AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I returned my attention to their exchange in time to see Natalie hug and kiss Delaney. I was drawn to the bare skin of her back again. That’s when I realized there was zero chance she was wearing a bra.
Were her nipples hard under that shirt? My fingers itched to touch her. I was having inappropriate thoughts in front of Natalie’s daughter and my mother. I was clearly not cut out for family life. This was why I was still single. It had nothing to do with shutting myself out of the possibilities over the last few years.
“Are you going to be okay?” Natalie asked Mom, but her gaze was on me.
Mom waved her off. “We’ve got it handled. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
“Where are you heading?” I asked Natalie, my heart suddenly in my throat, wondering who’d approach her in that outfit.
“Kylie said there’s a club at the resort now,” Natalie said hesitantly, as if clubbing wasn’t her scene.
“You’re going to a club?” I asked, unable to disguise my surprise.
“Well, yeah,” Natalie said, her hand on her hip. She’d done the same thing the night she’d been soaked and in nothing but that ivory lingerie.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“Of course, it’s a good idea,” Mom said as she bustled past us and opened the door to the private entrance of the suite. “Now go. We’re fine here.”
Natalie gathered her purse and keys.
“I’ll walk you out.” Before Natalie could protest, I touched her elbow and guided her through the door. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought Mom chuckled.
“You don’t need to do this,” Natalie said.
When she stumbled over the pavers on those thin spikes, I said, “I think I do.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “You don’t have to stay and play a game with Delaney. She’s a big girl.”
“I said I would. I don’t make promises I don’t keep.” That was something I never backed down from, especially since I’d been let down so many times by women.
Natalie turned as we reached her SUV. “It’s just, she’s been disappointed enough the last year with her father leaving and never showing up for his visitation.”
“Where did her father go? I thought you lived in South Carolina?” I frowned; she made it sound like he was gone.
Something passed over her face. “He moved in with his girlfriend in Texas.”
“Are you serious?” Every thought of her in this outfit and what it would be like to peel her out of it vanished.
Natalie looked away from me. “He said he’s in love. I guess he can’t be bothered to worry about the daughter he left behind.”
“Jesus. I’m sorry.” I reached out to tuck a strand of silky hair behind her ear, and her breath hitched.
Her gaze met mine. “We don’t need him. We’re fine.”
“I’m glad you have your friends and now my family.”
Natalie shook her head. “Your mom’s just helping out.”
“I’m pretty sure she just adopted you, so there’s that.”
An adorable crease appeared between her eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”
“Before you know it, you’ll be invited to family dinners.”
Natalie looked away. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t be.” She’d fit easily into my family. She was strong enough to take my brothers’ antics and sweet enough to bond with my mother and Alice. She was the perfect combination of sweet and sexy. She was exactly my type. “I’m sorry about your ex. He sounds like an asshole.”
