Page 59 of All Stars Fall
“Of course,” I said slowly. “But your daddy and I are just friends.”
“Ohhhhh.” She nodded. “Does that mean I can kiss friends at school like you did Daddy today?”
I gaped. “No, no, no, no, you see your daddy was… not feeling well and kisses make people feel better but only when you’re… sixteen.”
Trevor grunted in his sleep.
“Or thirty-five. Yes, that was my… first kiss, and even then, I’m clearly not old enough to be doing that. I’m sorry.” I lied through my teeth. I was only 27 and had my first kiss at fifteen.
Yup, I was apologizing to an almost four-year-old.
Great.
Perfect.
“I guess that makes more sense.” She beamed up at me. “You’re not leaving us, are you?”
“No, why would you think that?”
“People leave.” She looked down at her feet.
“I’m not most people.” I pulled her in for a hug. “Now go brush your teeth and get your PJs on, and I’ll be up in a bit to tuck you in.”
“Can we sing Twinkles?”
“At least four times!” I winked. “Maybe five, if the guys join in with instruments that don’t resemble farts.”
“Boys are gross.”
“That’s why we don’t kiss them,” I added, scrunching up my nose.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered, “But Daddy isn’t gross. Maybe I’ll marry him one day?”
“Maybe.” I kissed her forehead. “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
She scampered off and raced up the stairs.
“You’re so good with her.” Trevor’s voice was thick with sleep as his eyes opened and stared right through me to the center of my existence. I was sucked into his universe, into his vortex, and there was no escaping, was there? “Thanks for making her wait until thirty-five. Guess I should be more careful.”
“We need to be more than careful. We can’t…” I sighed. “That can’t happen again.”
“It can.” He moved to his feet so fast I stumbled backwards. “It will.”
“So sure of yourself?” I teased, my body already pulsing in anticipation.
“Absolutely.” He didn’t look away from me. Instead, he stood, leaned close, and pulled me into his embrace, then left meas he slowly walked up the stairs. “I’ll put the kids to bed. Why don’t you go take a bath and relax?”
“I don’t have a tub in my bathroom.” I frowned at his retreating form.
He looked over his shoulder and gave me the sexiest smile ever. “I know. But I do.”
“Trevor—”
“You know where it’s at.”
“I don’t think—”
“Don’t think,” he interrupted again once he made it to the top of the stairwell. “And if you’re being really adventurous, you can use the princess bubble bath. Bella swears by it.”
