Page 3 of Just Once

If I’d realized Ron’s daughter was this beautiful…and that she was going to be here on Halloween…I would have tried to figure out a way to keep her from coming to my party. I don’t know how the hell I would have managed it, but I would have.

Because from the minute I lay my eyes on her, I know that being in the same room as her and not being able to have her is going to drive me insane.

I mean, damn. Just look at her. She has the perfect curvy little figure. And she has the most gorgeous, innocent eyes. How old did Ron say she was, again? Twenty-two?

No. Twenty-one.

As I welcome Ron and his family inside and close the door behind them, I get a glimpse of Angel’s round, juicy ass. My cock twitches at the sight. I force my eyes away and give Ron a friendly pat on the shoulder—which instantly helps me cool down.

I can’t lust over my business partner’s daughter. No fucking way. It’s just plain wrong. And while Ron is one of the nicest dudes I know, he’d probably kill me if he got even a whiff of my desire for Angel. On top of that, even if Angel wasn’t his daughter, she’s way too young for me. I’m fifteen years her senior.

Yeah. I know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t that make me kind of young to be Ron’s business partner? And it’s true that there’s a bit of an age gap between Ron and I—I’m thirty-six, and he’s in his mid-forties. But I’ve always been ambitious. And I enjoy the challenge of unconventional partnerships.

“Hope you three enjoy yourself,” I tell Ron and his family, then I excuse myself.

I’ve gotta put as much space as possible between myself and Angel if I have any hope of making it through the night.

Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to do, because there are so many people here. I spend the next hour slowly making my way around the room, chatting with guest after guest. There’s even a neighbor of mine who happens to show up wearing a playboy bunny costume. We laugh about it, and make sure we get a photo together. And I tell her she looks great, because she does. But I don’t flirt with her. Like I said, she’s a neighbor. And I don’t cross lines that shouldn’t be crossed.

Besides, now that I’ve met Angel, it’s like all other women are just tiny blips on the radar.

Fuck. I can’t let myself get wrapped up in her, though. Silently chiding myself, I make my way through the crowded living room and head upstairs. I just need a few quiet moments alone to get my head in the right place.

I walk into my bedroom upstairs, close the door behind me, and shut my eyes. The noise of the party downstairs continues to pulse below me. But I do my best to ignore it.

Then there’s a sound I can’t ignore. The flush of the toilet in my en suite bathroom.

Shit.

My eyes shoot open. I hear water running from the sink next, and then a pause. Then the bathroom door pops open, and Angel walks out.

“Oh,” she says, startled. “I’m sorry. I…um…there was a line for the bathroom downstairs. I really had to go.” Her cheeks turn bright pink as she explains herself.

“It’s fine,” I say.

She nods, looking relieved. But she doesn’t move. She just keeps standing there, in that little white dress of hers. She looks so innocent, dressed up like that. I can’t help but wonder how innocent she really is.

And there goes my cock, twitching again.

“I guess I’ll go back to the party,” Angel says.

I nod. But she still doesn’t move. And then I finally realize that she’s not moving because I’m standing in front of the closed bedroom door, blocking her way.

I step aside. I open the door for her. She starts to walk toward it, taking quick steps in her dainty white heels. She seems to be avoiding looking at me as she walks.

But then I catch her glancing at me. At my chest, that is. And then away again.

I reach for her wrist as she passes by me. I don’t even think about what I’m doing. I just do it.

“Angel,” I murmur.

She swallows and looks up at me. She doesn’t resist my hand wrapped around her wrist. “Yes?”

“You need to leave.”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t have you here. In my house, I mean.”

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