The Single Dad

11

One of her friends grabbed Sydney’s arm and said, “Speak for yourself, woman. I’m a poor college graduate. If that man wants to buy me a drink, I’m going to say hell yes.”

I laughed as the bartender swiped my card and handed it back to me. “It’s my pleasure. Get whatever you want.” I tightened my grip on Sydney’s waist, my hands scorching from the heat that was coming off her hips. I got closer, wanting to feel more, to soak in her scent.

She pressed her back against my chest and said, “My best friend is much needier than I am.”

“I can handle it.” My mouth moved to the edge of her ear this time, and her exhales matched mine, like our bodies were building together.

“Tequila for all of us,” Gabby said to the bartender.

“None for me,” I replied.

I wanted to remember this.

Every f*****g second of it.

“Or for me,” Sydney added.

“What’s wrong with you two?” Gabby asked.

When Sydney turned around, facing me, my stare dipped down her body, slowly taking in those perfect-sized t**s and her slim waist, the way the dress hugged the outside of her thighs.

“I have all I need right here.”

Sydney smiled.

A sight so f*****g beautiful that it was almost painful.

“Okay, that was the dreamiest answer,” Gabby said. “Please marry that man. Immediately.”

Marriage.

A word that made me shiver.

As Gabby walked toward the other girls, leaving us alone, I closed the space between Sydney and me, holding the back of her head.

Several seconds of silence passed before I said, “I’m going to do something that I never do.”

“What’s that?”

“Ask you to leave with me.”

Her teeth were back, grazing her lip. “Please, that’s something I never, ever do.”

She was a good girl.

An innocent girl.

I’d felt that long before she said it.

My hand lowered to her stomach, the flatness as sexy as the dip of her curves. “Let’s get out of here.” When she didn’t argue, I added, “Tell your friends, so they don’t worry about you.”

While she went over to where the three of her friends had moved, I turned toward Dominick. Once his eyes caught mine, I nodded and mouthed, I’m out.

I know, he mouthed back.

By the time I faced Sydney again, she was joining me.

My hand went to her lower back, and I brought her outside to where my SUV was waiting. I opened the door for her, and once she was in, I climbed in after and wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her toward me.

As soon as Stan had us out of the lot and onto the main road, I kissed across her cheek and whispered, “Give my driver your address.”

She quickly glanced at me. “We can’t go to my apartment.”

“We … can’t?”

She shook her head. “I just moved here, like, hours ago, remember? I don’t have a bed yet, so I’m going to be sleeping with Gabby. I can’t kick her out and have her crash on the couch. That would make me the worst bestie ever.”

Fuck me.

That wrecked every one of my plans.

“Can’t we go to your place?” she asked.

My place—a detail I didn’t want to get into.

I glanced out the window, trying to come up with a plan.

I could take her to a hotel; I just didn’t know how that idea would come across. I could sneak us into Dominick’s guesthouse, but Kendall was probably home, and I didn’t want to alarm her.

“Sydney—” My voice cut off as our eyes connected.

The hunger, the need. I didn’t know if I was gazing at my own reflection in her stare or if she felt the same way as me.

Either way, I hauled her body up against me and kissed her. The warmth from her mouth, the taste of her tongue, like silent promises of what was waiting for me between her legs.

I pulled my lips away and said, “Stan, we’ll be going to my house.”

“No problem,” he replied.

I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, what I was saying, what the f**k I was thinking, but I certainly couldn’t walk into my house with Sydney unless I gave Hannah a heads-up.

“I just have to send a quick text. Give me a second,” I said to Sydney and pulled out my phone.

Me: On my way home, and I’m not alone. Make sure Everly stays in her room and doesn’t try to come into mine. It’s been her thing lately—and that can’t happen tonight.

Hannah: Easy solution: lock your door. Now, I’m going back to bed, and I’m going to try not to have nightmares over this conversation. Because gag.

Me: I’ll lock it, but make sure to distract her if she gets up. Please, Hannah, this is important.

Hannah: You know you can count on me.

I slipped the phone back into my jacket just as Sydney said, “Is everything all right?”

“Yes. Sorry about that.”

She cuffed her arm around mine. “Where do you live?”

“Hollywood Hills.” I kissed down her neck, the coconut becoming even stronger as I reached her collarbone. “Not far.”

Thank God for that.

The fifteen-minute drive would be torturous enough. Anything longer, and I didn’t think I’d be able to wait, and I’d have to tear this dress off in the backseat.

“That’s my favorite area,” she said and giggled as I kissed up to her ear, taking her lobe into my mouth. “Why do I get the feeling, Mr. Dalton, that you’re completely relentless?”

“I go after what I want.” My fingers traveled up her chest, slowly moving between her t**s until I reached her throat, holding it to keep her face straight. “And right now, that’s you.”

“Ford …” She sucked in her lip.

I growled as I glanced out the window, needing to know exactly how many seconds it would be until we were at my place.

“In less than three minutes, I’m going to taste how wet you are.”

“Oh God.”

I took in her mouth one last time, giving her my tongue until I felt the SUV come to a stop. A peek through the windshield showed me we had reached my driveway. Without waiting for Stan, I opened the backseat door and helped Sydney out, waving good-bye to Stan as I brought us in through the garage—the quieter of the two entrances.

“Do you want anything to drink?” I asked as we passed the row of cars.

“No. I’m good.”