“Don’t go too far!” I called after her. “Stay where I can see you!”
Paisley ignored me, but I knew she heard because she slowed her pace slightly. I could still see her as she looked at the different artifacts lining the walls.
“You’re a great dad,” Tara said suddenly.
“I don’t know about that,” I said dismissively. There were things Tara didn’t know about my past with Paisley, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell her.
“You are,” Tara insisted. “I know you don’t think you are, but you’re doing a really great job.”
“I’m trying.” I nodded. “It’s hard, though. It’s new for us.”
“What is?” Tara asked.
“This,” I said. “Us. Living together. Being around each other.”
“Oh,” Tara said. “I didn’t realize.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m not proud of it. Paisley only came to live with me a few weeks ago.”
“Why?” Tara asked.
I took a deep breath and thought about my answer. It wasn’t a secret, Claire’s accident, but it also wasn’t something I talked about with just anyone.
“Her mom,” I began slowly. “Her name was Claire. She died in a car accident a few weeks ago.”
“Oh my god,” Tara whispered. She glanced at me quickly before looking over at Paisley. “She’s so young.”
“Too young,” I said, shaking my head. “She doesn’t deserve this.”
“No one does,” Tara said softly. “She’s lucky to have you, though.”
“I wish that were true,” I said. “She doesn’t even know me and, really, I don’t know her. Until the night Claire died, I hadn’t seen her in years. She only recognized me because Claire showed her pictures.”
“Can I ask,” Tara began. “I know it’s not my business, but I just wonder…”
“Why I wasn’t in her life?” I finished for her.
“Yeah,” Tara nodded. “If it’s too personal, I understand.”
“Back then, I wasn’t the best guy in the world,” I admitted. “Claire wasn’t happy, and she cheated. Then, she left me. I didn’t feel like I had a choice. I thought that Paisley would be better off without me in her life. So, I let Claire have her. I didn’t even fight her on it.”
I finished talking and waited for Tara to speak, but she didn’t. She just reached over and grabbed my hand. She interlocked her fingers with mine and squeezed gently. I looked at our connected hands and my heart stopped beating. When my eyes found hers, I saw that she was staring at me with an intensity I’d never seen before.
“Tara!” Paisley yelled. Tara and I both jumped. I let go of her hand and cleared my throat.
“What is it?” Tara asked, smiling as Paisley ran toward us.
“Come on!” Paisley said. “You have to see this!”
***
“Sweet dreams,” I whispered as I closed Paisley’s door.
“That was fast,” Tara said when I reappeared in the living room.
“She was asleep within five minutes.” I laughed. “I think we wore her out today.”
Tara nodded. “She definitely enjoyed herself.”
“She really did, didn’t she?” I asked. Tara grinned, and I grinned back. It had been the perfect day.
“Well,” Tara said. “I should get going.”
I walked Tara out to the front porch. We stood there for a few seconds, neither of us knowing what to say. Something happened at the museum, something big. I knew what it meant to me, but I had no idea what Tara was thinking. I wanted to ask her. I wanted to find out how she felt, but I didn’t know where to start. What should I say? What questions would I even ask?
“Thank you for coming,” I said awkwardly. “I really appreciate it.”
“Of course,” Tara said, smiling. “I wouldn’t have missed it. I had fun.”
“Yeah,” I said. Tara looked up at me. Her green eyes stared deeply into mine, and my heart raced. My breathing became more and more ragged as we stood there looking at each other.
I took a step forward without realizing it. My body took over for me. Before I knew what was happening, I leaned down and pressed my lips lightly against Tara’s. She inhaled sharply but didn’t pull away. After a few seconds, I felt her body melt into mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back.
When she pulled away, it was just for a second. She took a quick step backward and blinked. She looked down like she couldn’t believe what just happened. Then, she threw her arms back around me and kissed me again. My hands found her hips, and I pulled her against me. I deepened the kiss, letting my tongue slide inside her mouth. She moaned softly against my lips.
That sound was enough to drive me insane. I moved toward the front door, dragging her with me. I pushed open the door, and we hurried inside, still locked in an embrace. I closed the door softly, trying not to wake Paisley. Tara’s hands moved wildly over my body.
“Come on,” I breathed, pulling away from her slightly.
Tara nodded and took my hand. I led her through the living room and into the back hallway. We tiptoed past Paisley’s room and disappeared into mine.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Tara
When the door of Sean’s bedroom swung closed, he wasted no time. He pulled me against him and held me tightly. His lips worked furiously against mine. I melted. While he kissed me, I let my hands roam all over his body. I grasped frantically at his back, running my nails down across his shirt. When I reached his waist line, I tucked my fingers beneath the hem of his shirt and quickly pulled it over his head.
Sean’s kisses never slowed. I raked my fingers down his chest and his stomach, finally feeling the outline of his ab muscles. I groaned deeply. Sean growled and lifted me off my feet. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my fingers tangling in his hair.
He carried me to the bed and laid me back gently. He paused just long enough to look into my eyes. It was dark in his bedroom, but his blue eyes shined brightly. I lost myself in them. I pulled him back to me, kissing him with a passion I’d never felt before. My legs were still wrapped around his waist and I could feel him growing harder by the second. I wanted to feel more of him.
Reaching down, I unbuttoned his jeans and tugged at them. Sean got the hint and sat up quickly. He shook his jeans off and threw them to the floor. I stared at him above me. He wore nothing but boxers now. I’d never seen anyone so sexy in my entire life. I raked my hands down his chest again, wanting to savor the moment for as long as possible.
“Your turn,” he whispered roughly. I grinned and let him pull me up.
On my knees, Sean lifted my blouse over my head. He let it fall and slid his hands around my back. He brushed my bare skin lightly as he unhooked my bra. I let it slide off my breasts and onto the bed. Sean’s eyes were hungry as he watched me.