Just One Dare (The Kingston Family 5)

“I thought if I gave you time, you’d come around. We’re good together,” he said, stepping closer.

She moved back. “As friends. I’m sorry, Mark.”

“Are you and he…?” He trailed off and Aurora straightened her shoulders.

“That’s none of your business.” She folded her arms across her chest, suddenly uncomfortable. “You should take Mimi home. It’s been a long day.”

He nodded and after another lingering look, he walked towards the family room. A few minutes later, he’d collected his daughter and her gift bag. Aurora let them out, leaning against the door once he was gone.

Once she’d regained her composure, she checked on Leah, who had indeed fallen asleep on the sofa while the television played in the background.

“Well, that was awkward and unexpected,” she said as she reentered the kitchen and noticed the counters were clean. Nick had done a good job finishing up while she’d been dealing with Mark.

Nick leaned against the granite counter and studied her. “Are you seriously telling me you had no idea he has a thing for you?”

She wasn’t even tempted to tell him off for asking, or informing him her private life was none of his business. That unfinished business she’d mentioned to Mark was alive and well.

She understood Nick’s disbelief about Mark because she felt the same way. “I kid you not…” She shook her head. “Until you showed up in our lives, he was my friendly next-door neighbor and we had kids in common. But according to Mark, he was giving me time to come around.”

Nick narrowed his gaze. “Could that have happened?” he asked, stalking closer.

This was her easy out. Tell him yes, a voice in her head insisted. If she was interested in someone else, he’d have to back off and turn his focus to his daughter.

“Aurora?” She’d moved and he’d backed her against the refrigerator, invading her personal space. “Are you at all into your neighbor?” he asked in a dark voice, that heaven help her, turned her on.

“No. But that doesn’t mean you and I can get involved.” No matter how much her body wanted him.

He raised an eyebrow as if to contradict her but she had the perfect excuse to back up her statement. “There’s a little girl in the other room who can’t have her parents screwing around and messing up any chance at co-parenting in peace.” Her heart slammed rapidly against her chest, her words belying what she really wanted.

“No matter what happens between us, Leah is my priority, just as much as she is yours.”

He spoke with such conviction, she believed him. “Then you agree we should keep our relationship platonic.”

She was proud that she was able to suggest such a thing when her body throbbed with need for this man. But she didn’t want to rely on him, only to be disappointed in the end. She was still finding it difficult to believe that the Kingstons had welcomed her so easily into the family, and that the tight bonds of love between them were now hers, too.

Nick reached out, sliding his fingers through her hair. “We have a second chance, Aurora, and I don’t intend to squander it. That is, unless you tell me you don’t want me to kiss you,” he said, his forehead touching hers. “Then I’ll back off.”

Arrogant, frustrating man. He’d probably seen her hard nipples beneath her snug shirt and noticed her body trembling with desire.

“I’m not looking for a relationship,” she said. She closed her eyes. Why hadn’t she just told him to back off, that she didn’t want him to kiss her? She swiped her tongue over her dry lips and he groaned, low and deep.

Her eyes flew open and his deep blue gaze locked on hers. “Say it and we’ll be nothing more than those platonic co-parents you mentioned.”

Though she knew he was too cocky, and his confidence in getting past her emotional walls should be another reason for her to be careful… “I can’t,” she whispered, as his lips came down on hers.

She’d been wanting this all day. Every time she caught sight of him across the lawn, saw him with Leah, noticed him watching her… She wanted him. But things were just so damned complicated between them and she was too afraid to let him in.

But that didn’t stop her from reacting to his kiss. And when his tongue swept over her lips, she opened and it didn’t seem that complex at all. She tasted a hint of chocolate and knew he’d been eating candy. She wanted to eat him.

So she did what her body craved, pushed all thoughts out of her mind, and let herself feel. She wrapped her arms around his neck, keeping him close, inhaling his scent. Need washed over her and she rubbed her body against his, letting arousal settle inside her.