“I do.” Sean smiled. “I’m glad it did.”
“Despite Niki’s protestations, applying at Yates’ was the best decision I’ve ever made,” I said with confidence. “I can’t imagine having never met you. You and Paisley are… You’re my favorite people.”
“She loves you, you know?” Sean said, gesturing toward Paisley.
“I love her, too,” I promised. I looked at Sean and wanted to tell him that it wasn’t just Paisley I felt so strongly for. I loved Paisley, but I also loved him. The way he looked at me in that moment told me I didn’t need to say it. On some level, he already knew.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Sean
Paisley, Tara, and I spent almost every waking moment together for weeks. When Tara wasn’t working, she was with us. It felt surreal sometimes. Suddenly, Tara was this fixture in my life that I never thought would be there. After Claire left me, I didn’t think I would meet someone again. I imagined myself alone. Forever. It wasn’t until Tara that I finally let myself think I could really be happy again.
Now, with Paisley and Tara, I felt truly at peace for the first time in years. I missed my father every day. I hated how much time we wasted over such a petty, insignificant vendetta, but I knew he loved me. We forgave each other in the end, and that’s all that mattered. Still, I wished he could see me with Paisley and Tara. I wished he could be a part of my happily ever after.
In a way, I knew he was. His hand was on everything. From the college fund that now existed in Paisley’s name, to the growing success of Yates’ Motorcycles, to the brand-new home I just bought for my family, he was a part of everything. Without him, none of it would have been possible. I owed him more than I could ever repay, and my gratitude felt so strong that I thought it might burst out of my chest. As I got dressed for my celebratory dinner with Tara and Paisley, I imagined him standing next to me. I heard him whisper how proud he was of the man I’d become.
I smiled at the thought and finished tying my tie. When I was dressed, I made my way into the living room to wait for the girls. They were getting ready in Paisley’s room. At Paisley’s request, we were all going out to dinner to celebrate the new house. She was beyond excited to have a bigger room and a pool in the backyard. Plus, she wanted a night to get all dressed up and have Tara do her hair “like a princess.” When they stepped out of Paisley’s room, my mouth dropped.
Paisley was dressed in a light blue dress with her hair twisted up in a curly bun. She looked like a little lady, and it broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Beside her, Tara wore a long red dress with a slit up the side. It was low-cut and tight without being inappropriate. She had straightened her hair and pulled it back in an elegant ponytail. I stared at her for longer than I should have, unable to look away from her beauty. I’d seen her wear everything from work attire to pajamas, but never something this fancy. She took my breath away.
“I have the two prettiest dates in the entire world,” I said simply.
“Tara did my hair!” Paisley said with excitement.
“It’s beautiful,” I assured her. “Just like a princess.”
“Really?” Paisley asked.
“Absolutely,” I said, grinning. “So, are we ready to go?”
“Yup!” Paisley said. She hurried toward the front door. I stood back and held out my arm for Tara to take. She wrapped her hand gently around my bicep and let me escort her to the car.
“That’s really unfair,” I said softly. We crossed the yard slowly. Paisley was already climbing in the backseat.
“What?” Tara asked innocently.
“You looking that good,” I said. “How am I supposed to concentrate on dinner with you in that dress? I don’t even want to leave the house.”
“Oh?” Tara grinned slyly. “And what would you rather do instead?”
We stopped a few feet away from the car and turned to face each other. My back was to the car as I looked Tara up and down. My eyes slid over her face and her neck, lingering slightly on her breasts. I took in the curve of her hips and her slightly exposed thighs. Her legs were sexier than ever, and I had to fight the urge to trail my fingers along her skin.
“Now who’s not being fair?” Tara asked. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes came alive with desire.
“My god, you’re gorgeous,” I said, my voice deep and husky.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that,” Tara said, “We’ll never leave.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” I asked.
“It is for your daughter,” Tara said, pointing at the car behind me.
“I know.” I sighed. “We should go, but just so you know…”
I trailed off and leaned forward. Placing my lips at the tip of her earlobe, I wrapped my fingers around her hips and pulled her body against mine.
“The entire time we’re at dinner,” I continued, breathing softly in her ear. “All I’ll be thinking about is getting you out of that dress.”
Tara shivered and swallowed hard. I pulled away from her, grinning widely, and spun around to face the car. I was already almost to the driver’s side before Tara took a single step. Her eyes were on me, and she looked dazed. I grinned wider at the sight. I loved the effect I had on her.
“You’re evil,” she muttered as she climbed into the car.
I just winked at her and started the engine. Paisley was oblivious in the backseat, so I reached over and squeezed Tara’s thigh gently. She squirmed beneath my grasp and bit her lip. I chuckled and put the car in reverse. As we drove to the restaurant, I kept my promise. I thought of nothing other than slipping Tara out of that red dress. I could already picture her naked body lying on my bed, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to concentrate at dinner. As we drove down the street, I was grateful that Paisley was too young to notice any tension in the air.
***
Dinner was a long, enjoyable affair. I took Tara and Paisley to an upscale steak house and told them to order whatever they wanted. Of course, Paisley skipped right to dessert and ordered the most delicious slice of chocolate cake. She finished it all and requested seconds, but I knew I had to put my foot down sometime. I ordered her some steamed veggies and made her eat them before I got her a scoop of ice cream. She was in heaven.
Tara and I both ordered steak and savored every bite. The food was better than anything I’d ever tasted, and I couldn’t get enough. I knew I could have spent all night eating if it weren’t for my plans to spend the rest of the night alone with Tara. Just the thought of her made me excited, and I had to force myself to focus on something else. I turned my attention to Paisley.
“So,” I said. “You excited about the new house?”
“Yeah.” Paisley nodded. “Can we go swimming when we get there?”
“After we unpack,” I promised. “I don’t want to live out of boxes for months and months.”
“Okay,” Paisley said. “But then, we can swim?”
“Yes,” I promised. “Of course.”