So Toxic(Bad Boy Next Door Book 4)(127)

I don’t give a crap about her not having a bath, but my blood boils that Matt would just leave her to her own devices in the front of the house. There’s no fence to keep her from wandering off and no protection from predators or child molesters.

Adam rocks back on his heels. “So this is your daughter.”

I step inside, waiting for him to follow.

I have to tell him something, especially since he had to bring Clarissa to the door.

Adam trails behind me as I carry Clarissa through to the kitchen. “I’m so sorry you heard that. He’s upset, but that’s no excuse for him leaving her in the front of the house with no supervision. Where did you find her?”

He shrugs. “She was standing at the end of my drive when I came out to throw some trash away.”

“Thank you for bringing her home.” I set Clarissa on one of the barstools and take some plastic cups from the cabinet.

I mix up some lemonade. “Matt is less than enthusiastic about P-A-Y-ing child support. He came to discuss the arrangement.”

Adam holds his hands up, palms out. “I’m not asking for explanations. It’s really none of my business.”

No. I guess it’s not. And if he isn’t asking, then he probably doesn’t want to know.

I nod once. “All-righty then. I’ve got to get her bathed and it’s about nap-time, so thanks again. Feel free to let yourself out. We’ll see you around.”

I pick Clarissa up and head to the bathroom to get her cleaned up. The entire time I’m bathing and dressing her, I thank my lucky stars I didn’t let myself fall for Adam.

It’s better all the way around. For him. For me. For Clarissa.

I tuck in my sweet girl and kiss her forehead. “You sleep for a while and later we’ll have some ice-cream.”

Bribery always seems to work like a charm. She squeezes her eyes closed tight and her little mouth bows into a smile.

I grab the towels and drop them in the laundry room floor on my way back to the kitchen, coming up short when I get to the end of the hallway.

Adam sits in the living room.

With my fingers pressed to the fluttering in my stomach, I say, “You didn’t go home.”

“I almost did, but then I thought about what I said.” He stands and walks toward me. “When I said it’s none of my business, I was only letting you know that you don’t have to give me any explanations. I didn’t mean I’m not interested in what’s going on in your life.”

I bite my bottom lip.

Does that mean he does want to know? Should I tell him all the crap that makes up my life? Hell, should I tell him about even a part of the shit show that is my world?

Adam steps to me, he’s even sweatier than Clarissa, but, instead of sour, his scent is spicy—manly.

He takes my hands and kisses the backs of both of them. “I care about your life, Kelsey. You can talk to me. I want you to talk to me.”

I let out a big sigh. “Thank you, really. That’s sweet of you. But—”

Adam backs me against the front door, his body hot against mine. “But nothing. I’m here. Don’t shut me out because of one mistake without a stupid condom.”

It might be the confrontation with Matt. It might be Adam’s timing. It might be that I’m a horny bitch who craves Adam’s cock more than I should. But for whatever reason, I toss out any ideas of holding him at a distance as I throw my arms around him, meeting his kiss.




I stand, pushing my desk chair back as I stretch my arms above my head. A couple of side bends and a roll of my head in a circle each way help loosen the stiff muscles I have from sitting for hours, clacking away at the keyboard.

A high-pitched giggle erupts from outside. I push my fingers through the blinds, opening them enough to catch a glimpse of pink swishing by.

I yank the cord, and the blinds draw up. Clarissa sits on Adam’s shoulders, hanging on to his ears like reins as she guides him left and right at her whim. Spike bounces around Adam’s legs, almost tripping him as he gallops across the yard like an idiot horse.

At three and a half, Clarissa has yet to speak her first words, but she giggles like a maniac every time Adam pretends to knock into something—the car at the curb, the tree, the bush next to the house. Suddenly, his face is at my office window, his nose smooshed against it. His tongue slides up the glass, and then he kisses it, giving me a wink as my daughter squeals in delight.

Tears sting the backs of my eyes, though I don’t know why. It’s lovely that he’s so sweet with her. Nice that he plays with her and doesn’t seem to mind that she doesn’t talk yet.

It’s been five weeks of sneaking around Clarissa’s schedule and fucking like rabbits.