Chapter 2 #2
She stops on the stairs and turns to face me.
She’s two steps above me, bringing us almost to eye level.
“Listen, I know I’m young and not the most experienced real estate agent.
I mean, technically I’m still an assistant and I’m studying to get my license, but I’m going to take the test soon and I think I’ll pass and…
” She blows out a breath and shakes her head.
“I’m sorry that I haven’t found the right place for you yet.
I promise that I’m working really hard and trying my best.” She tries valiantly to hide it, but I don’t miss the way her chin wobbles slightly.
Oh, god. I’m an asshole.
“No, no, Kaylee.” I want to pull her into my arms so badly it hurts to leave them at my sides.
“You’re doing a great job. Really. I know we’ll find a place for Hailey.
I didn’t ask how old you are because I’m worried about your age.
” A half-truth. “It was an innocent question with nothing else behind it.” A flat out lie.
She twists her fingers together and nods. “Okay. Good to know. And I swear, you’re my number one client and I will find you the perfect place.”
“I have no doubt,” I say, and she smiles, her cheeks going a little pink. Then she turns and I follow her up the remaining steps to the upper level.
“There are three bedrooms up here, and while the third is on the smaller side, it would make a perfect office or craft room.” I find myself moving closer to Kaylee, as though my body’s magnetized to hers.
She says something else about the house, but I don’t quite catch it.
I’m too caught up watching her. Taking in every tiny detail.
“And over here we have the primary bedroom,” she says, glancing at me over her shoulder. Her blue eyes are shining with excitement, and I have the sudden vision of Kaylee smiling at me just like that as she leads me into her bedroom. God, just the idea has blood flowing to my cock.
I’d tumble her down to the bed and spend hours kissing her, tasting her, fucking her, finding out exactly what makes her moan, what makes her shake, what makes her come.
And then I’d hold her all night while finding out everything about her.
Because while I don’t know much about her, every single tidbit makes me want to know more.
“Isn’t this view amazing?” she asks, moving towards the floor-to-ceiling windows along the far wall, which showcase a breathtaking view of the mountains.
But all I can see is her. Her tiny frame silhouetted in front of the glass, hair like silk falling over her shoulder. She looks like a goddamn angel. Like something so beautiful it can’t possibly be real.
But she is.
And she’s not for me.
I pull in a shuddery breath and force myself to look at the room. It’s nice, with lots of natural light and wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling.
“What do you think?” she asks, grinning at me. I swallow as she drags her fingers over the duvet.
“I need you to show me more houses,” I say, my voice coming out gruffer than I’d intended.
“Oh. Um. Of course. Can I ask what’s lacking in this one? Just so I can…refine my search?”
I clear my throat. “It’s just not quite what I’m looking for,” I say slowly. Holy shit, I’m an asshole. Kaylee nods and smiles, but it falters, and I feel it like a kick in the shin.
“Okay. I’ll keep looking,” she says, twisting her fingers together and biting her lip. “Well, if we know this isn’t the one, let’s move on.” She starts to stride quickly for the door, catching her toes on the corner of the area rug, and she stumbles.
Acting on pure instinct, I reach out, my arms wrapping around her as I pull her against me. And instantly, I know I’ve made a terrible mistake, because now I know how fucking good Kaylee feels pressed against me and I’m not going to be able to stop thinking about it.
She inhales sharply, and I can feel her small breasts pressing into my chest. I can feel the way her softness yields to me and I think I might lose my mind.
Let’s be honest. I’ve already lost it, letting myself fall for a woman young enough to be my daughter.
Oh, fuck. I have fallen, haven’t I?
Looking down into Kaylee’s pretty face, letting myself drink in those gorgeous blue eyes, it’s as though time stops.
The world around me ceases to exist. I’m hyperaware of all the places we’re pressed together, of my own pulse, of the rise and fall of her chest against mine.
Her eyes meet mine, and her pupils are blown.
It would be so easy to lean down and kiss those lips I dream about. So easy to let myself taste heaven, just for a minute.
She licks her lips and curls her fingers into my shirt, her small fingers scraping against my chest, and it’s like electricity is flowing through my veins.
I’ve never felt this way before. Not with my ex-wife, and not with anyone else I’ve ever dated.
I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want Kaylee right now.
Which is too damn bad for me, because she’s too young. Way too young.
My brain knows this, but my body doesn’t, because I still haven’t let her go. I’m hard as fucking nails right now, and clearly my dick doesn’t give a shit about the twenty-five years between us.
“You okay?” I ask, using every ounce of willpower I have to let her go and take a step back. I instantly feel the loss of her as a physical ache in my bones.
She swallows and blinks slowly, then nods. “Uh…yep. Sorry about…about that.” She wipes her hands down the front of her skirt. “We have one more house to see today.” She shoots me a wavery smile over her shoulder as she heads for the bedroom doorway. “Maybe it’ll be the one.”
“Maybe,” I say, my voice coming out rough and gravely. It won’t be. It could be the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. It could be absolutely perfect and I’d still reject it, because as long as I’m house hunting, I have an excuse to be around Kaylee.
And that has to be enough.