Baby for my Dad's Best Friend (Seaport Billionaires #2)

6. Austin

6

AUSTIN

I don’t know what I’m doing.

Why in the hell would I invite her into my house where we’ll be alone?

I could have just sent her the estimate, and we could have adjusted it from there.

Instead, I invite her into the lion’s den.

The moment she steps inside, I see a change in her.

Maybe she’s suddenly realized the mistake we’ve both made.

Her back goes ramrod straight, and she holds her shoulders back, making herself look taller and larger—something an innocent animal would do once it realizes it’s been cornered by a predator.

“You want a drink?” I ask, leading the way to the kitchen.

“Sure.”

I reach into the fridge and pull out a beer for myself.

I uncap it and take a long drink while I look inside the fridge to see what else I can offer her. “I have water, some soda, milk?—”

“I’ll have a beer.”

My jaw tightens. “Are you old enough to drink beer?”

She laughs. “How old do you think I am?”

I think she told me yesterday, but I can’t remember.

I don’t even know if I was paying attention when she said it or if I was too busy checking her out.

“Yes, I’m old enough. I’m twenty-four. You want to card me?” she asks, grinning while arching her brow.

I chuckle, reaching into the fridge and pulling out another bottle.

She takes it, twists off the cap, and takes a long drink.

While she has her head tipped back, I let my eyes rake over her body.

She’s wearing a tiny pair of black, cloth shorts.

They’re snug and short, showing off her long, tan legs and the roundness of her ass.

She also has on a hot pink tank top. It’s ribbed, hugging her every curve, and stretching over her perfect breasts.

She’s wearing a sports bra, but even when they’re held down, they’re nothing short of amazing.

When I saw her bent over in the yard in those shorts, I nearly came undone.

That’s probably why I’ve made such a bad series of choices since.

“Why don’t you have a seat at the table, and I’ll run and grab my laptop.”

She nods, moving to sit down.

I leave the kitchen for the spare bedroom I use as my home office.

I unplug my laptop and take it back to the kitchen with me.

I sit next to her and open it, pulling up the estimate I’ve been working on.

“So, do you plan to do all of the painting?”

“Yes,” she says, leaning in.

She’s been painting all day, so you’d expect her to smell like paint or sweat, but she doesn’t.

I breathe her in, letting the scent of tangy fruit and sweet vanilla settle over me.

Goosebumps prickle my skin as I imagine placing my nose at the base of her throat, inhaling her all the way down between her?—

“I also want to paint the kitchen cabinets.”

I push my thoughts away.

They’re dirty.

Wrong.

I make myself sick.

“Okay,” I reply, clearing my throat.

I train my eyes on the screen, deleting the items from my list that I no longer have to worry about the team doing.

Someone knocks on the door. “That must be the pizza,” I say, pushing my chair back.

I make my way to the door and sure enough, a teenage boy is standing on the doorstep, holding out a large box.

I pass him enough cash to cover the cost and a tip.

“Thanks, sir.”

I offer a smile and nod before taking the pizza back to the kitchen.

I place the box in the center of the table and open it.

“Do you want a plate, or are you an eat-out-of-the-box kind of girl?” I grab us some napkins.

She waves her hand through the air.

“No point in dirtying dishes.”

She grabs a slice and takes a bite, the cheese stretching from her lip to the slice in her hand.

She giggles and pulls the cheese from the piece, winding it up and stuffing it into her mouth.

I take a piece for myself and move back behind the computer.

“Is there anything else on this list that you think you’d like to do?” I push the laptop a little closer to her and watch as her blue eyes move over the screen.

She holds her pizza in one hand while using her other to scroll down the list.

Every so often, she takes a bite, slowly chewing.

She washes each bite down with a swig of beer, and we finish our drinks at the same time. I get up and grab two more.

“No, I think the rest looks good,” she says, leaning back in her chair and picking up a fresh beer to take a sip.

“Why do you want to do this, anyway?” I ask.

“I told you; I need something to do this summer.”

“What do you usually do with your time off?”

Her eyes fall from mine as she looks at the bottle in her hands, the bottom resting against her thigh.

“I guess my dad didn’t tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

She looks up and our eyes lock.

“Two months ago, I was left holding my bouquet at the chapel when I found out that my fiancé had been cheating on me with my best friend the entire time we’d been together. He left a note telling me that he wasn’t coming to our wedding.”

I can see her blue eyes fill with pain as her cheeks turn pink with embarrassment. My jaw tightens in anger, and suddenly, I regret asking.

“He and I were living together in a small apartment here in town. When he ran off, I had no choice but to move back in with my parents. The house I’m working on was supposed to be a wedding gift from my grandmother, but now that I’m not married, it’s just a gift, I guess.”

She bites her bottom lip and takes another sip of beer. “I’ve spent the past two months hiding in my childhood bedroom. I was angry and hurt and embarrassed.” She shakes her head.

“You know what they did says more about them than you, right?”

Her eyes meet mine, and she nods gently. “I know, but that doesn’t lessen the sting any.”

“That guy is the world’s biggest dumbass to pass on someone like you.”

Her lids grow heavier and the corners of her mouth tip upward slightly. “You don’t even know me.”

I shrug, my eyes moving up her crossed legs. “I know enough. I know you’re smart if you’re a teacher. I know you’re sweet and kind because you teach grade-school kids. That also means you’re patient. I know you’re beautiful, and any guy should consider themselves lucky to have you on their arm.”

Her chest starts to rise and fall a little faster, her top tightening and squeezing with each inhale. She wets her lips and smiles. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For saying that stuff.” She takes a deep breath.

“I was never Ms. Popularity. In high school, I only had one boyfriend. I met Scott during my freshman year of college, and we were together until a couple of months ago. I’ve never been the pretty girl or the one all the guys wanted. I don’t have much experience in dating, so while all the guys went after Michelle, my best friend, I just kind of sat back, wondering why they all wanted her and not me.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret, but you have to keep it between us, because I’ll get kicked out of the club if the guys find out I told you this.”

She giggles and nods me on.

“Guys don’t like putting forth much effort. They’ll go for the easy one more often than not. There’s nothing wrong with you because they always went after her. It just means that when they looked at you two, they knew she’d give them what they wanted with the least effort on their part. They see how beautiful you are, Kaylee. But they see so much more, and that scares them because they know the effort they’ll have to put forth to keep you.”

Her blue eyes well with tears, but she turns away from me and makes quick work of flicking them away.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Her attention goes back to me.

My hands are itching to reach out and run up the smooth skin of her leg.

My mouth is watering for a taste of her.

I can’t stop thinking about leaning forward, kissing her, touching her, and making her beg me to fuck her.

I know she would.

She’s only been with a couple of boys, so she has no idea how good a man like me can make her feel.

Her blue eyes darken, and when she runs her tongue across her bottom lip, I notice the way it shimmers under the kitchen lights.

We’re at my house, where I know we won’t be interrupted.

She uncrosses her legs, leaving her knees slightly parted just to tease me.

She leans forward, keeping her darkening blue eyes on mine.

My hand lifts with a mind of its own, and I know where it’s trying to go.

But I manage to place it on the table rather than letting it move to her leg.

I clear my throat and shake my head. “Well, that’s all the work I have listed for now.” I reach out and close the laptop.

The sudden movement causes her to blink, and when she does, the yearning in her eyes dissipates.

She nods. “It looks good. When do you think you’ll be able to start?”

She finishes her beer and pushes her chair back.

“We’re putting the finishing touches on the job we’re doing now. We should be done by the end of the week and able to move onto your job Monday morning.” I follow her toward the front door.

She stops and turns to face me. “Okay, sounds good. I guess just let me know what I should write the check for. I’m assuming you’ll want half up front?”

“I’ll send you an invoice by the end of the week,” I agree.

She nods. “Okay. I should probably get going before my parents start to wonder where I’ve run off to. Even though I haven’t lived with them for years, they’re suddenly concerned with my every step these past couple of months.”

I nod. “I’ll talk to you in a few days.”

She nods and our eyes lock.

The air between us thickens and warms.

My body begins to tingle, and I swear she leans in.

I reach out and grab the doorknob, needing to get her the fuck away from me as soon as possible.

She wants me to touch her, but I can’t.

If I touch her, I’ll kiss her.

And if I kiss her, I’ll want to taste her entire body.

And if I strip her naked and run my tongue over every inch of her soft skin, I’ll make her moan and beg for my cock.

And if she does that, I’ll have no choice but to give her everything she’s asking for.

And that can’t happen.

“Have a good night, Kaylee,” I manage to get out, pulling open the door.