Keeley #5
“I don’t know anything about having kids. I’m barely a functional adult—Spencer wants to kick my ass most days—but y’all shouldn’t settle, Keeley. Hannah won’t be better off with her daddy there if you’re miserable. You’re enough. Y’all’re more than enough.”
I pulled back, shifting my hands to his sculped chest, and looked him in the eye. He was so genuine and serious. There wasn’t an ounce of joking in his tone. My heart squeezed. God, if a man like him loved me…
“Am I being unreasonable? Should I give him another chance? Does he deserve it?” I ran my hands down his chest without thinking, reveling in his warmth and strength. “I just don’t know,” I added as an afterthought.
He grasped one of my wandering hands, then brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them softly. “Will you wonder what he’s doing every time he walks out the door without you? What about when he’s in the other room with his girlfriend? Will you think about that every time he’s inside you?”
I sucked in another breath, his words hitting like a punch to the gut, and tears sprang to my eyes again.
He reached up and wiped them with his thumbs, letting go of me for only a moment before wrapping me up tight again.
Every muscle relaxed the moment his arms were around me once more. I hadn’t even realized I’d gone rigid.
“Y’all deserve someone who’ll worship you. Your ex sounds like a rattlesnake.”
I couldn’t help my huff of laughter.
He gripped my chin gently and brushed his lips over my forehead. Electricity zapped through me, and I melted into his touch.
“Miller,” I whispered.
“Shh,” he said. “I know what y’all’re going to say.
But let me talk for a minute.” I relented, and he smiled softly at me.
“You’re so pretty. Y’all look like an angel.
I know you probably think I’m as dumb as a fence palin’, but I believe in fate.
There was a reason why I got kicked out of the Blizzards.
It was you, darlin’. We’re meant to be. Choose us over him. ”
I wanted to believe him so very much. I wanted to pretend just for a moment that I wasn’t so damaged. I pulled away from him and wiped my cheeks with the heels of my hands, giving him my back.
“You’re married,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around my middle again.
“I am,” he agreed.
I spun around, that familiar wave of disappointment crashing into me again. We couldn’t be together, so I should be grateful he’d acknowledged his husband. I still couldn’t help wishing there was a chance. But I said, “It’s not possible.”
Instead of leaving, he sprawled out in my visitor chair, making himself comfortable.
His gentle smile was at odds with the way he owned the space.
I stared at him for a moment, and his smile slowly morphed into that cocky grin of his.
“I’ll just wait here until y’all realize that anything’s possible. ”
He was back to being too dangerous for me to be around. My insides clenched tight, and my pussy throbbed at his wicked tone. I shivered and said, “Be serious.”
“I am. I'd do just about whatever y’all asked me to do.” He wiggled his brows, and I bit back a reluctant smile.
“Be good,” I chastised, but my tone was missing its bite.
“Bein’ naughty is so much more fun.” His grin turned devilish, and I couldn’t help smiling back. He knew exactly what to do to make me laugh, pulling me straight out of my spiral. He was adorably annoying. “It doesn’t have to be a thing, you know.”
“What doesn’t?” I asked, confused.
“Dinner, breakfast after a night in. It doesn’t have to be a big deal, just some people eatin’ together.”
“Seriously?” I shook my head and laughed. “I can't do that. It's impossible with my daughter.” I paused. Why had I said that? It was impossible because I wasn’t going to date anyone.
“So, if we made it possible you would?”
“No! Apart from me being a mess, it'd be a major breach of ethics. It’s totally improper for me to date a player… especially one who's married. I—” I looked away, the hurt still too raw after I’d spilled my guts to him. “I won't help you cheat on your husband.”
“He'll be there too, darlin’,” Miller stated matter-of-factly. “We both like you. We both want to get to know you better.”
“Miller, I…,” I whispered.
“That’s not a no. One day I'll change your mind.”
He tapped the armrests of the visitor chair twice and stood up in a graceful move. He was like a jaguar, all coiled energy and grace. He paused at my credenza and picked up a photograph of Hannah the daycare had sent me.
"She looks just like you," he murmured before placing the photo back down and walking out, closing the door quietly after him.
I sucked in a breath and slumped into the chair he’d just vacated.
My hands shook, and I wanted. God, did I want what he was offering—to date both him and Spencer.
Hell, I’d take even just one night—but even without the specter of my screwed-up emotions hovering over me, I couldn’t.
Not with Hannah to care for. Not with my job and my ex to worry about as well.