Page 38 of Only Temporary

We all eat a delicious dinner and actually get through it with minimal teenage attitude. Phillip does help Cason with his homework, and then all the kids head to bed. My heart starts to race when I realize Phillip is going to head out soon.

I don’t want him to leave.

“Well, next scheduled appointment isn’t for two weeks.” He grabs his bag with the laptop and notes, and I know he’s leaving.

“Maybe we could watch a movie?” Was that a question? I really need to up my game—though I’ve never really had game in the first place.

He cocks his head to the side, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? We’re friends. Friends watch movies together. We can watch that candles movie you were talking about.”

He laughs. “You really think the movie is about candles, don’t you?”

I shrug. “I have no fuckin’ idea. But I’ll watch whatever you want, if you stay.”

He looks pained, but I can see his answer even before he shakes his head. “I can’t, Kellan. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

He starts toward the door, but I follow after him because I’m not ready to give up just yet. I’ve done plenty of that in my life. I catch his arm just as I step out onto the porch behind him, and I don’t waste a second pulling him to me and his mouth to mine. I didn’t intend to kiss him, but it’s like his mouth is a magnet for mine.

My lips barely touch his, and it’s all over. He doesn’t push me away, his arms going around my neck, and he lets me in. His lips move with mine in a devastated, raw, hungry kiss. He lets my tongue sweep inside and stroke over his, and I feel this kiss. Really feel it everywhere after being numb for so long.

“One date,” I say against his mouth, not willing to let him go.

“Kellan...” I can feel his breath against my lips, and my heart flickers. Hope. I think it’s with hope. I can tell he wants this too.

“Just one. We can see how it goes. I won’t tell a soul, and I’ll never hurt you.” I pull back and look into his eyes. “I swear to you. I’ll never hurt you.”

He licks his wet lips and gazes back at me, fear in those pretty eyes of his. But also—want. He wants this as badly as I do.

“Phillip, I don’t trust anyone...” I remind him of one of our very first conversations that seems like so long ago. “But I’m asking you to trust me. I’d never do anything to hurt you, and I won’t let you lose your job. But I need to take you out on a date.”

He blinks and then blinks again. It’s kind of cute how dazed he looks right now. But it also pisses me off that someone—or several someones—have hurt him so badly in the past. I can’t imagine ever hurting this man.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” I ask him, excitement rushing through me.

He looks back at the closed front door as if to confirm that it did close behind me. “The kids cannot find out about this. No one can know.”

I nod. “Friday night? I’ll ask Tatum to watch the kids. I’ll tell him I need a meeting.”

“I don’t want you to have to lie to your best friend.”

I think that over for a minute because I don’t want that either. “I’ll tell him I have a date,” I say with a small smile. “Just not who it’s with.”

He nods his head and then slowly pushes back. “This is dangerous. We’re playing with fire here.”

I nod my head in understanding. I know how serious this is. “No one will find out. And as I’ve been told many, many times, this is only temporary. I’ll get custody of these kids, and then we can do whatever the hell we want.”

That does make him smile as he nods his head in stark agreement. “Can’t wait.”

I can’t either. And I can’t remember the last time I actually felt excited like this.

Now, I just have to not fuck it up.

EIGHTEEN

Dear God, what the hell was I thinking? I said yes to a date with a client. Saying yes to a date at all with my track record is bad enough, but to a date with Kellan? I think I might have lost my mind.

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