Page 24 of Stealing Forever

It was entirely too easy to picture myself pulling the elastic from her hair and watching her waves of copper tumble down from where she had it piled on top of her head. I fantasized about tilting her head back as we consumed each other in a kiss that left us both wanting more.

But then the moment passed, and we refocused on the chick flick she had on, before accidentally passing out on the couch for a couple hours.

I was exhausted.

Which is why, against my better judgment, I let her drive home alone at two-thirty in the morning, when I should have thrown her over my shoulder and deposited her in the spare bedroom.

I almost texted her to make sure she made it back safely. I typed out two different messages and deleted them both.

But I’m still not sure where her head is at. She looks at me like she wants me, but if I cross that line with her and I’m wrong? Not only would I have completely misread everything, but I’d be screwing up an important relationship for Sailor.

And if there’s one thing my daughter needs in her life it’s a strong female presence.

Sailor loves Hailey more than I’ve ever seen her love another adult besides me. The last thing I want is to risk their bond for something that may never work.

But it’s getting increasingly hard to ignore the feelings I have for Hailey. She's more than just someone I’m attracted to, despite trying to convince myself that’s all it is. She’s everything I didn’t know I wanted until I laid eyes on her.

And she’s the one person I can’t fucking have.

It’s especially difficult to pretend like I don’t want to taste every inch of her skin when she breezes into my home looking as good as she does, like a walking temptation with crimson cheeks that match her hair.

To stop myself from grinning like a fool, I look down at the meat I’m preparing for the team barbecue.

“Don’t sweat it,” I reply coolly, ignoring the immediate reaction my body has to her presence.

Ripping another long piece of aluminum foil, I place it over the extra-large disposable roasting pan full of marinated chicken, squeezing along the edges to seal it. “I’m running a little behind today, too.”

“What can I do to help?” She doesn’t hesitate in her offer and goes straight to the sink to wash her hands.

I rip another piece of foil for the last roasting pan. “Nothing, I’m just about done.”

A bang to my right draws my attention, Sailor's legs are swinging against her chair as she sits and colors, singing a song that I recognize from one of her cartoons. She’s so engrossed in what she’s coloring, she hasn’t even looked up to spot Hailey yet.

“What time do you want us there?” The water shuts off, and she dries her hands on a paper towel before throwing it away.

My breathing stalls as she leans against the counter next to me, running her hand through her hair. With her full attention on me, I forget how to speak.

God, she’s beautiful.

My eyes drop to her lips, but I don’t let them linger. “You’re welcome whenever. It starts at three, and food will be ready a little after.”

“Sounds good, we’ll be there!” Her smile sends a spike of exhilaration through my chest. Crossing the room, she goes over to Sailor and switches gears into nanny mode.

I stop what I’m doing to watch her with my daughter for a moment, and I’m caught off guard when seeing her being so attentive and maternal ignites something in me that I’ve never experienced until this exact second. I’m so unprepared for the onslaught of emotions, I have to set my hand on the counter to ground myself. Every fiber of my being screams to walk over, pick her up, and take her upstairs to make her mine.

I’ve seen her interact with Sailor countless times, but now I’m envisioningmore.

I’m brought back to this fucking dimension when Sailor hops to her feet, abandoning her crayons, and pads over to where I stand, shoving her coloring page at me. “Daddy! Look at my unicorn picture.”

My chest rises and falls in rapid succession as I drag my eyes from Hailey and I take the drawing from Sailor, looking down at the thick black outline of a cartoon unicorn. “Wow, Sail, how pretty. Should we hang it on the fridge?”

Her head bobs in agreement and she races over to the refrigerator, grabs an alphabet magnet, and thrusts it at me with her chubby hand.

Despite being three, she hasn’t lost the dimples in her knuckles. It makes me nostalgic for the early days when she was an infant and would stare up at me with her big, blue eyes.

Together we find a spot for her art, and once it’s hung, she steps back with her hands bracketing her hips as she admires it.

Kneeling, I plant a kiss on her cheek. “Hailey will bring you to Daddy’s work later, okay? Be good.”

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