Pushing You Away - Noah & Katie (Ex-Con Duet 3)

“I wanted to do this for you. And I want to keep helping you, if you’ll let me.”

She flashes a sexy smirk and nods before walking away. I’m thankful for the separation because I need a moment to catch my breath and readjust myself. I head to the table, and as soon as she returns, I smell the fried chicken.

After Owen passes out the napkins, we fill our plates, then dig in. So many stolen glances are shared between Katie and me that the sexual tension is almost unbearable. Though we’re keeping up with small talk, all I can imagine is kissing her again, having her melt into me once more, and it makes me wonder if we’ll ever have a real chance of being together.

Once we’re done eating, I help clean up. Katie goes back to the kitchen, and I follow her while Owen plays with his tablet. As she looks over everything again, I lean against the counter and watch her run her hand across the freshly painted wood.

“You were right. The paint color actually looks really nice,” I admit.

“I still can’t believe you did this. It’s too much.”

The way her face lights up as she looks around makes it all worth it.

“It’s not enough.” I lower my voice. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about, Katie. I’m going back home tonight. It’s time.”

She nods and gives me a small smile. “I figured it was coming.”

“I can’t stay hidden forever, or whoever is doing this wins. I served my time already and can’t continue being a prisoner. The police still have an open investigation, and my dad said nothing else has happened.”

“You’re right,” she tells me. “You deserve to get back to normal.”

I step forward and take her soft hand. “I still want to help you on the weekends, if you’ll let me. Getting this house finished before the end of the year is doable with a little elbow grease.”

She grins and nods. “I’d like that.” I kiss her knuckles, and she tucks her bottom lip into her mouth.

“You’re amazing. I don’t deserve you,” I say, meeting her eyes.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because you let me be a part of your life again after everything I did and how badly I hurt you.”

She sucks in a shallow breath, and we stare at each other as the tension between us rises. A thump sounds in the next room, and we rush toward it, only to see Owen picking up his tablet from the floor.

“Whoops.”

“Did it break?” Katie asks.

“Nope!” he says with a grin, flipping the screen around.

Katie turns back to me. “Oh, before I forget, I have a girls’ day planned with Gemma and Everleigh tomorrow. Owen’s going to my parents.”

“Do I have to?” he groans.

I smile at him, getting an idea. “You can hang out with me tomorrow. I mean, if your mom says it’s okay.”

Katie tilts her head at me as if she’s unsure.

“Yeah, we’re related, so it should be fine!” Owen immediately tries to convince Katie. “Pretty, pretty please, Mom!”

“Are you sure?” She glances at me.

“Absolutely. Just drop him off in the morning and enjoy your girls’ day.”

A wide smile sweeps across her perfect lips. “Okay, deal. I’ll call my mom and let her know.”

Owen’s over the moon.

“Do you want a ride home so you don’t have to carry everything back?” Katie asks.

“Sure, that’d be awesome.”

Owen follows me to the bedroom and helps me grab my stuff.

“Tomorrow is gonna be so much more fun now,” he tells me. “You like Marvel movies?”

“Love them. Which is your favorite?” I ask.

“I love the Avengers!”

He’s so excited that all I can do is laugh even though I have no idea what that is, considering I’ve been locked up. We’ll have a good time, and I’m actually looking forward to hanging out with him. Seeing what it’s like to entertain a ten-year-old all day will definitely be interesting.

“Go take that stuff out to the car, then buckle in,” Katie tells Owen. I grab the rest of my things and head out while Katie locks the door.

Within minutes, we turn into my dad’s driveway.

“Thanks again for everything,” I say.

“You’re welcome. Thank you for my dream pantry.” She smiles at me with hooded eyes.

Turning, I look at Owen in the back seat. If he wasn’t in the car, I know I’d press my lips against hers. The moonlight casts a bright glow across his face.

“See you tomorrow,” I say to him.

I offer him a high five, and he returns it. “Yes!”

It’s not lost on me how big of a step it is for her to leave Owen with me all day. I also realize how much is at risk, and I’m determined not to fuck this up.

A smile touches my lips as I walk inside because she loved the pantry, and I got to keep my balls after all.