Page 21 of Heat Stroked

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That’s what it feels like until our bubble bursts again, anyway.

The next morning, I’m naked, stretched out in bed between the two of them after learning the benefits of morning wood in a marathon love-making session when Roarke’s phone dings. That rarely happens.

He keeps one hand on me while he grabs the phone from the nightstand. Then his body goes stiff.

I roll to look up at him and mouth, “Is something wrong?”

He’s so focused on whatever’s on his screen, he doesn’t answer.

I shuffle to sitting and Bennett does the same. Roarke’s jaw flexes, and his entire expression is strained. He isn’t reading anymore, just deep in thought.

He finally says, “Madi got a last-minute offer and took a job in Peach Bottom Valley. She’ll be here tonight. She wants to move back home.”

Stunned silence follows his words.

I hug my knees to my chest and pull up the sheet to cover myself.

“You should let her,” I say.

“What will this mean for us?” Bennett asks.

“I’ll talk to her.” Roarke’s tone hints that he doubts this will go well, and I suspect he’s right. The last thing Madi will want is me hanging around…screwing her dad.

Bennett offers, “We can hang out at my place if she’s not comfortable with our arrangement.”

“She also said she wants to work on our relationship?”

“That’s good.” Jealousy nags at me that she wants to make amends with her dad who virtually ignored her, while she hasn’t texted me. If I had a dad worth anything, maybe I’d understand. But our little town isn’t that big. We’re bound to run into each other. It could be our chance to make amends too…if this thing with her dad doesn’t make her hate me completely.

Eight

Bennett

Tosaythatthetransition of Roarke’s daughter coming home doesn’t go smoothly is an understatement.

The very first night she’s home, she breaks up with her boyfriend by breaking his nose. The two-fold problem is that the now, ex-boyfriend goes to the hospital and raises suspicions about how his nose got broken, which has Roarke worried that the guy could press charges against Madi. A new teacher can’t afford to go around punching people if she wants to keep her job. It also has Roarke worried how it will affect his image.

The other issue is that I’m pretty sure Roarke is closer to the ex-boyfriend than he is to his daughter. This leaves his tension level high, his ability to talk to his daughter about our relationship low, and our time together limited. We’ve snuck in a few romps at the hospital, but the week is much less fun than we’d planned.

It’s midday Sunday and I convince Roarke to pick Caroline up and come over. The sight of her smiling face as she enters has my heart full. Now that I’ve experienced the benefits of having a personal life I’m addicted. And even though I work less, I’m more productive and more focused when I do.

Roarke sets grocery bags on the counter and unpacks them. Caroline had insisted they pick up a few things so we could eat without having to spend a lot of time cooking.

I grab her waist. “Come here, Sugar, I missed you.”

“We saw each other yesterday.” She fits into my arms perfectly.

“But I hadn’t seen you yet today. It’s already two o’clock and I don’t know which panties you chose.” I gather her skirt up but she swats my hand.

“It won’t kill you to wait. You’re just spoiled because we thought we could spend all of our time together then Roarke had to deal with silly family stuff.”

Roarke heads to the wet bar and pours drinks. “Sorry for making this week so difficult. My daughter seems to be settling in better. Hopefully, I helped her avert a scandal over her ex. We talked and I see her side now, but it doesn’t diminish the fallout that could have happened if she got arrested for assault. She could have lost her job, and shaming yourself like that in a small town is rough. I’ve worked too hard to be a pillar of this community.”

The monologue’s a touch defensive.

Caroline slinks out of my arms. It takes me a second to catch on but I realize she’s uneasy with Roarke’s talk of reputations. Does she think we care that she’s a waitress in the diner? We agreed she could keep her job, even though we didn’t want her to. Or is she worried he won’t ever go public about our relationship? He’s had one excuse after another not to tell his daughter.

I attempt to soften the blow. “But some things are worth risking your precious reputation, right?”


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