Runaway Love: A Small Town Single Dad Romance by Melanie Harlow

Author:Melanie Harlow [Harlow, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-03T16:00:00+00:00

When we left the bar, she rode home in the back seat, stiff and silent. I didn’t say anything either, and Xander gave up trying to make conversation and turned up the radio.

At home, Veronica jumped out of the car quickly. “Thanks for taking me, I had fun,” she said without any emotion whatsoever. Then she slammed the door and marched up the driveway toward the garage.

“What the hell happened with you guys tonight?” Xander asked as we watched her go up the stairs to her apartment, illuminated by Xander’s headlights.

I exhaled and rubbed the back of my neck. “I fucked up.”

“Before or after you borrowed her lipstick?” Xander reached over and swiped at my neck.

I knocked his hand away and rubbed at the spot. “This stuff is like industrial marine varnish. It doesn’t come off.”

“You know what your problem is? You’ve got no finesse.”

“My problem is that she works for me, asshole,” I snapped. “What kind of dad screws the babysitter?”

“Don’t make it into that,” Xander shot back. “It’s not like she’s a teenage innocent and you’re a pervy old man. The kids aren’t even around.”

“What happens if things go badly?”

Xander laughed. “You mean what if you’re a two-pump chump?”

“Fuck off! I’m being serious, Xander.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I mean, what happens if I sleep with her and then it’s awkward, and we’re stuck having to practically live together for the rest of the summer? Or what if things go wrong and she leaves?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“And not only is messing around with her a risk in terms of the job, but she’s just getting out of a terrible relationship. That guy was a real dick to her.”

“That’s why she needs you. Show her that not all guys are like that.”

“What if she’s not thinking straight? What if she’s just lonely and vulnerable and I’m the jerk that took advantage of her?”

Xander sighed. “Look, I don’t know her that well, but she doesn’t strike me as fragile.”

“She hides it well,” I said, remembering things she’d told me about her past.

My brother was quiet for a minute, staring out at the garage. “I don’t know, dude. Maybe I’m not reading the signals right. But from where I’m sitting, she’s into you, you’re into her, and you both seem like you could use a good time with someone you trust. That’s all.”

Xander had hit on something—Veronica trusted me. Maybe that was the problem. I didn’t want to ruin it.

Leaning across me, he opened the glove box and pulled out a condom. “But for god’s sake, be careful this time.”

“I’m not going to sleep with her, Xander.”

But I took that condom with me.

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