Page 28 of Home in the Country
“I won’t get attached.”
I’m already attached.
I don’t say that, and instead of sayin’ no again I do the opposite and step into her space.
“Just sex. No sleepovers.”
I say it as a warning so she’ll back off, but the way her eyes sparkle means she took it as a challenge. She thinks she won’t get attached—that I’m not worth the attachment.
It fuckin’ sucks, and I keep my mask of indifference firmly in place.
“I like when you’re bossy,” she purrs as her gaze rakes down my body and back up again.
I clench my jaw to prevent my mouth from falling open.
“Does it have to be complicated, Otto? Can’t we just want to enjoy having really great, rock-your-world sex?”
“Give me your phone.”
She hands it over and I enter my number and send a message to myself.
“Friday.”
“Okay.” She gives me a shy smile like she didn’t just negotiate orgasms with me. “Hey Otto?”
“What?” The word is almost a whine, but every fiber of my being is exhausted.
“I know you don’t want to talk about before, and I know you’re still mad, but I know you’d never hurt me. You make me feel alive and sexy and so much more than the divorced single mom who just moved back to her hometown.”
I swallow hard as she takes a step forward and places a hand on my chest. My muscles flex under her touch, and a zing of electricity radiates through me.
“Maybe that’s selfish and misguided, but”—she lowers her voice but it’s still confident when she says—“it doesn’t feel wrong.”
Needing to put distance between us, I take a step toward my truck and clear my throat.
“Friday then.”
“Friday,” she confirms.
I’m just about to close the door when I call after her, “Oh, and Fallon?”
“Yeah?”
“Wear a dress.”
9
FALLON
“Mommy, we had libary today.”
“Library.”
“Iknow.”
I might have taken charge with Otto and our arrangement, but apparently I’m destined to be bossed around by the small human in the back seat for eternity.
“Did you pick out a new book?”
