That girl is going to be the death of me.

I don’t know what the fuck I’m thinking hitting on her right in the kitchen like that. Julia wasn’t home, but still, I had no fucking shame at all. I wasn’t even being subtle about it.

The strangest part of it though was the fact that she didn’t seem to mind. If anything, she was a little embarrassed, but she wasn’t walking way or disgusted.

In fact, she was watching me. As I was working out, I know she was watching me. I sensed her standing there the second she walked into the doorway. I didn’t want to stop or look over for fear of spooking her. I wanted her to get a nice little show.

Which of course is stupid of me. Julia is not a stupid woman. She’s going to notice that something is happening sooner or later. Maybe she already realizes it and she doesn’t care, but I can’t bank on that. I have to assume that she’ll be appalled if she ever realizes that I’m really here for Sydney.

I can’t help myself. Sydney is just so fucking beautiful, and she doesn’t even seem to realize it. The way she blushes and stutters when she’s embarrassed is beyond attractive. I’ve never felt this much desire for a woman before in my life.

Too bad she’s totally off limits. I’m going to have to get my shit together.

After my shower, I decide to head over to the school and patrol the grounds. It’s Saturday, which means the place is pretty empty, but at least I’m not stuck at home imagining would it would be like to have Sydney.

The day passes slowly, and eventually I have to head back home. Or at least back to the house. It’s not really my home. Julia is paying for my apartment, so I guess I could escape to there if I ever want to. But I do need to get used to living with Sydney and Julia if this whole fake marriage thing is going to work.

Julia’s car is in the driveway when I park. I get out of my truck and head inside. It’s around seven and the sun is down. Most of the lights are off inside.

“Honey?” I call out, heading upstairs. I get to the top of the steps and head toward our room when I nearly collide with someone.

“Shit,” I grunt. “I’m sorry.” I grab Sydney’s shoulders to make sure she doesn’t slam face-first into my chest.

“Oh,” she gasps, surprised.

“You okay?” I ask, releasing her.

She nods. “Yeah, fine.”

I look at her and feel my cock hardening in my pants immediately. She’s wearing only a bathrobe. It’s short, thin, and white, and really doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Her body looks incredible in it, and to top it all off, one of her shoulders is showing. I must have knocked the robe down when I grabbed her.

She glances at me and then crosses her arms under her breasts. She knows I’m looking at her body, and she probably knows what I’m thinking. She’s inches away from me in this small hallway, and I could easily have her right now. I know her pussy is dripping wet, I can see it in her eyes as she gazes up at me.

“I was going to shower,” she says softly, a little off-balance.

“I nearly knocked your clothes right off.”

She smiles and looks away, a little embarrassed. “That wouldn’t be so bad.”

Fucking hell. I have to hold back a groan. There can be absolutely no mistaking it: she’s fucking flirting right back with me. She wants it and I’m absolutely sure of it now.

All I have to do is reach out. I can touch her, press her against the wall, kiss her, feel her soaking clit. I can make her feel so fucking good.

But a new voice tears me from my desires.

“Connor?”

I look over and Julia is standing on the stairs, looking up at us.

“Hey, honey,” I say, stepping away from Sydney quickly. “I just bumped into Sydney here.”

“Shower time,” she says and quickly walks away, closing the bathroom door behind her.

Julia narrows her eyes but doesn’t say anything. “Come downstairs,” she says. “Let’s talk.”

My heart is hammering in my chest. Did she see that moment back there? If she did, there’s no mistaking it. She’s not blind. She knows that I want her daughter, and she probably realizes that her daughter wants me, too.

Maybe I’ve just fucked my chances at everything, all because I couldn’t control myself.

I follow Julia downstairs and we sit at the kitchen island. Julia pours herself a glass of wine and gets me a glass of whisky. When we have our drinks, she sits down.

“Let’s talk about my father,” she says.

I hesitate. “Now?” I ask.

“Of course, now.”

I sip my drink, getting my shit under control. Whether or not she noticed, that’s not the conversation she wants to have. So my execution is stayed, at least for now.

Though who knows how long I can keep doing this.

“What about him?” I ask.

“We need to go see him again soon,” Julia says. “My last conversation with Evan didn’t go very well. I suspect he’s been actively trying to poison us to father.”

I nod. “It’s not surprising.”

“No, it isn’t. But we need to figure out what he’s saying.”

“Does it matter?” I ask.

“Of course. We need to be able to counteract his narrative. Show my father you’re really a great guy.”

I sigh and nod. “Of course.”

“We’ll talk to my father in a few days. I hope you can get it out of him.”

“I can try.”

“Good. Tell more stories about your time in the military as well.”

“I don’t talk about that much.” I say softly.

“Then lie to him. Who cares? Just do it.” She watches me like a hawk.

I nod again. “Fine, I will. But we’ll need more time next visit.”

“I can make that happen.” She stands up. “By the way.” I pause, bracing myself. “I like what you did to the office. Or I guess it’s the gym now.”

I release a breath. “Glad you don’t mind.”

“You live here now, makes sense you’d get at least one room.”

“Thanks.”

She nods and walks off, heading back upstairs. I watch her go for a second before finally knocking back my whisky in one go. I get up and pour another, calming my nerves.

This is all so fucked up. I’m supposed to lie to some dying old man on top of the fact that I’m in a fake marriage. And of course I want to fuck my stepdaughter more than anything. I may be a SEAL, but I wasn’t trained for this sort of shit.

I’ll get through it. I always do. I just need to get it together and deal with the uncertainties.