One Night with my Best Friend’s Dad (Forbidden Kisses #1)

5. Kelly

Chapter 5

Kelly

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart as Mac’s words echo in my mind. He wants me, and that has stirred up a whirlwind of emotions that I thought I’d buried since I returned from New York months ago.

I inhale deeply, remembering how long it took me to get over him.

Can I let my heart go again?

With my mind racing with indecision, there’s a part of me that wants to run, to avoid the complications that come with pursuing this relationship. But another part, a stronger part, yearns to give us a chance.

I rest my hand on my stomach and think of a future with Mac. Of Me, him, and our baby living in perfect bliss. But it won’t be.

Although the thought thrills me, it also scares me in equal measure, and I don’t know which is making my heart pound as I make my way to the restroom.

I catch my reflection in the mirror when I splash cold water on my face, and the woman staring back at me looks torn, scared, but I also see a dash of hope in her gaze.

And hope is all I need right now. I have to at least listen to what he has to say.

I take a deep breath, straighten my shoulders, my decision made.

Minutes later, I raise my hand, hesitating before knocking on the door. I chew on my lip as I tap and wait for him to answer.

The door creaks open and Mac smiles as he leans against the frame. There’s no surprise on his face, but there is something deeper flickering in his eyes.

“Kelly,” he breathes. “You came.”

I force a smile, but it feels like a mask that covers my state of mind. “Yeah.”

His gaze flickers to my stomach, then back to my face. The silence stretches between us, before he finally admits, “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

“I had to,” I say, feeling exposed all of a sudden, but this is about more than me now. “We need to talk.”

He pushes his hand through his hair, like he is suddenly unsure of himself.

“Can I come inside before someone sees us?” I push.

“Oh, yeah,” he nods slowly, stepping aside to let me in. The room smells faintly of his woody aftershave, dangerous but beautiful. A scent I remembered long after our tryst went wrong.

As I cross the threshold, I glance around his room before I stop near the edge of the bed.

When the door clicks shut, I shiver knowing we’re alone.

I turn around, Mac is running a hand through his hair like he’s unsure how to bridge the distance that has grown between us since that night.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said,” he starts, tucking his nervous hands into his pockets as if holding himself together. “About...the baby.”

My heart races at the reminder.

“Yeah? Me too,” I manage to say.

He steps closer, intensity radiating from him. “What do we do now?”

I swallow hard. “I don’t know.”

He lets out a soft chuckle that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Great.” His frustration hangs in the air like smoke from an extinguished fire.

“I mean…” I struggle for words that don’t sound foolish or desperate. I feel so young next to him. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. And I’m sorry.”

"Don't be." Mac takes another step forward, closing the space between us until I can feel the heat from his body warming mine. “It did happen and I'm glad.” His voice drops an octave as he looks down at me, searching my face.

“I’m scared,” I admit softly, vulnerability creeping into my tone. “I know it was wrong what we did, but—”

He runs a hand over his face again and sighs deeply.

“Piper never needs to know. I can give you progress reports on the baby—”

“Progress reports. My baby is not business, Kelly.” He turns, frustration clear in his slumped shoulders. “I may be too old for you, but I’m not too old to be a father. And I want to be a father.”

I stare up at Mac, stunned by his words.

My heart pounds as he cups my face in his calloused hands, his eyes burning with an intensity that steals my breath.

“I want you, Kelly. You can say no—” He hesitates and when he continues, his voice is rough like he started smoking cigars. “And I know this is crazy for many reasons, but I can’t stop thinking about you. About that night we spent together.”

He leans in, his lips grazing mine. “I wanted to be a part of your life back then, and I still want more than just being a part of our baby’s life. I want you in it.”

I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling as I rest them on his chest. “But Piper—”

“Piper will understand,” he murmurs, his thumb caressing my cheek. “This is about us, not her. Her life is with Connor.”

I search his face, trying to find any trace of doubt or hesitation. But all I see is steadfast firmness in his gaze.

“I’m scared. She’s my best friend,” I admit, hating how small and uncertain my voice sounds. “What if this doesn’t work? What if Piper hates me?”

Mac pulls me against his chest, his muscular arms wrapping around me. “We’ll figure it out, together,” he promises. “If you want to give us a try.”

I melt into his embrace, letting his warmth and the steady beat of his heart soothe my frayed nerves. “I do,” I whisper, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. I really, really do. “I want you so much it hurts.”

“Oh, baby.” Mac presses a tender kiss to my forehead, his fingers threading through my hair. “I’m here for you, Kelly. I’m not going anywhere.”

Suddenly, Mac drops to his knees in front of me, his hands sliding up my thighs to my belly where he gently caresses where his baby is. His eyes gleam as he gazes up at me.

“Our baby,” he murmurs. He clears his throat of the emotion crawling up it and leans in, pressing a soft kiss on my belly. “I’m going to be the best father in the world, I promise you that.”

He wants us…me.

Tears well up in my eyes as I watch him.

His hands slide up to cover mine. “I will not mess it up this time.” He presses another kiss to my stomach, his eyes shining with unshed tears, as are mine. “You and our baby are everything to me, Kelly.”

I can’t hold back anymore, and the tears spill down my cheeks as I gaze down at him. This wonderful man wants me and our child.

But he’s still my best friend’s dad.

He’s also the man Piper warned me to stop flirting with.

I couldn’t help it when it happened. I was attracted to Mac the moment I saw him. Twenty years older than me, but unlike any man—or boy—I’d met before. And I lied to him when we had our first time together. He never knew I was a virgin until he looked into my eyes the moment he took it away.

Mac stands, pulling me into his arms and holding me close as he continues, “Because I want this baby, Kel,” he murmurs against my hair. “And I want you. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.”

But he will when Piper finds out.

My fingers clutch at the back of his shirt. “But...Piper. How are we going to tell her?”

He’ll never choose me over his daughter, and I can’t expect him to.

Mac cups my face, his thumb gently wiping away my tears. “Leave Piper to me,” he says softly. “I’ll deal with it. All that matters right now is you and me and this baby.”

Before I can respond, his eyes meet mine as he lowers his head and captures my lips in a passionate kiss. I close my eyes, melting into him as my fingers cling to his shirt. His tongue probes at the seam of my lips, and I open for him as a soft sigh escapes my lips.

The kiss turns desperate, hungry, as need radiates off him.

My hands slide up to tangle in his hair, holding him close as the kiss deepens. My heart thuds against my breastbone and every nerve in my body tingles with his touch. I’ve missed this, missed him, so much.

When we finally break apart, breathless and flushed, I gaze up at him with a smile that makes my face ache.

“I...I have to go home,” I murmur, hating the way his face falls. “To California. To tell my parents about us.”

Mac cups my face, his thumb caressing my cheek. “Then I’ll come with you,” he says, determination burning in his eyes.

I blink, stunned. “But—” I chew on my lower lip, worry gnawing at me. “My father...he won’t like this. The age gap...” I trail off, shaking my head. “Maybe I should do it alone.”

Mac pulls me into his embrace, his brawny arms cradling me. “I’m not letting you do it by yourself.”

I nod, wanting to believe him, but the fear still grips me.

“What if he doesn’t understand?” I whisper, burying my face in the crook of Mac’s neck. “What if my parents can’t accept this?”

“Shh,” he soothes, stroking a hand down my back. “They’ll come around.”

I pull back slightly, searching his face. “You really want this? Us?”

Mac’s lips curve into a tender smile as he cups my face. “More than anything, Kelly.”

I blink back tears, overwhelmed by the emotions swirling within me. “Okay,” I breathe. “Let’s do this.”