Shit. My heart speeds up – hope. But my brain goes every disastrous scenario if he realizes who I am.
“No,” I say a little too forcefully.
He narrows his eyes, and I can tell he doesn’t believe me. But he still hasn’t placed me, and that’s a good sign. I don’t look anything like the awkward fourteen-year-old I’d been the last time he’d seen me. The braces are gone, my bright orange hair has darkened to a pretty shade of red, the thick rimmed glasses have been replaced with contacts, and I’m able to cover most of my freckles with foundation.
I’m not beautiful by any means, but I’m not the ugly little duckling my brother used to tease anymore.
“You’re right,” he says, moving even closer. “I would remember if I’d met you.” He leans in and says softly so that only I can hear. “And I definitely would have gotten your phone number.”
I take a step back, but I bump into my desk causing the can of pencils to scatter across the floor.
“Shoot.” I drop to my knees, my nerves frayed.
There’s a small chuckle above me, and I feel heat warming my cheeks.
I can feel his gaze on my backside, and I realize what a sight I must make, my short skirt riding up my thighs.
“Here, let me,” he says, crouching. He helps pick up the remainder of the pencils, putting them in the can, then takes my hand and helps me stand.
The instant our skin touches, my body turns to liquid heat, and my knees practically give out on me, or maybe they do, because the next second his hand is resting on my lower back, his other one cupping my elbow, and his lips are merely a breath away from mine.
I swallow hard, my tongue darting across my lips nervously.
Something flashes in his eyes.
Heat.
Desire.
Lust.
I know the look. I’ve seen it before. But never this intense.
“Daddy,” Penelope’s voice rings out breaking whatever spell was cast upon us. “Come look at this.”
Harrison’s brows snap down and he frowns.
“You should…go,” I stammer.
He clears his throat, and his hands drop to his side. “Right.”
As he turns and walks away I try to gather what’s left of my sanity.
I knew seeing him again would be hard. I just hadn’t realized the effect he’d have on me – still.
“I-I have another meeting to attend,” I lie, gathering my purse from my desk, and rushing towards the door, not looking back.
I need to get out of here and quickly, before I say or do anything that I’ll regret, or something that will remind him who I really am.
Chapter Two
Harrison
I can’t get the damn teacher off my mind. It’s not only that she’s fucking perfection, with that dark red hair and perfect milky skin. But there was something in those eyes, a deep emerald green, that spoke of longing, regret, pain, and a hunger that was begging to be filled.
I want her. No scratch that. My cock needs her. Two weeks have passed since I saw her. Two long weeks of cold showers and desperate dreams. I’ve thought about calling up one of the women in my little black book, but that list has gone stale. And quite frankly, none of them are Ms. Sweet.
Brynne Sweet.
I did some digging and found out that was her name. But that seems to be the extent of what I could find out about her. I do know she attends an art class every Wednesday night, and she lives in an apartment a few blocks from the school.
It’s where I am now, outside the old brownstone building.
I drag my fingers through my hair and blow out an uneven breath. I shouldn’t be here. There’s probably some sort of school policy about teachers dating students, and there sure as hell is a law about stalking, which if I don’t move from my spot across the street, is exactly what I’ll get charged with.
I’ve never been a coward. But tonight, I feel like one.
Get some fucking balls, Harrison. I felt the mutual attraction. Shit, she practically came undone the moment I touched her.
Lust. It’s a feeling I’m well acquainted with. But there was something more. A familiarity. A primal, protective urge that wanted to claim her then and there. And I may have if my daughter hadn’t been sitting twenty feet away.
Crossing the street, I make my way up the cement stairs, and press the buzzer beside the hand-scribbled piece of paper that says B. Sweet. Apartment 3-C
No answer.
I start to buzz again, but an older woman opens the door as she leaves the building. I hold it for him and she gives me a wrinkled smile before slowly starting down the stairs.
Without a second thought, I dart through the door and head up the stairs, stopping when I reach her apartment.
One swift knock, and I hear the faint patter of footsteps on the other side.
A shadow crosses the peep hole, and I hear a curse, but the door doesn’t open.
“I know you’re there, Ms. Sweet,” I chuckle.
“What do you want, Mr. Redmond?” Her voice is muffled, but I can hear the way her breath catches on my name.
“I want to talk to you?”
“About what?” Is that fear I hear in her voice?
I place my hand on the frame. “It would be easier to talk if you’d open the door.”
Silence.
“Ms. Sweet?”
More silence.
“Brynne,” I growl out with all the promise of what I want to do with her, to her.
I swear I hear a small whimper on the other side.
Finally, the rattling of chains, the click of a lock, and the door opens.
My own breath catches when I see her. She’s wearing a tight, white tank top that does nothing to hide the fact that she’s not wearing a bra, and a pair of light blue shorts that show off her long legs. Her hair is damp, and hangs in dark red waves over her shoulder, and her skin, pure alabaster dotted with soft cream-colored freckles, is clear of all make-up.
A hint of red creeps into her cheeks.
So fucking beautiful.
“Can I come in?”
She pulls her lush bottom lip between her teeth, and for a second I worry she’ll say no.
With a small, uneven sigh, she takes a step back and motions for me to enter.
“Thank you.”
She nods, and I follow her into the small kitchen.
The apartment is moderate size. Larger than I would expect for her to be able to afford on a teacher’s salary. Especially in the city.
“I was just making myself a tea. Would you like one?” She keeps her back to me as she busies herself with the cups and kettle.
“I’d rather something a bit harder, if you have it.”
“There’s a bar at the end of the street if you want a drink.” She leans against the counter, arms crosses across her chest, and narrows her eyes at me.
I can’t help but chuckle at the stubborn defiance in her eyes. And again, I’m struck by a sense of déjà vu. Like I know her from somewhere. That she’s somehow important.
She’s going to be a challenge. A sweet, delicious, little challenge.
“Tea is fine.”
She gives a curt nod, and starts to pour the steaming water into the mugs. “Why are you here, Mr. Redmond?”
“Harrison.”
She exhales heavily and hands me a mug, holding her own in front of her like a shield. “Why are you here, Harrison?”
Why the hell am I here?
To seduce her. But it’s not going as well as I’d planned.
Sure, the chemistry between us is unparalleled. But the way she’s looking at me makes me wonder if she doesn’t have something against me.
Well, if my natural charms aren’t going to work, then time for plan two. Pure, fucking honesty.
I take a sip of my tea, gaze never wavering from hers and say, “I came here to seduce you.”
She chokes on her tea. “Excuse me?”
I place my mug on the counter, then take her
s from her trembling fingers. “I came here to seduce you, Brynne.”
“Oh.” She blinks and shakes her head. “Why?”
I chuckle, and move closer so that our bodies are close, but not touching. I won’t touch her again until I have her permission. “Because you’re fucking gorgeous. And since I saw you two weeks ago, I haven’t been able to think about anything other than those sweet lips wrapped around my cock.”
“Oh,” she says again, eyes wide, lips quivering. “And…how were you going to do it? Seduce me.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “Why don’t you let me show you.”
“No.” She shakes her head and tries to move back, but she’s tapped between me and the counter. “I-I can’t. You’re…you’re a parent. And I’m…I’m…”
“A teacher,” I offer.
“Yes.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” I joke.
She frowns and continues to shake her head. When her hands come up to my chest to push me away, she freezes. I swear the fucking world stops when she touches me, and my balls tighten painfully.
“You need to go.” Her fingers curls into the fabric of my shirt and she leans towards me, mouth parted, body denying her words.
“If that’s what you want.” I lean down so that my voice rasps against her delicate skin. Taking her chin between my fingers, I tilt her face up towards mine. “Is that really what you want, Brynne?”
She whimpers, and her lips open to speak, but I stop her words with a crushing kiss.
Her entire body trembles with need under my touch, and her mouth parts accepting everything I give her.
And in with that one single kiss, I know without any doubt that this woman is mine.
Chapter Three
Brynne
My body and mind war with each other as Harrison’s mouth consumes me.
Stop, my brain demands.
More, my body screams.
His hands roam down my back, his touch igniting a heat that scorches my entire body.
What am I doing? This is Harrison Fucking Redmond. The boy who broke my heart. The man who represents everything I hate.
I need to stop before it goes too far.
But I don’t want to.
I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame, even knowing I’m going to get burned.
“Harrison,” I breathe out roughly, fingers stilled curled in his shirt as I tell him, “Stop. I-I can’t.”
He presses his forehead against mine, and cups my jaw in his palms. Blue eyes study me with heated intensity. “Can’t or won’t?”
“Both.”
The look of determination in his face doesn’t falter, if anything it only intensifies. And that scares the hell out of me, because I know men like him. Once they see a challenge, nothing will stop them from getting what they want.
And Harrison wants me.
That knowledge fills me with a small sense of excitement.
He gives a small grunt and drags his thumb across my bottom lip, causing my body to tremble. “We’ll see.”
There’s a promise in his words, one I can’t miss.
So damn arrogant. He’s always walked around like he could have any woman he wanted. And he could – except me.
I won’t give into his charms. Because deep down I know what kind of man he really is.
Selfish.
Conceited.
More concerned about money than people.
I ran away from that life, and I won’t get dragged back into it. Not even for Harrison Redmond.
A small spark of anger ignites inside me, enough to give me the strength to push past him, despite the way my legs have turned to jelly.
“You need to go.” I open the door, then cross my arms across my chest, and give him what I hope is a steely look. “You should never have come here. It isn’t right. I’m your daughter’s teacher.
He tilts his head, brows drawn down, lips pursed, and I think he’s going to argue. My body begs him to argue. Instead, he gives a small nod ad starts towards me, but before he leaves, he leans into me and whispers, “I like a good challenge.”
“It’s not a challenge. I’m just not interested in you.”
He chuckles and brushes his knuckles across my cheek, causing my rebellious body to tremble once again. “I don’t believe you.”
I breathe out heavily, gritting my teeth, not trusting my voice to argue.
His mouth quirks up in a delicious grin. “I’m not a patient man, especially not when I want something. And I want you, Brynne.”
Narrowing my eyes, I blurt out angrily, “You don’t know anything about me. What you want is sex. And I’m sure there are a million woman in this city that would be more than happy to give it to you.”
“But not you?” There’s a teasing in his voice that says he doesn’t believe me. His hand comes up and rests on the wall behind me, the other on the door, once again trapping me, but not touching.
“No. Not me. Despite what you think, you are resistible.”
This time he laughs hard. A deep rumbling that vibrates from his chest.
God, the arrogance of the man.
“Then resist me, Brynne,” he says, still smiling, breath warm against my lips, reminding me of his kiss. My body is aching, for more of his touch. My nipples hard. My pussy hot and wet, begging him to fill me.
“That’s-” My voice cracks and I close my eyes against the humiliation creeping into my cheeks, because I know he can read my body and my thoughts. “That’s what I’m doing.”
“Two weeks,” he growls against my ear.
I blink up at him. “Excuse me.”
“Two weeks or sooner and you’ll be in my bed.”
My mouth drops open. “You really are an egotistical prick.”
Another chuckle. “Yes. But you still want me.”
“I don’t.”
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
“Have dinner with me.”
“Dinner?” I’m sure it’s some kind of trick.
“Friday night. Penelope is with her Grandmother this weekend. So if you decide to come home with me-”
“I won’t.”
His mouth quirks to one side. “Let’s start with dinner and see where it goes from there.”
I shake my head, but before I can say no, his mouth is on mine again. The kiss is soft, slow, patient, but it’s enough to silence my protest, and turn my logical side of my brain to mush.
“I’ll pick you up a seven,” he says against my lips, before turning and walking out the door, leaving me standing there, unsure of what the hell just happened.
Chapter Four
Harrison
“Daddy.” Penelope rushes through the front doors, tearing away from her nanny, and straight into my arms. When she pulls back, she shoves her backpack off, and pulls out a sheet of paper. “Look, Daddy. I got my essay back and I got an A+.”
I take the sheet from her and smile. “That’s wonderful. Good job.”
“Ms. Sweet said it was one of the best in the whole class. I even got to choose a prize from the prize box.”
“What did you choose?” I stay crouched down at her level, giving her my full attention.
“A sticker book. But I gave it to Emily Harris.”
I frown. “Isn’t she the girl who stole your markers last week?”
“Yes. But it’s only because she didn’t have any of her own.”
“It still doesn’t make stealing right.”
“I know.” Her little face goes all serious. “But Ms. Sweet said not everyone has as much as we do and people mean more than things. I gave Emily the sticker book and now we’re friends.”
I grunt. “Giving things to people doesn’t make them your friend.”
In my experience, people will only more and more from you the minute you give them anything.
Penny’s mother was that way. She took and took, always wanting the best and the biggest, never satisfied with what we had. She wanted it so m
uch that it drove her into a world of excess. By the time I knew what she was involved with, it was too late.
There are only a handful of people in this world that know what happened to Charlotte. I managed to keep the truth out of the news, for Penelope’s sake. She never needs to know that her mother was a cheating, drug addicted whore who slept with half the men in New York before overdosing on cocaine.
“Daddy?” Penelope’s frowning up at me. “Can I?”
“Can you what?”
“Have a sleepover with Emily.”
“Oh.” It’s the first time she’s asked to have a friend over. But from the things she’s told me about the girl, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. “I don’t know…”
“Pleeease,” she begs, blinking her green eyes at me.
I sigh. “All right. But not this weekend. This weekend you’re going to your Grandmother’s.”
And I’m finally going to make good on my promise to Brynne.
“Yay! Thank you, Daddy.” Penelope wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes hard, before grabbing her beg and racing up the stairs. “I’m going to call her now and let her know.”
I stand in the hall, clutching the piece of paper in my hand, and wondering where the time has gone. My little girl is growing up so fast. I just hope to God I’m doing things right.
I glance down at the sheet with the red marked A+ at the top.
My Hero My Dad, it reads in bolded letters across the top.
I swallow hard as I begin to read it.
My daddy is my hero because he is the best dad in the world. He doesn’t know how to cook, and sometimes he works too much, but he always finds time for me.
I don’t have a mommy. She’s an angel up in heaven. But I know my daddy is her hero too, because he gives me all of her love. I wish my mommy was still here. Maybe then my daddy would smile more. He smiles when he’s with me. But he’s sad. I think he misses mommy.
Ms. Sweet says that people are more important than things. I have a lot of things. I have a big house, with a big pool. And I have a pony that lives on a farm outside of the city. I even have a really big boat that daddy takes me on in the summer. But I don’t have a mommy.
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