Page 48 of Illicit

“Look, I know you two aren’t close like you used to be. If it’s a problem, I can ask Micah if he can fly up and do it?—”

I stop him right there. “Sorry, I got distracted. You know I’ll do it. I planned on going to her graduation anyway.”

It’s his turn to pause. “We didn’t know you’d be there.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. I even got her a graduation gift.” I’m forced to adjust my junk when I think about her rainbow of panties. “And we’re both headed to Miami, anyway. Might as well caravan.”

What I don’t add is that she’ll have to pack for a second time since her shit was tossed two nights ago.

Do I feel guilty keeping everything that’s happened in the last few days from Tim?

Hell, yes.

I feel like a teenager, digging myself in deeper every minute I don’t fess up to the parents.

But at this point, Teagan and I are in this together, even though I’m the one aiding and abetting Tim and Annette’s youngest child and taking her on undercover deals.

My only defense is that she started it, which makes me sound like a crabby pre-teen. Not to mention I’m getting more and more comfortable touching his daughter in ways that would make him lose his shit.

On the bright side, I can keep her under my thumb with the full permission of Tim Coleman.

In fact, it was his idea.

Even better.

“You can count on me,” I say. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”

Tim lets out a sigh of relief. “I knew I could count on you. Can’t wait to have you home, Roc.”

“Me too.”

“Your room is ready for you. Annette insisted on holding off making it into a nursery until after you close on your house. Teagan doesn’t have to be in New York for a few weeks. I’m still pissed about that. But it’ll be like old times. You know, with the addition of a grandbaby.”

Like old times, my ass. It’s been years since I’ve been back to the Colemans with their whole family. Teagan was barely eighteen.

“I feel bad about that. Brax and Landyn are bursting at the seams with my godchild on the way. I’m sure I can bunk at King and Goldie’s or Micah and Evie’s. They’ve got extra room.”

“Not unless you want to hurt Annette’s feelings. She’s emotional enough with the baby on the way. I wouldn’t recommend crossing her right now.”

Even better. Teagan won’t have a chance to avoid me if I’m sleeping across the hall from her.

Even though we haven’t slept that far apart the last few nights. My back is a fucking pretzel to prove it. We had a repeat of the night before on the sofa.

She didn’t ask me why I didn’t go to my room, and I didn’t think about why I refused to go to bed and leave her the whole sofa.

My actions and intentions are in a civil war at the moment.

“I guess we’ll see you at graduation. Appreciate you. Here’s to new beginnings,” he says.

“New beginnings,” I agree as I reverse out of my parking spot as another call comes across the line.

Speak of the woman who’s testing my control.

“I’ve got another call. Tell Annette and Sammie hi for me.”

“Will do.”

Tim barely has time to say goodbye when I click over. “Please tell me you haven’t run away while I was gone.”

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