Virginia’s POV
“I need to get me a hot single dad to move me into his condo.” Aimee teased as I set my phone on the pillow of my new bed while I began tucking my few clothes away for safekeeping.
“You literally have more money in your bank account than he does, I’m sure. And don’t you have that guy you’ve been talking to?”
“He’s a boy compared to Brooks Callahan. Besides from the way you describe him, the whole brooding thing does it for you.” I quickly quieted her voice and looked over my shoulder to the open bedroom door.
For the last few hours as I began to ‘make myself at home’ as he muttered to do since we both came inside, I could hear him throughout the house. It was infuriating in the sam
Brooks’ POVThose goddamn lace panties were my fucking ruin. She wasn’t even under my roof for twenty-four hours and I beat my cock twice at the thought of her inside, or outside, of them. The first time had been in the shower after I managed to stare at her over emails, creating a scenario in my mind that I would be able to peel them off of her. I left with a blank expression, rushing myself bare enough for access, and came so hard on the shower wall that I nearly blacked out. The second time was in my office after standing across from her in that hallway with that little attitude. I thought about snapping the fabric of those panties clean off of her hips and reddening the skin beneath with my handprint before taking her until she learned to keep her smart mouth shut. The more erotic vision of how I’d silence her with my aching cock is what led to that self care session after they’d both fallen asleep. But for just a second I thought I heard her. My vision wa
Virginia's POV Shouldn’t you have butterflies on a first date? The nervousness of wanting to make a good first impression as you hoped it was the stepping stone for what could be your forever one day? This was what I fixated on as I applied the final details to my aesthetic. Soft curls pulled into a tight bun with tendrils falling around the curvature of my cheeks. A subtle lip but dramatic eyes were perfected after two tries, and Aimee’s virtual help, as I used what was left of the perfume she had given me for my last birthday on my pulse points. But I was anything but excited. He seemed like a nice guy, checking in on me and Landon since the incident nearly two weeks ago. But I couldn’t find even a flicker of excitement in my body. I would rather have slipped out of the dress, run a bath, and submerged myself beneath the bubbles while escaping t
Brooks’ POV “I take it you didn’t tell her?” Will sighed on the other end of the phone as I lingered in the parking lot of my law firm, watching her on the security camera app on my laptop. She checked on Landon every half an hour so far and all it did was worsen my guilt. I was thirty-two years old, acting like an obsessed alpha male for a woman, practically a girl, who wasn’t even mine. “What’s there to tell her?” “That you want to be a cliche and get into your nanny’s pants.” He teased. Even though I couldn’t see him, I could imagine that smirk across his damn face. “I just need to get her out of my system..” “You’re better than that. If you want to hook up with someone because you need to scratch some itc
Virginia’s POVReliving the details to Aimee made me want to drink. As more of a wine cooler connoisseur, I was suddenly craving something from Brooks' top shelf. But I didn't want alcohol to affect my emotions because I was a glutton for punishment. I didn't want the haze of inebriation to erase the way he felt so close against me or forget just how his scent lingered somewhere between clean laundry, sandalwood, and what I think was a hint of whiskey. But I needed to find a way to end my naivety when it came to him.“So now I have to plot.” As the air finally silenced to all of my thoughts being voiced, I noticed how Aimee was shifty. Her robe and disheveled hair gave away the reason along with the consistent look she made in the direction of the bedroom door.She wasn't alone…“Oh God! Why didn't you stop me?!”“Because you needed someone to talk to.”“It could have waited!” I whined as she shrugged and took m
Brooks' POV It couldn't have been any more than six months since the last time I saw her, and yet, the effervescent glimmer in her eye that was comprised of mischief and audacious sexuality expressed why she was here long before she even parted those lips painted three shades too red to compliment her stark light skin. Of course, she wasn't here to bond with Landon or even visit him. She was here for the only reason she held any interest in me to begin with. Money. "Not exactly what I would have chosen to do with it, but it's...cute..." She explained while looking at the condo that was everything she wasn't. Calm. Collected. Present. Even if she hid it well beneath her designer clothes and confidence, she was here because she was desperate, which made me want to pull Virginia closer into my side-embed her into my skin as she gave a comfort I couldn't even begin to understand. "Landon is asleep." Virginia offered, sensing my discomfor
Virginia's POV I could never be friends with someone who I think about as much as I do to you. His words were an echo in my mind even in a state of unconsciousness. Of course, the second my eyes closed the words were then established behind actions we didn't take part in. Kisses we didn't share. A specific relinquishment of virtue I still painfully had intact. It was a cause to wake up a bit restless as I wondered what would have happened if I had said what was on the tip of my tongue or acted on the way my skin needed to touch his. It made me understand that although this may not be some grand romance that ends in a white dress or even a white picket fence, there were feelings aside from resentment. Just how deep it went, I didn't know. But I could be civil. Even if my mind, body, and the sensitive, and currently damp, valley between my thighs didn't seem to get the memo.
Brooks' POV If I hadn't wound and pulled this very tie nearly every single day for the past decade then I would have tripped over my own feet at the sight awaiting me in the kitchen. It was rarely used up until a month ago and was now always beaming with life. If not from Landon doing school on the kitchen counter instead of being isolated in his room, then it was for Virginia trying to follow a new recipe. Most of them were either undercooked or overdone, most edible but not flavorful, and yet the way she was so proud of herself became a secret tolerance between my son and I. But this one smelled incredible and she was devoted enough to the ingredients inside the oven to keep from noticing how I stopped and stared at her. Because I could have had an entire condo filled with supermodels willing to give favors on their knees and I'd still prefer the sight of her nervously working over dinner for the sake of being domestic. "Did you forget how to tie it?" Landon'
Virginia's POV Shit. Unable to sit still while awaiting a response from Brooks, I paced and fiddled with everything from my inner cheek to the ends of my hair. Realizing that Landon was completely out of his two backup inhalers and that Brooks had another one in his jacket pocket from the night before, I was desperate for the comfort of the albuterol. He was fine, actually better than, but I couldn't risk him having an attack and being without it on hand. Especially with the newfound 'civility' between Brooks and me. After a total of half an hour without a response and a call to Delaney, his assistant, only to be told she isn't an 'errand bitch', I managed to convince her to come sit at the condo while I went to Brooks myself. The supper club was a place I felt guilty even looking at let alone entering. There wasn't a woman without a drink in her hand, a dress a bit too tight, or a scowl on her face as I made my way inside. The men paid little att