Elliot gives me a strange look. “I’m sure Griffin is fine.”
“Give me a second,” comes Griffin’s deep voice from somewhere below us. Moments later, he emerges from a staircase leading to, what I assume is, the basement, his body glistening with sweat, shirtless, wearing only a pair of low-hanging sweatpants. His muscular frame catches my attention, and I suddenly feel my cheeks flush with heat.
I never would have expected for Elliot’s dad to be a silver fox.
My gaze lingers on Griffin’s broad chest and defined abs… My face flushes, and I quickly look away, clenching my hands at my sides. Stop staring. This is my boyfriend’s dad, for God’s sake!
It’s not my fault he’s so hot with that silver hair and gorgeous hazel eyes.I feel like I could stare at him forever.
“Thanks for letting us crash here, Dad,” Elliot says, completely oblivious to my reaction which isn’t surprising. Elliot couldn’t guess what I was thinking if I spelled it out for him.
Griffin wipes his forehead with a towel, his deep voice calm and polite. “Not a problem. Glad I could help out.” Despite the friendly tone, there’s an edge to his words that hints at unresolved tension between him and Elliot.
Elliot never told me why the two weren’t close – it’s just something I’ve always picked up on – and something tells me that now isn’t the time to question it.
“This is Faye,” Elliot gestures to me.
I look up cautiously, only to freeze when our eyes meet. His smile is warm, but there’s something flickering in his gaze that I can’t quite place. A shiver runs down my spine as the intensity of his stare grips me.
“Nice to meet you, Faye,” he says, his tone polite but rich with an undercurrent of familiarity. Is it just my imagination, or does it feel like he knows me from somewhere?
“Nice to meet you too.” Then we all fall quiet, none of us quite knowing what to say next.
Elliot’s abrupt throat clearing shatters the uneasy silence. “I’ll grab the rest of the stuff from the car. Faye, my dad can showyou to the room.” Griffin nods, but not before shooting a pointed look at Elliot.
“Follow me,” Griffin commands, and I trail behind him, my heart pounding in my chest as we ascend the stairs. I struggle to keep my gaze from wandering to his broad shoulders and the way his muscles move beneath his sweat-slicked skin. I chastise myself for letting my mind wander down that path.
I wish he would put a shirt on almost as much as I wish he wouldn’t.
Griffin opens a door to reveal a large guest room, complete with an en-suite bathroom and a view of the snowy backyard. The room is bathed in soft golden light, casting a warm glow on the plush furnishings. It’s nicer than the apartment that Elliot and I just moved out from.
“Here you go,” he says, his voice low and resonant. “You should be comfortable here.”
My eyes scan the luxurious room, feeling both grateful and undeserving of such generosity. “This is… really nice. Thank you for letting us stay. It means a lot.”
Griffin leans casually against the doorframe, his eyes sharp yet amused. “You’re welcome... Lola.” My entire body goes rigid, my face draining of color. Lola. The name hangs in the air like a loaded gun.
Griffin’s lips quirk into a knowing smirk as he quickly corrects himself. “I mean, Faye. Slip of the tongue.”
That was no accident – there’s no way.
“Get settled in,” Griffin says, his tone casual but his eyes lingering on me for a moment too long. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Th-thank you,” I stutter, my voice barely audible.
As soon as he leaves, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was even holding. And it finally clicks. Euphoria. The night at the strip club. Oh my God, that’s him. I remember the intensity of his gaze when he’d asked me out after my dance. My hands shake as I sit on the bed, trying to process the situation. “What are the odds?” I whisper to myself.
Part of me wonders if he’ll say anything to Elliot, who thinks I have an office job. I only lied to have enough money to pay off our debt – if he knew the truth, he’d lose his mind.Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap.
Briefly, I remember the electricity that had been present when we’d met… he’s the only guy that I’ve ever seen that made me look twice. No, no, I scold myself. This is all wrong. He’s Elliot’s dad!
And, somehow, I need to make sure that he keeps his mouth shut –whatever it took.
3
FAYE
It would be nice if Elliot got off of his lazy ass and helped every once in a while.
