Single Dad’s Mistake

by Destiny, Sam

  “Breathe,” he whispered so close, I smelled the minty scent of his toothpaste.

  “I am breathing,” I assured him, but felt lightheaded.

  He chuckled and I focused on his eyes, the blue seeming darker than normal. I was conscious of the way the pad of his thumb brushed across my cheek. I turned into the touch, drawing strength from it.

  “Better?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Better.”

  He stepped back, linking our fingers, before gesturing over to my boss. I approached him and his wife. “Sergeant Denton? Mrs. Denton?” The two focused on me. I didn’t miss the way both eyed Knox. “This is Knox Dyer.” I wanted to add that he was my boyfriend, but the words got stuck in my throat. I worried the more I’d say that, the more I’d believe it myself.

  “I’m her boyfriend. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am, sir.” He shook both hands, then drew me into his side.

  “Are you ready?” my boss asked, making Knox chuckle.

  “She was born ready, although I have to say, she’s surprisingly nervous.”

  I forced a smile, somewhat mad that he hadn’t given me the chance to answer, but when Denton only laughed, slapping Knox’s shoulder, I was glad anyway.

  “What handsome is trying to say is I’m anxious to get the talking out of the way and get to the food.” I winked, relaxing.

  We chatted a little before we were taken to the small space behind the stage. They put a headset on me and taped the pack to my side, trying to hide it under my dress as best they could. When choosing this outfit, I hadn’t even thought about complications on stage. I’d just assumed I’d have a handheld mic.

  Once they were done, I felt strange, but when Knox leaned over, telling me something about the buffet, I felt myself relax.

  * * *

  KNOX

  When Sarah took the stage, I realized what Hayden was talking about. Glancing around, I couldn’t count the number of men who watched her with appreciation, almost as if they hoped they’d get a chance with her that night.

  And the guy standing on stage, one of the firefighters in Eden, smiled at her as if he’d walked in with her on his arm.

  Not that Sarah seemed to notice.

  She was a natural, holding the audience captive with small anecdotes and sweet smiles while she talked about what the Eden police and firefighters had managed over the last year, which fundraisers were coming, and when the barbecues were for family and friends.

  She probably said a few more things, but I got lost in watching the way her necklace sparkled, drawing attention to the soft skin of her neck. I wanted to put my mark on her, wanted to make sure people knew she was here with someone.

  I was her fake boyfriend, but there was nothing fake about the way I wanted to make certain everyone knew she belonged to me.

  “And now, let me end with a joke. A policeman pulls over a guy for speeding and asks him to get out of the vehicle. After looking the man over, he says, ‘Sir, I couldn’t help but notice your eyes are bloodshot. Have you been drinking?’ The man gets really indignant and says, ‘Officer, I couldn’t help but notice your eyes are glazed. Have you been eating donuts?’”

  The crowd laughed while Sarah winked. “Because we’re famous for that, let’s hope tonight’s menu includes one of those fried goodies. With that, I hope you’ll enjoy dinner and some fine music.”

  The firefighter walked over, placing his hand on the small of her back. I couldn’t help but grit my teeth.

  “There’s nothing to worry about, young man. I saw the way she looked at you.” I turned my attention from Sarah to Mrs. Denton. The lady looked to be in her late fifties, her eyes a watery green, her smile kind.

  I shook my head. “I’m not worried. I mean… I’m just not.”

  She chuckled, patting my arm, then leaned in. “Being in love is hard, isn’t it? Especially with someone as complex as our Sarah. I get it. It’s hard being the right man for a woman who is kind to the marrow of her bones, but the way you touch her makes it obvious you’ll do everything you can to make her happy. You’re a good match. No one will be able to deny how much in love you are.”

  I was torn between being glad everyone believed our act and upset because it was all fake.

  Sarah and the firefighter stepped to our table. I instantly stood, along with the rest of the men at the table. I’d forgotten those were the manners in small towns. During business meetings back in Atlanta, women had insisted on being treated as equals, so no one really stood.

  “Knox, this is Eric. He and I have worked closely on some cases. Eric, this is Knox.” Sarah gave me a soft smile before lowering her eyes. I wondered what was going on in her head, but knew I couldn’t ask until we had more privacy.

  Eric held out his hand, his dark eyes guarded. “The boyfriend. I heard a rumor she hadn’t come alone today. Imagine my surprise about her dating someone. I’d never heard about you before. Glad she found someone, though.”

  Knowing he was trying to rile me up, I shook his hand, squeezing a little harder than was appropriate. “Pleasure to meet you, although I haven’t heard of you before, either.” I let go of his hand and stepped behind Sarah’s chair to pull it out for her.

  “Well, I assume we’ll be seeing a lot more of you, won’t we?” Eric asked as Sarah blushed furiously. He clearly knew something was up.

  I sighed, drawing Sarah close. Meeting her eyes, I grinned. “If she stops hiding me.”

  I leaned in, rubbing the tip of my nose against hers before kissing her briefly—my heart stopping in my chest. Jesus, I wanted to ravage her right there on the spot, but forced myself to pull back. Her eyes were still closed. She licked her lips before slowly lifting her lashes, exhaling quietly.

  Oh hell, she’d felt it, too—the electrical charge between us, the undeniable connection.

  “Please, everyone sit. Mr. Brice, I believe you’re sitting somewhere over there.” Sergeant Denton pointed at a table across the room.

  Eric nodded, although his smile was tinged with silent fury. “Sure. Sarah, I’ll see you for the second part of the show and the opening dance.”

  He touched her arm briefly before walking away. Sarah arched her brows and sat on the chair I now offered her again. After I took my own seat, Mrs. Denton leaned over with a quick wink.

  “A claim well placed and even better executed,” she whispered conspiratorially. I chuckled quietly.

  “Was it that obvious?”

  She shrugged, her black gown shifting slightly to reveal skin and bones. “It was to me because I was watching you. Eric is a good man, but not the one for Sarah—no matter what he’s thinking or what history lies between them.”

  I fisted my hands under the table because knowing there’d been something between Eric and Sarah made me want to get up and punch the guy, even if I had as much claim to her as he did—none.

  I felt her small hand on my thigh and turned to her. She was glowing, a rosy blush on her cheeks, while her lips were drawn into a happy smile. I couldn’t resist and kissed her again, lingering for a moment just to take her in.

  “What are you doing?” Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper, and I cupped her cheek.

  “Fulfilling boyfriend duties, and you need to be kissed. A lot.”

  I wanted to say more, but a server interrupted us. As dinner was placed on the table, I couldn’t help but think I was in way too deep.

  KNOX

  “And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the boring...I mean, official part of the evening.” Sarah grinned while the crowd chuckled. Sergeant Denton stepped up onto the stage.

  “Thank you, Officer Burke. You did lovely. Lieutenant Brice, thank you. You were great decoration next to Officer Burke.” The crowd laughed. “And now, as is tradition, the first dance opened by our hosts. Sarah brought her boyfriend, so I need a nice lady to sacrifice a few minutes to dance with our firefighter here.”

  A murmur passed through the crowd, making it obvious something was different, but I didn
’t care. I’d rather dance a thousand songs than sit through one watching Sarah and Eric together.

  Sarah came down the stairs. I took her hand while Eric walked by, glaring at me. “What’s going on?”

  Sarah shrugged. “No idea. Usually, the two hosts do the first dance together no matter what.”

  I drew her close. “I’m glad it’s me, not him. You have history?” I needed to know.

  Her brow furrowed as her chocolate-colored eyes focused on me. “History?”

  “I heard there was. It’s okay.”

  She snorted. “Yes, it would be perfectly okay, even if this weren’t a fake date and you hadn’t dumped me before there was a reason to do so.” I swallowed, but the brief flash of anger in her eyes softened. “However, there is no history. I don’t know what Eric tells people, but all I did was pick up his son from school once, then spent the afternoon with him because Eric had a doctor’s appointment.”

  The small orchestra started playing, so I swayed Sarah to the music. Most women knew the steps, but not really how to dance, so leading them across the dance floor was more of a workout than anything else.

  With Sarah, though, it was easy. I wasn’t even sure her feet touched the floor as she seemed to follow the thoughts in my head. I’d never believed it possible, but during that dance, I realized we were a perfect match. Nothing in my life had ever been this smooth, this coordinated.

  “I didn’t dump you, Sarah,” I started, but she placed her fingertips on my lips, the small smile on her face showing her regret, even if she wouldn’t let me take it back.

  “We should be dancing,” she whispered, but I knew better. Neither of us needed to focus. This just worked.

  I lowered my hand, my thumb brushing the skin on her back. I leaned in a little more. “You look incredible, Sarah. I mean, I knew you would, but that dress…”

  She pulled back, surprise on her features. “I wondered why you hadn’t complimented me yet.”

  I pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Because you wouldn’t have believed me had I said it earlier. You would’ve assumed it was just me being your fake boyfriend. Now I can tell you I want to peel you out of that dress right now and—”

  She nearly stumbled, so I pressed her closer to me.

  “I think I’m standing on your shoelace,” she whispered.

  While I knelt to tie it, she fanned her face, clearly trying to get the flush from her cheeks. Suddenly hearing applause, I glanced around, seeing everyone watching us.

  “Get up. Get up right now,” Sarah whispered, reaching for me.

  “Oh god. Don’t say yes, Sarah. He hasn’t passed the police test yet,” someone called, and the people around us laughed.

  “Do we know if he has a rap sheet? We should check that before the wedding,” someone else said.

  “I saved you from a burning building, Sarah. I deserve your hand,” a third one added.

  “You’re almost seventy, Danny. You don’t get the girl,” Sergeant Denton snorted, more laughter breaking out.

  I met Sarah’s eyes, seeing the utter panic in them. Grinning, I took her hand. If I put a ring on her, even an invisible, fake one, no one would dare hit on her again, right? I kissed the back of her hand as she gaped at me, then I stood, kissing her as if this had indeed been a proposal and I’d meant every word of it. She parted her lips on a gasp, and I brushed my tongue against hers, nearly groaning at her sweet taste. I took everything she gave me in her moment of surprise, then someone stepped up to us.

  “Good job, son. Scoring the lady no one is good enough for. We’ll be watching you. I hope you know that.” Denton slapped my shoulder, then more people joined us.

  “Can I see the ring?” a woman demanded. Sarah looked like a deer caught in headlights.

  “I… Listen, everyone. This—”

  “This was rather spontaneous, so I don’t have a ring yet. I will rectify that soon, though,” I assured everyone, drawing her to my side. I didn’t know why, but I grinned like a fool while my cute “fiancée” was stunned into silence…luckily.

  * * *

  SARAH

  It took me half an hour to get Knox away from all the people who wanted to hear all about our love story—while I was shocked to the core. What the hell had he been thinking? And what the hell had happened to him from Thursday, when he told me we needed to stay away from each other, to now, when he kissed me like it meant something?

  I dragged him outside and to the corner of the building leading toward the garden.

  The moment we were out of sight, I dropped his hand, turning back to him only to find myself pressed against the wall behind me, his hands framing my face as he devoured me. God, I had no idea what had gotten into Knox, but I told myself to just roll with it.

  I grabbed his jacket and pulled him closer, feeling the rough bricks of the wall digging into my back. Realizing it would leave marks for everyone to see, I pushed Knox back, both of us panting.

  “Jesus, what the hell has gotten into you? Not that I didn’t enjoy that, but do you have any idea what this will do to my bare back?” My heart raced, as if I’d just chased a thief down the street.

  Hell, Knox knows how to kiss.

  There was hardly any light where we stood, but I wished we were somewhere even less public. I wanted light, wanted to see if Knox would still kiss me that way once the magic of the night had vanished and reality stared back at him.

  He slipped out of his tux jacket and placed it around my shoulders, then pushed me against the wall again.

  He didn’t utter a single word, just kissed me, claiming my lips like they’d been his to begin with. Maybe they had.

  God, I shouldn’t be doing this after he’d warned me away days ago, especially because I knew I could easily fall for him. But my body and mind were not on the same page.

  In fact, I didn’t think they were even in the same book.

  Luckily, my mind still had some sensibility left and I grabbed his chin. “Knox,” I whispered.

  His dazed eyes met mine. “I’m right here.”

  I nodded. “I can tell, but I won’t lie. This is all… What the hell?”

  He shrugged, entwining our fingers and drawing my arms around him. “You’re my girlfriend…fiancée for the night, so I’m doing what a guy does when he has the most beautiful princess at the ball on his arm. Kisses her senseless so she forgets all the other men vying for her hand.”

  His voice was soft, dreamy, almost like he hadn’t quite recovered from kissing me and was drunk on it. God, how I wanted that to be true, to be real.

  I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. What in the world was I supposed to say to that? “No one can see us here,” I finally pointed out. He brushed a blonde strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

  “You’re my fiancée for the night,” he repeated, then drew me into his arms, the gesture tender. I cuddled into him, glad he could no longer see the confusion on my face.

  “I didn’t dump you, Sar. I had a reason for telling you what I did, but I’m determined to solve it. I want…no, need a real shot with you, but nothing’s changed,” he whispered into my hair.

  “Nothing but the fact that you kissed me as if you meant it,” I replied stubbornly.

  He was silent for a long moment, his heart beating erratically against my cheek.

  When he finally replied, his voice was rough. “It’s because I do. Every compliment, every touch. I mean it all. But you can’t be mine. Not yet. Not without ruining my life.”

  Married…

  He’s married.

  That had to be it. She obviously hadn’t moved with him, so maybe they were separated but…

  “I need to go.” I stepped back, wanting to get away from him and everything he caused me to feel, but I should’ve known better than to expect he’d let me go.

  “I drove you here.”

  God, just the thought of him being at my house, probably walking me to my
door, made my knees weak. I knew if he would ask me to allow him inside, I would.

  “You have a wife, don’t you? That’s why you have to wait to resolve whatever it is. I’m not sure… I… It… You know what?”

  He stepped closer again, his eyes dark with desire as he took my hand and pressed it against the front of his pants. I felt him, hard and tempting.

  “This is because of you, so believe me when I tell you I’d change it if I could. There’s no other woman in my life. Hasn’t been for a few years. I’m not married, but still… Right now, all we have is this night. I promised you I’d act as your boyfriend, and I will.”

  His lips were so close, I felt his breath wash over my face. “But sleeping with me isn’t part of that.”

  He smirked. “I’m acting as your boyfriend, right? And boyfriends sleep with their girl. Plus, we’re now ‘engaged’.” He quickly sobered. “I want it, Sar. I want it so bad. I also want to wake up next to you, but if we go there now…”

  I’d be waking up alone.

  I wanted to not be lonely tonight.

  I wanted Knox close…and I wanted to peel that tux off him.

  “You’re my ride, right?” Only after I’d said those words did I realize how dirty they sounded. When he groaned, I knew he’d understood it, too.

  He placed his hand on the small of my back and leaned in until his lips brushed my ear. “Sure am, lady, so let’s get going.”

  KNOX

  She knew we shouldn’t be doing this, I knew we should not be doing this, yet we were. I knew pretending Sarah was my girlfriend wouldn’t ever be enough.

  I didn’t want to pretend or make excuses. However, I also hadn’t figured out how to tell my son to be realistic without having him run away, which was a very real possibility.

  The moment Sarah unlocked her door, I pushed her inside, kissing her neck the way I’d been wanting to since I’d picked her up. While I blindly kicked the door closed behind me, she laughed, the sound husky and aroused.