Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Yep.” My tone is clipped. I want to say more, though I’m unsure how. Callum isn’t exactly one to judge, but it’s still hard to admit such a dirty thing about yourself.
I find a barely legal woman—no, girl—hot as fuck. I’m going out of my mind with crazy fantasies of stripping her down and claiming her with my traitorous dick.
“Hmm.” Callum abandons his perch to walk over to the coffee machine. “And what did you tell her?”
“The truth. That her mother is a manipulative bitch who likes making my life a living hell.” Another glass of Stagg Jr. Another blissful burn. At this rate, his bottle will be half gone by noon.
“Harsh.” He sets a mug in front of me, steaming and filled to the brim with black coffee. “Getting smashed isn’t going to fix your problems, Hugo. Drink up.”
Reluctantly, I relinquish my glass to my brother and take the coffee instead. This burn doesn’t feel as good going down, but I know he’s right. Drinking until I can’t walk anymore doesn’t change the fact that Aubrey is back, looking hot as fuck, and needing me to take care of her.
“What else is bothering you?” Callum probes. “Is Spencer giving her a hard time again?”
If only it were that easy.
“Something like that,” I grumble. “And…” When did she grow up?
“Let me guess. Neena’s daughter no longer looks like a typical teenager but has turned into a spitting image of her mother.” Callum cocks his head to the side, eyes narrowed as he studies me. No wonder his students hated his class. He makes me feel like I’m about to get detention. “She got hot.”
I bristle, unable to meet his stare. “She was always beautiful.”
“Of course she was. Neena’s a knockout. I didn’t say beautiful. I said hot. Took your old, horny ass by surprise?”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I can’t help but remember how she strode into my office, all sexy and seducing me without even trying. My dick twitches at the reminder. Fuck.
“I’ll get over it,” I assure him. “Just wasn’t expecting her to be so…”
“Fuckable?” Callum offers with an evil smirk.
Bile rises in my throat. I know I seem like the stereotypical old guy chubbing over some young thing with perky tits and silky thighs. It’s not like that, though. Well, not completely. Seeing her went beyond physical attraction. Our past, with me being a parent to her, coupled with the need for me to once again take care of her, wove its way into how my cock took notice of her beauty and sex appeal. A deadly combination for a million different reasons.
“Are you going to fuck her?”
His question jerks me from my thoughts. Vehemently, I shake my head. “Hell no. It’s Aubrey, for fuck’s sake. My stepdaughter. Not to mention, man, I’m still married. To her mother.”
I could use another drink, but Callum covertly hid the bottle while I was distracted. Settling for my coffee, I take another punishing hot swig before setting the mug down with a loud clink.
“You wouldn’t be a Park if you didn’t have a complicated love life,” Callum says, features souring briefly.
“Oh, hey, Hugo.” Willa walks into the kitchen, cheeks crimson and a sweet smile on her pretty face. “Didn’t know you were coming over.”
Callum’s whole demeanor changes when he sees his girlfriend, losing the grumpy face and adopting a goofy grin instead. He tugs her to him, wrapping her up in his protective embrace. Bitterness claws at my stomach.
I’m jealous of my brother’s happiness.
That makes me an asshole of epic proportions because he of all people deserves it after the hell he went through with Dad. And I want him to be happy. I truly do.
But it also reminds me that my love life has been less than stellar. My first true love and the mother of my child betrayed me. My second love was guarded, so when Neena started doing the same shitty things I’d been put through once before, it was easier to cut off my feelings.
I’ve never had such sweet love, though.
Not like Callum and Willa.
Aubrey’s sweet…
I down the rest of my coffee before offering Willa my signature politician grin. It feels forced, but I’ve forced it enough over the years that I can make it appear natural.
“My stepdaughter’s come to live with us,” I say to Willa. “She’s about your age. Doesn’t know anyone aside from our family around here. Might be good for her to have a friend.”
Willa’s face lights up. “I’d love to meet her.”
“Bring a suit. The pool will be nice this afternoon.”
I manage not to stagger out of Callum’s house despite my limbs feeling much looser thanks to the Stagg Jr. Since it’s warm out this Saturday, I decide to go for a run. The house is quiet, so I quickly change into my running clothes.