Page 8 of Irresistible

Everyone laughs. Everyone except for me, that is. I’m too busy studying the pretty curve of Chloe’s neck to respond.

We reach the lake soon after. It’s a gorgeous, calm lake with houses dotted around it. Denise takes Will by the hand and walks him to the edge of the lake, where she crouches down and helps him pick out some rocks to toss into the water.

Will throws a couple rocks, letting out excited yelps as the stones create expanding rings of waves.

“Nice job, buddy,” says Rob. “You’ve got a good arm there.”

Will throws another few rocks in. Then he bends down, picks up a few more, but doesn’t throw the new ones. Instead, he walks over to Chloe and holds one out.

“Is that for me?” she asks.

“Uh huh,” says Will.

“Thanks, sweetie.” Chloe takes the rock from him and rubs her thumb over it. “Do you want me to throw it?”

Will shakes his head. “No. Keep it, Auntie. It’s special.”

“Ah,” says Chloe, smiling. “Gotcha.” Then she bends down and gives Will a kiss on the cheek. And seeing her act like that, so maternal and sweet…I don’t know. Itdoessomething to me. It makes me fall for her in a whole other way.

I know this might sound crazy, especially considering my disinterest in marriage or kids, but in this moment it’s like getting a little flash of what life could be like with Chloe—with her as my wife. As the mother of my child.

And it feels so damn perfect.

After a little while longer, we all turn around and head back the way we came. The hike feels shorter on the way back. By the time we return to the house, there’s a collective happy exhaustion among all of us. Chloe’s mom fixes some warm drinks, puts out leftovers for everyone to graze on for lunch, and we all casually lounge around the house.

The rest of the day is equally nice and relaxed. We play some board games, eat more leftovers, even play a game of freakin’ charades. And every time I look over at Chloe, I feel an overwhelming need to be with her.

I want to kiss her. I want to pleasure her. I want to be with her in the most intimate of ways. But I want to protect her, too. Worship her. Be her one and only—and have her be mine.

This whole time, I’d thought that love and marriage and all of that stuff wasn’t for me.

But now I know I was wrong.

I just hadn’t met the right girl.

Chapter Six

Chloe

The knock on my door comes late at night, after everyone has gone to sleep. I instantly know it’s Austin. I can feel his big presence on the other side of the door. I can feel hisneed.

I’ve been lying in bed, waiting for him. I knew there was a chance he wouldn’t come. We haven’t spoken all day. But I’ve felt his eyes on me. I’ve felt the heat of his gaze.

Ever since Austin almost kissed me last night, he’s all I can think about. And those fantasies I had last night no longer feel so crazy.

He wants me. I want him.

We shouldn’t. But I think we’re going to anyway.

I slide out from beneath my bedsheets and quietly pad over to the door. Wrapping my hand around the doorknob, I slowly turn it and crack open the door. As soon as I see that it’s Austin, I open it further and he steps into my room.

I hastily—but still quietly—close the door behind him. The moment the door softly clicks shut, Austin cages my body with his against the door. His warmth surrounds me. His mouth angles and dips to mine. Wordlessly, he presses his firm, smooth lips to my own.

Time seems to stop as he kisses me. Then his tongue slides between my lips and into my mouth. I moan softly as he deepens the kiss.

I run my hands up his chest, feeling his taut muscles through his shirt. I wish he would take his shirt off. No, scratch that: I wish he would takeallof his clothes off. I want to feel his naked body against mine.

Suddenly, though, Austin is pulling his mouth away from mine. He looks at me with dark, heated eyes.