Page 51 of The Au Pair Affair

“Oh. Everywhere.” Her pulse was going to beat out of her veins. “Like offense?”

“Nah.”

“Hmm.” Her core tightened so much that her voice went up an octave. “You’re saying it’s time to start our adventures. I learn to let loose again while we prepare you for the dating scene...”

Their mouths inched closer. “Name the time and place.”

She ransacked her mind, searching for the reasons she shouldn’t tilt her head back and see what happened. But all she wanted to come up with were reasons she should.

It’ll boost his confidence with women! He’ll realize he’s still got it!

Really,notkissing him was kind of selfish, no?

Well aware her reasoning wasn’t sound, she felt the slightest brush of his lips against her forehead and all manner of sense went out the window. She dropped her head back, inviting him with searching eyes. He made a gruff sound of hunger, propped his hand on the wall above her head, wet his mouth and leaned down slowly—

“Tallulah!” Lissa called, her bedroom door busting open.

Burgess and Tallulah jumped apart like two guilty teenagers, Burgess spinning around, snatching up a rag and pretending to mop the counter down. Meanwhile, Tallulah was frozen in place. “Huh?” Wake up. “Yes?”

“Dad, why is your shirt off?”

A line hopped in his cheek. “I... spilled something.”

What a coincidence. Tallulah’s common sense had spilled out of her ears.

Did she honestly just agree tonightly massages?

Why was she looking forward to the next one?

Oddly enough, the anticipation didn’t only stem from the joy of having skin-to-skin contact with a man who made her feel safe. She looked forward to talking to him. That latter seemed to be a bigger problem than the former.

“Oh.” Lissa was halfway across the living room. “Can you come do the lines with me? I think I’m pronouncing the words better now.”

“Sure, of course.”

“I think Tallulah has homework, kid. I’ll do them with you.”

“Oh! Okay.” Visibly shocked, Lissa stayed still for a moment, before dashing back to her room. “Come on.”

Burgess set down the rag and dropped his head forward for a few beats. Then he turned to leave the kitchen. But not before stopping beside Tallulah and letting out a jagged exhale in the space above her shoulder. “Just want to mention that I’m happy to give, not just receive. In fact, I fucking love giving, Tallulah.”

She blinked up at him, shock spearing down to her toes.“Excuse me?”

“Massages.” He winked at her. “I’m talking about massages. What did you think I meant?” Then he continued on his merry way, whistling.Whistling.“See you tomorrow.”

Tallulah stared after her giant roommate/employer as he entered his bedroom and emerged wearing a shirt, vanishing into Lissa’s room a few seconds later. And she wondered what in the heck she’d just gotten herself into... and possibly a lot more concerning...

Why she didn’t want to get out of it.

Chapter Thirteen

Muscle strain.

That’s all.

Burgess had a strained muscle in his lower back.

He’d expected the doctor to walk in after the series of X-rays and tests to tell him he’d fractured a vertebra or torn a ligament. The diagnosis was nothing that serious, though. Strain he could deal with. Strain wasn’t a career ender.

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