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“We trust you both to behave,” Mark added, looking between us like this was some kind of adorable bonding opportunity. Dying with my intestines strung around my neck sounded less painful. “You’ll take care of each other, right?”

“Of course,” I said smoothly, leaning back in my chair. “I’ll take great care of Quinn.”

She stiffened, her shoulders going tight as she dropped her focus back to her plate.

Lauren’s voice chimed in, all warmth and fake sincerity. “This is your home too now, sweetheart. We want you to feel comfortable.”

No, it fucking wasn’t. And comfortable? That was the last thing I needed Quinn to be.

I bit back a laugh, running my tongue over my teeth as I glanced at Quinn. She looked like she wanted to bolt from the table and run straight into traffic. And honestly? I liked it. I liked that she was squirming.

“Yeah, I know.” Quinn stabbed at her food with her fork. “I’m going back to college after the summer anyway.”

Dad smiled like everything was just peachy. Like the girl sitting across from me wasn’t a walking reminder of everything her father had done. “It’s fine. It’s just for the summer.”

They might be willing to forget, but I sure as hell wouldn’t.

***

Dad ended up pulling me into his office just to ask me to look after Quinn while he was gone. It was a fucking joke, but he kept me there for two hours and then told me to get to bed.

The hallway was quiet as I did, save for the faint creak of the house settling in for the night. My focus was pulled to Quinn’s door, and a smirk curled my mouth as I sauntered up to it. Not bothering to knock, I pulled it open, catching her as she paced the room. Her steps were restless, uneven, like she was trying to work something out in her head.

Good. Let her squirm.

I didn’t bother hiding when she heard the door creak and noticed me there, but I couldn’t ignore the spark of pleasure when she froze, her body going rigid as her hazel eyes locked onto mine.

Scowling, she stormed to me, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, and her hair messy from where she’d probably been running her fingers through it.

“What are you doing?” she snapped, her voice sharp, but I could hear the edge of unease buried underneath.

“Just checking in on you, Harlequin,” I said, the nickname rolling off my tongue with a deliberate drawl. “Wouldn’t want you getting lost. Big house and all. Know you’re not used to that, rabbit.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she shifted like she was about to step around me, but I blocked her path, leaning down just enough to invade her space. Her scent hit me—something soft and floral, like lilacs—and I let my gaze drift over her face, taking in every detail. The freckles. The flush is crawling up her neck. The way her chest rose and fell a little too fast.

“Get out,” she said, her tone flat, her body tense like she was ready to bolt.

I smirked. “Why so tense? I promised Daddy I’d take good care of you.” My voice dropped as I dragged a finger just beneath the hem of her tank top, grazing the soft skin just above her waistband. “In every way.”

Her reaction was instant. She batted my hand away, her hazel eyes narrowing as she stepped back. “Don’t touch me,” she hissed, her voice low and furious.

I chuckled, the sound low and mocking. “Relax, rabbit. You’re safe—for now.”

“I’m not your fucking rabbit,” she spat and as I started to chuckle, she caught me off guard.

She shoved me and managed to push me out of her room. My surprise meant I stumbled back a step, and the door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. I stood there for a moment, the smirk still playing on my lips as I imagined the way her face had flushed, the way her breath had hitched.

I’d gotten under her skin.

And I wasn’t done yet.

Whistling to myself, I strode toward my bedroom, shutting the door and leaning against it, running a hand over my mouth. Tension thrummed in my veins, hot and insistent, and I couldn’t shake the image of her wide hazel eyes, the way her chest had heaved when I got too close.

I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to be an annoyance, a problem to deal with until summer ended. But every time I looked at her, I felt it—a pull I couldn’t ignore, no matter how much I wanted to.

My cock throbbed, hard and aching, and I cursed under my breath. I should’ve taken care of this earlier. That little blonde from the couch earlier hadn’t been enough, not after seeing Quinn’s reaction.

I made my way to the bed, yanking my shirt over my head and tossing it onto the floor. My hand drifted to the waistband of my sweatpants, ready to handle the problem myself, but then I hesitated. The bathroom was better. Then if Dad decided to come looking for me again, he wouldn’t catch me with my dick out. Just because I was twenty-one didn’t mean explaining that away would be any less awkward.

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