I sure didn’t, not with her looking so sexy in a soft green and white striped dress that hit mid-thigh to show off her shapely legs and tiny strings in the back that teased my senses. The shoes—good god the shoes!—were every man’s dream. Some type of wedge heel that made her legs look even longer and shapelier but more importantly the billowy white ribbons that twirled around her ankle and calf, tied into a bow at her ankles. I was turned on and in no position to act on it. Yet.
“This is a great spot, almost like you used your whole ‘Master of the Universe’ thing to command it be vacant.” She laughed and pushed a few copper curls from her face against the gentle breeze.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What about me says Master of the Universe? The fact that I can’t keep a sitter? Or that I barely have control of my daughter?”
She shrugged and waved a hand in my general direction. “You know, the whole gorgeous wealthy doctor who helps women fulfill their most deeply held wishes.” Rory examined me with her head cocked to the side and a dreamy expression on her face. “I get the appeal even if it is intimidating at times.”
“Intimidating?” I asked, incredulous.
She nodded and began to unpack the food we’d bought from a nearby barbecue stand, setting each container carefully on the blanket between us. “Sure. First, you’re a doctor which means you’re super smart and determined as hell. Then you were born wealthy which means you’re cultured and have connections normal people couldn’t even dream of having.”
“And…,” I encouraged, enjoying her honest assessment.
“And you’re damn gorgeous, which on its own is pretty intimidating, but when you add in the other factors, well it’s another hurdle.”
“A hurdle? You mean it’s not a good thing?”
“For most women it would be, I’m sure. But I’m still in school, well I was and I’m not broke, but definitely live paycheck to paycheck. If you were just gorgeous…but you’re not,” she said finally, a hint of resignation in her voice.
“But you’re here anyway.”
“I like you. I like looking at you, talking to you. Sleeping with you.”
Hearing her say how she felt, so simply, did something to me. I felt a warmth I didn’t want to identify spread from my chest to the rest of me. “Those all sound like good things to me.”
Her pink tongue peeked out and ran over her lips, but she couldn’t help the smile that came unbidden. “It is. And it isn’t.” A flash of sadness appeared on her face but she quickly masked it with another smile and picked up one of the ribs on the plate between us.
“You know, there really is no sexy or polite way to eat these things.”
Her barbecue sauce coated smile hit me in the chest again and I laughed. “It’s not the sauce or the lack of it that has anything to do with your appeal Rory. Trust me.”
She leaned forward. “Ooh, is this date-night-Kane? Because I like you flirty, much better than gruff and grumbling-neighbor-Kane.”
I frowned. Was that how she saw me, gruff and grumbling? Then I recalled how we first met, and I had to admit I was kind of an asshole. “I’m surprised you didn’t wash your hands of the Royals altogether after that first meeting.”
“Ha! Speak for yourself. Syd’s first meeting was completely adorable and I couldn’t wash my hands of her even if I wanted to.”
I was glad to hear that she felt as strongly for Sydney as my daughter did for her. But I wanted to know more. “And me?”
I had to stifle a groan at the way she licked the excess barbecue sauce from her finger. “Adorable is not the word I would use to describe you.”
“Now you have to tell me the word you would use.”
She finished nibbling on her fry as a slow jazzy blues tune began to play on stage behind us, a sultry voice singing about her long-lost love. “Intense.”
I didn’t know if that was a compliment or not. But so far, Rory hadn’t shown herself to be anything but straightforward. “Okay.”
She laughed and placed a hand on my thigh. “It’s a good thing. You’re intense about everything, how you love Syd, your work. Making me feel good.”
And bad. I thought of the way I treated her when she called to let me know Syd was in the hospital. “I like making you feel good.”
“You’re very good at it,” she answered with a shiver as though she was having the same thought I was at the moment.
“Those noises you make only make me want to hear them again and again. Louder and louder.”
Rory shivered again at my words, and I could admit a deep feeling of male pride at her response. “See? Intense.”
Another sexy blues song started and I stood, brushing bits of grass from my shorts and held out a hand to her. “Let’s dance.”
She blinked in surprise, big almond shaped green eyes wide and darkening with desire by the moment. “Okay,” she answered, her voice thick as I helped her up and pulled her close so our bodies were flush, hands cupped against my chest as we began to sway to the music. “Of course you dance too.”
“My dad always said the man who can dance will always get the girl.” I pulled her closer and dipped her over my forearm, using the position to brush my lips along the column of her throat.
“It is kind of sexy. And a little romantic too.” She was breathless.
“Oh yeah?” I spun her a little, feeling a sense of calm as her laughter washed over me. How could this woman make me feel so right? So settled. So at home. Pulling her closer, she wrapped both arms around my neck and pulled me down until our lips collided for a soft kiss.
Her mouth was sweet like the raspberry tea she drank and tangy from the barbecue sauce, and I couldn’t get enough of her. Her tongue teased mine, she nibbled my bottom lip until I groaned. Stealing the last of my resolve, she sucked on my tongue and I dipped her low, taking over the kiss until I devoured her so fully she trembled beneath me. When I pulled back she gave me a hazy grin.
“Hell yeah.”
“Too bad this is just our first date.”
“Yeah,” she sighed. “More incentive for a second I’d say.”
Damn I love this girl. The thought came out of nowhere and I pushed it the hell down into the space filled with things I refused to think about.
Ever.
* * *
I swear the universe was conspiring against me ever making love to Rory again. Days after the best date I had ever been on, we had our second date at a romantic French restaurant, complete with copious amounts of red wine for Rory and plenty of foie gras for both of us. We flirted and our conversation was laced with sexual innuendo while her foot made the occasional graze of my cock. We were both lubed up and ready to go by the time we left the restaurant. In the car, my hand slid up her thigh, growing hotter by the moment, and then I had two fingers buried deep inside her pulsing wet pussy. She’d been on the brink of what I had planned as orgasm number one of many when the call had come in that one of my patients had gone into labor eight weeks early.
Like the gentleman I was, I gave her that orgasm before dropping her off at home and heading to the hospital.
There were no plans for a third date today, but it was early evening as I drove home from the hospital. It was supposed to be a short day on account of my time filming the medical segment, but one of my problem patients had made a stink and insisted I be called in to deal with what she insisted was premature labor. It had turned out to be nothing more than gas. But now I was finally home and eager to see the women in my life.
A frown crossed my face as I entered my dark and silent house. The new sitter was nowhere in sight and neither was Sydney, so I doubled back to knock on Rory’s front door. No answer. Rushing through the house I came to a stop on the top step of the back porch as I took in the sight before me. My little girl splashing happily in an inflatable pool wearing a purple bathing suit I had never seen, and Rory lying on a towel covered lounge chair wearing the tiniest orange bikini I had ever seen. A large brimmed hat shielded her face and
shoulders but I couldn’t turn my eyes away from long smooth legs, round breasts spilling over the top with beautifully hard nipples on display. Fuck she was stunning.
“Daddy! Look at what Rory got for me!” Sydney fell in the small pool several times in her haste to get out, before finally finding purchase on the grass and barreling at me at full speed. “I got a pool!”
“I see that. I hope you thanked Rory properly?” If not I would do it myself. Later.
“I said thank you and I gave her two hugs and five kisses.”
“Five whole kisses?” She gave an exaggerated nod and wrapped her wet body around me. “Think you have one more for me?”
After smacking a wet kiss on my cheek, she wriggled out of my arms and ran back to splash in the pool. Seeing her so happy and full of life warmed my heart and I knew I owed much of it to the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about.
I stepped over to Rory, close enough that my body cast a shadow over hers, forcing her to look up. “That bikini should be illegal,” I growled.
Her lips curled up into a coquettish smile. “Would you like me to remove it, Dr. Royal?”
Fuck why did she have to say it like that, with her voice low and sexy? “If I say yes…?”
“I’ll find a way.”
Damn and I knew she would. The woman was insatiable and I felt more than a little responsible as her first and only lover. “Where’s the sitter?”
She shrugged. “Something about Harry Styles concert tickets.”
Dammit! “How is it possible for one person to have such bad luck with sitters?” I needed to find a permanent childcare solution because though summer was winding down, Sydney would still need part-time care when I was at the hospital.
“It’s a good thing you have such good luck with neighbors.”
“A damn good thing.” If she hadn’t been here would the sitter have left Sydney all alone? I couldn’t even stomach that thought. “How will I ever pay you back?”
“I’m sure I can think of something.” She lifted the hat so I could see the heat in her emerald gaze while she spoke to Sydney. “Ready to eat kiddo?”
“Yep!” She hopped out of the pool, much smoother this time, and wrapped a towel around herself, stopping in front of Rory to tuck it properly. “I get to make the salad!” She started running towards the house when Rory called out to her.
“Don’t forget to dry off so you don’t slip.”
“’Kay!”
“Is that safe?” I knew I could trust her with Sydney, but I couldn’t help but worry.
“Everything is set up and chopped in little bowls. All she has to do is mix it all.”
I grinned and pulled her up from the lounger. “So she feels like she did it all?”
“Very good, Doctor.” She walked past me making sure to brush her body against mine as she did. “You should get changed, we’re eating outside tonight.”
We. It had been a long time since there was a we beyond Sydney and I, but the word rolled from her tongue so naturally. “Do you need me to do anything?”
She turned at the top of the steps. “You’re in charge of the meat.”
I groaned and adjusted my cock in my pants at the way she licked her lips before disappearing inside her place. I stood out in the yard for far too long debating if I would go home and change or sneak inside Rory’s place for a quick taste of her.
My feet began to move and I slipped through the door and down the hall, stopping in the doorway as I took in the sight of Rory, naked and tan and lush. “Perfect timing.”
She turned and grinned, hands on her hips and she closed the distance between us. “For?”
“This,” I told her and spent the next few minutes licking and kissing every inch of her delectable body. She whimpered and moaned my name, the sexiest sounds that shot straight to my cock and I pulled back before we were too far gone to stop. “Let’s pick this up later.”
“Later,” she murmured, leaving me with the image of her hand playing with her wet pussy as I walked away.
Rory
I left the studio feeling lighter and freer than I had in a long time. I’d just worked my last shift at the studio because my very hefty advance check had recently cleared. Which meant I could focus all of my energy on writing. It felt incredible, but also kind of anticlimactic since I’d spent the past few years working my ass off to finish my degrees, and I felt like I was giving it up to pursue a side interest. It might be for forever, and it might not, and eventually I would be okay with that.
Yesterday Dr. Higgins and the committee had informed me that I officially held two degrees and my college career was complete. Yeah, I should be feeling damn good. I decided to treat myself by ordering—okay indulging—in my favorite, Baby Doll’s Pizza. I ordered pizza, a meatball sandwich, salad and beer before cranking up some nineties dance music and getting my dance party on. I was halfway through Fall Out Boy’s Dance, Dance when I spotted a pint-sized spy.
“Oh! Hey munchkin, you scared me.”
“Sorry,” she said looking more amused than apologetic. “Why are you dancing?”
“Because sweetheart,” I grabbed her by the hand and got her dancing with me, “I am now a professional writer and I passed all my classes so I have my degrees!” I was more excited than Syd, but she flashed a big smile and held my face in her little hands, smacking a kiss on both of my cheeks.
“Good job Rory.”
“Thanks kiddo.” Even though I only had a seven-year-old to share my news with, I still felt damn good. “Let’s dance!” My heart filled with love at the way she jumped in and shook her little booty right along with me, smiling and moving like she felt the words to her bones. Three songs later I was feeling breathless but unwilling to stop. Syd was still full of energy, which made me feel ancient.
Then I felt it. That tingle of awareness making the hairs on the back of neck stand on end, my whole body humming as I turned and found Kane staring at us with a goofy grin on his face.
“You’re staring.”
“You’re dancing.”
“We’re having a dance party Daddy!” Syd still moved around like this dance party was her favorite thing ever.
“You are? Any reason?”
“Several actually.” He was so accomplished that my news felt small by comparison, but I was still proud of myself so I shared it all with him. “So we’re dancing, at least until the food arrives.”
“Wow that’s great Rory. I’m-.” His words were cut off by the doorbell and the hipster delivery guy with my celebratory meal. Kane paid because he always did, and I followed him and the delicious cheesy, greasy scent to the kitchen.
“Time to wash up Syd.” Without a word, she took off down the hall. “Oh!” Kane pulled me into his arms and instantly my body softened against his, loving the way he felt with his body wrapped around mine.
“I’m happy for you Rory. Hell, I’m proud of you too.”
That’s when I knew. All the pounding in my chest, the dryness filling my mouth and the tears stinging the back of my eyes. His words touched me in a way they shouldn’t for someone I was casually dating. Sleeping with. I knew, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it or acknowledge it because I knew for him it wasn’t that way.
“Thank you Kane.” His lips fell on mine then, tender at first, but it quickly grew hungry and intense. Hot, as his tongue swept into my mouth, making me delirious with how much I wanted him. How much I loved him.
“Eww! You’re kissing! Gross!” Syd proceeded to make gagging noises until we pulled apart, stunned at how quickly the kiss had combusted.
“You won’t say that when you’re older,” I teased as Syd scrunched her nose in disgust. Kane gathered plates and napkins while I got drinks, juice for Syd and beer for us. “It’s been ages since I had this,” I groaned and took a big bite of cheesy deliciousness. “So good.”
“Mmm, so good,” Syd mimicked making us all laugh.
We ate in silence for a few minutes and I looked from Kan
e to his daughter and wondered how on earth I’d found such a wonderful family of my own. Okay well not my own, but for now it felt like it and that would have to be enough. For now.
“So what will you do now, spend your days writing?”
“That’s the plan. Book one will be out in the fall and I’m making good progress on book two.”
“We can hang out more! Yay!” Syd squirmed in her chair, losing a slice of pepperoni on the table in her excitement. Quickly her expression turned thoughtful. “Rory, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure honey, ask away.”
“Are you and Daddy in love?”
Kane choked on a big bite of pizza until his eyes watered. It wasn’t exactly the response I was looking for, but it was what I’d expected. The girl’s big eyes looked at me, waiting impatiently for an answer. I didn’t want to lie to her, or him, but I wasn’t totally ready to tell Kane what I’d figured out about my feelings.
“I do love your dad sweetie and I love you.”
She slid off the chair and flung herself into my arms, squeezing me tight. “I love you too Rory. You’re my favorite.”
My eyes stung at the heartfelt words from her. It had been so long since someone said them to me, if they ever said them. I can’t say I recalled hearing my mom telling me she loved me.
“Ditto, sweetheart.” I stole a quick glance over her head to her father and his shocked, horrified look told me everything I needed to know.
Tonight would probably be our last night together. I planned to make the most of it.
* * *
“She finally talked herself right to sleep.” Kane joined me in his room, which was a mirror image of mine, except dark green and deep gold accents decorated his instead of the vibrant colors in mine.
I smiled because we took dessert in front of the television and Syd talked so much I finally put on music for background noise. Not that it mattered to me since I could hardly focus on anything other than the terrified look on Kane’s face at his daughter’s question. Now though, my mind was clear. My heart was heavy, yet my body was ready. More than.
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