Page 45 of Under the Influence

Despite nodding, I point out, “But it did.”

“Yes, because apparently, your family has a magic that breaks through the crazy. But you were right to be the voice of reason.”

“Thank you.”

“You need to be sensible now, too. Don’t see me as Duke McGraw, the guy who runs a rival club. And don’t see me as the man who’s been making you crazy with lust. I need you to see me as a guy who doesn’t know the answers. I’m only guessing here because I don’t trust my gut. You need to accept how I can’t make promises.”

Fighting the urge to cry and scream, I struggle against this new overly emotional side of myself. “This is one of those times when I want to be like Tuesday and trust everything will work out.”

“Maybe that’s what we should do. There’s a benefit to being reckless,” Duke says and kisses my fingers dancing around his jaw. “When Kerrie and I were building the house, she would suggest big ideas and then walk away. I was the one stressing every single detail and looking over the shoulders of the architect and project manager. I had to be on top of everything. The experience would have been easier if I scared the men in charge and let them stress. But I thought I needed to control everything.”

Exhaling softly, I smile at him. “I’ll say one more thing and then we’re going to pretend as if everything will work out. No more stressing the details, but I need to say this one last thing.”

Duke nods while I rest my hands against his strong chest. For a second, I get distracted by the heat through his shirt. I become very aware of the bed only a foot away.

“I need to have a kid,” I state, staring into his eyes. “It’s my dealbreaker. I can’t live without knowing motherhood. And your adult daughters won’t cut it. For now, though, we’ll ignore that fact. We’ll wait to tell people about us while assuming the best. But if you ever realize a kid is your dealbreaker, you need to promise to be straight with me.”

“I promise to be straight with you, even if losing you would kill me.”

Duke’s need rushes off him. This thing between us isn’t simple lust. He’s my dream guy. No other man will have this power over me. Sidelining my fears about the future, I choose to embrace Duke and this crazy magic.

DUKE, AKA BLUE BALLS AND PINK PETALS

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Once Edith gets her dealbreaker conversation out of the way, we begin treating tonight like a date. We walk around the hotel grounds and sit by the fountain near the bar. She shows me more pictures and videos she made during her lunch with my girls and her family. I smile at how Lola and Clover join in the conversation rather than holding back.

Eventually, we bring dinner up to the room, where we settle at the table in front of the TV. Edith is more interested in making my dick hard than eating or watching “Seinfeld.”

Nearly climbing into my lap, she murmurs, “It’s so weird to me how Tuesday could lust after Cubby, but she was oblivious to your good looks.”

“Tuesday’s a beautiful woman, but I never once hoped she’d pay attention to me.”

“Guys always like Tuesday more.”

“She’s like Lola,” I explain as I slide my fingers into Edith’s soft hair. “They like to party. That signals to men that they’re fun and maybe easy. But women like them turn off their feelings easily. I was always impressed by how Lola could get crazy in heat over some dipshit and then turn it off a week later. That’s why I wasn’t expecting her to be so weird with Val. She looks at him like she’s never seen an attractive man before. I’d be annoyed if I weren’t happy for her.”

“What am I like?”

“You make men work for your attention and most are lazy,” I say and then admit, “You’re also intimidating. When you shot a dirty look at a guy at the restaurant, he nearly shit himself. Tuesday has many qualities, but she never once intimidated anyone, not even my mom.”

“It’s her fashion choices. Tuesday’s always nearly falling out of her clothes or tripping over her flip-flops. But she’s mean in a fight. If you two ever throw down, don’t let her near your balls or they might not survive.”

Grinning at her earnest warning, I kiss her cheek and say, “Good to know.”

Edith smiles brightly. “Tuesday’s been supportive by keeping my secret. She’s also given me good advice about handling your impressive body. Drew pictures and acted out things. Very informative.”

I crack up when I realize Edith is serious. My laughter dies in my throat as soon as she gives my body the once over and clearly imagines me naked. Now, I’m the one whose brain is stuck on that king-sized bed in the next room.

“Tuesday warned against a heavy meal,” Edith says, pushing her plate away. “Besides, I’m not hungry. I’m nervous and excited. The lust feels different tonight. I think it’s gotten hopeful.”

“No pressure,” I reply casually as if my dick weren’t rock hard. “This thing between us is hot, but it’s not about the sex.”

Edith’s expression hides nothing. She’s got fucking on her mind, but she’s also fallen hard for me. I’m not nursing this emotion alone.

“I want to show you something,” she says and shifts away from me and off the chair. Edith sets her plate into the mini-fridge. “We can watch TV in bed.”

Joining her near the sink, I kiss her forehead and shake my head. “Don’t get rattled about tonight. We have nowhere to go until tomorrow morning. Just relax, okay?”

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