Page 92 of The Au Pair Affair

“I don’t know what to say,” she croaked. “I’m sorry.”

“Jesus.” His brows drew together. “I’m the one who needs to apologize, Tallulah. Not you.”

Tallulah’s chest hollowed itself out, making her ache to bound off the couch and throw herself into his arms where she knew, without a doubt, she’d feel a thousand percent better.

Burgess’s chest rose and fell heavily, as if he knew what she was thinking.

And wanted—needed—the same thing.

Sig reached down and snagged Chloe’s wrist, hauling her off the couch. “Come on, let’s go sit in my car while they work this out.”

“No, Sig,” Chloe said, reaching a hand toward Tallulah. “I can’t abandon my friend!”

Tallulah shook herself out of her Burgess trance. “Yeah! You guys can’t just walk in here and ambush us like this.”

Chloe pointed at the mugs of cocoa. “Look! We’re doing emotional recon.”

“Do it later,” Sig and Burgess said at the same time.

“Wow.” This from Tallulah.

“Wow,” Chloe echoed. “Don’t get any toxic masculinity in my hot chocolate.”

Sig tapped her nose. “I have a five-hundred-dollar Sephora gift card waiting in the car and a banana acai bowl for you to eat on the drive over.”

Chloe turned on a heel and started walking. “Good luck, Tallulah.”

Tallulah watched in shocked fascination as Sig ushered his future stepsister out of the apartment, the door closing neatly behind them, but not before Sig could shoot them a smirk. “Sold out for acai,” she muttered. “I guess it really is a superfruit.”

The words were barely out of her mouth when Burgess took a seat beside her on the couch, wasting no time before pulling her into his arms. Tallulah went so fast, she even surprised herself, climbing right onto him like a clinging monkey, legs circling his waist, her head lodging into the notch of his neck, his strong arms wrapped around her like a physical promise. “I’m sorry, Tallulah. I’m so fucking sorry for what was said to you.” He kissed the crown of her head, her temple. “You didn’t deserve that. I’ve been sick to my stomach.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t answer your calls. I think... I’m embarrassed, maybe.”

“No. Don’t be.Please.”

“How is Lissa?”

She lifted her head in time to see a shadow pass through his eyes. “She’ll understand eventually. But... it might take some time.”

Those two sentences landed like blows to her solar plexus. “She’s... still really upset?”

Several seconds passed, each one heavier than the next. “Yeah.I’m not going to lie to you. She is.” His tone was grave. “It’s my fault for not talking to her sooner.”

“It’s okay. It’s a hard conversation.”

“One that could have saved your feelings, Tallulah. One I could have had months ago and you’d still be home with me where you belong.” He spoke through his teeth, stroking her hair and fisting it, pulling until he could look down at her upturned face. “I know this, us, is new. But I’m asking you to ride this out with me. Come home and do this. She’ll accept it with time.”

Oh my God.

Burgess was asking for something monumental. Not only to be in a relationship with him, which was enough of a leap for her, in itself. But to essentially... co-parent. Be the equivalent of a stepmom to a kid who actively resented her. That was a massive jump from being his fun, new girlfriend. Was it only a matter of days ago they were still pretending she was in his room to give him a sports massage?

“Burgess.”

“I know,” he said gruffly, against her lips.

“That’s a lot. That’s scary.”

“I know.” With the use of her gathered hair, he pulled her head back even more, raking his mouth up the slope of her throat. “God, I miss the way you smell and taste and fucking feel.” Looking into her eyes, he shifted his hips forward so she could feel the growing thickness between his thighs and she openly sobbed. “I’ve been going out of my mind.”

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