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I nod, but I can’t shake the images of him on that ice. To distract myself, I focus on Tabby. “Come on, Tab. Let’s get you showered and into bed.”
She fusses, saying it’s the weekend, that we should stay up later because it’s the team’s first win. But I see the dark smudges under her eyes, so I coax her along.
Despite her fight downstairs, she’s quiet through showering and brushing her teeth. The excitement must have gotten her because she’s sluggish as she creeps under her covers. After hugging her, I make sure she’s tucked in to her specifications. I’m not sure why she’s got tuck-in requirements since she ends up sprawled out of her covers every night, anyway, but it’s just one of the delightful quirks I love about this sweet girl. “I’ll send your daddy up to hug you, okay?”
She nods, but her eyelids are already drooping as I head out the door.
I pop my head into the living room and tell Duke she’s ready for bed, and then I put away our ice cream dishes. He returns via the kitchen stairs, stretching through his side. My worry flares again.
“Do you need ibuprofen? Something stronger?” I ask. I don’t know if there is anything stronger in the house, but I saw we had whiskey behind the bar in the basement. That would probably do the trick.
He shakes his head. “I’m good. Really.”
I reach for my phone. “I read something recently, about a salve that’s holistic and good for achy muscles. Let me see if I can find it.” I flip through the saved websites on my phone until his fingers cover mine. The slight contact is enough to stop me entirely.
“June, you don’t have to do all that for me,” he murmurs, his hand warm on mine. “I appreciate the concern, but I’ll be all right. The team has a trainer. You don’t have to go searching for home remedies for me.”
I look up at him, and our eyes meet. The air crackles between us with this connection that’s been there since I met him. I smell his cologne, and the scent has a calming effect on me. It must be his soap, that fresh evergreen scent. It’s hard to hear over the pounding of my pulse in my ears, flooding me with energy. I should step back, move away, but I don’t want to. I’ve never wanted to. He’s always had a pull on me, and it’s only gotten stronger, no matter how much I’ve tried to pretend otherwise.
I darken the screen of my phone and put it down, my hand slipping from his grasp. Immediately, I miss the contact. “If you say so. But if you change your mind, let me know.”
He nods. “Thank you, June. For coming to my game. I know you wanted to take Tabby, but I wanted to tell you how much it meant to have you there tonight.” He swallows, and his eyes are uncertain. “Both of you.”
“You’re welcome,” I breathe out. “I wanted to go.” It’s the truth. I want to be there for him more than I should. I tell myself it’s because he’s Tabby’s father, but that’s a lie. It’s because I care about him, and I’m not foolish enough to pretend differently to myself. Not anymore.
I expect him to step back, to put space between us. Over the past couple of weeks, that’s what he would do. He hasn’t spent much time in my company without Tabby, and I know that’s on purpose. It should be easier to not have the temptation of him. But it isn’t.
We stand there for a moment, the air between us heavy. I’m not sure what to do. Should I move first? But then he reaches out and tugs a lock of my hair. My breath gets shallow, and I watch him run the strands between his thumb and forefinger. His gaze remains intent on what he’s doing, but I can’t tear mine from his face.
He’s grown some stubble on his cheeks, and it gives him a gruff, almost mysterious vibe. His light eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen before. Duke keeps a firm grip on his emotions, but he’s far from emotionless. If anything, I think he hides his feelings because he feels so intensely. Maybe it scares him, or maybe he’s afraid it will scare others. But the way he loves Tabby… it’s fierce, protective, and unwavering.
For someone who’s never felt like she belonged anywhere, seeing that devotion is intoxicating.
He takes his time, gently stroking my hair as if it’s the most precious thing in the world. I’m mesmerized by him, and I don’t want to break away.
When our eyes meet, his face is full of conflict. “June,” he whispers, leaning forward until our lips are barely an inch apart. His breath brushes against my cheek, and I shiver in anticipation. “Tell me to step away from you.” His palms cup my cheek, and his thumbs rub my cheekbones. “Please tell me to stop now because I’m dying to kiss you. I said I wouldn’t, but…”
Leaning forward, I close the last space between us. As our lips meet, I close my eyes. He tastes of peppermint and something else, something unique that’s just Duke—something that I can’t get enough of. His kiss deepens, becoming more desperate as our tongues entwine. I grip him at his waist, drawing him closer, swimming in his taste and scent, relishing the feel of him against me. I never want to let go.
When he pulls away, our breath comes in ragged pants. There’s a raw need on his face and in the tension in his body. As our foreheads rest against each other, he holds my face like it’s precious while he stares into my eyes.
“I know it’s not the right time or the right circumstances, but…” He swallows, and I hate seeing him struggle with words, so I cover his hands with mine. When he continues, it’s in a whisper, but his sincerity rings clear. “But I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve tried to ignore it, but I can’t. June, I know it’s complicated, but I want to be with you.”
The words sing through me. “I feel the same way. I’ve been trying to deny it, but I can’t.”
Relief floods his face, and he drops his mouth to mine again. “Stay with me. Tonight. Please.”
I smile. “Yes.”
He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, then turns and heads upstairs. As I follow him, I should have reservations. This will change everything. There’s no way I’ll be able to work for him—take his money—after we sleep together, but I don’t care about that right now. Maybe I should. But Duke and Tabby, they’re not only a job for me anymore. They’re so much more.
Like the rest of my life, I’ll figure it out as I go.
Duke
AsIleadJuneup the stairs, holding her hand, I try to remember the reasons this is wrong. I remind myself she is my employee, that my daughter loves her and jeopardizing their relationship is selfish. But I want this woman to stay in our lives forever. She makes everything better, lighter, and happier. So even though I should focus on what’s proper, all I can think about is how much I love her.
At the top of the stairs, I pause. “Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask, my voice softening. “A lot can happen from the kitchen to the top of the stairs.”
