“One day, when you’ve graduated and working with us full-time with a portfolio of clients who’ll be earning you millions, your opinion of him will change.”
She glared at me as we reached the bottom of the steps. “I promise, that’s never going to happen.”
“Don’t be so sure—” My voice cut off as the smell from the kitchen wafted up my nose, my stomach growling. “You baked? Already?”
“I needed to unwind from that monster”—she held up her finger—“the one we don’t name—so I stuck some cookies in the oven. They’re probably done by now.”
I followed her into the kitchen, where she took a tray out of the oven. At least a dozen chocolate chip cookies were sitting on top.
“Yep. Done.” She looked at me. “Want one?”
“One? I want three.”
She grabbed a spatula from the drawer and placed the dessert on a napkin. “So you can take them with you,” she said, handing me the bundle.
I groaned as the chocolate melted on my tongue. “Man, you make some mean cookies.”
“If you find crumbs in her bed tomorrow, don’t murder me.”
The present she’d referenced.
I should have known.
“You know she already brushed her teeth.”
She grinned. “And you know I’m still going to give them to her anyway.”
“You’re the unruliest part-time nanny in the world.”
She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “Speaking of that … Ford, we need to talk.”
“Oh shit. It’s never a good thing when a woman—even if she’s your cousin—wants to talk. Should I pour myself a drink first?”
She went to the fridge and grabbed me a beer.
I gulped down several swallows and said, “All right, hit me with it. I’m ready.”
“You need to hire a nanny—not me, not your mom, not your mom’s housekeeper. I mean, a real nanny.”
“That’s what this is about?”
She nodded. “I feel like we had this discussion a few months ago, and I’m still here, so this is your not-so-gentle nudge.” She picked up a cookie and chowed down half. “Ford, I’m drowning, and even though I love your daughter like I gave birth to her, I need this gig off my plate before I’m down so deep that I can’t find my way up for air.”
Hannah and I had talked about this in the past, and I hadn’t made the move to hire anyone. Everly just loved being with her cousin, and between Hannah, my mom, and my mom’s housekeeper, Eve was constantly watched. But I could see the stress on Hannah’s face, and with school and prepping for the bar and her time at the office, life was hell for her.
“She’ll be starting kindergarten in the fall. Won’t that new schedule make it easier on everyone?”
She shook her head. “Everly needs someone there consistently, someone she can really bond with and learn from rather than bouncing between three people. This will be the best thing for her, I promise.”
“All right,” I agreed. “I’ll talk to my assistant. We’ll get someone hired soon.”
She finished the cookie and grabbed another. “I appreciate it. My waist appreciates it too.”
“Stop. With how much you run, you can afford to eat that entire tray.” I guzzled down the rest of the beer and set the empty on the counter. “I’m going to head out. You two be good tonight.”
“Always.”
As I was leaving the kitchen, I said over my shoulder, “She can have one cookie.”
“That really means two.”
I chuckled and turned around. “You sure you don’t want me to give Declan a message from you? Possibly tell him how much you love—”
“You’re a dick.”
I smiled. “See you in the morning, Hannah.”
I hurried out the front door and into the driveway, where my driver was parked and waiting. I climbed into the back of the SUV and wished Stan a good evening before I took out my phone and called my assistant.
“Hi, Ford,” my assistant said as she answered.
“Remember that conversation we had a few months back about hiring a nanny, and we did nothing about it?” I stared out the window as Stan pulled onto the road. “Well, it’s time we do something about it.”
“If I remember correctly, I found an agency that came highly recommended. How about I go that route and place an ad on one of the childcare websites, and I can vet the applicants before I send them to you?”
“I can probably squeeze a few more weeks out of Hannah. Will that give you enough time?”
“It should.”
I leaned my shoulder into the door. “Then, that sounds perfect.”
“I’ll get started first thing in the morning.”
I thanked her and hung up, and my phone instantly rang with Jenner’s name on the screen.
“I’m on my way,” I said after connecting the call.
“I was worried your ass was going to bail.”
“Because I’m fifteen minutes late?”
I didn’t bother to look at my watch.
I knew exactly how late I was.
“Try thirty,” he replied.
“Dude, relax. I get an Everly pass.” I felt Stan begin to slow as he approached the entrance of the bar. “You can yell at me in person. I’m about to walk in.” I hung up and returned the phone to my pocket.
Stan pulled up to the front. “I’ll be in the parking lot on the east side of the building whenever you’re ready to leave.”
“Thanks, bud.”
I hopped out and made my way inside, seeing the crew had taken over the entire back corner. Dominick was the first to approach, man-hugging me the moment I got within reach.
“Thought you weren’t going to show,” he said as he patted me on the back.“Jenner bitched about the same thing,” I said. “You guys know I wouldn’t ever bail. But once you knock up Kendall, you’ll learn that it isn’t always easy to get out the door on time.”He pulled away and walked with me toward the tables they’d reserved. “Slow your roll. There’s no knocking up. We’re just getting in a shit-ton of practice.”“Then, maybe it’s Jenner’s turn,” I said, moving over to my middle brother, hugging him the same way.“What are we talking about?” Jenner asked.“You and Jo having kids,” I replied.“Please don’t put that into the universe,” he shot back. “We’re staying in the engaged phase for a while. If Jo gets the baby bug, we’ll steal Everly for a few days.”“According to Eve, she’s no longer a baby.”“That’s my girl, full of sass,” Dominick said.I shook hands with Brett, one of our best friends, who happened to be the top entertainment agent in the country. I then moved on to his partner
Her hair fell into her face, and she instantly pushed it back, exposing both shoulders. Shoulders and a collarbone that showed the tan line of a thin bikini strap.Damn it, that was sexy.“One drink should hopefully get me over this jet lag,” she said.“Let me guess …” My words were only an excuse for me to stare harder, acting as though I could see through her. “Europe?”Her smile was sensual, beautiful. “London … how did you know?”“Call me intuitive.”“Ohhh, then you already know I only just got back this afternoon.”“Of course I do. But keep talking.”She laughed. “I was there this time for three months, so to be honest, I’m not sure if it’s today or tomorrow or if my feet are on the ground or still in the air.” She sucked in a mouthful of air. “But your eyes are telling me I’m very much here …”“You’re here.” I ran my thumb over my lips, wishing they were covered in her scent. “And this isn’t a dream … even if it feels like one.”First, she gave me a smile, then a slow bite of he
I laughed. My best friend was so over the top sometimes. “Ford is extra swoony—I can’t deny that. But I assure you, the only thing growing inside me is a heavy case of jet lag and a wicked need to take off these heels and find myself a pillow.”“His pillow.” She put her arm around my shoulders and turned me toward him, saying in my ear, “Even his name is sexy.”My eyes briefly closed. “I know.”“Do you know what I see when I look at him?”“I can’t wait to hear this.”She squeezed my shoulder. “Handcuffs. Dirty sex. Waking up in the morning with his face between your legs.” She lowered her voice, finally whispering, “That man has dominance written all over him.”I wondered if she could sense how sweaty I was getting.How it only added to the hotness Ford had already built.“You can tell that just by looking at him?”“I possess that talent. You should know this by now.”I’d only seen my best friend a handful of times over the last four years. All of our conversations had taken place ove
The combination of the martini and shots was slowly dropping my inhibitions, especially as I glanced toward Gabby, who had moved to the other side of the table, closer to Natasha and Carrie, her facial expression urging me on.“I don’t know.” I glanced down; all of this was too much. “I guess I like the way you sound.”“My voice?”I nodded as I was fixed on him again. “Yes.”“No one’s ever commented on that before.”I took a drink even though I didn’t need it. “It matches you—I mean, it fits your face, your …” I couldn’t think of what I wanted to say. Nothing was coming to me. I didn’t even feel like I was breathing. “Exterior.”The corner of his lips lifted, a half-smile so devilishly attractive. “Exterior, huh?”“If power had a sound, it’s you.”He was sitting between both tables but chose to lean his elbow on the one closest to me. “My voice isn’t where I hold my power, Sydney. At least, not in my personal life. But I’ll tell you, it wasn’t a bad guess.”My brain was spiraling.My
“What I’m thinking about is your mouth.” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip and then the top. “What it would taste like. What it would feel like.” His gaze was there, on the spot he was speaking about, making those same lips part. “And I don’t know how much longer I can wait to find out.”ThreeFord“You want to kiss me”—her voice was soft, breathless—“in the middle of the bar?”With my hand still on her cheek, I aimed her mouth up to mine. “It’s not just that I want to.” I lowered my face until we were only inches apart. “It’s that I have to.” The feeling inside me was so brutally overwhelming that I couldn’t leave this bar until I had her taste on my tongue. Until I was satisfied with the feel of her lips. That was why I’d moved my seat next to hers. To have this moment between us, to re-create the fire that I’d felt before. “If you don’t want this, Sydney, tell me to stop.”I waited.And just as I was about to close the space between us, she whispered, “Ford …” She swallowed. “I
“Even if I was going to consider it—which I’m not—Hannah and Everly are at my house. It’s not like Eve is staying at Mom and Dad’s for the night and I’m free.”“More Hannah talk,” Declan groaned. “I still can’t believe you let her watch your daughter.”“Ignore him,” Jenner said, referring to Declan. “Everly is being well taken care of tonight, so you do have all the freedom to do whatever you want—and I know that girl is exactly what you want.”“You guys don’t get it,” I told them. “This is one of the sacrifices you have to make when you have a kid, and being a single dad makes it even harder. I’m responsible for that little girl, and every move I make affects her.” I looked at my brothers. “When you guys were single, you could fuck whomever you wanted and never feel guilty about it. You could jump on a plane and leave at any time. You could stay out all night and not give a shit.” I chomped on the ice from Dominick’s glass and set the empty on the table. “My life isn’t like that.”“B
She quickly glanced at me. “We can’t go to my apartment.”“We … can’t?”She shook her head. “I just moved here, like, hours ago, remember? I don’t have a bed yet, so I’m going to be sleeping with Gabby. I can’t kick her out and have her crash on the couch. That would make me the worst bestie ever.”Fuck me.That wrecked every one of my plans.“Can’t we go to your place?” she asked.My place—a detail I didn’t want to get into.I glanced out the window, trying to come up with a plan.I could take her to a hotel; I just didn’t know how that idea would come across. I could sneak us into Dominick’s guesthouse, but Kendall was probably home, and I didn’t want to alarm her.“Sydney—” My voice cut off as our eyes connected.The hunger, the need. I didn’t know if I was gazing at my own reflection in her stare or if she felt the same way as me.Either way, I hauled her body up against me and kissed her. The warmth from her mouth, the taste of her tongue, like silent promises of what was waiting
Fuck me.I backed up a few inches, needing to take in this view.“Man”—I shook my head—“I’m one lucky motherfucker.”The dress had looked exquisite on her, but what was underneath was even better. Sydney in just her skin was a whole different level of sexy. All curves and dips and muscle. The gap between her thighs just as pronounced as I’d dreamed about at the bar.My stare dipped to her feet and slowly rose, and I moaned, “Magnificent,” as I reached her face.“You’re too much.”“Nah.” I paused, my cock fucking throbbing. “My words barely do you justice.”A flushness moved across her cheeks as she said, “Get over here.”Once I was within reach, she began to unbutton my shirt, working her way down my chest. My sports coat and shirt dropped at the same time. She didn’t stop until the only thing covering me was my boxer briefs. That was when her movements slowed, peeling the shorts down my legs until they fell.“Good God,” she whispered, gradually looking down, viewing my chest, abs. La