Page 76 of Delayed Penalty

And I have nobody to blame for it but myself.

CHAPTER 15

QUINN

“We’re so pleased with the progress she’s made,” Mrs. Aguilar, Flora’s teacher, says as the kid waves goodbye to her friends. “She was so shy when Mr. Hayes first brought her in, but now look at her—she has friends.”

I wasn’t around when Flora first started school, but I remember how reserved she was even around me when I first met her. That little girl seems so far away now compared to the one in front of me.

I smile. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

“It is! I can’t help but notice that she began blossoming around the time Mr. Hayes brought you on board. I think he made a wise decision in doing so.”

My hackles rise. Is she saying Hayes is a bad parental figure? That he was somehow messing things up with Flora?

“Not that he’s a bad guardian or anything,” shesays, sensing my anger. “He was doing great on his own. But I think your presence has helped…bridge that gap between them, you know?”

I nod. I do know. I’ve witnessed it myself. They no longer sit in silence during meals or stare at each other awkwardly. They talk. They interact. Flora even helped Hayes with his tie before his game yesterday. They’re like a little family now instead of strangers, and it warms my heart to see.

“Anyway,” Mrs. Aguilar says, “just thought I’d let you know we think Flora is doing great and to keep up the good work.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that,” I tell her as Flora runs up to me, skidding to a stop beside us. “And I’m sure Mr. Hayes does too. I’ll be sure to let him know.”

We wave goodbye to Flora’s teacher, then start our journey back to the house. I normally drive to pick her up, but it’s a nice day out today, and I could use the walk to clear my head, especially after yesterday.

I did not anticipate falling into bed with Adam Hayes, nor did I think it would happen a second time. Or a third. Or the fourth. And I certainly didnotexpect the fifth when he came home from his game and snuck into my room at nearly midnight.

I can’t say I’m complaining about that last one. Hell, I can’t say I’d complain aboutanyof them. Not when they felt so, so good.

I should probably be more disappointed in myself for sleeping with my bossagain, but I can’t find it in me to be. We’re just having fun. It’s not a big deal and we’re two consenting adults. Where’s the problem in that? As long as Flora isn’t affected by it and I can still do my job, it shouldn’t be such a big deal.

So then why do I keep getting this heavy feeling in my stomach when I think about it? Sure, I was the one who suggested it to Hayes in the first place, but even as I did, the words left a sour taste in my mouth. I ignored them last night because it was easier to when I was snuggled against his warm, hard body, but now? Now it feels less and less like a good idea.

Yet…I don’t want to stop. I don’t want to stop at all. Yesterday felt way too good, and I know for a fact I haven’t had my fill of him yet. I’ve barely even scratched the surface. There’s no way I could walk away now, even if I know I should.

I shake those thoughts away, tucking them into the back of my mind for me to spiral over later, and focus on the little girl by my side.

“So, how was your day?” I ask as we wait at the crosswalk.

“Good. Mrs. Aguilar wore a dress that had kittens on it.”

“I saw that. I think she’d love my yarn-ballearrings. Get it?” I nudge her. “Because cats love to play with yarn.”

She shrugs. “I’ve never played with a cat before.”

“Ever?”

“I wanted one really bad because my friend from my old school couldn’t stop talking about hers, but my daddy said I couldn’t have a pet because I was bad and didn’t deserve it.”

I frown. “That’s not true. You know that, right?”

She just shrugs again, and it makes my heart ache. Her dad already sounded like a piece of work, but now I don’t like him even more. I’m not saying every kid deserves a pet because there are some right little shits out there, but Flora isn’t one of those kids. She’s good, and her dad’s a jackass for saying otherwise.

“I have an idea,” I say, tugging on her hand and moving us to the opposite side of the crosswalk.

“But we live that way.” She points in the direction of Hayes’s house.

“I know, but trust me, okay?”

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