“You know what they say, promises are made to be broken.”
“You tempt me, Flynn Boyle, but there’s more at risk here than my neglected heart.”
“I know, but I still want to lead you astray. You’re walking temptation for me, Abby.”
“I thought you wanted advice on behaving responsibly.” His eyes were captivating. It was impossible to look away.
“How about I lead you astray and then you lead us back to adulthood?” He was playing with her. She knew he was teasing her, and yet a part of her wished it was real. He leaned forward, brushing his lips over hers before resting his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry about yesterday, Abby. I know you need to distance yourself from me and my mess this week. I’m sorry it landed on your doorstep. Again.”
She couldn’t help the smile. How did he manage to be dangerously sexy one moment and innocently cute the next?
“I’d better get back. Things are quiet right now, but who knows what’s going to happen next. I’ll stay away until your sister is gone. Like I should have done in the first place.” He stood and backed away from her, making her shiver from the loss of his heat. “Tell the terrorist we’ll carry on with her football education once this is all over.”
Leaning over, he cupped the back of her head with his huge hand and pressed a kiss to her hair. Without another word, he turned and walked back down the steps towards his property.
Abby felt a surge of panic as she watched him go. Before she knew what she was going to do, she shot to her feet and chased after him. She grabbed his hand in hers and held it tight. Her body trembled as she stared up at him. Confusion clear in his eyes. The war between what she wanted to do and what she needed to do raged within her. She should let him go. It was the right thing to do. The adult thing. The risks of getting involved were just too high.
But the risks for letting him walk away were high too.
“Stay,” she whispered.
“Abby?”
“Stay.” She
infused the word with confidence, but was betrayed by her trembling hand.
She wanted this. A moment stolen with Flynn. A moment when she didn’t have to be an adult. Where worry didn’t chase her every thought. She wanted him.
She swallowed hard and waited for his answer.
???
“What are you doing, Abby love?” Flynn gentled his voice, scared to spook her and make her run.
Wide eyes looked up at him through dark lashes. A flush coloured her cheeks.
“You said”—she licked her lips and almost undid him—“you’d do whatever I want you to.”
He stopped breathing. Abby took a step towards him. Her touch was tentative when she placed her hand on his chest.
“I want you to come to bed with me, Flynn.” It was barely a whisper.
Every muscle in his body went taut. He wanted to drag her up the stairs. He wanted her naked. He wanted her now. And yet...
“Your sister?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “I need this. For me. Just tonight. No one will know.”
His mouth went dry. Everything within him screamed to take what she offered before she changed her mind.
“What about the terrorist?” Sure, the kid was a pain, but she was growing on him. He didn’t want to traumatise her.
“She sleeps like the dead.” Abby gave him a shy smile that stopped his heart. “We’ll lock the bedroom door and take the monitor into the room. I’ll hear her if she needs me.”
He should have been running for her bedroom, with her slung over his shoulder, ready for a no-strings-attached good time. In the past he would have been. But this was Abby. This was different. He couldn’t screw this up.
“Are you sure?”