Page 5 of V-Day Daddy Stalker

Dane’s eyes flick over my bikini, lingering just a beat too long before he lifts his gaze to meet mine. My cheeks burn, but I can’t tell if it’s from arousal or embarrassment—or both.

“So, how has your break been so far?” he asks, taking a seat on one of the lounge chairs. I notice the slight tightness in his jaw, like he’s holding back a million other things he wants to say. Or maybe I’m just projecting.

“It’s been good,” I say, turning to face him, legs still dangling in the pool. “Kinda weird being back home after living in a dorm. I got used to, like, constant noise. Now it’s so… quiet.” I let out a light laugh. “But I guess I’ll survive.”

He gives a small smile, and I notice how it softens the stern lines of his face. “And your classes? You mentioned last night that they were challenging.”

I nod, shrugging. “They are, but I’m managing. It’s nice to study something I’m actually passionate about, you know? Art history can be tough, but at least it’s interesting. Beats high school math, any day.”

He chuckles. “True enough.” Then he leans forward a bit, folding his hands between his knees. His tone turns casual, but there’s a certain intentness in his eyes. “So… have you met any… special someone? A boyfriend, maybe?”

I let out a surprised laugh, a little burst of disbelief. “Me? No. Unless you count the ghost in the old library stacks who likes to knock books off the shelves at 2 AM.”

He huffs a quiet laugh, but there’s a flicker of something in his expression—satisfaction? Relief? I can’t quite place it. My stomach does a little flip.

“College is full of possibilities,” he says, almost as though he’s testing the waters. “Lots of young men, I’m sure, would be interested in… spending time with you.”

I blink, feeling the heat in my cheeks again. Is he asking because he cares in a paternal, father’s-best-friend kind of way, or is there something more? “I guess,” I reply, trying to sound breezy, “but I’ve been focused on classes. I’m a total nerd, you know.”

He chuckles. “I somehow doubt that.”

“I am!” I insist, pushing my sunglasses up so he can see my mock outrage. “I stayed in most weekends to study, or I’d binge-watch shows with my roommate. The craziest thing we did was order pizza at midnight. Not exactly the wild college life.”

Dane watches me intently, and I swear the look in his dark eyes is anything but paternal. My skin tingles. An awkward, charged silence hovers between us. I decide to break it with some humor.

“So what about you?” I tease, kicking my legs in the water. “Any new girlfriends in your life, hmm?”

He arches a brow, the corner of his mouth curving. “No. My time is mostly consumed with work these days.”

There’s a tension in his tone. A quiet seriousness that makes my heart pound. I’m suddenly conscious of every droplet of water rolling off my body, the curve of my swimsuit, the warmth flooding my cheeks. This is the moment to make a joke, to lighten the atmosphere. But I can’t find the words.

Instead, I stare at him and think about how I wished last night—how I half-fantasized—he was outside my window, watching me. The thought alone sends a shiver of excitement and guilt through me. I wonder what he’d do if he knew. If he realized how I’m thinking about him right now, how I can’t stop.

“Everything okay?” he asks, breaking into my thoughts.

I force a quick nod. “Yeah, totally. Just, um, spaced out for a second.”

He lifts his gaze, glancing toward the house. “Your dad’s probably off that call by now. I should get back inside.”

I feel a pang of disappointment. “Right, sure.”

He picks up his jacket from the chair, draping it over his arm. Before he turns to go, his eyes settle on me again, and there’s a flash of something I can’t quite name—desire, maybe, or hunger. It sends a rush of heat pooling in my stomach.

“Enjoy your swim,” he says softly.

“I will,” I reply, voice catching slightly.

He goes back inside, and for a long moment, I just sit there, staring at the closed sliding door. My heart thumps so loudly, I half expect someone inside to hear it. With a groan, I push myself off the ledge and slip back into the pool, letting the water envelop me. It cools my overheated skin but does nothing to tame the swirl of conflicting emotions in my head.

I glide underwater for a lap, my hair streaming behind me, and surface at the shallow end. I hug the edge, pressing my forehead against the cool tile, letting my breath come in soft pants.

What is wrong with me? This is Dad’s best friend—this is a man I’ve known my entire life. It should be a complete non-starter. Off-limits. But the way he looks at me, the way my body reacts… it’s undeniable.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to will away the rush of desire. This is a dangerous game, but I can’t seem to help playing it. Part of me knows I should slam on the brakes. Another part, the onethat revels in the surge of adrenaline, is all too eager to see how far we’ll go.

With a trembling sigh, I push off the wall and start swimming again. Because right now, that’s all I can do—keep swimming and pretend it’s enough to wash away these intense, forbidden thoughts.

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