I heard him sigh with satisfaction as he slapped my ass. I yelped just before he delivered another earth-shattering orgasm.
Twenty
Cole
I never introduced any women I dated to Grayson. Never. I had a responsibility to keep him safe. To give him something he could count on. But Kaitlyn was already family. She fell into a different category.
And I was a fucking idiot if I didn’t look at this situation and see it for what it was—I was crazy for my best friend’s sister.
I could see something with her I hadn’t been able to picture in a long time.
A future. An actual future with a woman in my life.
Not just in my bed, but by my side.
I shook my head as I drove to Amber’s apartment. It was on the other side of the island. She leased a high-rise condo. I didn’t think it was the best spot for Grayson, but what did I have for him other than a run-down motel I inherited?
I was going to change that. I wanted him to have a yard and a place to play. I wanted him to grow up with a dog and chasing seagulls on the beach.
I pulled into the parking lot under the complex and took the elevator upstairs. I knocked on the door.
“Daddy!” The door flew open.
“Hey.” I pulled him into my arms. “Do you have your bag packed?”
He pointed to the couch. “Yes. Two. I’m two.”
I laughed. “Yep. You’re two.” I counted five bags. Looked like Amber had collected more toys than clothes.
She walked down the hallway. “Hey. You ready?”
I nodded. “Yes. Looks like we’ll be putting the train set together.”
“He loves the trains.”
She rubbed the top of his sandy blond hair.
“I appreciate this, Cole.”
I slung a bag over my shoulder. “He’s my son, Amber. You don’t have to thank me.”
I saw her wipe the corner of her eyes with her index finger. “I know. I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant for everything. Supporting me so I can write.”
I held back my laugh. She wasn’t a writer.
“Of course. Whatever you need.”
She smiled. “I remember when you were still in the Corps and I told you I’d wait for you during deployments. It’s like that I guess.”
I stopped loading the train set. “It’s not like that.” I eyed her. “I’m not waiting for you to come home.”
Grayson had plopped himself in front of the TV. That was one thing I had to work on. She gave him way too much screen time. I wanted him to be outside. Even if it was a hundred degrees.
“Ok. But you and Grayson will be here when I get back.”
“Right. But I just don’t want you to think it’s something else, Amber. I’m doing this for my son.”
She crossed her arms. “Ok. Ok. I get it. It’s not for me. You don’t have to hurt my feelings on purpose.”