Page 32 of Coastal Rewind

“Why would I need you?” she whispered back.

“I can pick you up.”

“You’re not my father, I can get myself home. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”

Her hand fell from the doorknob, and I took that as my opportunity to grab her waist and spin her until her back was flush against the front door. I reached up and put two fingers under her chin until she was looking directly into my eyes.

“I’m not your father, but it’s time you got used to someone looking out for you.”

“And that’s you?” Her voice was breathy as she tilted her head up more in defiance, leaning into my touch.

“You bet your cute little ass it is.”

She laughed, but I gripped her jaw a little tighter causing her breath to hitch. Her eyes widened and I smirked as they sparkled with lust. I think my little nomad liked a little force—a little possession.

Ryleigh and I have danced around this attraction for a while, but this was the first time I’d made any kind of move. Was it risky? Yes. But my body was in control and my mind was just catching up.

“Are you going to be safe tonight?” I asked, leaning in a little closer.

Fuck, I didn’t know what was happening. I wanted to keep my hands on this woman and never take them off. I was drawn to her, fighting like hell not to haul her over my shoulder and drag her to my bed.

From the look in her eyes right now, I wasn’t sure she’d stop me.

She arched her brow, her eyes dancing with mischief as she quietly said, “Yes, Daddy,” before pushing me back and slipping out the front door.

I ran a palm over my jaw and groaned as my dick throbbed in my joggers. I didn’t know what I expected her to say, but it wasn’t that. Those words, though? I could get too fucking used to them.

fourteen

Ryleigh

Maeve and Maggie convinced me to go out tonight, and honestly I was grateful for the mental break from Mason’s house. The man oozed sex appeal, and sometimes it was hard to breathe around him. It was also complicated because I genuinely liked spending time with him and MJ. I hadn’t looked at this like a job. It felt like I was just hanging out with my best friends, which wasn’t good.

I didn’t have friends.

Not real ones.

It came with the lifestyle. When you moved around every month, you never really gave yourself time to make genuine lasting friendships. I had acquaintances I traveled with or visited, but I wouldn’t trust them to watch my drink, let alone a child.

We walked into the beach front bar and snagged a table on the outside patio. The space was dimly lit with twinkle lights around the railing and candles on every table. Fire pits surrounded by chairs and palm trees offered the bar a bit of privacy from surrounding businesses.

The waitress placed a cute specialty cocktail in front of me. When I glanced back up at my sisters, they were staring at me with creepy grins from ear to ear.

“What?” I asked hesitantly, glancing down at my dress to see if there was a stain or something.

“We are dying to know how it’s going with Sexy Saxley,” Maggie said, fanning her face.

I shrugged and furrowed my brow. “It’s fine.”

“Fine?” Maeve dropped her jaw and rolled her eyes. “You have been living in his house for a week and you’re going with fine?”

I scoffed and took a sip of my drink. I had ordered a fancy cocktail that had tequila, pineapple, and something spicy in it. The spice hit my throat with a vengeance which made me cough. Thank god it did, because maybe then they wouldn’t notice how fucking cool I was trying to act about my living situation.

Maggie sat up to say something else about the topic, but before she could get the words out, she perked up and waved her hand above her head. I followed her line of sight and saw Rori walking through the bar.

“I finally made it,” she said as she sat down and rubbed her neck.

“Rough shift?” I asked as the waitress approached to take her order.