Page 59 of Absolution

“Dumm.” Emmie mutters. “Dumm assh.”

My head whips around, Creed’s face is ashen as he blinks rapidly. Heat fills my cheeks, and I try to reign in my building agitation. “Seriously?”

“It is a new word.” He grimaces, squeezing his eyes shut to keep from looking at me.

“Ughhh!” I have no words, so I take my daughter and storm toward my bedroom. Slamming the door behind us, I fall against it and take a few deep breaths.

Emmie tilts her head, raising her brows. “Dumm assh.”

“You can say that again,” I pause, trying not to laugh. “no, do not say that again. Although he is one.”

I run Emmie a warm bath to clean her up, only to have my mind on the hot guy in my other shower, getting lathered up and no one to wash his back. I know, don’t even start with me.

I’m an idiot.

Now, if I can only figure out if I’m one because he’s alone or that I am. “It’s complicated is such an underrated statement.”

After wrapping Emmie in a towel, we walk to her room to find some fresh clothes. The door on the extra bathroom is still closed, I suppose he’s still in there naked, and slippery.

“Scar! Stop it! You do not need this right now.” I grumble all the way into Emmie’s room. I put her into her crib and grab some clothes from her drawers.

“Shoot! I forgot your hair tie.” I sprint from the room, heading back to mine. Once I round the corner, I bump into a towel-clad, wet, and wild body.

Creed’s arms wrap me, holding me close to his tatted and muscle-bound chest. My eyes roam his torso as I grip his toned biceps. “Whoa, there! You tryin’ to tackle me.”

“Oh! Uhm, no. We need bows.” I can feel my body heat pressed against his as my face flames.

Desire swims beneath his sultry gaze as his lip quirks. ‘No need for a bow, just tug on the corner.”

“Oh, my gracious!” I flip around, running from him before I take him up on his offer. Yes, I’m embarrassed but not enough to leave a hard cock hanging between us.

“C’mon, Scar. I’m only joking.” He yells to me as I hurry through Emmie’s door and slam it shut.

I allow my eyes to close for a moment, and his perfectly sculpted body flashes before me. “Oh, my. We need to eat and say goodnight as fast as we can before I make a huge mistake.”

“Mmm bbbmm dadddd.” Emmie’s brows bounce up and down.

“Exactly!” I rush her, taking her down in a tickling fury. After dressing her, I straighten my clothes and realize I smell like a wet dog from work. Emmie and I go back to my room for me to freshen up before joining Creed in the kitchen.

“Hello, ladies.” He’s doing dishes in his bare feet, a tee-shirt, and basketball shorts. They cling in all of the right places if you know what I mean.

I can’t control my raging hormones around him anymore, so I avert my eyes as I smile. “Hey, there.”

“Dinner?” He nods to the pizza on the table. “We need plates for the salad.”

“I didn’t realize it had come. Let me get those.” I turn to the cabinets, and he reaches for Emmie after drying his hands. “Thank you.”

“I picked up some of our mess from today and laid out a blanket for a makeshift picnic. I hope that’s okay.” He walks over to the table, grabbing a box before sitting down with Emmie like a pro.

“Well, look at you. One day with her, and you act like you’ve done this before.” I set the plates down and return for the glasses and drinks.

He shrugs, placing her between us. “I think I was fast-tracked today.”

“Ha! I would have to agree.”

He pinches off a piece of food for Emmie, watching her closely as she eats. “She’s amazing, never once did she get upset when I didn’t know what to do. It’s like she didn’t care, as long as I was with her.”

“Children are resilient, they’re usually happy to just be loved.”