“Hey, what are you doing? Looking for a spot that I missed?” Chance asked, entering the room. He walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her and settled her body back against his.
Kylie thought him missing a spot was impossible. It had started out very innocent with them enjoying a bowl of ice cream after lunch. Then for no reason at all he had squirted caramel topping all over her, and moments later began licking every inch of her skin to get it off. And she had reciprocated, squirted him and licked every inch of him. She had to admit that for once in her life she had thrown caution to the wind and yielded to temptation.
“What are you thinking about, sweetheart?”
She met his gaze in the mirror and leaned back against him when he tightened his arms around her. “You. Me. And what a wonderful weekend we had. I wish it didn’t have to end.”
“It doesn’t.”
She shook her head and grinned. “Yes, it does. Have you forgotten the kids will be back tomorrow?”
“No, I didn’t forget, but that shouldn’t have any bearing on us.”
She turned around to face him. “Of course it does. Surely you don’t expect us to still swap beds with the kids around?”
He frowned. “No, but I do expect us to continue to see each other. And if we have to be discreet whenever we do share a bed, then we will.”
“And what about the kids?”
“Tomorrow we can tell them that we’ve decided to start seeing each other.”
She took a step back. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Chance rubbed his hand down his face. “Don’t tell me we’re back to that again.”
“As far as I’m concerned we never left it.”
“Then what was this weekend about, Kylie?”
“It was about us indulging in our fantasies. But now it’s time to return to the real world, Chance, and there’s no way I can let Tiffany know that I was involved in a weekend affair with you.”
Angrily, he reached out and gripped her shoulders. “A weekend affair? That’s all this was to you?”
She yanked away from him. “Why? Was it supposed to be something else?”
“I had hoped so,” he said quietly, trying to get his anger and frustrations under control. “The start of a committed relationship was how I saw things.”
“But I can’t become involved with anyone until Tiffany leaves home.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t!”
“Then let me tell you what I think is your reason, which in my opinion is a damn poor excuse. Your parents have convinced you that getting pregnant at sixteen was a bad thing, and every since then you have worked your ass off trying to be a good girl in their eyes. So much so that you won’t allow a man in your life. At first I thought it was all about the men in your life letting you down and not being dependable, and that still may be a part of it. But since you claim you trust me, why are you so afraid of letting me into your life?”
“I have to set an example for my daughter. Why can’t you understand that?”
He frowned. “And not having a real life, not having a man around to show her how two people can share a loving relationship is setting an example for her?”
“There’s more to life than people getting involved, Chance.”
“What about people falling in love? Would it mean anything if I were to tell you that I love you? That I fell in love with you probably the first time I saw you that day?”
Kylie’s eyes widened and then she shook her head and felt the tears that stung her eyes. “No, it wouldn’t matter because I could tell you the same thing, Chance. I love you, too. And I probably fell in love with you that day, as well.”
“But then—”