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“Stupid, stupid,” I mutter, then groan and rip off the baker's hat when I get a look at myself in the mirror.

It started against my will the first time Warren dropped her off, but Penny quickly became one of my favorite little humans. Maybe I was trying to prove something to myself at first, but I…

Fuck. I love that little girl. I love how bright and cheery she is. I love her innocent exploration of the world. She doesn't care that I'm a mess, she's just happy to be with me.

But here I am, inserting myself into his life. His daughter’s life. I came to his house and changed his sheets for fucks sake. I cover my face, trying to breathe. I hear them down the hall. I sit on the toilet and listen; Sabrina says something I can't quite make out. I hear Dillon chuckle. A few minutes pass before the house falls quiet.

I swear I can feel the blood rushing through my veins, my heart banging in my ears.

Your four months are up.

It takes effort to pull myself to my feet, staring at the closed door.

I had a plan. A sexy plan with lingerie and at least twenty-four more hours to mentally prepare myself for this.

I open the door cautiously, and Dillon lifts his head just enough to look at me through his lashes where he's leaned against the wall in the hallway.

The silence hangs between us, heavy and more than I can handle.

I break it with a weak laugh. “Sorry for infringing on your space. I told Sabrina I wanted to clean up for when you got home, so she gave me the key. I swear I haven't been crashing at your house.”

“It's fine, Emery,” he says delicately. Like he's scared any wrong tone will have me running.

He's probably not wrong.

I'm still standing in the doorway to the bathroom, and he hasn't moved an inch. The anxiety is like a million ants crawling over my skin.

I look down at my feet and move around the doorway, and he lets me go. Down the hallway until I'm in the living room where I can actually breathe.

He moves soundlessly behind me, but I can feel him there.

“Why are you here, Emerson?” His voice is still soft, but his words are weighted.

Four months ago, I came to his house for one thing and one thing only. I had myself convinced in delululand that sex was easy. That sex was safe.

Sex with Dillon Montgomery is not safe. Not at all. I was fucked, quite literally, from the very first time he touched me.

I turn to look at him. His sandy blond hair that's always just too long. His tall frame that makes me feel safe, his strong arms that can hold Penny with such gentleness.

“I don't know,” I lie. Then I bite my lip and start pacing the room. “Look, I know that I've not ever shown that I'm very capable. But…but half the times I used to call you, it was just because I wanted to see you. I mean, spiders are objectively creepy. And…and I do know how Draino works. I can read instructions. But I…just wanted to see you. I may have had to Google how to change a diaper the first time I had Penny, and I have Googled a billion things since, but I can figure it out. I want to figure it out. I know I'm young, and I know that you're fucking old. I know all these things already. But I…” I wring my hands in front of me, taking a shuttered breath.

“Emery—”

“I thought seeing her gave me indigestion, but I know that's not it. It's because she looks like you, and that just reminded me that she is a part of you. It fucked me up, okay? It fucked me up, so I stayed away. Because…because…”

Dillon steps closer to me, eyes burning me alive.

“Come on, baby,” he edges.

My throat closes up on the words, and I shake my head. “Say something.”

He rakes his eyes over me and steps closer. “Can you promise me something first?”

“What?”

He lingers on my mouth before finding my eyes again, “When I say my something, you don't run for the nearest door.” I swallow, and he continues, raising a brow. “Or window.”

I try to glare, but I think I just slow blink and nod instead.