My heart thumped in my chest. He had caught me staring at him. At first, I had intended for the teasing to be nothing more than payback for the abrupt kiss in front of Mavis, but now, I wasn’t so sure.

I wanted him.

The cartoon ended. “Can I watch another, Mommy?” Kimmy asked.

“Sure, but just one more and then you have to go to bed, okay?”

She nodded, her hands clasped around her ankles as she sat cross-legged, leaning forward slightly, her eyes wide, drinking in the colorful characters.

I did my best to focus on the television, but the fact that Emil was sitting so close had me a little unnerved. I wanted to keep him at arm’s length but at the same time, I wanted nothing more than to rest my head on his shoulder. There was just something about him that made my heart race like none other.

It didn’t make any sense. I was rational. Logical. Yet I yearned for a man who would only cause me trouble. But sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.

* * *

About a half hour later, I guided Kimmy to bed, holding up the covers as she shimmied underneath.

“Can you read me a bedtime story?” she asked, giving me puppy dog eyes.

“You’re already past your bedtime, sweetie. Not tonight.”

Kimmy frowned.

“Aww, come on. Are you really going to deny her a bedtime story?” Emil appeared at the door, leaning against the frame, his arms crossed over his chest. He looked like a typical bad boy, and yet I knew, deep down, that he had a hidden soft side.

That side came into full view as he walked up to Kimmy’s bookshelf, pulling out a bright pink storybook. He sat down on the edge of her bed and began to read about a fairy princess and her frog prince. His soothing voice quickly put her to sleep, but still, he continued to read, as if lost in the tale.

At the end, he closed the book and smiled. Without a word, he placed it back on the shelf and left the room.

I kissed the top of Kimmy’s head and turned out the lights before following after him.

He was already shirtless by the time I walked into the guest room. He turned around, his abs rippling underneath his skin.

My breath hitched in my throat at the sight of him, my eyes wandering along his muscular physique as my mind conquered up what he must look like without the rest of his clothes on.

He smirked. “May I help you?”

I gulped down my lust and took a moment to clear my head before I stepped forward. “I need some answers.”

“Oh?” He tilted his head in question.

“Why did you choose a life of crime? From what I can tell, you aren’t all that bad. If you were, I wouldn’t let you anywhere near my daughter. You treat her with kindness. You saved me from getting ran over. I don’t get it. All the reports of you said you were a hardened criminal.”

“I am.”

“You don’t seem like one,” I insisted.

“Looks can be deceiving,” he said. “No one would look at you and think you served in the army.”

I blushed slightly. “Still.”

He sat down on his bed, placing a hand on the spot next to him and beckoning me to join him.

I hesitated, fearing that I would lose my resolve if I got too close to him. In the end, however, I sat down. Our knees touched, and I was acutely aware of the warmth radiating from his body. A part of me just wanted to end this silly charade and follow my heart, but still, I held back.

“I suppose I chose a life of crime because I felt like I had no other option.”

I listened to him, promising myself that I would not interrupt until he was completely done with his story.

“When I was discharged from the SEALs, I felt like a failure. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I tried to get a job, but no one wanted to hire me. I fell on some pretty hard times, and with no money to pay rent, I found myself on the streets. One night, someone offered me fifty bucks to work as a bouncer at this nightclub. I ended up breaking up a pretty gruesome fight. Got thirteen stitches right above my eyebrow.” He paused to point out the faint scar he still had there. I had never noticed it.

Without thinking, I reached forward and touched it, my fingertips lightly tracing over it.

He didn’t move, giving me the chance to do as I wished.

As our eyes locked, I could feel something inside of me change. I felt sympathy for this man like I hadn’t before. I had been so righteous in my position that I had naively believed that all criminals chose their path. “Then what…?” I asked, my voice soft.

“Well, I kept getting jobs. I didn’t care who hired me, so long as they paid. I was just glad to have a roof over my head. Then… I met Stacey. At first, everything was perfect. She was an amazing fuck. We had a lot of fun, but I soon learned that we weren’t meant for each other. I was just using her as a placeholder for the pain I didn’t want to face. That’s why I treated her so poorly. I’m…” he paused. “I’m glad she found someone who could treat her right.”

“What about you…?” I whispered.

“Me?” He laughed. “There’s really no hope for me. No one wants a guy like me in their lives. I’d only cause them trouble.” His eyes darkened, depression painting his face.

It felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces. I knew he was telling the truth. Gently, I took his hands in mine, squeezing them gently.

“Well, I do.”