This was supposed to be the new chapter in my and Carter’s life. I hadn’t expected a plot twist of me kissing his dad.
Gray had a determined look on his face. I used the backs of my hands to wipe my cheeks. All traces of my tears were gone—at least I hoped so—by the time he sat across from me.
“You’re crying.”
I raised my chin defiantly. “I most certainly am not.”
“Ozzie, I know what I saw.” His voice was gentle.
“Well, can you unsee it? In case it’s not obvious, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay, you’re upset. I get it, but I swear I can explain.”
He could explain why he’d kissed me this morning? Why couldn’t I get the feel of his mouth on my cock out of my head? Was it because he made me feel beautiful for the first time in a long while? I’d been doubting myself so much lately. That must be it. I knew there was a rational explanation for my fixation on this man. It was all a fluke. Had anyone else—say, Hudson—shown me the same consideration, I might have kissed them too.
“You don’t have to explain anything.” I shrugged. “I get it. It’s better for me to go and everybody’s life can return to normal.”
“Wait, what?” He laid his hand over mine. “You can’t leave.”
I stared at his hand, surprised there was no smoke where we touched. My skin was on fire under his palm, a searing heat that raced through me.
Who was I kidding? It wasn’t just anyone. This specific man—my fiancé’s father—was the one I felt attracted to. Not Hudson, not Matty. Not even the cute barista, Cole, who’d been so friendly to me. He hadn’t charged me for the coffee.
“Why should I stay?”
“But—you—I.” He shook his head firmly. “You can’t leave. You came here to marry my son. I promised to throw you a big wedding, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. I’ll speak to Matty, get him to adjust his attitude, and treat you better. Ozzie, I’m sorry.”
That damn apology. Had Carter told him that would work on me? I’d accepted so much of his crap because he always apologized after.
“For what?” I asked.
“For making things complicated for you. I swear it won’t happen again.” When my gaze dropped to his hand still on mine, he pulled back his. His cheeks turned red, and he glanced away. “What I mean is that I’ve been a terrible host. When you arrived, I promised you that you would be treated well, but you haven’t been, and for that, I am sorry. Please give me a chance to make it up to you. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go, buy you anything you choose.”
My breath caught in my throat, and I gulped down air. What was he saying? Did he mean…?
“Just please marry my son.”
His son! Carter. Of course that was what he meant. What else? The reason I was here was to marry Carter, not engage in an illicit affair with the last man I should feel anything for.
I licked my dry lips and lowered my gaze. My pros and cons list was right in front of me. There were so many cons already, and I hadn’t even jotted down the ones related to Gray. Like the way I noticed the crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes and the worry lines that popped up on his forehead whenever he talked about Carter. Or that he smelled completely earthly—maybe a little too earthly—but all I wanted to do was bury my face into his armpit so his scent would live with me forever.
Oh god, I was in big trouble.
“I’m not sure if I’m making the right decision.”
I clamped my hand over my mouth and sat back in my chair. Why had I admitted that?
He cursed and leaned forward. “Are you second-guessing yourself because of what happened? Because you shouldn’t be. What occurred in the barn was a fluke. Don’t let it destroy what you have with my son. You love him. You were so excited to get married to him.”
“But you said you—”
“I know what I said, but that doesn’t matter either. You’re my son’s fiancé. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can happen between us.”
A calm settled over me. He was right again. Even if I called off my wedding to Carter, so what? That didn’t mean ending up with Gray. I ripped the pros and cons list from the book, balled it up, and stuffed it into my pocket.
I forced a smile. “I guess I have a wedding to plan.”
“Good.” A look of relief crossed his face. His shoulders sagged, and he rocked back in his chair with a small smile. “Now let’s visit that wedding planner.”
