The Daddy Box Set

I laughed. “I wish I could take you out to a romantic dinner, but for obvious reasons, we can’t. Besides, I like eating

dinner with you when we’re both half-naked.”

She giggled. “Should we get dressed? I mean, wouldn’t that be more civilized?”

“No. I like you just fine in my t-shirt.”

After filling our wine glasses, I sat down, and we delved into the meal. It was far better than I had thought it would be.

“You are an amazing cook,” she said, taking a drink of her wine.

“Thank you. I enjoy cooking. I especially like cooking for you,” I told her.

“You can cook for me anytime.”

We chatted about the storm and past hurricanes we’d experienced. The power cut out just as we finished eating.

“Well, I guess we won’t get to binge on Grey’s tonight,” I said, a little disappointed. It had been fun watching it with her. It was one of the few things we had in common. Plus, it allowed us to ignore the reality of our lives and the obvious age difference and other problems.

She yawned. “Sorry,” she said, and quickly covered her mouth.

“We may as well go to bed,” I told her, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the chair.

She nodded and followed me down the hall. We crawled under one of my light blankets and propped ourselves up on a stack of pillows. She snuggled into my side, and I pulled her in close, my chin resting on her head.

It felt good and right to have her beside me. At this moment, I was extra glad I’d gotten rid of the mattress that Miriam and I once slept on. I doubted Tessa would appreciate knowing she was sleeping on my dead wife’s bed. That would be a little too weird for both of us.

“You smell good,” she murmured before turning her face to my bare chest.

She gently kissed my chest before scooting back enough to allow herself the room needed to kiss my neck.

“I think you smell better,” I told her, a second before I used the arm that wasn’t pinned to pull her head closer to mine. I gave her a quick kiss on the lips, testing the waters. I wasn’t sure what she was up for and didn’t want her to think that sex was a must. I was perfectly happy to lie in bed and cuddle.

She kissed me back, slowly at first, before she deepened the kiss. Her hands were staying on my upper chest, which I took as my cue to do the same. I wrapped my arms around her and brought her body close to mine, but didn’t attempt to grab that sweet ass I knew would be peeking out from under my shirt did so much more for her than it ever had for me.

We made out—just like teenagers. I loved that neither of us had to take it farther. Just kissing her, touching her and breathing the same air was enough for me.

“I like this,” she whispered, snuggling into my side again. She had one of her slender legs thrown across mine, right above the knees. I relished the feel of her smooth skin pressing into mine.

“Me too,” I whispered, kissing the top of her head.

I could hear her breath slowing, and I knew she was falling asleep. I was content to hold her and listen to her deep breathing while the rain slashed against the window. I was glad she was with me. The storm didn’t sound particularly bad, but I would have worried about her.

She shifted, her leg bending and rising higher where it crossed mine. I put my hand under the cover and slowly caressed her bare thigh before resting my hand on her leg in an effort to keep her close to me. I drifted to sleep, wondering how I had managed to get so lucky to find her.

She had yet to mention our age difference, and I dreaded the moment it came up. That would be the moment she told me we had no future because we were too far apart in years. The moment that would crush my heart and soul. I begged the fates that such a moment would never come. I needed her in my life and couldn’t imagine going to work or even getting out of bed without the promise of seeing her and holding her in my arms. Fate could not be so cruel as to take her away from me. Could it?

Chapter Thirty-Four

Tessa

I blinked, trying to orientate myself.

Where the hell am I?

Ian’s bed. That’s where, but where was he? I stretched my arm out, searching for his big, warm body, but I was all alone in his bed. I blinked again, focusing my eyes on the flashing alarm clock. Obviously, the power was back, but by the sound of the rain beating against the bedroom window, it was still pretty nasty out there.

In the distance, I could hear the quiet drone of a news channel. I couldn’t tell if it was the radio or the television. I strained my ears and focused on the droll sound of the weatherman giving an update on the impending hurricane. It was still headed our way and picking up strength.