Page 17 of Winning the Dad

I had barely closed the door behind me when a knock came, so I yanked it open again. “Is it okay I’m here?”

Laughing, I pulled Jack inside. “Can’t believe you would even ask.”

He kissed me, but softly, almost tenderly. As if that fire that had burned so brightly between us had simmered down, still with the potential to roar back into flames but now content to smolder.

“If I’m gonna spend another night here, I want to grab my stuff,” Jack said after a few minutes.

“You might as well cancel your room for that last night. If your reservation was refundable, that may save you one night’s fee.”

“You’d be okay with that?”

“Of course.”

“You don’t think you’ll tire of me before then? Because if you do, I won’t have anywhere to go.”

I had to force myself not to say too much, to blurt out what was in my heart. That I never wanted him to leave and that if he did, I wanted to come with him. “I’m certain, Jack.”

His expression softened. “It won’t be easy to say goodbye on Monday.”

My throat tightened. “So let’s focus on the time we have together.”

“Yeah.” He leaned in for a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.”

It hurt to see him go, even for a few minutes. Which made no sense at all. Why was I getting so attached to this man? Sure, any illusion he was nothing more than a hookup had long since vanished, but still. I shouldn’t want him this much. Need him this much. Hell, I shouldn’tfeelthis much.

But I did. And if I couldn’t make myself un-feel it, I needed to take care that Jack wouldn’t pick up on it. He sensed the sparks between us, that much I was certain of, but he couldn’t be interested in more. I was his first experience with a man, and having sex is one thing, but a relationship? That was a few levels up, and he might not be ready.

And that was aside from the not-insignificant complication that our sons were married. I couldn’t imagine telling Lucas I had fallen for his father-in-law. What if he got upset with me? What if he never wanted to speak to me again? I wasn’t willing to pay that price.

While I waited for Jack to return, I changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a polo shirt. And then I paced, not knowing what to do with myself and all these big emotions inside me. Maybe I should try to work out in the hotel gym, blow off some steam, get rid of this strange tension.

As soon as Jack knocked, I yanked open the door. He stood in the hallway with his suitcase, his jacket over his arm, and asmall backpack on his back. How could this wall of a man look adorable? I had no clue, but he did. I stepped aside and let him in.

He unpacked his suitcase and hung his clothes next to mine. Our underwear in the same drawer and our toothbrushes next to each other on the bathroom sink stirred a longing I hadn’t felt since Justin had left.

When he’d finished, he put his empty suitcase in the closet, closed the door, and walked up to me. “Done,” he said softly.

“It looks good. Your things next to mine.” I shouldn’t have said it, but I couldn’t hold back the words.

“Sawyer…”

I held up my hands. “Focus on the now. I know.” I had to follow my own advice. If I allowed myself to think about us parting ways, I’d fucking lose it. I had to enjoy every minute with this amazing man. So I took a deep breath and a step closer to him. “I still owe you a blowjob.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Are you kidding me? I want to. Will you let me?”

His eyes drilled into mine, and I loved that he didn’t take my word for it but wanted to make sure I meant it. “Yeah.” It had come out husky, and he cleared his throat. “If you insist.”

We both chuckled, which relieved some of the tension. Jack reached for me, and I went willingly, offering him my mouth. The kiss was soft, gentle, as if our souls connected on a deeper level. Or maybe that was me wishing it was so.

I shoved that thought down and focused on Jack’s lips against mine, the scratch of his beard, the tender way his big, rough hands touched me, and I poured myself into the kiss. We kept kissing as we made our way to the bed, only letting go of each other to discard our clothes.

“On your back, big guy,” I said. Jack obediently stretched out before me in all his naked glory. What a sight.

I had such a fascination with his upper body. I’d never considered myself a chest man—I’d always been partial to asses—but with Jack, I loved it. The broad line of his shoulders. The bulging curves of his biceps. The bulky muscles of his pecs. How everything rippled when he lifted me effortlessly. And the softness of his stomach, the roundness he didn’t have anywhere else.

I let my hand slide down his chest. “I love your body.”