Page 70 of In Full Bloom

“Fuck!” Katie throws the blankets back and is on her feet in a flash, searching for her clothes. I guess getting her up wasn’t so hard after all.

“Bathroom,” I say, pointing uselessly because she knows where it is.

She runs, while I pull on fresh underwear and pants. A moment later Katie is in front of me, hoisting her jeans up her legs. “My shirt’s soaked. Apparently I dripped all over it when I got out last night.”

“In a hurry for something were we?” I smirk at her.

“Shut up and find me something I can wear unless you want your little girl to ask why I’m in your house in my bra.”

That snaps me back into the moment. I pull a plain grey t-shirt from my drawer and toss it at her, grab one for myself, then head for the kitchen, flicking the jug on to make us coffee and hopefully give us a cover story Sadie will buy.

A moment later Katie disappears back into the bathroom.The sounds of water draining from the bath echo through the house as she tidies up our mess.

I’m spooning coffee into mugs when she slides onto the barstool across from me, right as the front door opens and Sadie bounces inside.

“Morning, Daddy.” She greets me with her usual smile and leap into my arms for a hug. “Hiya, Katie. How come you’re here?”

“Came to ask your dad what jobs I need to do today,” she says. It’s so convincing I almost buy it. I let out a breath and relax. It was good save.

Olivia follows Sadie into the house, a look of relief washing over her face as she sees us both fully clothed. “Go get ready for school, Sadie,” Olivia says. “Then I can take you when I go into town.”

“Okay, Livvie,” Sadie agrees and skips off to her room, completely oblivious.

Olivia smiles after her. “She only started calling me that after she heard you do it,” she says to Katie. Then gives her a playful punch in the shoulder and a wink. “Have a good night you two?”

I cough and choke on my first sip of coffee.

“You know it,” Katie grins at me as I continue to splutter. She turns back to Olivia. “Can you come help with Aurora later? I think today’s the day we try a proper ride.”

“Sounds good. Sadie’s all sorted for today,” Olivia says, directing the trail end to me. “I’ll take her to school. Flynn can pick her up, if you’re happy with that.”

I nod. “Of course. And thank you.”

Sadie rushes back into the room wearing a clean outfit and her hairbrush in hand. “Katie, can you do my hair like you do yours?”

Katie smiles down at the little girl and takes the brush before instructing Sadie to climb up on the stool next to her. A few minutes later and Sadie has two perfect French braids in her hair.

“Right kiddo. You all ready? Let’s go and leave Dad and Katie to their boring work.”

Sadie kisses me goodbye, then turns to Katie and does the same. My heart swells at the sight of Katie’s arms wrapped around my little girl.

“Bye, Lady Sadie,” Katie says, waving them off from the door. “Have a good day at school.”

She closes the door and I half collapse onto the kitchen counter.

“That was close,” Katie says mildly, like my five-year-old didn’t nearly just catch us both stark naked, asleep in my bed, thoroughly fucked out.

I groan into my hands, my elbows propped on the bench. Katie hops up so she’s sitting beside me and rubs my shoulder.

“We’ll be more careful next time,” she says. “Olivia’s got our backs.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure I feel super great about my boss having to phone me and tell me to get her best friend out of my bed at seven-thirty in the morning.”

Katie tips her head back and howls a laugh. “Don’t worry, I know someone who can put in a good word with her.”

I shake my head and step between Katie’s knees. My handfinds her nape and I pull her in for a kiss. She melts into it, her hands slipping under my t-shirt to trail across my abs.

“Any regrets?” I murmur when we take a breather.

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