Daddy’s Best Friend, My Ruin

Chapter Four: The Kiss

Tara Blakewood

I stepped slowly into the room, my eyes fixed on Kaiden, who was looking at me too.. no, he was practically devouring me with his gaze. I was wearing a comfortable home pajama.

“Tara? Since when are you here? Didn’t you say you’d spend the night with Ethan?”

I heard my father’s voice, a faint expression of surprise and curiosity on his face.

I turned to him and smiled nervously.

By not going to Ethan, I missed a therapy session and left my fiancé alone, even though he would leave the next morning. But simply put… I hate waking up early.

As for Kaiden, his expression seemed to have changed slightly. He didn’t like the mention of “Ethan.”

“I canceled the appointment… I didn’t want to go,” I said softly, in a polite tone, as if I feared losing something I loved if I spoke without care.

My father replied with a soft sigh, a warm smile on his face hiding his concern:

“It’s okay, my daughter… as long as you don’t want to go.”

I returned a brief smile, before Kaiden interrupted us, looking bored of playing the listener:

“Tara, are you going to just stand there? Sit down.”

He said it as if ten years separated us, yet not a single hint of judgment.

I quietly obeyed and sat on the single sofa next to my father.

My dad gestured to a closed pizza box and placed it in front of me, saying:

“Oh! I forgot to introduce you two. Tara, this is Kaiden Draven, my friend.”

I lifted a slice of pizza to eat, but as soon as I heard his name, I stopped and turned toward him. We had already met briefly before.

“Hello, Tara,” Kaiden said, extending his hand to me as if it were the first time he truly saw me.

I stood immediately and shook his hand with a polite smile, under my father’s amused gaze, who almost choked back laughter.

I was shaking hands with a stranger, a tall man with tattooed hands, and above all… eyes that didn’t hide a special interest.

“Nice to meet you, Uncle,” I said innocently, my expression free of pretension.

Eduardo barely suppressed a chuckle, while Kaiden’s gaze remained on me until I returned to my seat.

I raised my pizza slice again, but Kaiden reached for the cushion next to him and placed it on his lap for no apparent reason… until he noticed something that made him speak:

“Eduardo… are you planning to have a child or what?”

I looked at him directly, feeling a slight choke.

It was my doll, held in Kaiden’s hands.

I had come into the room to get it, but I stopped when I saw him there… and now… it was in his hands!

“No, I’m not… why?”

Kaiden replied without even looking at my father:

“Then what’s with these childish games in your house?”

He said it clearly to me, as if his question wasn’t meant for my dad at all.

I answered softly, hiding my embarrassment:

“It’s mine.”

My father turned suddenly, as if surprised by my confession.

Then he suppressed his laughter again, beginning to understand where things were going, not wanting to embarrass me.

I stood quietly, holding the pizza box in one hand, reaching with the other to retrieve my doll from Kaiden.

“Good night,” I said politely, then quietly withdrew as I had entered.

Kaiden didn’t lift his eyes from me until I disappeared.

He finally turned to my father, speaking softly:

“Your daughter doesn’t look like you.”

My father laughed audibly this time, saying:

“Believe me… she doesn’t look like anyone.”

*******

9:00 AM

I put on my headphones while preparing breakfast, not just for my father, but actually for Kaiden. That’s why I set my alarm to wake up early.

I set the small table in the dining area connected to the kitchen, arranging the cups and spoons carefully, then started dancing lightly while repeating the lyrics of the song I was listening to.

At that moment, I was filling the cups with a drink that would reduce the effects of intoxication.

I had prepared the drink in advance, knowing my father would wake up like a ticking bomb… and Kaiden too.

I felt movement and turned to find him sitting on the bar stool, staring at me silently.

I quickly removed my headphones and placed them aside.

“Good morning, Mr. Kaiden.”

It took him a few seconds to recognize my face, tired from sleep, then he replied:

“Good morning, Tara.”

I placed a cup of the sobering drink in front of him. He looked surprised.

“This is a hangover drink, Mr. Kaiden. It will help relieve your headache.”

Once he understood, he drank it quickly and eagerly. Exactly what he needed.

As for me, I watched him silently… a gaze I couldn’t hide.

He looked dangerously attractive now; his disheveled black hair, broad chest, prominent muscles, tattoos extending from his arm to his neck… and that Adam’s apple moving with each sip.

Was this a betrayal?

My lingering looks, the overwhelming desire rushing through me to feel that Adam’s apple with my fingertips…

Was I betraying my fiancé? Who knows?

He finished the cup, noticed my gaze, and turned toward me with a slight smile:

“I know I’m attractive.”

I blushed, for he always notices my glances, catching them with unbearable precision.

I turned to continue preparing the remaining eggs for breakfast.

I went to the fridge, then to the stove, flipping the eggs in the pan.

He sat watching me, his cheek resting on his hand, eyes tracking every move…

then he got up after the drink’s effect fully kicked in.

He came closer, pressing against me from behind, blocking my view completely if anyone entered.

I froze.

I lifted my head slightly to confirm… yes, it was him. Kaiden.

I said in a trembling voice:

“Mr. Kaiden, what are you doing?”

“Please, step aside… my father could come at any moment,” I said seriously, trying to hide my fear, but my shaking hands betrayed me.

He turned off the stove, then made me face him.

He stepped just inches away, holding my tightly clenched hands in his.

He held my hands in his palms and began stroking my back with his thumb, just like he had done last night.

“Scared?” he asked softly.

I answered, avoiding his gaze:

“Yes…”

“Don’t be afraid of me, Tara…” he said tenderly, then raised my hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss on it.

My body shivered, not just from the touch of his lips, but from the weight of my name spoken in that warm voice.

I raised my gaze toward him… and noticed that small mole beneath his lower lip.

But the moment ended abruptly when we heard my father groaning, approaching the kitchen with a headache.

I gently pushed him away from my chest, then rushed to my father.

Kaiden helped me set the remaining dishes on the table, and the three of us sat together.

I ate silently, my head lowered, but my eyes watched Kaiden in front of me… searching his expression for his impression of my cooking.

But he frowned slightly, his eyebrows knit, which saddened me.

This puzzled me, my food was delicious, I was sure of it.

I had lost my appetite.

I straightened to take my dishes and said:

“Father, I’m going out for a walk with my friends… I’m bored.”

He turned toward me, inspecting me for a moment:

“You may go, but change your clothes first.”

Kaiden intervened this time with his gaze, seeing that I was wearing a short dress revealing my legs.

Damn my luck internally… I knew my father didn’t allow short clothes.

I tried to convince him with my eyes, but he gestured toward my room.

After a few minutes, I came down wearing a long light dress decorated with purple flowers, thin straps, and a side slit I tried to hide.

I put my hair up in a bun and wore small white heeled sandals.

I came down lightly, though my heels made audible sounds on the stairs.

My father called me. I stopped in front of him; he inspected me, then allowed me to go.

I approached him, kissed his cheek, and looked at Kaiden.

I felt as if his gaze penetrated me completely.

My heart started beating uncontrollably, as if my whole body were on high alert without me doing anything.

He approached me slowly, not saying a single word.

Then, with a sudden gentle motion, he leaned toward me and placed a short kiss on my cheek.

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling warmth spreading across my face, my heart fluttering wildly.

I couldn’t believe what had just happened…