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I fisted my hand, emotion swelling where I usually felt nothing. After taking a deep breath, I tried to rein in the anger that threatened to drive me into doing something damaging. Like beating the fuck out of someone just because I needed the release. I turned around instead, moving toward her bed and leaning over. When my hair fell in her face, she giggled uncontrollably.
“You need a haircut!”
How could I not laugh? “You’re right. Now, go to sleep. Dream about castles and unicorns.”
“Hmmm…” Wrinkling her nose, she tugged on my beard. “I don’t like castles.”
“Then vacation homes by the beach.” I kissed her on the forehead, easing back and sliding hair from her eyes.
Her tiny smile would be imbedded in my mind all freaking night long.
When I was in the doorway, I looked back. She was still staring at me.
“I like Penny,” she said then rolled over, hugging the bunny.
“Yeah, I do too.” I shook my head, unable to rid images of Harlow from my mind. She was a true ballbuster, refusing to give in to anyone. It made me want her that much more but touching her again was a bad idea. It didn’t matter I now owned the company. That made it worse in my mind.
But she had the kind of body meant for a man’s hands.
My hands.
All through dinner I’d wanted to rip off her tank top, sucking on her delicious nipples. That made me a very bad man. As I neared the kitchen, I heard dishes being handled. While I didn’t want to tell Harlow my feelings, I’d been grateful she’d stayed for dinner. Somehow, she’d managed to whip up a potato salad and coleslaw, making the meal more like a picnic. Even Princess had been allowed a hamburger of her own.
I walked into the room, studying the woman for a few seconds as she rinsed off plates, putting them in the dishwasher. This seemed far too normal, what a real family would do. I had vague memories of my parents doing anything like this and only a few times. Pops had always been working. At least it had afforded us a nice house, but I’d always sensed danger lurking in shadows.
I didn’t want that for Lily.
Harlow finally noticed me, giving me a wry smile.
“You didn’t need to do that,” I told her.
“What’s wrong with me helping you out?”
“I dunno. You’re the guest.”
“Seems like you were in over your head just a smidgen.” She laughed and raked her arm across her forehead, trying to get hair out of her eyes.
I moved closer, sliding a finger through the tangled strands, the moment more awkward than the ones we’d had before, including in the office. “You’re good with her.”
“So are you.”
Another laugh pushed from my chest. “I’m clueless and you know it. Women have instincts about these things.”
“You just tucked her in, right?”
“Yeah, but she’s only four. I knew that needed to be done.”
“That’s called instinct.” She winked as she moved around me, purposely rubbing her breasts against my arm.
My cock instantly reacted, my balls tightening. I shifted my head over my shoulder, watching as she grabbed Saran wrap, humming some country tune. She was entirely different than the spitfire I’d met on the side of the road, completely at ease when I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin.
As visions of her naked body swam into my mind, I bit back a growl and grabbed the napkins, trying to find where the hell the trashcan was.
“Under the sink,” she said absently.
“You know more about this damn kitchen than I do.”
“You just need to look, you big lug.”
