I don’t fuck up often. Hardly ever in fact. But when I do, it’s hard as hell to admit. This morning, though, I fucked up, and I can’t stop thinking about how damn sad she looked. I thought I could sleep with her and move on. Keep things fun. Rowan wants more than a nice lay in bed. She wants everything.

Just like Julia.

My chest aches at the thought of her. Anytime memories of her bleed into my everyday life, I want to take a blade and cut them all out. It’s not fair. It’s not fair that I gave her a piece of me no one ever got, and she threw it all away. Her accusations were fucking ridiculous, but she spoke as though she had proof. The horror and utter heartbreak in her eyes still haunts me to this day.

The same goddamn look Rowan gave me this morning.

What if she leaves me too?

Instead of feeling angry or annoyed, I feel uneasy. Like I might puke my fucking guts up. Rowan is under my skin. She’s been there for years. I’ve just finally scratched at that itch. Problem is, she’s contagious. The pretty little thing is going to spread and spread until she infects every part of me. Including my heart. Especially my heart. Ultimately my heart.

“Who killed your puppy?” Levi questions from across the boardroom table.

I snap my attention to that smug motherfucker. He wears a smirk and is slightly disheveled. I know what he’s been up to. Dirty bastard. “Camden is allergic to animals,” I blurt out, no inflection in my tone. Then, I turn my attention to my best friend. “Trevor, I need a property. The cutest damn one you have.”

“Do what now?” Trevor asks, a dark brow lifted in question. He looks fucking ridiculous today in a shitty pair of flip flops and his four-thousand-dollar Armani suit. I want to thump him upside his hard head and order him to go buy some goddamn real shoes. Instead, I huff and pin him with a hard stare.

“I need a property. Now.”

“You’re a fucking riot,” Levi says, snorting with laughter.

I offer him my middle finger, but my attention is on Trevor. “Please,” I utter under my breath.

At my one word, Trevor sits up and starts thumbing through his phone. “What square footage? I’m assuming beachfront. Are hardwoods a must?”

Trevor is really weird about his properties, but I’ve never asked this man for a thing besides his brain. And that’s probably why he’s already on the hunt for, no doubt, the best home he can find me.

“It doesn’t have to be big. Quaint. Newer with all the amenities. Fully furnished if possible.” I rub at the tension forming on the back of my neck. “I need it now.”

“A. Fucking. Riot.” Levi’s repeated words earn him the bird again.

“I think I saw Kristyn flirting with that new mail guy,” I mutter.

Trevor and I both laugh when Levi jerks to his feet and stalks from the boardroom.

“Asshole,” I grunt.

Trevor holds up his phone. “This one okay?”

I scroll through the pictures and give him a nod. “When can I get the keys?”

“Follow me to my office and it’s yours.”

And just like that, I’m the proud owner of the yellow bungalow on 22 Seaside Lane.

* * *

I wait in the parking lot of the high school in a shiny red convertible Mustang with the top down. I’ve long since lost my jacket and tie and have rolled my sleeves up to my elbows. She will have to forgive me. I come bearing gifts.

All the kids look the same. A blur of teenage acne, skinny jeans, and cell phones glued to hands. I pick out my own kids as they stroll to their cars. Camden even waves at me as he and Nixon follow after Brock. But it isn’t until Rowan walks out of the building with a busty redhead that everything seems to sharpen. Her brown hair is straight down her back and she hugs her school books to her ample chest. The skirt she’s wearing shows off her slender legs and I want to spend the evening marking them with my teeth. As though she can feel me checking her out, her chin lifts and our eyes meet. Instead of the embarrassed, flushed look she gives me, I get a bitchy glare.

I climb out of the car and whistle at her. “Get in the car, Rowan.”

“Fuck you, Mr. Pearson,” she yells back. She flips me off and continues walking with her friend. The redhead stares at me with bright eyes and crimson cheeks. She’ll make some man happy with those dick-sucking lips. But there’s only one pair of lips I want around my cock, and those lips belong to Rowan Wheeler.

“Little girl,” I bellow. “Don’t make me do this in front of everyone.”

She stops and glowers at me. “Do what?”

“You know what.” I lift a brow and flash her a smug grin.

Her eyes narrow before she lets out a huff and tosses her hair over her shoulder. Without another word, she walks off away from me. Her ass is delectable, and it belongs to me—not all the dickheads practically salivating after her. With a growl, I stalk after her. Her friend lets out a squeal when I near them. I hook an arm around Rowan’s waist and pull her against me.

“You’re a bad girl,” I murmur against her hair near her ear.

She squirms and fights against me. Her books clatter to the concrete as she tries to get away. “Leave me alone!”

Several kids stare at me in confusion. They all know who I am. Everyone knows who I am. Which is why nobody does shit. I’ve just staked my claim in front of the entire school. Bending over, I fold her over my shoulder. She screams and hits my lower back with her fists.

“Stop it!” I roar, slapping her thigh below the hem of her skirt.

She cries out and kicks again, so I smack her again. “I hate you,” she hisses, venom dripping from her words.

Ignoring her, I storm back over to the Mustang and toss her inside. Wisely, she doesn’t try to escape. Instead, she crosses her arms over her plump tits and stares ahead, ignoring me altogether. I fall into the driver’s seat and buckle her in before doing the same. Then, I peel out past the buses and nearly mow down another blob of teenagers who all look the same. It isn’t until I’m out on the main road that I relax. Once I get her into bed, I’ll calm her ass back down. I know just what she needs.

“I’m sorry.”

She tenses in her seat. I reach over and pull her arm away from her chest. She doesn’t protest when I thread her fingers with mine and pull our conjoined hands to rest on my thigh.

I don’t give her any more words until we pull into the driveway of the yellow bungalow on Seaside Lane. As soon as I shut off the car, I let out a sigh. “I don’t do feelings well,” I admit, my voice low.

She turns her head and looks at me with curiosity beneath her thick lashes.

“In case you can’t tell, I’m a guarded person,” I deadpan.

Her giggles have me relaxing a bit more. “You don’t say.”

“You are so perfect. I want you so badly. It’s too much for me to handle. My instinct is to shut down because I can’t go down that road again.” I frown as I regard her. “But the moment I convince myself I’m just fucking around with a hot-ass teenager, I want to laugh at myself. I’m not just fucking around. I like you too much. And not just for your tight little body but for your sweet smiles and laughter. I just enjoy being around you.”

Her nose turns pink and she blinks away tears. “You hurt my feelings today.”

A slice of pain rips at my chest. She’s already inside me. I’ll never get her out. Not that I want to. It just isn’t happening, so I need to stop fighting it.

“I’m sorry, Ro.”

She flashes me a brilliant smile. “Ro?”

“It’s cute. Like you. Like your house.” I wave at the bungalow.

Her dark brows pinch together. “My house?”

I climb out of the car and walk over to her side. When I open the door for her, she frowns as she stands. I grab her tiny waist and haul her against me. Her firm tits press against my chest. It works like magic to get my dick hard. I’ll have her naked soon. Very soon.

“With the boys and your father, we can’t have the time I’d like us to. Here, you can come after school and I’ll meet you after work. When you’re in college, you can live here instead of the dorms. We can spend time together in private.” I feel like a pussy for even suggesting such shit, but the bright smile on her lips tells me it’s exactly what she wants.

“You got us a house?” she asks in astonishment.

“And that car is yours too,” I tell her with a smirk.

She slaps at my chest in a playful way. “No way!”

I slide my palms to her ass and kiss her forehead. “I’m sorry I acted like a dick, Rowan. I can’t get enough of you. I know I’ll fuck up some more, but don’t be so quick to give up on me. It’s not like you’ll get away anyhow. I’ll find you, angel. I’ll always find you.”

Scooping her into my arms, I revel in her youthful squeal. I tote her over to the house I spent the day stocking with necessities. Her lips press against my cheek when I carry her over the threshold.

“This is crazy,” she says with a giggle. “What will I tell my father?”

I set her to her feet in the middle of the living room. “Tell him you got a job babysitting and it’ll require some overnights and weekends.”

She marvels at the nice home. It’s not as fancy as either of our homes in town, but it’s hard to beat the beach. The house is cute, just like I requested. Trevor didn’t disappoint. I know it makes him mental to give me one of his many, many houses, but he’d do anything for me. I don’t ask a lot of him and I’m happy he came through.

“Can I look around, or are we…?” she trails off and bites her lip.

“Oh, angel, we’re going to fuck. I’m going to fuck you on every surface of this house. But for now, look around and get comfortable. I want you to feel at home here.”

She throws her arms around my neck, then wraps her legs around my waist. Her lips attack mine as she playfully kisses me. This girl is the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen. I chuckle against her mouth.

“I take it you like it?”

“I love it,” she breathes. “Thank you.”

“I really am sorry,” I tell her softly.

She hugs me tighter. “I know. You’re forgiven.”