Page 83 of When We Met

She reaches for him, and he leans back on the couch, allowing her to lie on his chest. He holds the rag to her ear, rubbing her back with his other hand. “Daddy’s got you,” he whispers to her.

I nearly cry. Never mind the fact that this is by far the hottest image I’ve ever seen, but this guy, he’s their entire world, and they’re his.

It’s later, after I put Camdyn to bed, that I sneak into Barron’s room where he’s lying with Sev on the bed. Carefully, I slip in next to him. So far, it hasn’t been a big deal that I’m sleeping in the bed with him. The girls don’t seem to mind that I’m sleeping in here, nor have they asked about it.

Barron’s still rubbing Sev’s back, soothing her in that gentle way I find so damn endearing about him.

He smiles at me. “I don’t know what’s more upsetting. Her being sick, or that I’m not getting any tonight.”

I laugh lightly and bring his blankets up to cover my mouth. I peek at him with just my eyes uncovered. “You’re awfully greedy. We just had sex a few hours ago.”

“That was four hours ago, but who’s counting?”

“You are,” I tease.

He sighs, staring at me. “I can’t help it. You’re addicting.”

His words settle over me, and yeah, I thought it was nice to be desired, but being addicted to, I like the sound of that. My only experience with friends has been because of who my mother is, or my dad. They all wanted something from me.

“I’m beginning to think all you want from me is sex.”

“How else are you going to pay for all that work I did on your car?”

I snap my eyes to him. “Seriously?”

He laughs. “Relax. I’m kidding.”

I don’t say anything, and he shifts Sev off his chest and to the center of the bed. We stare at one another, and I think he can tell his remark bothered me.

He lifts my chin, tenderness in his dark eyes. “You know it’s not just sex for me, right?”

“I think… but I don’t know. I don’t even know you. And you certainly don’t have time for much else in your life. I also can’t blame you for that. I kinda, well, literally crashed into your life.”

“Technically, you crashed into my building.” His eyes dip and he laughs lightly. Sev shifts, curling into him but doesn’t wake up. It’s then we’re locked in another stare, and he smiles. “You entering my life might have been an accident, but I made the choice to ask you to stay.”

“Look at you turning it around,” I tease, rubbing Sev’s back lightly.

“What do you mean?”

“Now I’m bummed we’re not having sex when you start talking like that.”

He winks. “All part of my plan to make you fall for me.”

I roll on my back. “Too late,” I whisper, staring at the ceiling. I’m too afraid to look at him when I say it, but by the way our hands meet in the middle of the mattress, where his daughter is lying, I know he heard me.

I can’t get your smile out of my head

There’s you, and there’s me.

And I’m lost in the way my body feels laid bare on your bed.

-falling

Can I keep everyone?

KACY

It takes two days before Sev is feeling better from her ear infection. By Saturday, while Barron is working with Morgan on the ranch, she’s feeling good enough to venture outside. With the help of Lillian, we take the girls into downtown Amarillo to pick out a gift for Barron for Christmas.

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