16. His Control Was Back
HIS CONTROL WAS BACK
“Hey, Dad,” Ian said when Fletcher walked in the door.
The lights were off, the TV was on with some action movie playing, the scent of popcorn, something sweet, and something burnt filled the air.
“Hey,” he said. “What did you burn?”
“Caramel. The first try. The second I got right. I made chocolate caramel popcorn. Try it.”
He moved to the bowl on the island, stuck his hand in, snagged a few and popped them in his mouth.
“Damn. That’s good.”
“I had two bowls,” Stefan said.
“If you puke, you clean it up,” he said.
“My mom says that too,” Stefan said.
“Do you want to watch the rest of the movie?” Ian asked. “I thought you’d be later than this.”
It was barely ten. “We snuck out early. You two enjoy. I’m going to shower and watch TV in my room.”
Because he needed to cool the hell down after that kiss.
What the hell was he thinking doing that?
Fuck.
She’d done it first. Made the first step.
But he had more control. Or thought he did.
Maybe he shouldn’t have opened up like he had. Maybe he shouldn’t have shared he had a son at home or that his wife played him for a fool.
But he had. And he’d seen that she saw him as human after that.
Until she didn’t believe him.
He could have played that angle. He could have said it wasn’t true.
But he didn’t like to lie.
And then taunting her before he left again? Getting that last word in?
Yeah, that’d felt like his control was back.
He was taking charge again.
Ridiculous he even needed this pep talk over protecting someone from a fucking dead rodent.
He’d been on alert all night. He’d checked out every person who came to their table, but most were just getting close to Jamie Wilde.
No one spent much attention on Paris. No one talked to her about more than business.
And her idea of cutting early?
Thank God!
But now he was home locking his gun up, and yanking his shirt off with more force than necessary.
He stripped and climbed in the shower, thrilled that his dick wasn’t still straining at his pants.
That settled down the minute he got in the elevator to find Marcus pulling up.
Shit.
Paris had no idea that he’d told Marcus to return in thirty for that reason.
So that he wasn’t tempted to stay longer.
It was as if he knew himself. That he was seeing something that could never be.
He scrubbed his hands over his face, washed up under the cool spray, then shut the water off with a snap of his wrists.
Once he was dried off, he pulled on underwear and shorts, then made his way back to the kitchen.
“Change your mind, Dad?”
“Dude,” Stefan whispered, though it wasn’t much of one since he heard it. “Your father is ripped.”
“Yeah, I know,” Ian said, his voice drier than sandpaper.
He held the laugh in.
“No. I’m grabbing some more of this. It’s good shit. You’ve got a talent for sure.”
“You think?” Ian asked.
He dumped some in a smaller bowl. “Yep. Beats the shit we were served tonight.”
“There is pizza left if you want it.”
“Nah, we got food after, but I could use something sweet. Enjoy your night.”
He grabbed a bottle of water with the popcorn and made his way back to his room.
And because he was just lining himself up for punishment, he pulled his phone out and snapped a picture to send to Paris.
Not five seconds later another one came up on his phone.
This one a picture of chocolate chip cookies in a sleeve of plastic.
That shit will destroy your insides. Mine’s homemade.
The bubbles flashed, then stopped. Flashed some more. Stopped again.
He put his phone down. He ate more popcorn.
Then the phone buzzed next to him.
He looked down to see Paris calling.
He could send her to voicemail. But he wouldn’t. He still had to watch out for her.
“Yes,” he said.
“Where did you get that?”
“In my kitchen,” he said, munching.
Funny how much easier it came to him now that there were streets and buildings between them.
“No,” she said, dragging the single word out. “Where did you buy it?”
“I didn’t. My son made it tonight.”
“He made it?”
“That’s what I said.” He put more in his mouth and crunched a little louder.
“That’s rude. You’re supposed to share.”
“You’re there, and I’m here.”
“Just the way you wanted it,” she pointed out.
“It’s the way it’s got to be.”
“Nope. It doesn’t. You’re making it that way.”
“Paris.”
“No, no, no. You started this.”
“I believe it was you who kissed me first.”
There was a light laugh on the other end. He didn’t even have to try that hard to imagine the smirk she was sending him.
“I’m talking about this whole night. You started it touching me.”
“We needed to keep up the act.”
“How about you just drop the act right now,” she said firmly. “And try something a little different.”
“What’s that?”
“That you’re honest with not only me, but yourself. That you tell me you want me as much as I want you.”
Couldn’t get any clearer than that.
“I’ve got a job to do.”
“Me too. And there isn’t much to worry about other than my peace of mind and I’m positive it’s going to blow over soon. But you know, since you’re going to be so close to me, why can’t we use that time to our advantage?”
“I need to stay focused,” he argued.
“Please. That’s weak and you know it. I hope to hell you’re not in your head over what happened with your wife that you think the same could happen again. Not everyone is her. Not everyone is out to pull one over on you.”
He let out a snort. “You’d be surprised how many are like that.”
“Well, it’s not me. I’m not normally this... raw, but I’m opening up with you. Don’t make me regret it. If I can step out of my perfected shell, then so can you. I mean, you started it texting me the popcorn just now, so I’m thinking, maybe you’re not ready to let it go.”
She wasn’t wrong. On either account.
He started it up again. And he wasn’t ready to let it go.
“What is it you were thinking about besides that? Because something tells me I’m going to hear an earful.”
“Well, if I’m right, I win.”
One side of his lip lifted in a half laugh. Not that she could see it, nor hear it over the munching on his snack. “What do you win?”
“A date. A real date. Not one where you’re watching out for me. Or one where you’re pretending to be my date. But actually take me out.”
Shit. He hadn’t been on one of them in decades.
“Why?”
“You didn’t say no, so that’s something. And the reason is that tonight being overdressed while eating burgers and sandwiches in a half-filled deli with people of questionable lives was the most fun I’ve had in... way too long.”
She wanted honesty. “The same.”
“Sweet. Okay, here is what I was thinking. I trust that you’ll be honest.”
“What is your thought?”
“That you told Marcus to come back early because any longer you didn’t trust yourself and that you had to go home to your son anyway. You took temptation off the table.”
Fuck.
“You’re a walking temptation,” he pointed out.
“I win.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you didn’t say no.”
He blew out a breath. “Where is this date going to be?”
She let out what could only be classified as a victory laugh.
Loud, excited, full of joy, and sending shock waves over his chest and right to his dick.
So much for cooling down.
“You have a more complicated life than me. What works for you?”
“When is your sister due back?”
“Tomorrow afternoon,” she said. “Why?”
“Then I’ll pick you up for breakfast at eight.”
“What? Seriously? Why so soon? Don’t you have to tell Ian something?”
“You ask a lot of questions. You said it was my choice and yet now you’re changing your mind. You’re not scared, are you?”
“Of you? Never.”
She would have no idea how much he might have needed to hear that.
“Night, Paris,” he said and hung up before this conversation could take another turn that he’d lose control of.