Page 55 of A Bossy Surprise

Adam jumps up, “I’ll go get a knife.”

While he’s gone, I produce a solitary birthday candle from the gift bag and stick it into the chocolate cake that says ‘Happy Birthday Adam’ scrawled across the front in royal blue icing.

When he comes back I hand him a party hat, put one on Brady then fix one on my head. I light the candle and we sing happy birthday to him, and he beams from ear to ear as we do.

“Open our presents!” Brady yells.

Adam and I both laugh and I hand him my gift.

Like a kid on Christmas, he wastes no time and rips into the wrapping paper. When he sees the complete box set ofDeath Notehe gasps.

He stares at it for a moment, obviously remembering that night.

He looks up at me. “This is—this is—Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I say, but I can’t meet his eyes.

“Now open mine.” Brady shoves his present at his father.

Adam opens this one with a little more care. When he pulls the mug out of his little box, his chin quivers when he reads the words written on it.

“Thank you so much. I love it.” He pulls Brady into a hug.

My heart almost explodes at the scene in front of me, but I manage to contain myself.

Then, to distract myself, I start cutting us slices of cake.

Adam and I eat in silence as Brady give us a soliloquy about how much he loves cake.

We order a pizza, feed Brady, then put him to bed in Adam’s guestroom.

When we were back in the living room, Adam says, “Thanks for this. I really wasn’t expecting any of it.”

“It’s no big deal. No one should spend their birthday alone.”

We both collapse on his plush couch. He switches on the TV and is flipping through channels.

I turn to look at him and I am immediately arrested by his striking profile. I can’t stop staring.

When he turns to look at me I am overcome with want. I practically throw myself at him and take his lips in a kiss.

His hand go into my hair as he melts into me and kisses me like his life depends on it.

I climb onto his lap and I immediately feel his arousal beneath me.

I grind into it, and then feel him pull out of the kiss.

“We shouldn’t do this.” he pants.

I climb off him. “No, you’re right.”

“It’s just that you made it clear that you didn’t want this. I don’t want you to regret any of this in the morning.”

“You’re right.” I get to my feet. “I should get to bed. I’m going to have to get up early to get Brady home before I go to work tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

I rush into the guestroom where Brady is sleeping and get into the unoccupied side of the bed.