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“Kelsey is going to flip out if she ever finds out what happened between us.”

“She might. But she also might realize you’re a grown man who needs some companionship,” he says. “I mean, it’s been a long time since Evie passed, and you haven’t even been on a date since.”

I shrug. “My focus was on the job and on raising my daughter.”

“Right. And now your daughter is grown. She’s a strong, intelligent woman, so maybe it’s time for you to take care of yourself for a change. And maybe you’re not giving her enough credit. Maybe she’ll be okay with it.”

I wince. “Yeah, I’m not so sure about that. I mean, it’s her friend.”

“And you are all adults,” Mo says.

“Not sure that’s going to make a difference.”

Mo turns and stares at me for a long moment. “Tell me something,” he finally says. “Do you like this girl? I mean, is it more than just a physical thing?”

Having been on the verge of a meltdown over sleeping with her, it’s a question I haven’t given a lot of thought to. But I think I recognize that there’s something different about Morgan. She’s sexy as hell, of course. But she’s intelligent. Kind. Funny. There’s something about her I feel connected to. I don’t understand it, but whenever I’m around her, I feel something stirring inside of me. And it’s not just a desire to fuck her. It’s something deeper.

I shake my head, trying to push those thoughts away. Those kinds of thoughts are dangerous. They’ll lead me down a path I shouldn’t dare step foot on. Most of all because everything is so jumbled in my head right now. Like Mo said, I haven’t been with anybody in a really long time, and part of me wonders if I’m confusing the desire I feel for Morgan with something more simply because she’s paying attention to me. Because she wants me. It’s an easy thing to confuse, and the last thing I want to do is launch into something, then figure out it’s not what I really want. I don’t want to hurt Morgan.

“If you care about this girl, then why not pursue it?” Mo pushes. “You’re both adults. You’re both capable of making your own decisions.”

We’re both adults. It’s ironic simply because it’s something I said to Morgan when encouraging her to use my first name. I have to admit, hearing her call me Mr. Hooper while we were fucking felt filthy and incredibly hot at the same time. He’s right. We are both adults and capable of making our own decisions about who we spend time with. In theory, it shouldn’t be an issue, but for the fact that my daughter is her best friend.

“Kelsey will understand,” Mo says as if reading my mind. “I know for a fact that she wants you to be happy, bro. I do too, if I’m being honest. Maybe if you’re getting laid on the regular, you won’t be such a dick sometimes.”

I laugh. “Thanks for that.”

“Seriously, if you care for this girl, pursue her. We only get so many chances to be happy,” he says. “Don’t let this one pass you by.”

“Thanks, Mo.”

“I got you, bro. Always.”

He’s given me a lot to think about. A lot to process. Even as it all spins around in my mind, and I consider pursuing something with Morgan, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to overcome the biggest hurdle.

My daughter.

7

MORGAN

“Dammit,” I mutter, pushing away from the table.

It’s hard to focus on this stinking paper I have to do when my mind is running wildly with the memories of being with Mr. Hooper in his office. All I have to do is close my eyes and I shudder, feeling his kiss, his hands on my body, and his long, thick cock so deep inside me. If I knew it was going to be like a drug and that I’d be suffering from withdrawal after not hearing from him for a couple of days, I might have reconsidered seducing him.

Okay, probably not, but still. There’s a small piece of me that’s a little hurt he hasn’t called. I think that piece expected that he, too, would be jonesing for another hit of what I have. That he’d be suffering the same kind of withdrawal that has me shaking and sweating like a fiend. At the very least, I’d been hoping he’d call just to check in on me or something. I don’t know.

It’s stupid, I know. I told him it was people who overcomplicate things, and here I am, overcomplicating them. I know I gave him the impression it was a casual, one-off sort of deal. He can’t beblamed for believing me when my actions all implied this was a no-strings-attached, good-time-only fling. That’s the impression I wanted to leave him with, so he wouldn’t feel pressured to act in a certain way with me. And to alleviate him of any guilt he might have. What I didn’t factor into my grand plan is who will alleviate my guilt?

I betrayed Kelsey by sleeping with her father. I promised her I wouldn’t do anything with Mr. Hooper, and the minute she goes out of town, I seduce him. I’m a terrible friend. I’m a horrible human being. But this is something I’ve dreamed of and fantasized about for so long, I just couldn’t help myself. I couldn’t deny myself what I wanted. And now, because of my lack of restraint, I am burdened by my guilt.

A knock at the door draws my attention, thankfully pushing all those thoughts to the back of my mind. At least for the moment. I walk to the door, and when I open it, my heart immediately leaps into my throat as my stomach lurches so hard it’s painful.

“Mr. Hooper,” I say. “W-what are you doing here?”

“We need to talk, Morgan.”

“Um. Yeah, okay.”