Page 17 of Six of Hearts
When he hung up, we stared at each other. My lips felt swollen, my body still humming with want. His hair was messed up from my fingers, his uniform rumpled.
"I have to go," he said, his voice rough.
"I know."
"But this—" He gestured between us. "We're not done."
"No," I agreed, sliding off the counter on shaky legs. "We're definitely not done."
He caught my wrist, pulling me close for one more kiss—slower this time, but no less intense. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with promise. "Soon."
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
He grabbed his keys and headed for the door, then paused and looked back. "Aria?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time, there won't be any interruptions."
Then he was gone, and I was left alone in his kitchen, heart racing, body aching, and completely certain that I was in way over my head with these men.
I looked at the half-cooked omelet in the pan and laughed breathlessly.
Worth it.
Seven
Aria
Maybe it was the wine, but I felt warm all over, hyperaware of Liam sitting across from me at his kitchen island. He'd changed out of his work suit into jeans and a fitted henley that showed off his lean, athletic build. I'd thought he was handsome in his tailored suits, but there was something disarming about seeing him like this—relaxed, at home, the careful lawyer facade lowered just slightly.
My head had been spinning all week. Working with six attractive, successful, kind men who all seemed to genuinely care about their children and each other—it was almost surreal. And I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something I was missing, some piece of the puzzle I hadn't been given yet.
I'd caught them watching me sometimes. Nothing inappropriate, but there was an awareness there that went beyond employer and employee. Julian had tucked my hair behind my ear in his office last weekend, and the gesture had felt intimate in a way that made my breath catch.
The way Noah's eyes lingered on me when he thought I wasn't looking. How Gabriel's hand had steadied me at the small of my back when I'd stumbled on the stairs, staying there just a moment longer than necessary.
And then there was the curious absence of any women in their lives.
For men this attractive, this successful, this put-together—I would have expected to see evidence of dating. A girlfriend stopping by, mentions of plans, something. But in all my time with them, I'd heard nothing. No women mentioned intheir letters about the kids, no casual references to dates or relationships.
It didn't add up.
"Can I ask you something?" I said, setting down my wine glass.
Liam's dark eyes met mine, and I saw something flicker there—wariness, maybe, or anticipation. "Anything."
"I feel like I know so much about the kids already, but I don't know much about you guys. About your lives outside of work and parenting." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "Are any of you dating?"
Liam's expression shifted, something guarded sliding into place. "No. After our separations and divorces, we decided to focus on our jobs and our children."
I tilted my head, studying him. He was a lawyer, trained to present information in the best possible light, and right now he was definitely presenting rather than revealing. "I don't believe you."
A small smile tugged at his lips. "What's not to believe? You know our schedules. You have keys to our homes. You spend hours with our kids every day. Have any of them mentioned a woman?"
"No," I admitted. "But it still doesn't make sense."
"What doesn't?" His smile widened slightly, and I realised he was enjoying this—the verbal sparring, the way I was pushing.
