“Oh God. Please don’t say wife.” Earlier, he said he shouldn’t be doing this. Is it because he’s married?
His lips curl into a smile. “I’m not married. It might be my daughter. She’s staying at Finn and Harper’s tonight. I’ll be right back.” With that, he rushes from the room.
I blow out a relieved breath. Of course he doesn’t have a wife. I knew that. Harper has mentioned it. For a second, my brain had malfunctioned.
While he’s in the living room, I take the time to finger-comb my damp hair, cup a hand over my mouth to smell my breath, and check to see if the laser treatment I’ve been paying a fortune on is keeping downstairs hair-free. Should I get under the covers or stay on top?
Do I have condoms? Crap! I haven’t bought any in a long time. Twisting to my side, I open the nightstand drawer and scatter the few items inside around. I find a box at the back of thedrawer and open it. Thank God it’s not empty. Should I take one out and leave it on the bed? Will one be enough?
Christ! Why am I so nervous?
After a few more moments of fidgeting, I hear the front door open and close. What the…
“Hayden! Is everything okay?” I’m met with silence. “Hayden!” I call again.
Nothing.
Getting out of bed, I reach for the fluffy robe on the chair in the corner of the room and slip it on, tightening the belt around my waist. Using the walls as a crutch, I hobble to the living room.
“Hayden?” I glance around the room and into the kitchenette.
My shoulders sag.
Hayden is gone.
Chapter Two
HAYDEN
As I drive away from Alyssa’s apartment, I shake my head with shame. I’m an asshole for not telling her I was leaving. It would have taken less than a minute to let her know I had to go to my daughter. I’m sure she would have understood. Instead, I left her naked on the bed, aroused and waiting for me to return. I couldn’t go back and finish what we started. Because I don’t do this. I don’t fuck around. Thankfully, the phone call snapped me out of my daze.
Alyssa had mesmerized me. Sucked me into a haze of lust and wanting. Something that hasn’t happened in years. Something I don’tallowto happen. So, I panicked and ran. Not because the call was urgent. Harper had called to tell me Lily had a bad dream and was asking for me. She insisted Lily was okay, she’d settled her and not to hurry, but I used the distraction as an excuse to flee.Like a scared fucking asshole.
I was terrified of going back into the bedroom. What if I got caught up again, making a huge mistake? There is a reason I don’t do shit like that—sleep with random women or women at all. For the last eight years, my hand had worked perfectly well when I needed the release. And I’ve never given into temptation, no matter how beautiful the woman. Until Alyssa. From the moment I put my hands on her, I knew I wanted her more than anything.
No, that’s a lie. I’ve wanted her from the moment I first saw her dance. A night over a year ago when Finn convinced me to spend my free night from Lily and go with him to The Temple. I watched Alyssa dance, enthralled by the way her body moved. The way she got caught up in the music, looking as if she’d forgotten there was a room full of people watching her.
I’ve been back three times since. I’m rarely alone at night or I’d probably go back more often. Tonight, like the times before, I sat in a dark corner of the club, waiting for her to come on the stage. She never knows I’m there. I don’t want her to know. Because I’m not there for a strip show or a drink. I’m there to see Alyssa.
In the car ride to Alyssa’s apartment, I’d acted like I didn’t know she’d been working tonight. God, what kind of sick fuck does that make me? After what happened between us, I can’t go back to The Temple. Keeping away from temptation is for the best.
Shoving my fingers through my hair, I blow out a long breath. Tonight, I’d let my guard down. I don’t do relationships, and I’m not interested in one-night stands anymore. Speaking from experience, they can change your life in an instant. I’m focusing on raising Lily and not letting any distractions get in the way. Especially a woman in an oversized AC/DC t-shirt, combat boots, and a face and body to die for.
Arriving at Finn and Harper’s house, I knock on the door.
A few seconds later, Harper answers. “You didn’t have to rush. She’s okay.”
“Where is she?” I ask as I step inside.
“In the kitchen with Finn, having hot chocolate.”
Following Harper, I find Lily sitting at the breakfast bar, sipping from a red mug. Finn paces the room, rocking his one-month-old daughter, Avery, in his arms. The baby’s the reason Lily wanted a sleepover, to spend time with her cousin.
When Lily sees me, her eyes light up. “Daddy!” At eight years old, Lily thinks she’s too old to call me Daddy. Most days, she calls me Dad. But sometimes Daddy slips out, and I love hearing it. She’s growing up too fast. I want to hold onto these moments forever.
“Hey, Lily Pily.” I whisk her off the stool and prop her on my hip. Another sign of her growing up is that she’s getting a little heavy and big to be held like this, but I’ll hold her for as long as possible. “Everything okay?”
Her soft arms wrap around my neck. “Yep,” she says with a slight crease between her eyebrows.