Page 87 of Delayed Penalty

Flora rushes to her room, presumably for her candy bucket, and it leaves me and Quinn alone for the first time since I got back from the road. I wanted to sneak into her room so badly last night, but it was late when we landed in Seattle and even later by the time I made it home. I didn’t want to worry about waking her up.

Seeing her now, I’m regretting it.

Don’t get a boner, Hayes. Not when you’re about to take your niece trick-or-treating for the first time.

“There. All better.” She drops her hands to her hips and grins at me. “What?”

I can’t help myself—I close the small distance between us, capturing her lips in a heated kiss, coasting my hand up the back of her neck and holding hertight. She melts into me, and I press her to the counter, crowding every inch of my body against hers.

Fuck, I missed this.

I missed kissing her and touching her and smelling her and everything else that comes with her. I try not to read too much into that as I reluctantly pull my mouth from hers.

“What was that for?” she asks through harsh breaths.

“Have you seen your costume?”

She grins. “Why, Mr. Hayes, are you telling me you like my cat ears?”

“And those stupid yarn-ball earrings,” I say, nuzzling her neck, loving it when they smack against my forehead. “You look hot, honey.”

She giggles. “Thank you.”

“I’m going to fuck you in those boots later.” I slide my hand over her hip, tugging her close so she can feel how serious I am about this. I’m hard as hell right now. So much for not getting a boner.

“I was hoping you’d say that,” she says.

“Why, Miss Quinn, did you wear them just for me?”

“Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. Maybe I?—”

“I’m ready!”

Quinn shoves at me and I fall backward, my back ramming right into the kitchen island. I grunt at theimpact, hoping that’s not going to hurt tomorrow for the game, and try to play it cool as Flora comes to a stop just at the edge of the kitchen.

“What’s going on?”

“Your uncle was helping me with my earring. How do they look?” Quinn tucks her hair behind her ear, showing them off for the kid.

“Good. Are we ready?”

I laugh at her impatience, but I don’t blame her for it. When Quinn told me she had never been trick-or-treating before, I was pissed but not surprised. Of course my brother didn’t bother taking her. He’s a self-centered jackass who didn’t do shit with his daughter and only cared about whatever drug he could get in his system next.

“We’re ready.”

“Then where’s your costume, Uncle Adam?”

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Quinn runs by us and back down the hall to her bedroom. She emerges a few moments later carrying another pair of ears.

“What is this?” I ask, taking them from her outstretched hand.

“Ears.”

“Ears?”

She nods. “We’re all wearing matching costumes tonight.”

“Quinn…”

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