Page 52 of Make You Stay

Chapter 11

Aidan

“Leave me alone, Dad,” Natalie wails, slamming the front door, her face red from crying.

“What the hell happened?” I ask, throwing up my hands in resignation.

I can’t figure it out. Everything was fine last night at the party—better than fine. Natalie was all smiles as she chatted up the boy she likes. Enid danced the night away with Emily and Mia. And Chloe… Chloe was perfect.

She was as tight and wet as I knew she would be, which made sleeping alone that much more difficult. Enid and Jeff offered to take the girls, but they had a private weekend planned. One without our children. No matter how much my dick hated me, and it did, I wasn’t taking that time away from them—although it was a tempting thought when Enid giggled about my pressing sexual needs.

The woman knows me better than anyone. Hell, she knew I’d fallen for Chloe even beforeIwas aware of the fact.

Any chance of me spending the night loving on Chloe’s naked body was ixnayed so I could look after the girls.

I adore my girls, but damn, I wish I was childless last night.

Sunday started out perfect—sunny and crisp with hot coffee and my two youngest being their usual silly selves—until Natalie burst through the door in the early afternoon, demanding I leave her alone.

“Teenagers,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair.

“Is everything okay?”

Turning, I smile at Chloe, wrapped in yet another blanket as she stands on her porch, water in hand.

God, I love this woman.

The thought hits me hard and fast, but for the first time, I don’t run from it. Instead, I invite it into my heart and let it stay.

Now, I have to convince Chloe to stay, too. Convince her of all the reasons why life here is superior to any existence in the big city. No simple task, but I’m ready to take it on as soon as I get to the bottom of the Natalie mystery.

“Natalie just rushed inside, all upset. She’s mad at… who knows who she’s mad at? She isn’t speaking to anyone. Certainly not me.”

Chloe is off her porch, heading toward my house. “Was she out with Jason earlier?”

Chances are, Chloe knows more about this guy than I do.

“Yeah. They went ice-skating.”

“Can I go in and speak with her?”

“Be my guest,” I reply, motioning to the house.

Women. I’ll never be able to figure them out, and yet, I’m surrounded by them.

Here’s the thing. I adore my daughters more than life itself, but I always wanted a little boy running around the house. Someone to take fishing and four-wheeling while instilling all that fatherly advice my old man never bothered to share with me. A do-over of sorts, with the father and son bond.

I make sure my daughters know they’re my world. Growing up without parental bonds taught me how important they are—the scars of neglect last a lifetime. I’m far from perfect, but I always do my best. They deserve my best—every damn day.

I wander into the kitchen, noting that it’s eerily quiet upstairs. At least Natalie isn’t chucking stuff across the room—something to be thankful for.

“I’m stealing her for the night.”

Looking up, I see Chloe, her arm wrapped around Natalie. My daughter’s face is stained with tears, but she manages a sad smile in my direction. Natalie may be a few inches taller than Chloe, but Chloe emits a sense of strength and security.

She makes my girls feel safe. I’m indebted to her for that and so much more.

“Is everything okay?”

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