Unexpected

by Jenna Hartley

  We stayed that way the rest of the movie, and I could tell Sophia was getting tired when she stopped singing. By the time the credits rolled, she was out. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, and I couldn’t bear to wake her.

  Preston picked her up, and I followed them up the stairs to her bedroom. Logically, I knew he took care of her every day. That he was paid to do so. But watching him cradle my daughter to his chest, carrying her up the stairs to her room, was so very different.

  He gently set her on her bed, smoothing her hair away from her face. “Goodnight, princess,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.

  And that was my undoing.

  He rejoined me in the hall, closing the door softly behind him. Without saying a word, I intertwined our hands and led him to my bedroom. I wanted him—not in the pool house or the backyard. Not in the living room or the gym. I wanted him in my bed, because he was certainly making his way into my heart.

  “Are you sure?” he asked when I closed the door behind me. We had yet to actually spend the night together, and my room had always been off-limits. Until now.

  I nodded. I was certain. “As long as you’re gone by the time she gets up.”

  He grinned, stalking toward me. “I think I can manage that.”

  Preston brushed my hair aside, baring my neck to him. With my eyes still closed, I snuggled deeper into the covers as he kissed the sensitive skin behind my ear.

  “Good morning.” His voice was deeper, gravelly. Sexy.

  “Mm,” I hummed as he continued kissing me. “Good morning.”

  A breeze carried the scent of jasmine in through my window, birdsong filling the air. Preston’s arms were wrapped around me, bringing me a sense of security like I’d never known. His erection dug into my backside, and I wiggled a little, hoping to entice him to go for another round.

  “You are insatiable.” He kept his voice low, knowing Sophia was just down the hall.

  “Can you blame me?” I asked, turning to face him and teasing his lips with mine. “I mean, it’s not my fault you make me feel so amazing.”

  This man made me crazy. It was like my body had been dormant all these years until him. Preston turned me into this fiery ball of heat that craved nothing but him. He made me feel desired. He made me feel younger than my thirty-five years.

  “Is that so?” He raised his brow and rolled us so he was on top of me.

  With his arms bracketing my head and his body pressed to mine, the ache within me grew to unbearable levels. I arched my hips, needing to feel him against me, within me.

  “Yes.” I nodded, feeling less certain of my answer.

  “So, it’s my fault that your eyes are captivating?” He brushed his lips against the corners of my eyes, tracing the side of my face with his nose, nuzzling me.

  “Yep.” I warmed from his compliment, and the way he touched me with such reverence.

  “And it’s my fault that your lips are so gorgeous, I can’t decide whether I’d rather kiss you or see them wrapped around my cock?”

  “Uh-huh,” I sighed as he moved down my body, dragging his long, hard cock against my inner thigh.

  “I also suppose it’s my fault that you have the most perfect tits,” he said, using his nose to trace the outer edge of one, then the other. “And the most gorgeous nipples.” He sucked one into his mouth, and I bucked my hips.

  “That’s, um… Yes, that’s right.” At this point, I wasn’t even sure I knew what he’d asked me.

  He chuckled, the sound rumbling across my belly as he continued his southward exploration.

  “And, again, it’s my fault…” I couldn’t see anything, but I could feel his breath on my skin as he hovered over the apex of my thighs. “It’s my fault that your pussy tastes even better than it looks.”

  “Exactly,” I sighed, clutching the sheets as he began to lick and suck my clit. I could feel the orgasm building quickly, barreling toward me like a freight train.

  “Mommy,” Sophia called. “Mom,” she said, dragging out the vowel.

  My eyes snapped open, and I glanced at the door to confirm it was locked. Preston had frozen beneath the covers, but I sprung to action, casting them aside.

  “You have to get out of here,” I whisper-hissed.

  My heart was racing, and I scrambled to find my robe, a shirt, anything to put on that wasn’t his.

  “Coming,” I called to Sophia, yanking a shirt over my head and trying to smooth my hair.

  The doorknob rattled, and I shoved Preston toward the balcony overlooking the pool. “Go.”

  I glanced toward the balcony to confirm that Preston was out of sight. Then I sucked in a deep breath and opened the door. “Good morning, sweetie.”

  She walked into the room. “Have you seen Preston? I knocked on his door, but he didn’t answer.”

  “It’s his day off, baby. He doesn’t have to answer.”

  “I know, but I was hoping he’d go to Juliana’s office with us today. Is that okay?” she asked, as if the idea suddenly occurred to her.

  “Of course,” I said, ruffling her hair. “I think that’s very sweet. Still, he might already have other plans.”

  What I didn’t say was that he might not want to be involved in the over-the-top party-planning session we had scheduled. We were supposed to meet with my friend, and party planner to the stars, Juliana. The invitations had been ordered, but we needed to discuss decorations, the menu, and the cake.

  Sophia glanced toward the open balcony doors and frowned. I turned to follow her gaze, relieved when I saw nothing but the flutter of white curtains and the view of the yard beyond.

  “Mommy…” She tilted her head to the side. “Why was the door locked?”

  I never locked the door, never had reason to. Until now.

  “I, um, must have done it by accident.” I hated lying, especially to my daughter. But for the time being, this was how it had to be.

  I knew it was a mistake to let Preston sleep here, but I hadn’t been able to help myself. Not after how sweet he’d been with Sophia. More than anything, though, I just wanted to know what it would be like to fall asleep in his arms. To spend all night with him.

  “Oh. Okay.” She shrugged, seeming to accept my excuse.

  “Did you check the gym?” I asked, trying to buy Preston more time to get back to the pool house.

  “That’s a good idea.” She skipped off toward the stairs.

  I closed the door and sagged against it. Holy shit—that had been close. Way too close.

  “Is the coast clear?” Preston asked, and my eyes popped open.

  “What are you doing?” I rushed over to him. He was standing on the balcony in nothing but a pair of shorts. His dark hair was mussed, his lips shiny from my…oh God.

  “I needed a kiss goodbye.” He batted his lashes at me.

  “Preston,” I chided, attempting to push him toward the balcony. Man, he was solid. “You have to go.”

  Finally, he swung his leg over the railing. Standing on the opposite side, he held on with one hand while raising the other in the air. “Farewell, fair Alexis. Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

  “You did not just quote Shakespeare to me,” I said, placing my hands on my hips, trying not to laugh.

  “So what if I did?” He smirked. “With love’s light wings—”

  “Preston,” I hissed, clutching the railing. Sweat prickled at the back of my neck. I was afraid Sophia would return at any moment. Even worse, that she’d see him from the yard. “This isn’t funny. We’re not teenagers, and if Sophia sees you…”

  “Okay. I’m sorry,” he said, looking contrite as he gave me a quick peck. “I’ll go.”

  I watched as he disappeared down the trellis into the garden. And at that moment, I wasn’t sure what I was most afraid of. The prospect of Sophia discovering me in bed with her nanny or that said nanny had used the “L” word, and I wanted him to mean it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Hey, Hunter. What’s up?” I ask
ed, answering the call. I clutched the phone between my shoulder and my ear as I buttoned my shirt.

  “Have you been by the apartment lately?” he asked.

  “No. Why?”

  “I haven’t heard from Kate in a while. And whenever I’ve tried calling her, it goes straight to voice mail.” I could hear the concern in his voice.

  “Huh. Okay. You want me to go check on her?” I asked.

  He released a breath. “That would be great. Thanks, man.”

  “Aww, you do have a heart,” I teased, knowing how protective Hunter was of his baby sister. “And it’s no problem. I just need to make sure Alexis is good with Sophia tagging along.”

  “Alexis. She’s the MILF, right?”

  I gnashed my teeth. “Don’t call her that.”

  “You slept with her.” It was a statement, not a question.

  How the fuck did he know that?

  “I did not.”

  “Thou dost protest too much. How was it? Did she know all these crazy tricks? I’ve never been with an older woman, but I imagine it could be a very…shall we say…valuable experience.”

  I closed my eyes and swiped my hand down my face. “I’m not talking about this with you.”

  “You banged your boss.” I gripped the kitchen counter tighter, not sure I wanted to admit it to him. “Damn, she’s getting quite the deal. Two-for-one services—nanny and fucktoy.”

  “Shut up, Hunter. Just shut the fuck up.” When I glanced down, I realized my hand was shaking.

  “Whoa.” He was silent for a moment. “Okay. Sorry. I was joking. Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”

  Alexis wasn’t using me for sex, right? Maybe this had started out as just a fling. But for me, at least, it was so much more.

  Still, I knew better than to push her. I’d learned that lesson the hard way, when she’d kicked me out of her room. I understood why she wasn’t ready to tell Sophia we were seeing each other, but I was beginning to wonder if she’d ever be ready. We continued to have sex every chance we got, but I felt a distance between us, a coolness.

  “Hey. You okay?” Hunter asked.

  “Yeah.” I dug my fingers into my hair. “Just stressed.”

  “What’s going on?” Hunter might act like a tool at times, but he was a great friend. The best friend.

  Where to start? “Sam’s wife, Indy, called to say that he isn’t doing well.”

  “Is the treatment not working?” Hunter was very familiar with the ins and outs of testicular cancer after watching me go through it.

  “It’s too early to say. It’s more that he’s struggling mentally. They were planning to have kids and…” I swallowed, emotion gathering in my throat. “His sperm counts are so low, it’s been difficult to get a good sample to freeze.”

  “Shit,” Hunter said. “That blows.”

  “Yeah,” I huffed. “It makes my problems seem insignificant by comparison.”

  “What the hell is going on there? I leave for a few weeks, and LA falls apart without me,” he joked.

  “Kind of,” I said. “Though I don’t think you’re responsible for Sam’s issues or the fact that my scholarship was revoked. Not to mention, the Hartwell Agency still hasn’t found a placement for me when this one ends.”

  I’d been calling Renata every week, and I knew she had to be sick of hearing from me. But with the deadline for my tuition looming, I couldn’t exactly sit around and wait. Since I’d been counting on the scholarship, I hadn’t applied for any loans. And when I’d tried contacting the school for information about student loans, I was politely informed that the deadline had passed.

  While my position with Alexis paid well, it wasn’t enough to cover tuition for my two remaining semesters plus rent. And I was running out of time to come up with a solution.

  “I could loan you the money,” he said, and I knew he would. Hunter had a trust fund plus his successful business, and he wouldn’t miss the money.

  “I know, man. And I so appreciate the offer, but I can’t.”

  “Yes.” His tone was more forceful. “You can.”

  I scratched the back of my neck. “You know I can’t. I would never want to risk ruining our friendship.”

  “Okay. Well, the offer stands if you change your mind.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m afraid to ask, but is there anything else going on?” he asked. “You sound, I don’t know, surprisingly down for someone who finally got laid for the first time in over a year. Shit.” He paused, and I could imagine him hanging his head. “I don’t know how you went without sex for as long as you did.”

  I laughed, relieved that we were back on more solid footing. “I bet you couldn’t go a month without having sex.”

  “A month?” he asked in a haughty tone.

  “Mm-hmm. Four weeks. Thirty days. And absolutely no sex.” I grinned to myself, knowing Hunter would never be able to resist a bet.

  “And what do I get if I win?” he asked.

  “Besides the fact that you won’t have gonorrhea?”

  “Please. You know I always suit up. Speaking of, please tell me you and Alexis are being careful.”

  “Yes, Mother,” I said in a singsong voice. I found it ironic that my manwhore of a best friend was suddenly concerned whether I was practicing safe sex or not.

  “Well, we both know you’re a bit out of practice.”

  “And there it is.” I laughed, knowing he couldn’t resist a good jab.

  But I’d never divulge the fact that we weren’t using condoms. That was a decision between Alexis and me. Just like I’d never tell him all the down and dirty details of our sex life. I respected Alexis, and that meant certain things stayed between us.

  “Hey, man,” he said in a pompous tone. “If you need any tips, I’m full of sex advice.”

  “I think I know how to please a woman just fine.” I sniffed, lifting my chin. “So, are you going to accept my bet or what?”

  “You have yet to define any terms. So, why don’t I start? If I win, you let me pay your tuition.”

  “Since you’re not going to win—fine. And if I win—” I tapped a finger to my lips “—you have to stop giving me shit about dating Alexis.”

  “Is that what this is—you’re dating her now?”

  “I will be.”

  “Damn.” He chuckled. “I can’t decide if you’re crazy confident or just plain crazy.”

  “Maybe a bit of both,” I admitted.

  “And you have yourself a deal, motherfucker. But it starts after my birthday.”

  “Of course.” I rolled my eyes, knowing he’d have to impose some additional condition. “You’re coming home to celebrate, right?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  “Good. We’ll shake on it then.” I chuckled, wondering if he’d ever be able to stick to it. Somehow, I doubted it. At least, I hoped so. Because there was no way I was accepting the money from him.

  After we ended the call, I headed over to the main house. Sophia was eating breakfast in the kitchen.

  “Hey, princess.”

  “Preston!” She leaped off the chair, bounding over to me for a hug.

  I laughed, giving her a quick squeeze. “Your mom leave already?”

  “Yep,” she said, emphasizing the “p.” “What are we doing today?”

  “Well…” I pulled out my phone, sending a quick message to Alexis asking if I could take Sophia to my apartment. Alexis answered immediately, but all she wrote was “that’s fine.” I frowned down at the screen, even as I tried to reassure myself she was just busy.

  “How would you like to run some errands with me?” I slid my phone into my back pocket.

  “To the candle store?” She grinned, bouncing on her toes.

  I laughed. “I think I’m good on candles. But maybe, after we swing by my apartment, we can get some ice cream.”

  “Okay!” She hopped off her stool and took her dish over to the sink. “I’m ready.”

  “Alright
y then. Let’s go.”

  When we arrived at the apartment, Kate was just fine. In fact, she was delighted to have company, and we spent the day helping her with an art project she was working on. I texted Hunter to let him know she was okay. Though I left out the part about her having a new nose piercing. I knew better than to get in the middle of those two.

  By the time we arrived home, the sun was dipping lower in the sky. Alexis walked in as Sophia and I were sitting down to dinner.

  “Mommy! Come eat with us,” Sophia said from her seat at the table.

  “Sorry, baby.” Alexis rushed over, placing a quick kiss on her head before darting toward the stairs. “I have to go. I have a phone call with a client.”

  “You’ll put me to bed, right?” she asked.

  Alexis was already halfway up the stairs when she called, “I’ll do my best!”

  Sophia and I had cleaned up the dishes and were winding down toward bedtime, but there was still no sign of Alexis.

  “What are three things you’re thankful for today?” I asked, going through our nightly ritual.

  It was something my parents had always done with me, and it was a nice way to close the day. A reminder to be grateful and to appreciate everything, even the smallest things. Sophia’s answers were always insightful and amusing, and I never knew quite what to expect.

  “My mom.”

  I nodded. “Always good to be thankful for your mom. You should definitely tell her that.” I knew Alexis would appreciate hearing it, considering how hard she worked to build this life for the two of them.

  “The flamingo float,” she said, and I laughed.

  “It is pretty awesome.”

  “Can we go swimming tomorrow?”

  I lifted a shoulder. “I don’t see why not. What’s your third thing?”

  I spotted Alexis, leaning against the wall just outside the entrance to the kitchen. She’d changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt that hung off one shoulder. Her waves were piled in a loose knot, tendrils falling near her face. A soft smile played at her lips.