Can't Fight It (Fair Lakes Book 3)

by Kaylee Ryan

  “Hey, I’m thinking about running to my parents’ place. You have my number, right? In case you need me to haul anything for you?” I definitely need to get out of the house. It will do Milo and me both some good.

  She nods. “Yes, but I don’t think I’ll need you.”

  Why does the thought of her not needing me, bother me? “Well, if you do, don’t hesitate.” I look down at my son. “I’m going to grab his swing and try to grab a quick shower.”

  “Colton?”

  I turn to look at her. “Yeah?”

  “I can watch him for you. I don’t mind.”

  “Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”

  “It’s early on Sunday. None of the stores are open for a couple of hours. I’m up. Let me help you. I can’t imagine how hard it is caring for an infant all on your own.”

  “He makes my life better.” I’m not just blowing smoke up her ass. I can’t imagine my life without my son. He’s given me something to come home for, a reason to stay.

  Her eyes soften at my words. “He’s a sweet baby. Now, hand him over.” She holds out her arms, and I hesitate. Already, I’m crossing the lines, and they’re starting to blur. She was supposed to be a male tenant who I never saw or heard. She’s anything but, and when I can’t see her, I can still feel her presence. I should see if Mom and Dad can keep him next weekend. I need to go out. I need to get laid. That’s what this is. It’s what it has to be. It’s been too long.

  “Colton, hand me the bundle of cuteness.” She wiggles her fingers as she holds her arms out, still waiting for my son.

  “I’ll be fast.” I take one small step and then another, and another until I’m standing close enough to transfer Milo into her arms.

  “Take your time. I’m sure a long shower is a rarity for you these days.”

  “It is. Thanks, Hollis.” She settles on the couch and sits Milo on her lap, facing her. She makes faces at him and talks softly. Seeing he’s in good hands, I rush down the hall to my room. I strip out of my clothes and step into the shower before the water has even had a chance to heat up. It’s a jolt to my system but does nothing to quell the ache in my balls as my cock grows hard.

  Hollis.

  Bracing my hands on the wall, I tilt my head forward, letting the now steaming hot water rain down on me. I close my eyes, and hers are all I see. Green eyes, dark hair, and a body made for a man’s hands. My hands. My mind wanders to what it would feel like to trace every curve, to palm her breasts, testing their weight.

  My hand slides between my legs as I grip my cock. I know this is wrong, but it feels all kinds of right. With each stroke, it’s her that I imagine. I can’t fight it. Not the need for relief, not that my mind only sees her when I close my eyes or the orgasm that blazes through me, like fire in my veins. Peeling open my eyes, I watch as the proof of my desire for her washes down the drain.

  Fuck, I’m in so much trouble.

  After my shower, I threw on some clothes, packed up the diaper bag, and fled. I started to go to Chase’s, but he knows me too well, and he’s met Hollis. He would be able to see right through me. Hell, I’m terrible at hiding it. I could barely look her in the eye this morning as I rushed out the door. I did give her a reminder that if she needed my truck to let me know, and then fled.

  That’s how I ended up at my parents’, and I’ve been here the entire day. Mom has had Milo while Dad and I have worked on replacing the steps to the back deck. It’s been good to stay busy and keep my mind off life and my sexy new tenant.

  “What gives?” Dad asks as we’re packing up the tools.

  “What do you mean?”

  He chuckles. “You’re my son, Colt. I know when something’s up. A father knows things.”

  “Is this what I have to look forward to? Reading my son, and drilling him to let me into his life?”

  “Yes. When he’s a teenager, hell even preteen. Yes. And then when he’s a grown man and living on his own, you still have that right.” He gives me a pointed look.

  “Fine,” I concede. “My new tenant moved in yesterday.”

  “Oh, that’s right, I forgot about that. How’d that go?”

  “He’s a she.”

  “What?”

  “Hollis is a she. Not a he.”

  His reply is to throw his head back in laughter. “I’m not even going to ask you what she looks like. That pained expression on your face says it all.”

  “Funny,” I say, deadpan. “Seriously, I can’t let her stay, right? I have to ask her to find a new place?”

  “Depends. Is she going against the initial agreement the two of you had?”

  “No.”

  “Do you feel as though it’s not safe to have her around Milo?”

  “No.”

  “Then, what would be your reason to ask her to go?” He smirks because he already fucking knows what my reason is.

  “You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.” He nods with a self-satisfied grin pulling at his lips.

  “Fine. She’s a fucking knock-out. There, I said it.”

  “So, get to know her, and who knows, maybe she’s the one.”

  “She’s my tenant.”

  “Technically, she’s your roommate.”

  “That’s even worse, Dad. Come on, and you have to see that this is a bad idea.”

  “I don’t see it that way at all. What I do see is my son. A man who has fought for his country. Dedicated his life to his country. I see him not as a soldier but as a man. A man who has been thrust into fatherhood and has risen to that challenge better than anyone could have expected. I know I’ve told you this before, but I’m going to say it again. Son, I appreciate your service to this country, but as your father, I’m glad you’re home. I’m glad you’re home to stay. I want nothing more than to see you and Milo find a nice woman to bring into your lives. I want you to be happy and live a full life, one I wasn’t sure I would ever see you have.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. My parents knew that life in the military was my plan. I got to see the world, and I had a job, a career I was damn proud of. I miss my brothers-in-arms, but no way could I leave my son. His mother might not be in the picture, but I want him to know that I, his father, loves him more than anything. Not a day will go by that my boy won’t know I’m there for him, just like my father was there for Chase and me.

  “I see those wheels turning.” Dad chuckles. “Just take it one day at a time, Colt. I would advise you to keep it in your pants until you know for sure she’s someone you want to stick around. However, with that being said, you are the only one who can determine that. There are no rules and no set time limit. Go with your gut. It’s brought you home to us many times in the past. It’s not going to fail you on this either.”

  Leave it to my father to be able to bring things into perspective for me. I wonder how he would feel about the timeline, considering I’ve already jerked off with the gorgeous brunette on my mind? Yeah, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. We’re close and all, but not that close.

  “You two about ready to eat?” Mom opens the patio door and asks.

  “Be right there,” Dad tells her.

  Quickly, we finish putting away the tools and head into the house to wash up. “Look at you, sitting in the high chair like a big boy.” I bend down and press a kiss to the top of Milo’s head.

  “He’s not old enough to eat what we’re having, but he can get used to it,” Mom explains.

  “I think that’s a great idea.” I take a seat next to the high chair and dig in. Mom made her homemade chicken enchiladas. It’s my favorite, and every time I was home on leave in the last ten years, this is the one meal she would make for me. “You spoil me,” I tell her, taking a heaping bite.

  “Of course I do. I’ve made your brother’s favorite every few weeks for years, having him over for dinner. I have some dinners to make up for.”

  “This is perfect, Mom. Thank you.”

  “How’s
the new tenant? Hollis is his name, right? Did he get moved in okay?”

  Dad chuckles under his breath as I heave a heavy sigh. “Yes. She got moved in okay.”

  “She?” Mom raises her eyebrows in question.

  “Yeah, apparently, Hollis is a unisex name. Who knew?” I shrug.

  “Well, how is she?”

  Hot as fuck. “She’s… nice. I haven’t really spent much time with her. Chase and Gabs were at the house last night. They went through her things from her apartment they had stored in the garage and brought me what they didn’t need or want.”

  “That was sweet of them.”

  “Yeah, it helped out a lot. There is so much I need starting from scratch.”

  “What can we do to help? Do you need money? Or a sitter?”

  “No, I’m good on cash. I didn’t spend much being deployed all the time. The sitter, though, I might take you up on that one.”

  “You just tell me when. I’d love to watch him. In fact, he can stay here tonight. I’ll keep him tomorrow.”

  “Gwen is expecting him. Besides, it will help them with extra cash since she quit her job, and you didn’t retire just to watch Milo.”

  “She kind of did,” Dad chimes in.

  “With Chase and Gabby with one on the way and little Milo here, it was time. Your dad’s been trying to get me to for years.”

  “That will help when Gwen goes on maternity leave for sure. I don’t want to take that income, even though she barely charges me anything for watching him. Not just out of the blue.”

  “Well, I’m here when you need me, and you can let her know that I’ll gladly watch that sweet Sophia if she ever needs a break.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell her.”

  “Good, now eat up. I made a double batch.”

  I look down at the heaping plate in front of me. “No way, I’ll be lucky to get this down.”

  “I knew you would say that, so you can take the rest home with you. Maybe share it with Hollis. Get to know her a little better.”

  If I didn’t know that my mother loves to feed anyone and everyone, I might think that she and Dad are on some kind of mission to marry me off. I agree to take home the leftovers, but keep quiet on her comment to share them with Hollis. It’s not that I don’t want to share, but steering clear of her is the better option for me.

  I help Mom clean up, change Milo’s diaper, and head home. I make two trips—the first with the diaper bag, and the leftovers, the second with my boy. The entire drive home, I think about what my dad said. I need to just get to know her and see what happens. Maybe once I spend more time with her, she’ll annoy the hell out of me, and wanting her will no longer be an issue. Even as I think it, I know that’s not going to be the case.

  Parking my truck in the driveway, I see Hollis’s car. Somehow, I manage to carry Milo in his seat, the diaper bag, and the leftovers without dropping any of it. With my arms carefully unloaded, I remove Milo from his seat and place him in the swing. He’s snoozing away from our drive, and I hope he stays that way for at least another twenty minutes because as soon as we got into the house, I remembered that I need to install the lock on Hollis’s door.

  Grabbing the lock from the drawer in the kitchen, and the small toolkit from the counter, I head through the laundry room and knock on her door. She opens immediately, wearing a kind smile.

  “Hi, Colton.”

  “Hey, I need to install your lock. Is now a good time?” I hold up the lock like an idiot as if I need to prove to her, that’s why I’m knocking on her door.

  “Sure. I was just lounging.” She pulls open the door, and I see one of those fold-up lawn chairs, you know, the kind that you can shove into a bag and sling over your shoulder, and some kind of tablet sitting on a blanket on the floor.

  I don’t know what it is, but something primal pulls inside me. “You can lounge in the living room.”

  “This is fine, Colton.”

  “It’s not fine. You can lounge on the couch,” I say again. “In fact, you should take my bed tonight, and I’ll take the couch.”

  “No. No way am I taking your bed. I have lots of blankets. It’s fine. I ordered a mattress today and found a cheap frame at the secondhand store. I should have them here in a week.”

  “What? You can’t sleep on the floor for a week.”

  “I can, and I will.”

  I shake my head and turn my back to her. Instead of focusing on how to get her to see things my way, I get busy installing the lock. I’m almost finished when Milo lets out a cry. “Dammit,” I mutter.

  “Do you mind if I get him?”

  “Thank you. He’s probably hungry.”

  “Time for a bottle?” she asks.

  “Yeah. I’m almost done,” I say, but it’s to her back. She’s already headed to the living room to take care of my son. For the second time today.

  Finishing with the lock, I test it to make sure it works properly. Picking up my trash and my tools, I make my way back to the kitchen. Looking toward the couch, I see Hollis, sitting with Milo in her arms, while she feeds him a bottle.

  “It was in the diaper bag.”

  “Thank you.” My mind keeps telling me I’m letting this strange woman handle and now feed my son. However, my gut tells me she would never do him any harm. As long as I’m here with her until I get to know her better, it’s fine.

  “I don’t mind. He’s such a good baby.”

  “That’s what they tell me. I mean, I think he’s perfect, but I’m biased. I have nothing to go off of. I’ve never really spent much time around kids. Life in the military will do that to you.”

  “Well, he’s an angel,” she says softly, not taking her eyes off my son.

  “Have you had dinner?”

  “Not yet.”

  “My mom sent leftovers. I’ll heat you up a plate.” I need something to do besides stare at her holding my baby boy.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Trust me, and you’ll be thanking me once you taste it.” I busy myself heating her up a plate and set it on the table. “I can take him so you can eat.”

  “You sure?”

  I smile at her. “Yes. I’m sure. Thank you for helping with him.”

  “It’s selfish, really. I get my baby fix.”

  “You love kids, huh?”

  “Yeah.” She smiles down at Milo, then transfers him to my arms. When she touches me, that same spark I felt earlier is present.

  “You want any of your own?” I ask. Something passes in her eyes, but it’s gone before I can name it.

  “Maybe one day.”

  I want to pry, but it’s not my place. “Go eat. Enjoy.”

  “Thank you, Colton.”

  I force myself to watch Milo eat instead of watching her ass as it sways on her way to the kitchen. “One day at a time, little man. One day at a time,” I whisper, keeping my words a secret between father and son.

  Chapter 4

  Hollis

  I should head back to my own side of the wall. I started a new design for a small finance company in Dallas and have plenty of work to do. Plus, there are a few of my own things to put away in my new place, including some secondhand dishes I picked up today. Not to mention the little bit of cleaning I want to do before my new bed arrives. So I have plenty to do and shouldn’t monopolize anymore of Colton’s time.

  Yet, here I am, straightening up his dirty dishes and wiping down the countertop.

  “You don’t have to do that.” He startles me, making me jump a mile high. “Sorry,” he adds with a chuckle. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

  I turn around, my hand covering my heart. “No problem. I didn’t hear you come in.”

  He takes a step closer and looks down at Milo. “Habit, I guess. I’m used to moving silently.”

  “What branch of the military again?” I ask, even though I remember. I just like hearing the sound of his voice. It’s weird, considering I barely know him, but I find it soothing. Not to
mention sexy as hell, but I’m ignoring that reason.

  “Army. Enlisted when I was eighteen,” he says, bouncing his son on his hip. “Thought I was going to be in for life until this one came along.”

  I smile down at the baby who’s trying to eat his hand. “He’s a pretty good reason to leave.”

  “The best reason,” he agrees. “So, about what I mentioned earlier.”

  I cross my arms and notice when his eyes drop to my chest. They divert quickly, but it was there nonetheless. That glance and the slight flare of his eyes. “You were saying?” I hedge, even though I know where this conversation is going.

  Colton clears his throat. “Right. So, uh, anyway, I want you to take my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch. I insist.”

  I stare across the kitchen at the man before me. He’s tall, muscular, and has a body built for your wildest dreams. A few years ago, I’d have taken him up on his offer to take the bed, and maybe even asked him to join me, but not now. Not since I gained my independence back. This is my life, to live the way I see fit, and if that means I sleep on the hard floor with only a few blankets to pad me, then so be it. I can do this my way, and don’t need his charity, despite it being appreciated. He’s clearly a gentleman, but I already know I have to turn him down.

  Swallowing over the lump in my throat, I shake my head. “I appreciate the offer, Colton, but I can’t accept it. I won’t. I’ll be just fine until my bed comes.”

  “Hollis, I can’t let you sleep on the floor.”

  I take a step forward. “Let me ask you this. If I was a male roommate, would you be offering your bed to me?” He swallows hard. “That’s what I thought. I truly do appreciate it, but I’ll be okay. I’ve slept on the floor before, and it’s only temporary.”

  He’s silent for a few seconds. “I don’t like it.”

  Shrugging, I reply, “I guess it’s not really for you to like or dislike.”

  Those blue eyes watch me. “I guess you’re right, but please know the offer stands.” Colton takes a step forward, almost invading my personal space.

  Needing to break the tension, sexual and otherwise, I reach forward and slip my finger inside Milo’s hand. He tries to bring it to his mouth and gnaw on it, but I keep him from doing so by tickling his little Buddha belly. “Thank you. I do know the offer stands, and I appreciate it.”