Page 4 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version

Damn it. Stop gawking at this man.

Addy also wakes. She blinks open her dark blue eyes—she has Reynold’s eyes—and sits up, rubbing them with her tiny fists. He fixes the wayward red curls sticking up all over her hair and my ovaries burst at the sight. Which I find odd since I’ve never put much thought into having kids. But seeing this man be so caring towards his daughter has my stomach fluttering and my brain filling with thoughts of a family.

Is he married? I didn’t see a ring on his finger. Where’s Adeline’s mother? Questions that are far too personal for me to ask someone I just met, no matter how desperate I am for answers.

Noses are for smelling, not for sticking in places they don’t belong.

Addy whines she needs to use the restroom. She seems grumpy, but maybe that’s because she just woke up. I get it. I love sleeping and hate getting out of a comfy bed to be productive. I stand so Reynold can herd her out of the row. His arm brushes against my breast when he passes, and I stifle a whimper.

Get it together, Savvy. Are you so touch starved that a simple graze of an arm turns you on?

It doesn’t help that the man smells like fucking heaven—woodsy with hints of a spice. I don’t know what it is, but I want to bury my nose in his neck and inhale until I pass out.

Reynold and Adeline return a few minutes later. The little girl’s grumpiness has vanished, and she has just as much energy as before she fell asleep.

“What’s your favorite animal?”

“I’d say a cat. They’re jerks, but adorable jerks.”

Her face lights up. “Cats are cool, but I really want a puppy. Dad won’t let me get one. He says I’m not old enough and they’re too much responsibility.”

“Well, that’s not very nice now, is it?”

I don’t miss another glare Reynold shoots my way. I bite my lip to stop myself from smiling because now I’m doing it on purpose. This man turns me on just by existing and the horniness has me wanting to misbehave so I can beg him to discipline me.

The way a fire lights in his eyes as he stares at my mouth makes me wonder if he’s thinking the same thing.

“No. Not nice at all.” Addy crosses her arms with a humph.

“Flight attendants, please prepare for landing,” the pilot announces, and I tense.

“Landing is the worst,” Addy says.

“Yeah,” I breathe out.

Addy grabs Reynold by the wrist and extends his right arm towards me. “Dad, you hold Savvy’s hand this time.”

“Addy...”

The plane rocks and rattles and I take Reynolds’s hand, threading my fingers with his.

“That’s quite the grip you have there, Savannah,” he grits out. “Perhaps you could refrain from digging your nails into my knuckles?”

“Shit,” I whisper and relent my crushing brace. “Sorry.”

“Savvy, you said a bad word. Anytime my dad says a bad word, he pays me a dollar.”

I puff out a laugh, her tiny chipmunk voice easing my anxiety.

“Start me a tab.”

“What does that mean?”

I shake my head. “Never mind.”

The plane makes its descent, and within twenty minutes, we’re on the ground. It was a rough landing that had me closing my eyes and holding my breath until we’re smoothly coasting down the runway.

“Savannah, we’re here,” Reynold says softly.