by Cole, Fiona
“Does Daniel know?” Dad asked.
“Yes.” They didn’t need to know how he found out.
“Jesus,” my dad mumbled again before taking another drink.
“Daddy?” I needed him on board. Or at least willing to climb on board. Daniel and Kent were on their way here for dinner, but I came early because I planned on kissing Kent hello and holding his hand through dinner. I would never hide my love for him again.
“He’s so old.”
“He’s hardly that old, but it doesn’t matter. As long as he makes me happy, that should be all you care about.”
“You know that’s all I want for you,” Dad said.
“As long as you’re happy, baby girl,” Mom added.
Happiness bubbled over, and a giggle broke free. “I really, really am. He pushes me to be better—challenges me. And I like to think I do the same for him.”
My dad gave a resigned sigh, but I could see that he was happy that I was happy. It was enough. My mom smiled and squeezed my hand.
The doorbell rang, and we all froze, knowing who was on the other side.
“I’ll get it.” Before I stepped out, I turned to my parents. “Please don’t make it weird.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” my dad said dryly.
My mom rolled her eyes. “I promise to keep the awkwardness to a minimum.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Opening the door, I only held back from jumping into Kent’s arms because Daniel stepped between us with a cocked eyebrow. “Remember. PDA to the bare minimum. Preferable to zero.”
Scoffing, I shoved him out of the way and tugged a nervous-looking Kent through the door and into my arms. “Relax,” I whispered against his ear.
“I’ll relax when your dad doesn’t shoot me.”
“They’re fine. I just got done talking to them. Dad may be drunk by now, but it will be fine. Besides, if Daniel didn’t shoot you, my dad surely wouldn’t.”
“True,” Daniel laughed. “Lucky for you, David is a happy drunk.”
Another nervous laugh from Kent and then I was tugging him to the dining room. My mom stood and briefly glanced at our joined hands before greeting Kent as she always did with a hug and a kiss to his cheek.
“Alexander, I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Thank you for having me.”
It all felt more formal, but I figured it would be for a while. It was new and not what anyone expected. At least it wasn’t awkward.
Or it wasn’t until Dad spoke up.
“You hurt her, and I’ll fucking kill you.”
“David,” my mom gasped.
Daniel choked on his water, not even bothering to hide his laughter.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Sir.”
“God, Kent, don’t make it weird and call me Sir. I’ve known you for years.”
I nudged Kent with my shoulder. “Yeah, Kent. Way to make it awkward.”
He glared softly at me. To everyone else, it was a cute stare, but to me, I saw the promise of what was to come tonight.
And I couldn’t wait.
But first, I needed to sit at our family dinner with my boyfriend and enjoy never hiding my love for him again.
* * *
A few months later
“Can you not cook anything?”
“Olivia. What about me living out of a hotel and eating at my parents says I’m a hidden culinary artist?” Kent deadpanned.
“It’s pasta, Kent,” she said like it explained everything. “Pasta.”
“It’s not, you can do it.”
She scoffed and stuttered over her words. “I—I’m still young. I have years to learn how to cook.”
She was so sexy when she put on the haughty, snobby, rich girl look. It made me all the more excited to dig underneath it and make her beg for me.
“You know what I’m good at,” I asked, tossing the pan of burnt noodles into the sink.
“We don’t have time for this,” she said, trying to glare, but I saw the spark of need flickering.
I stalked over, loving that she didn’t back away. By the time I reached her, her chest was heaving under her silky top. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I tugged her to me hard and leaned down to her ear, stroking my fingers along her thigh. “I do this thing with my fingers…”
“Uh-huh,” she breathed when I left her hanging.
“It’s called ordering in. I dial the number, and they make me what I want.”
She jerked back as far as I’d let her go and glared at me, slapping my chest when she saw me laughing.
“It’s our first dinner party together. I didn’t want to order in. And you’re a tease.”
“Says the girl in tight leather pants and some silky top with no bra.”
She shoved away from my chest and looked down at her chest like she’d find her shirt see-through. “I don’t need a bra.”
“It’s still a tease.” We glared at each other, cocking a brow, waiting for the other to break.
“Ugh,” she groaned when she blinked.
“Now, tell me where you want to order from.”
“If we order from that Italian place now, it can get here quick, and we can put it in dishes like we made it.”
“On it.”
Everything arrived with just enough time for us to stuff the aluminum tins into the trash. I’d moved into her apartment two weeks ago. I’d waited until the sale could go through before I officially called this place home. I wasn’t going to live with my girlfriend in the apartment her father paid for. Not that it’d stopped me from staying here almost every night since we announced our relationship.
A couple nights ago, we’d been watching the Food Network, and she’d had this grand plan to have everyone over for a dinner party to celebrate. Who was I to deny her? Frankly, it wasn’t like I could if I tried.
The doorbell rang, and it was like everyone arrived at once.
“Did you all take a cab together?”
“Not with these two burly men,” Carina groaned, gesturing to her baby-daddy, Ian, and Oaklyn’s boyfriend, Callum.
“Whatever,” Ian scoffed. “Little Miss Audrey takes up all the room with her car seat and awesome personality. Isn’t that right, baby?”
“Here we go with the baby talk,” Hanna said with a roll of her eyes.
Carina had called earlier and asked if she could bring Hanna along, and of course, Olivia said the more, the merrier. Hanna was Ian’s business partner’s little sister, and Carina had taken to her after a rough start.
Frankly, I was happy to see her there because she made Daniel squirm. He’d met the girl only a handful of times, and each one he’d been unable to take his eyes off her. She, of course, stuttered and blushed each time he got too close.
It was cute.
“Knock, knock.”
Speak of the devil. Daniel stepped through the open door behind everyone else.
“Welcome,” Olivia greeted everyone.
“Hey, kiddo.” Daniel pulled her in for a hug and kissed the top of her head.
“Dinner is all ready, so let’s take a seat.”
Daniel raised his fist, and I bumped my knuckles with his. “Daniel, you can sit next to Hanna.”
He jerked a glare my way, and I just smirked in return.
This would be fun.
* * *
Don’t miss a thing and add Teacher, Daniel and Hanna’s story, to your Goodreads TBR. Coming in 2020.
* * *
See where the Voyeur series all began in the forbidden, student-teacher romance, VOYEUR.
If you’re looking for a little more angst in your books you can check out my new adult, second chance romance, SHAME. Find out how Anna and Kevin discover each other and learn to understand their unique sexuality.
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Acknowledgments
My family: Thank you for always understanding and supportive. Thank you for the cuddles after a hard day and laughs when all I want to do is rip my hair out. I couldn’t do this without you being the foundation holding me up. I love you.
Karla. Dream Team, baby.
Serena. It’s been over a year since you became my PA and I’m thankful each and every day to have you by my side. I would be a sobbing mess in a corner without you.
Najla Qamber. The best damn cover designer there ever was. Thank you for all your talent. Thank you for always hearing my vision and turning into perfection.
Linda. Thank you for holding my hand and petting my hair when I’m on the verge of crawling in a hole. I couldn’t do this without you or your enthusiasm. I appreciate everything you do and can’t wait to drink wine together some day.
Kelly. Thank you for being an amazing editor. Thank you for being an even better friend! You give me the confidence to publish a book I know is the best it could be because of you.
Michelle and Julia. Thank you for always being able to beta read. You ask the hard questions and offer such amazing suggestions. Thank you for helping me make the story better than I could’ve imagined.
Review team. You ladies are wonderful, fun, kind, and beyond supportive. Thank you for every share, every review, and everything in between.
Lovers. You guys are my safe place. You guys give me the best book recommendations and make me laugh. You’re more than I could ever ask for. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve scrolled through your comments and have been brought to tears. Thank you for being such an awesome group.
Bloggers. To every single one from personal pages to the bookstagrammers. You all work so hard and take beautiful pictures and write such amazingly kind words in reviews. I don’t have enough words to let you know how much you all mean to me. I couldn’t do this without you.
Readers. You guys rock my socks off. Thank you for taking a chance on my words. Thank you for taking the time to read something I’ve created. You’re the best.
About the Author
Fiona Cole is a military wife and a stay at home mom with degrees in biology and chemistry. As much as she loved science, she decided to postpone her career to stay at home with her two little girls, and immersed herself in the world of books until finally deciding to write her own.
Fiona loves hearing from her readers, so be sure to follow her on social media.
Email: [email protected]
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Reader Group: Fiona Cole’s Lovers
www.authorfionacole.com
Also by Fiona Cole
The Me Series
Where You Can Find Me
Deny Me
Imagine Me
Shame Me Not Series
Shame
Make It to the Altar (Shame Me Not 1.5)
The Voyeur Series
Voyeur
Lovers (Cards of Love)
Savior
Another
Liar
Teacher (Coming Spring/Summer 2020)