“You stop being afraid of the dark when you learn how to make your own light.”
Jackson tips his head. “Like my flashlight.”
“Yes,” I say, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. “Like your flashlight.”
“Can I keep it on all night?”
“Of course. And I’ll be just downstairs in the kitchen. I have dishes to wash. But if you need me, call for me and I’ll be back here.”
“Okay. I love you, Scarlet.”
I smile, heart pounding inside my chest. “Love you, too, buddy.”24WestonFuck. Me. I’m in trouble.
It’s Friday night, and while I’m still not at one hundred percent, I agreed to go out with everyone to Getaway tonight. And I mean everyone. Logan and Owen are there already, of course. Dean and Kara are going, as well as Quinn and Archer. Quinn invited Scarlet to hang out with her and her friend Jamie, and I can tell Scarlet’s looking forward to it.
“Ready?” Scarlet asks, coming down the stairs as if she has no idea she looks like a temptress. Swallowing hard, I shift my weight to hide my hardening cock. It’s going to be one hell of a night. She curled her hair and is wearing a simple, curve-hugging black dress and heels. My mind jumps ahead, and I imagine myself pushing her up against the wall. I can almost feel her legs around me as I inch the hem of her black dress up and over her ass.
Dammit. Now I have an erection.
“Just a second,” I mumble and go into the kitchen, clenching the muscles in my thighs to try and get rid of this thing. I open the fridge, pretending to dig around for something to eat until my cock goes down.
“Are you seriously eating again?” Scarlet asks, voice coming from behind me.
“I’m always hungry.”
She laughs. “We literally just ate.”
And we did. I put the food away while Scarlet brushed her teeth upstairs. I waste some more time before grabbing an apple and closing the fridge. Feeling like a teenage boy at the risk of popping a boner just from looking at a hot girl, I grab my coat and hold it in front of me as we walk to my Jeep.
“It was nice of your parents to watch Jackson tonight,” she comments.
“Yeah. I think my mom misses having him around even though it made it hard for her to do her job.”
“I can see that. He’s a great kid.”
We get in and we both reach for the radio at the same time. The slight feeling of Scarlet’s skin against mine sends a jolt right to the tip of my cock. She took such good care of me when I was sick, balancing helping me out but not being overbearing. Every minute I’m around her puts me more and more at risk for spilling my guts. Or maybe I’ll cut through all the verbal nonsense and kiss her.
Again.
But this time I won’t stop.* * *
“Strike out already?” I ask Logan, taking a drink of my beer.
“Not as bad as you,” he fires back, pulling out a chair and joining me at the table. “Though we think you’re holding out for your new nanny.”
I shake my head, flicking my eyes to Scarlet. She’s sitting at the bar with Quinn, Kara, and Jamie, sipping a vodka tonic and laughing at something Quinn just said. “She’s Jackson’s nanny. I’m not getting involved with her.”
“I’ll get involved with her,” Owen says, coming up behind us. He’s on his third—maybe fourth—beer already.
“No,” I say a little too sternly. Dammit. “Besides…you seemed to be getting involved with the chick in the leopard skirt.”
Owen grins. “Yeah, I am.” He motions for Logan to follow him. “Her friend thinks I’m hot, which translates into thinking you’re hot. Kind of. We might look alike, but I have the winning personality.”
Logan brings his beer to his lips and doesn’t say anything. Owen stands there, looking at Logan as if there’s something seriously wrong with him. I lean back, always amused by these two.
“Nah, I’m staying here.” Logan rests his arms on the table, taking another swig of beer.
“What the fuck?” Owen’s eyes widen.
Logan shrugs. “I’m not feeling a one-night stand tonight.” He flicks his eyes to mine, knowing I understand where he’s coming from. With Dean married and Quinn engaged and planning her wedding, thoughts of settling down are hanging heavy above him too.
“Are you sick?” Owen sinks into the chair next to Logan. “Should I get Archer?”
Logan rolls his eyes. “Fuck you. Don’t you want something more?”
“As long as I’m getting laid, I’m happy,” Owen says, and I believe him. Sometimes I wish I could be as carefree as him, but having a kid changed all that. Jackson is my world, and I won’t even think about bringing anyone new into our lives unless it’s the real deal.
Logan shifts his gaze to the girls Owen was talking to. “Don’t you want someone a little more…uh…cultured?”