Page 387 of One More Kiss

He rolls his eyes at me. “I’m serious.”

“I love you and I love Knox. And yes, I know what being with you comes with. I’ve known it since that first night when you brought me to your house and all of his toys and things were there. You being a single dad and Knox being part of my life doesn’t scare me. Your love and devotion to him is one of the things I love most about you.”

His hand holds mine as we drive to his house and a sweet, giddy joy runs through my veins.

Entering his house, I set my bag down when I feel him come in behind me, his lips on my neck, his arms around my stomach. “I need to be the one to tell Liam,” he whispers against me. “And knowing him, he’s going to be pissed. First, that I’m with you. Second, that I’ve hidden it from him for as long as I have.”

My hands clasp his forearms and I blow out a breath. “Do you want me to talk to him too?”

“It has to come from me. He’ll be angry, but eventually, he’ll get over it and deal.”

“Do you believe that?”

“I hope so.”

I hope so too. That’s all I can think as he spins me around in his arms. His eyes are filled with worry that he’s attempting to mask. I know what this could cost him.

My hand touches his face, gliding up along the soft bristles of his cheek. “I’m sorry,” I tell him and mean it. I hate that he’s in this position because of me, but I can’t lose him either.

“Me too. But you’re worth it. You’re worth everything.”

His head dips in and his lips press gently to mine. My hands glide up his arms, gripping his shoulders before sliding up the back of his neck and into his hair. “What time does Knox get home?” I murmur into him.

“We have an hour.”

“I wonder what sort of trouble we can get into in an hour?” I smile, loving how he groans when I lick the seam of his lips.

“This dress is killing me. I wanted you the second I saw you in it today.” His hand slides up my thigh, plunging under my dress as our kiss deepens. His fingers glide along the seam of my ass, heading toward my pussy when the sound of the front door being unlocked jars us apart.

“I thought you said we had an hour.”

His incredulous eyes snap open wide, stunned when we hear it open and Liam talking to Knox.

“It’s all right, buddy. It’s not a big deal. I know you’re upset, but I’ll take care of it.”

Silas flies out of the kitchen, running toward the front, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. Do I hide? Stand here?

“What’s going on?” Silas demands, and I inch along, trying to catch a glimpse of them without being noticed.

“I got a call from the school,” Liam explains. “Knox started throwing up. They said they tried to reach you and Mom, but neither of you picked up and when I called the hospital, they said you’d left early sick. Must be going around.”

“You’re throwing up?” Silas kneels down so he’s eye level with Knox, who looks miserable and a little pale. He nods, his forehead dropping to his dad’s shoulder without so much as a word.

“He’s not talking much,” Liam says in a low tone. “He threw up in the grass just now and he’s pretty upset about it.”

“Oh, little man, it’s okay.” Silas kisses the top of his head. “It’s just throw up. Here, let me take you up to bed.” Silas picks up Knox who is so much bigger than the last time I saw him and immediately heads up the stairs. The woman hiding in the kitchen all but forgotten with a sick kiddo.

“How come you’re home? You never take a sick day.”

Silas freezes on the middle of the stairs before he continues up. “I… uh. Liam, I’m actually glad you’re here. I need to talk to you. Why don’t you stay there for a minute while I get Knox taken care of?”

Shit. I don’t know what to do. Especially as Liam mutters, “Sure,” under his breath and starts to head for the kitchen. The kitchen where I’m panicking, standing like a deer in headlights.

Instinctively I start to back up as he draws closer, only to bump into the stone and cabinets of the island. The cabinet door bangs behind me, and I freeze, holding in a gasp as I cover my mouth.

But it’s too late. Liam heard me and there is nowhere for me to go as he enters the room and spots me. Shocked, he stumbles back a half step.

“Laney?” His baffled gaze clings to me for a moment before he smiles. “Hey.” He moves toward me only to stop short, the smile that had lit up his face slips as his lips form a thin line. “Wait. What are you doing here?” He takes me in, my short dress and my cardigan that barely covers my cleavage and what is likely my mussed hair from Silas just running his hand through it only moments ago.

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