Page 46 of Within Striking Distance
“Because I’ll always have your back. Now get in there and send out my husband.”
My stomach flips as I cast one last look in my daughter’s direction, then head back inside before I can chicken out.
The murmur of voices drifts down the hallway as I approach Tinsley’s room, and I wipe my clammy palms on my dress. I don’t know what I’m going to say to him, but Quinn’s right: we need to talk. What happened between us was supposed to be one night between strangers, but Blake lives with Everett, and Tinsley has sleepovers there. Our lives are entwined now, whether we planned for that or not.
I pause in the doorway, grinning at the sight of two grown men dressed as Disney princes putting together a dollhouse that’s taller than Tinsley. Lucky her bedroom is a decent size.
As if drawn to my presence, Blake looks up, and his tongue swipes over his bottom lip, causing that fluttering sensation in my stomach again.
“Quinn needs you,” I tell Rory, unable to drag my eyes off Blake.
“You good here?” my friend’s husband asks, snatching Blake’s attention from me.
He clears his throat, glancing down at the half-built dollhouse in front of them. “Yeah, no problem.”
Rory claps him on the back and smiles at me as he passes.
Taking a breath, I step into the room and close the door behind me.
“We need to talk,” I say softly, leaning against the wall. If I keep a safe distance between us, we should be able to talk about this like adults.
“Yeah, we do.” Blake places the screwdriver on the floor and sits back on his heels, running a hand through his hair. His corded muscles ripple with the movement.
I swallow.
“This… We…” I release a heavy sigh. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
His lips tug into a half-smile, but there’s a wariness behind it. “That makes two of us.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
His brow furrows. “What are you apologising for?”
My eyes sweep my daughter’s bedroom, more guilt swirling in my stomach. “I wasn’t completely honest with you.”
“About what?” He sounds genuinely confused.
“About my life. I didn’t tell you about my daughter.”
“We weren’t sharing personal details, Juliet. Neither of us knew who the other was.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better. It was reckless and irresponsible.” What was I thinking having sex with a complete stranger?
“I should go.” Blake climbs to his feet and scrubs a hand over his face. He moves towards the door, pausing when he reaches me. “For what it’s worth, we did nothing wrong. We were two consenting adults exploring a connection.”
He reaches for the handle, but I place my hand on his arm.
“This can’t go anywhere,” I murmur, forcing my gaze to meet his.
His tongue swipes over his full lips, and I release a shaky breath.
“We have Everett and Tinsley to think about.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear, his large palm cupping my cheek.
I lean intohis touch.
“No one can find out?—”
