins. Good to know."
I nodded and put the dried fruit back to continue to gather dust.
"She hates them so much that she can't even be in the same room with someone who eats them. I thought she might be allergic, but the doctor told us she has no allergies. I keep them in the house as a threat."
Heidi's beautiful hazel eyes grew wide. "You make her eat them?"
"No, no, that's terrible." I chuckled. "I begin to eat them in front of her. Tell her I'm craving raisins. You'd be surprised how fast she cleans up her room or," I waved toward the stairs, "does her homework when she knows raisins will make an appearance."
I've noticed that my heart fluttered like it had wings whenever Heidi laughed over these past few weeks. Whenever her eyes wrinkle in amusement, it's like a swarm of butterflies take over the inside of my chest.
"You are terrible. I should call child protective services on you." She tried to keep a straight face, but her words deepened until they descended into laughter. "Now there's an idea."
What? Does she really want to take my daughter away because I eat raisins in front of Kat? I admit it's not the best parenting tactic, but I work with what I got.
"You know it's not easy being a single parent, Heidi. Just because—"
"No," she placed her warm hands on my chest, "I mean I could be the police officer and you could be the criminal and . . ." she trailed off with a bite of her lip.
Without a second thought, I pulled her into an embrace. I couldn't believe that a month ago I was watching her from afar, believing she would never consider someone like me—a man with calloused hands and an old, beat up truck.
Now all she wanted was my rough fingers on her creamy skin until she was wet and wild and screaming my name. I didn't think I could be any happier.
"I swear, officer, I never meant to steal the pie. It looked so juicy," I dipped my head to her neck for a quick lick, "and tasted so sweet. I couldn't help myself."
Heidi moaned, causing her body to vibrate to the point where the counter rumbled. That was an intense growl, even for Heidi. I never knew she enjoyed neck licking so much. I'd keep it in mind for next time.
She pushed me back, and I expected to find eyes darkening, full of need, but instead discovered a face full of frustration. Heidi reached over and picked something up.
"My phone. Sorry. Felipe is supposed to call me about the gala."
Heidi swiped at her phone screen, groaning as she read the screen. She brought it up to her ear. "Hi, Dad."
My neck ached. I rubbed at the pain and hoped the call would be quick. Conversations with her father never ended well. Ever since Heidi told me and my father about how her father treated her, I had the deep desire to punch Mr. White. My dad had made nasty comments about Senator John White for years, which I shrugged off as just another greedy politician doing the same greedy things.
But now that I knew the senator had no problem using his own flesh and blood, it sickened me that Heidi had him in her life.
"What?" Heidi's eyes widened as she stared at me.
"But how did you find . . . ? You know what? Never mind. I don't want to hear how you bullied someone into telling you anything about my life. If something happens to them, I will go to the papers, Dad. And you know exactly what I'll say. At this point, I don't care what happens to me. But nothing will happen to them."
Her jaw stiffened, and I had a horrible feeling I was going to have the urge to hit a senator again once she was off the phone.
"Fine. We will be there. Tomorrow night." Heidi pulled the phone from her ear and tapped it once before placing it back on the counter.
I needed to touch her, as if it had been years instead of minutes since I last felt her skin. With gentle fingers, I stroked her stiff muscles until the tension began to ease.
"What's going on? What did he say?"
I was worried. She refused to take her eyes off her phone.
After a few moments, she took a deep breath. I dropped my hands as she turned to face me.<
br />
"It seems my father wishes to meet you. We will be having dinner with my parents tomorrow night at their home in Georgetown."
Now my jaw tensed. "Is that what you want?"
A bitter laugh burst from her lips. "No. But if we don't go, I know we will regret it. My father would be more than happy to make us look bad for defying his wishes. Can your dad babysit Kat tomorrow night?"
Oh no, my father. Once my dad hears where I'm going, he's going to remind me how he knew I should have gotten rid of Heidi as a client a long time ago.
I felt the pinch of uncertainty but nodded. "Yes, he'll babysit."
"He's going to hate me." Heidi frowned.
Pulling her into my arms, I wanted to caress all the hurt from her. "No, he hates your father, not you. I care about you Heidi. I don't like what your father does to you. At some point you need to stand up to him."
Because if you don't, I'm going to and my arms will be swinging.
Maybe the Brighton men could come up with something that removed Senator White from my life and kept Heidi safe from him. My chuckle was grim. And maybe I could be a millionaire, ha ha.
Heidi lifted her face and cupped my cheek. "I promise, my father will never hurt you or your family." She smiled, but I noticed it didn't reach her eyes.
Chapter 13
Heidi
"YOU HAVE NOTHING TO worry about, Heidi."
How could he be so calm? Max held my hand with the gentlest touch while I freaked out internally. On the outside, I gazed up at him and nodded. I wanted to believe him and for a split second; I did. It was his eyes—so blue, so loving.
But the expensively papered walls and the marble floor reminded me that this was hell on earth.
Max looked dapper in a gray suit, which used to be his dad's. Felipe, always wanting to be helpful, made sure his tailor could adjust the suit for Max. Apparently, tailors made house calls.
"How can I be worried with such a handsome man at my side?" I was lying. Not about Max being good-looking, but I certainly was lying about the worried part. I was petrified.
My smile was as wooden as the door we walked through moments ago at my parents' home in Woodland-Normanstone Terrace. The butler took my purse moments ago, probably to be inspected by my dad's assistant for anything that may be used against me in the future.
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