Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 32

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

(Sabrina’s POV)

I sigh, and open the door.

+25 Points

Jason is leaning against the frame, looking tired and frustrated and still somehow perfect. His hair is messy like he’s been running his hands through it. His shirt is wrinkled. There are shadows under

his eyes.

“Hi,” he says.

“Hi.”

We stare at each other for a long moment.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

I want to say no. The logical part of my brain still functioning even at the sight of his handsome face knows being alone in a closed space with a man I clearly have a crush on will not be a good

idea.

But the stupider, more sluggish part of my brain overpowers the rational one, and I step aside, giving him permission to enter.

He walks in, and suddenly my cabin feels much smaller. He’s too big, too present, too everything. The air feels charged, like a thunderstorm about to happen.

And his scent…oh god…the scent of his familiar cologne makes me recall heated flashes of our night on the deck.

Yeah. Definitely not a smart move.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Jason asks again, turning to face me.

“I’m not-”

“Sabrina.”

“Fine. Yes. I’ve been avoiding you.” I cross my arms, defensive. “Is that what you want to hear?”

“I want to hear why.”

He must be out of his mind if he thinks I’m going to share that.

The thought barely forms in my mind when I feel his fingers grip my chin, lifting my head to force

me to meet his gaze.

:

D

D

1.4

G

|||

O

<

Chapter 24

“I’m not used to being ignored, Sabrina. Tell me. Why are you avoiding me?”

“Why? Are you seriously asking me that right now?”

“Yes, I’m seriously asking. So tell me.”

+25 Points

“Because!” I snap, “I kissed you. I kissed a man I barely know. On the first night of meeting him. While my divorce isn’t even final. While my entire life is a disaster. And now I don’t know how to-I

can’t just-”

I’m flailing now, my words tripping over each other. He’s watching me with that intense look that makes me forget how to breathe.

“I don’t know how to face you,” I finally manage. “After that. After I basically threw myself at you in

the middle of a restaurant.”

“You didn’t throw yourself at me. We kissed each other.”

“Same difference.” I snap.

Jason just chuckles. I don’t know what’s so amusing. But he definitely seems to be having fun at

my expense.

Should’ve known men couldn’t be trusted.

He’s close enough now that I have to tilt my head back to look at him. Close enough that I can smell his cologne, see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes.

“You think us kissing each other is the same as you throwing yourself at me?” His voice is low, rough. “But as far as I know, one is a mutual expression of attraction. While the other one is forced,

and one-sided.”

“Is it? I wouldn’t know.” It’s not like I have experience in the field.

But now that he’s mentioned it, does Jason have…

I stare at him, wondering how many women threw themselves at him in the past. Because with his looks, I doubt he was ever the one throwing himself at others.

“So let’s get to know each other. That’s what dating is.”

“I can’t date right now. I’m a mess. My life is a mess, My ex-husband is trying to take my son, I just started a new job, I’m living with my best friend because I don’t have a home anymore-”

“Breathe…” His hand comes up, fingers brushing my cheek so gently I almost don’t feel it. “I know you feel overwhelmed. But you can’t do everything at once. We’ll take it one at a time, okay?”

“We?” Where did this ‘we’ come from?

2.4

|||

O

<

<Chapter 24

+25 Points

“We.” His thumb traces my jaw, and I shiver. “I’m also surprised. I didn’t expect to become this

invested in you, Sabrina. But I promise. I’m serious about dating you. I want to see where this will gò. I can promise that right now, in this moment, I want to know you. The real you. Not the wife you were or the employee you were or the mother you are. Just you, Sabrina Moore.”

My breath catches. No one’s ever said anything like that to me before. Does he really like me? But we’ve only known each other for three days.

“I don’t think whatever this is between us is real,” I admit.

“You don’t know that.”

He’s so close now. Close enough that if I just lean forward-

He’s cupping my face now with both hands, and I can’t think straight.

“Jason-”

“Let me take you on a real date. Tomorrow. Our last day. Let me show you that this-whatever this is between us-is worth exploring.”

I want to say no. Why start something if it’s only going to end. Better not to start at all and save myself the heartbreak.

But when I open my mouth, what comes out isn’t the no I want to say, but “One date and that’s it. If it doesn’t work, we go our separate ways.”

“Deal.”

We’re still standing too close. His hands are still on my face. His eyes drop to my mouth, and I see the exact moment he makes the decision.

“Jason, I think maybe I like you but this is happening too fast and I don’t know if this is real or just sexual attraction and I-”

The rest of my words end up in my belly, as his lips seal mine, silencing me.

His kiss isn’t gentle like I expected. Not tentative. But hungry, desperate, like he’s been holding back for days.

His mouth moves over mine with devastating accuracy, and I make an embarrassing sound-half moan, half whimper-that only makes him kiss me harder. His hands slide into my hair, angling my head for better access, and I grab his shirt to keep from melting into a puddle.

This kiss is nothing like our first one. That was sweet, romantic, fueled by wine and moonlight.

This is fire and need and something that feels dangerous in an R-rated way.

34

OG

|||

O

<

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify