“How many penthouses are there?” I ask, still not willing to believe it.
“One,” Renee says, completely oblivious to my panic. “Why?”
“No reason,” I say faintly.
Could it be? Could Nate be... Renee’s father? I try to think back to our entire relationship. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her father before, though there was that time he picked her up from school. I think I was sick in bed that day, and I couldn’t remember anything past burrowing into my blankets. Her father must have stayed just beyond sight. Fear seizes me. What if Renee finds out? She’s my best friend, and I don’t want to lose her. Please, please, please don’t let Nate be her father, I think furiously as we ascend to the top floor. Please let it be anyone else! Please!
The doors slowly open, and my heart stops.
Nate
There’s no doubt about it. Despite the fact that Leah/Emilia? Is covered up, and she’s taken off the clubbing makeup for something understated and fresh, it’s the same woman. Those same kissable lips, that taste sweeter than honey. Those same voluptuous curves I explored all night. I shake my head, pushing those thoughts away. I can’t have Renee figuring this out. I push down my surprise, keep my face completely neutral as my daughter runs forward for a hug.
“Hi dad!” she says happily to me. “That smells delicious!”
“It’s your favorite, shrimp scampi,” I tell her, my eyes not leaving Leah/Emilia’s. She’s blushing hard, her eyes looking every which way but at me.
I’m thinking back on our conversation, or honestly, lack thereof. She was in a club, so at least she’s 21, but that didn’t make things much better. I was too damn turned on by the fact that I was with a virgin to care. But a bigger problem than age, and there’s a pretty big difference in ours, is the fact that she’s my daughter’s best friend. I don’t even want to think about what Renee would do if she found out about us. So even though she looks like an angel on my doorstep and my wish for another romp could come true, I know that we can’t be doing a thing.
“Oh yum,” Renee says as she runs into the kitchen, leaving the two of us together. “I’m starving.”
Thank god my daughter is too self-centered to notice anything more. I look at Leah, and I’m glad to see that she’s as affected as I am by our sudden re-acquaintance. It’s much easier to read the emotions on her face though. I can tell that she’s trying to pull it together, but the cute flush across her face tells me that she’s not doing a good job of it. I step closer towards her, almost brushing up against her as I breathe in her scent.
“Let me help you with your bags,” I tell her.
“Thanks,” she says, lips parted sexily. I turn and grab Renee’s as well and head towards the bedrooms. The rooms are laid out such that Renee’s is first off the hallway, while the master bedroom and the room Leah will be staying is at the end. I drop off Renee’s heavy luggage and keep walking.
“You’re in this one,” I tell her, opening the door opposite to my room. “Renee said you liked to study, so I figured you might want a desk in your room.”
I can see her swallow, her body heating up in my presence. I’m fucking tempted to take a step closer, to cover those lips with mine, but even though my daughter wouldn’t see, I can’t trust myself not to boil over. To want to take more. There’s already so much sexual tension, so much heat between us I’m surprised our clothes aren’t burning off. As if reading my mind, Leah’s eyes flicker over to the double doors.
“That’s my room,” I say, my voice deeper than usual.
“Oh,” she says softly.
I’m trying to remind myself why I shouldn’t be touching her skin, the softest thing I’d ever touched. I honestly can’t remember.
“So your name isn’t Leah, is it?” I ask her.
“It’s a nickname. I- I wasn’t sure if I should use my name.”
“You trusted me enough to come home with me, but not enough to tell me your name?” I ask wryly.
She gives an embarrassed smile.
“Kind of silly huh?” she says. “I’m sorry. You should probably call me Emilia.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I tell her. “I didn’t expect to run into you again either. I’d like to talk more, but we better head back before Renee comes to find us.”
I walk towards the kitchen again, using all of my willpower to keep my composure. Renee’s already dished everything out for us, and opened a bottle of white wine too. I sit down at the head of the table. Renee takes the right, and Emilia sits down next to her, as if putting some distance between us.