Rebound with My Dad’s Best Friend(5)
“And?”
“I want you too, but I don’t feel right.”
“Why not, darlin’?”
“I just had my heart broken, and it’s not your job to fix me.”
“I don’t want to fix you; I just want you to be mine. We can take it as slow as you want.”
I turned and faced him. His eyes shined, and I could see how genuine he was. Evan wore his heart on his sleeve, waiting for me to take it and crush it.
“Okay.” It was a risk, but wasn’t love worth it?
He smiled. “Yeah?”
I nodded and brushed my lips on his quickly before pulling back. “But I want to take it slow. I need to get over Wes in my own way. I can’t have you trying to fix everything I’m feeling.”
“I won’t be able to just stand by when you’re hurting, Zoe. Have I ever?”
“No, but now it’s different. We’re equals.”
“Understood, but bear with me. I might push the boundaries and it’s only because I care. I want you to be happy, and I want to be the one to make that smile appear on your face every day.”
I shook my head, wondering if I was crazy for jumping right in. By the way he looked at me, I didn’t think so. I was fairly certain that I could trust my heart in Evan’s hands. He’d always been my number one supporter.
****
It was a week later before I’d heard from Wes again. He called, but I refused to answer the phone. The voicemail was long with more apologies and more begging me for a second chance. It would never happen. As far as I knew, he was still with Alicia, and I was happy with Evan. It had only been a week and he’d given me space when I needed it, but admittedly was a lot less than I thought. I liked having him around. We were always doing something. But I’d mourned for a week, and it was time to figure out what I wanted for my future.
I sat at the breakfast bar and smiled. It was a routine. He cooked, and I cleaned. “What are your plans for the day?”
He turned and smiled. “I figured I’d go home for a couple of days. Your dad should be back in a few hours, and I know you have things to do.”
The fork paused halfway to my mouth. “Oh, how come I never know what he’s doing but you do?”
He shrugged. “I call him.”
He had a point. I never really called my dad. He didn’t like talking, at least not to me. “Oh okay. So you’re going home.”
“Yeah, I don’t live here, and I only stayed originally because of those damned dogs.”
“Okay.”
“You can come with me if you want, darlin’.”
I shrugged. “I’m going to go enroll in classes today. It’s time. I’ve been home over a week. I also need to find a job. I don’t want to live with my dad. Then I’m going apartment looking. I saved a lot because I never had to pay for anything. So I could probably afford a few months of bills if it takes me that long to find a job.”
He leaned in and pecked my lips. “I would say you could come live with me, but I know you’ll tell me no, so I won’t.” There was a twinkle in his eye. He was offering.
“No, thank you. No offense, but I’m definitely not ready to move in. I need to stand on my own two feet for a while. Do my own thing.”
“I know, Zoe. I’m not pressuring you.”
“Good.” Then we finished eating like normal. Sharing a plate, I’d eat a bit, then he’d swipe the plate while I clean up. I’d miss our routine, but it was too domestic. We’d played house for a week, but now it was time for reality. I’d still see him—every chance I got. We just wouldn’t be living together.
Chapter 8
Evan
I watched the different expressions scroll over Zoe’s face when I told her I was going home. I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t feel a certain satisfaction knowing she was disappointed that I was going home. It had been a rough week. I did my best to give her the space she needed, and I got that she didn’t want to use me to help her get over her ex, but I was a man nearing forty. I didn’t care if she wanted to use me, as long as she was mine. She didn’t understand that and to her it was wrong, so I sat back and left her on her own, for the most part.
She didn’t really seem too devastated. I figured it was their last conversation that had really upset her. She’d told me bits and pieces, but there was something she was holding back. I didn’t want to push. I was glad that she had decided she was going to start her life over. If I had my way, she’d let me rent an apartment for her, and take care of her. I’d wanted to pamper her since she turned eighteen, but Wes was in the way, and now she’s got her growing need for independence.
“You’ll come by tonight though, right?” I felt on the verge of acting like a desperate boy.
“Yeah, I can do that. The less I see dad right now, the better. He’ll push.”
“That’s fine, darlin’. You can stay with me until you find your own place if you want.” Hell, then I’d have a chance to show her how good it would be. She wouldn’t need to leave. A man could hope, right?
“Nice try, but yeah I’ll be over tonight.”
She kissed me and my heart raced. Each day things got better. Each day she was happier, and every day I felt more at ease with the new situation. I couldn’t believe she was mine. I wouldn’t bet on forever, but I could hope.
“I love you, Evan.”
Shock couldn’t describe what I was feeling. “Say that again, darlin’?”
She giggled and kissed me again. “I said I love you.”
I dragged her into my arms and kissed her, showing her how I felt. She knew already, but hearing those words slip from her beautiful lips was the best thing to ever happen to me. She wasn’t getting away from me now.
THE END
Feeling hot after this Taboo Romance?
Show us your love—write a review!
Craving more?
Sign up here to receive links to the hottest new erotic romance eBooks on Kindle, delivered straight to your inbox every week!
Scroll down to enjoy your FREE, FULL-STORY BONUS of another Taboo Romance…
Bonus Taboo Romance
Finally More Than Friends
Ava May
Finally More Than Friends
Chapter 1
Sara Dylan pulls into the parking lot, shuts off her car, and steps out of her early 2000 model sedan. She looks up at the building she is parked in front of. Even though she has been here a thousand times before, she still can’t believe that one man could own an entire building. Fifteen stories to yourself. Granted, the first eight floors are solely devoted to R&D, but seven floors to do whatever you want with is an absurd amount in her mind. Closing the door of her car, she clicks her remote and is greeted with the sound of the locks engaging. The clunk of the mechanisms working is plenty loud enough for her to hear, but like every person, she clicks the lock button again and is rewarded with the horn bleating one time, shattering the relative calmness of the parking lot. Placing her keys in her purse, she turns and heads for the front doors of the building. But before she can take two steps, her best friend for over fifteen years now comes out of the front doors in a run.
Sara stands still as Dan Petrie runs across the parking lot dressed in his normal shorts and tank top, his arm and legs bulging with muscle. I bet the man wears that stuff to business meetings when he is pitching his new inventions, she thinks with a smile. His long, dark hair flies out behind him as he runs.
“What took you so long Sara?” Dan asks as he wraps her in a hug.
She relishes the feel of his strong arms around her. “I got caught up in traffic just off the freeway.”
“Sure you did.” He smiles, his dark blue eyes tinkling. “You were with a new boyfriend, weren’t you?”
Somehow, Dan always has a way of knowing when she was lying and where she had been. She didn’t know if it was the way she looked or what, but she could never pull the wool over his eyes on anything. Well, except for one thing, she thinks. One big thing.
“I was on a date, but not with a boyfriend by any means.”
“It was that bad, huh?” Dan asks as he puts an arm around her and guides her toward the building.
“He pulled the whole ‘I forgot my wallet and all I’ve got on me is a few dollars’ bit so he wouldn’t have to pay for my food.”
“What an ass. Did you tell him off?”
“I did. I paid for the whole meal and told him to get lost. I should have known better than to go out with him when I had to pick him up. He said it was because his car was in the shop, but I figure he doesn’t have one. I half suspect that if I would have went inside when he came to the door that I would have found his Mama peeking out the window to see if I was the right girl or not.”
Dan laughs and pats her on the back. “You have the most horrible times with dates, Sara. I swear that I’ll find you a man one day. You have my word.”
“Thanks, but I think I’m done dating for a while. I’m gonna focus on my career and getting myself together first. Maybe lose some weight so I’m not so big.”
“Don’t talk like that.” Dan spins around in front of her. “So what you’re a bigger girl? Be proud of what you are. Don’t let the world demoralize you because you’re not a size two with a thigh gap or whatever. You’re damn beautiful, and you should flaunt it.”