Afterward, we lie sated in each other’s arms.
Like I said, a perfect fucking morning.
I kiss her tit as she lies there gazing up at nothing—not to start anything again, just because she’s close, and I can’tnotkiss her when I have a chance.
I shouldn’t even be able to want her again, but it’s like that first night.
Every taste makes me hungrier for her.
I’ve experienced lust plenty of times, certainly enough to know that’s not what this is. It’s something different. Something deeper.
Something that’s going to make the next year of my life nearly unbearable if she continues to insist on not dating me.
And she will. Gemma might be soft and malleable in some ways, but she’s also the sneakiest kind of stubborn. She’s got it in her head that she needs to spend this year with Parker, and I’ve got it inmyhead that she needs to spend the year with me.
There’s only one way to get both of us what we want, and I’m going to have to lawyer my ass off to make it happen.
“I’ve been thinking about Parker and Landon, our situation with them.”
Gemma looks up at me.
“I think the best thing to do is deal with it head-on. Yeah, we can spend this year keeping them apart, but that’s not a solid permanent solution.”
“It isn’t?”
I shake my head. “See, I’m gonna marry you, and I know you’ll want Parker back here every chance you get once she goes off to college. It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to keep Landon away for all of those same occurrences. Not impossible, and if it comes to that, then it comes to that, but obviously, that is not how Iwantthe future to unfold.”
“You’re saying a lot of things.”
I pretend not to know which part she objects to. “What? You don’t want Parker to come home all the time?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not marrying you.”
“Yes, you are. We just discussed it last night, remember.”
“You’re confused. I said I’d marry your cock, notyou.”
“I’m afraid we’re a package deal.”
She wrinkles her nose up as if disappointed. “Aw, really?”
I crack a smile and look out at the water. “Anyway, once we’re married, Landon and Parker will have to see each other from time to time. It’s all but inevitable. Parker also seems willing to make peace with Landon for the sake of our relationship as long as he’s willing to do the same.”
“You’ve spoken with her about this?”
“I have. I wanted to feel her out, see if he’d eaten away at all of her goodwill or if there was a chance we could broker peace between them.” I glance down at her, noting her lack of enthusiasm for my plan. “I understand that she’s your daughter, and you’re protective of her. I’ll be protective of her, too, I promise. But Landon is my son. Flawed though he may be, I still love him. I won’t allow his bad behavior to endanger your daughter, but if we can all come to an understanding, I think that would be a lot better.”
Gemma sighs. “Don’t you think it’s a little late for that? I mean, with the cops and the arrest…”
I’m not eager to share this tidbit. “About that…”
Her gaze shifts to mine warily. “What?”
“Parker took back her statement.”
Gemma’s brown eyes widen, fury sparking in them as she clutches the blanket against her bare chest and sits up. “What?”
“We can all agree that Landon has to be dealt with. But this… this is a family matter, and I’d rather handle it personally than in the legal system. What he did was a felony, Gemma. I can’t let my son start his life out as a felon.”