Lifting his arm, he checks his stupidly expensive watch.
“Shit. I need to go,” he says before tucking himself away and zipping up. “I want to surprise Sutton, too.”
Grabbing my cell, I check the time.
“Fuck. How long have I been down here?” I balk. That was nowhere near as fast as I thought. “I need to go.”
I spin around and take a step toward the door, but that’s as far as I get, because his hot hand wraps around my wrist, halting my escape.
He turns me back around and steps up, cupping my cheeks.
“Don’t eat. I’ll bring dinner with me later.”
“Okay,” I breathe. “I’ll be waiting.”
His eyes flash with desire.
With one final kiss and a swat to my ass, he sends me on my way.
I swear, I don’t suck in a real breath until I’m in the hallway and rushing toward the elevator.
But everything comes crashing down around me when a door opens up ahead and none other than my father steps out. He looks in the opposite direction first, but I don’t have time to react— not that there’s anywhere to hide even if I did. Inevitably, he turns my way.
His eyes widen the second he sees me, and I cringe, wondering what the hell I look like.
Probably similar to if I’d just been ravaged by a wild animal.
You were.
“Casey?”
Despite knowing he’s there, the sound of his voice filling the hallway makes my heart sink into my shoes.
“What are you doing down here?”
His eyes bounce between mine before he gazes over my shoulder.
Please, please don’t choose this moment to walk out of the dressing room. Please.
I need to tell Dad, and I will. Soon.
What I really don’t need is for him to find out like this.
“I…uh…I came down to get a couple of photos for something I’m working on,” I lie, hating myself for doing so. That isn’t how Dad and I work. We’re honest with each other. Always.
Or at least, we were until recently. My lies are stacking up faster than I can control.
His gaze drops lower, his brows pinching. “You don’t have a camera,” he points out.
“Oh. No. I…did it on my phone.”
“Right, okay. Well, I’m not staying. I just wanted to grab something from my office before heading home. Breakfast in the morning?”
I nod. “Yes. Yep. Can’t wait.” That isn’t a lie. But as the words continue to tumble suspiciously from my lips, I start to wonder if it’s a good idea. If he suspects something, he won’t shy away from asking. That isn’t who my father is.
The thought of disappointing him, of going against everything he’s ever told me, cuts deep. But I can’t stop.
Kodie...he’s…he’s a part of me, and there is nothing I can do to stop that. He’s in too deep.
