AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He brings his lips to mine, his tongue coasting over my lips until I open for him and we sink into each other. My nipples tighten in my bra and my core aches for more of what he gave me last night.
This. This feeling right here is why we’re doing this. I’m going to enjoy it for the next couple of months, then I’ll move on with my life and he’ll move on with his.
Brady Banks will just be a memory. Best-laid plans.
Seventeen
Brady
The night of our talk, I don’t initiate anything with Violet. For one, I’m beyond exhausted after being up half the night and then being drilled at training camp all day. And two, I want to let the idea of what we agreed to sit with her for at least twenty-four hours before I try anything in case she changes her mind.
No matter what she says, we’re in a tricky situation since she works for me, and I want to be sure she doesn’t feel pressured to embark on a sexual relationship with me.
Even though we agreed this is casual, I don’t want Violet to feel like a booty call, so I give a lot of thought to how I want to initiate sex with her. It can’t be superromantic, but I want her to feel desired, so I decide that some wine on the balcony after Theo’s gone to bed will be a nice relaxing setting.
It’s warm out tonight, but I bring up a blanket anyway in case she gets cold, set the wine bottle and glasses on the table that rests in front of the outdoor couch and chairs, and turn on some light jazz on the outdoor speakers. Mood set.
I head down to the second level and find her where I expected—in her bedroom, reading in the chair in the corner. The door is open, so I knock softly and step inside.
Violet looks up from her book. “Hey.”
“Mind if I interrupt you?”
She shifts in her chair and sets the book aside. “Of course not. What’s up?”
Am I imagining the anticipatory glint in her eyes?
“Wanted to see if you want to share a bottle of wine with me up on the balcony?” I thumb behind me.
Her smile lights up the room. “I’d love to.” She walks over to me.
My hand slides down her arm, and I entwine our fingers, leading her to the next level. I gesture for her to sit on the couch. I pour us each a glass of red wine and hand her hers before I sit to her left.
“This view is gorgeous. I haven’t been up here at night yet.”
I look out over the city and all its sparkling lights, then at the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, lit up and glowing red in the dark.
“I like to sit up here when the weather is nice. It’s relaxing.” I bring my wineglass to my lips.
My nutritionist would not be happy to know I’m drinking tonight, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. It’s not like I could invite Violet up to drink on her own. Sacrifices must be made.
“I can see why. If this was my house, I’d be up here every night. Even when it’s cold.”
I chuckle, but I’m a little unsettled when I realize how much I like the idea of her feeling like this is her home. “Theo told me you took him to the Children’s Creativity Museum today.”
Her eyes sparkle when she shifts to look at me and not the view. “You should have seen him. He loved interacting with everything and was smiling and laughing the whole time. He’s so smart, Brady.”
The expression on her face when she talks about my son reminds me of Hannah’s or my mom’s or the twins—someone who loves and cares for him. I couldn’t ask for a better person to watch over my son when I’m not around. She treats him as if he’s her own.
“I might be biased, but I agree.”
Violet looks at me thoughtfully for a beat and I wonder what’s going through that mind of hers.
“Can I ask you something?” She sounds a little nervous.
“Go for it.” I sip my wine.
“Has Theo ever known you and Hannah as a couple? I know you said you hadn’t been one for a while, but I didn’t know what that meant. If she found out… about us, I can’t help but wonder what she’ll think.”
