“So what are you doing tonight?” Ashley asked, determined to change the subject.

“I’m going out with Eric. But if you want me to come over, I can postpone.”

Although she was tempted, she didn’t want to ruin Jessica’s plans.

“Of course not. I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Go out with your guy,” Ashley insisted. “Then call and tell me all about it tomorrow.”

Jessica giggled. “Well, I don’t know if I’ll tell you all about it. But I will call you. Have a good night.”

“Yeah, you too.”

Ashley hung up and slumped on the couch again.

She walked to the kitchen and retrieved a half bottle of wine from the fridge and a glass, then settled back on the couch and poured herself some. She took a sip, enjoying the warm sensation in her throat, then the coil of heat in her stomach. She took another sip.

It was going to be a long evening.

*   *   *

Adam grabbed his phone from his suit jacket to check the text message he’d just received. Even though it was after eight, he was still at the office, opting to work late instead of going home and stewing about Ashley.

He glanced at the display then froze when he saw the text was from Ashley.

Want to come over tonight?

He took a deep breath then typed, Sure. Are you okay?

Yeah. A bit lonely. You said we could talk.

His heart soared. She was letting him in again.

Of course, he responded. I’ll be there in half an hour.

He didn’t know why she wasn’t with Dare tonight. It was Friday and they only had another few weekends together. But then Dare liked to be in control—Adam knew that only too well—and he liked to keep his partner guessing and a little off balance.

Didn’t matter. He was just glad Ashley was free and had asked him to come over.

He cleaned up his desk and locked his office then headed out of the building, his heart pounding, anticipating being with Ashley again. She was alone and lonely and she’d called on him. He would do everything he could to leverage this in his favor. To win her heart and her body.

*   *   *

Dare walked along the stone path toward the front door of his house. God, he missed Ashley. He wished she was coming over tonight and he could hold her in his arms. Kiss her smooth, sweet skin. Feel her soft hands on him.

He unlocked the door then stepped inside. Helen sat in the living room and stood up when he entered.

After their unfortunate event the other night, she’d slipped out the next day and stayed away. He didn’t know if she’d decided to return home to Cambria or if she was staying with friends, but she’d left her big suitcase behind and a lot of her clothes, so he was pretty sure she was still in town. Though you never knew with Helen.

“Dare, I’m sorry about the other night. About getting drunk and…” She bit her lip. “For what I did.”

This was a good sign. She wasn’t calling him Daddy, and she actually seemed contrite about what had happened.

“Do you forgive me?” she asked.

“If you really mean it. And if you’ll really try to stop drinking again.”

“Yes, of course. I really will.”

She stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist, giving him a hug. He relented and wrapped his arms around her, too.

Then she gazed up at him, her head resting on his shoulder.

“You know I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too, Helen. And I’ll always be there for you.”

“I’m glad. But I don’t mean like a stepdaughter. I knew Mom wasn’t right for you. And she didn’t deserve you. But I would be so good for you. I’d do anything you want. I’d be the best possible wife, and—”

“Wife?” He stepped back, disentangling himself from her arms. “Helen, listen to yourself. You are my ex-stepdaughter, and that’s all our relationship is. I care about you, but I have no romantic feelings here. I know you have a need for stability, and to have a strong father image in your life permanently. But this isn’t the way.”

“No, I want you. It has nothing to do with any of that other stuff.”

“Don’t keep pushing this, Helen. It’s never going to happen and if you persist, it will destroy the relationship we do have.”

She frowned, her eyes glittering in anger. “And yet you’ll fuck that tramp Ashley. Who is exactly the same age as me.” Her eyes flared with rage.

“That’s not the same.”

“Really? I don’t see the difference.” She planted her hands on her hips. “So will she wind up being my new stepmother?”

“The relationship between Ashley and me is none of your business.”

Helen huffed out a loud sigh. “So you don’t really care about me. And you never have.”

“That’s not true.”

But he was talking to her back as she stormed across the room and then down the hall. He heard her door slam behind her.

He clenched his fists. Damn it. He was tempted to just throw his exasperating ex-stepdaughter out the door and lock it behind her. He’d faced a lot of challenges in his life, but trying to help Helen seemed to be a losing battle and he wondered if it was worth continuing the fight.

He raked his hand through his hair. He’d given up Ashley because of Helen’s intrusion into his life again, and his desire to help her.

Had he been a fucking idiot?

*   *   *

Adam was hungry and he had no idea if Ashley had eaten yet, so he decided to grab some Chinese food to take over with him. He arrived at the entrance to her apartment building and went into the atrium, then buzzed her apartment.

Moments later, he was riding the elevator up to her ninth-floor apartment. He walked down the hall then tapped on the door. He heard her call to come in and he opened it. She was rushing across the living room toward him, wearing a colorful fleece robe.

When she reached him, her arms went around his waist and her body crushed against him. He dropped the bag with the Chinese food and wrapped his arms around her, too. At the feel of her soft breasts pressed against him, he could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra, which caused his body to tighten, but beneath the fabric he could feel a strap around her torso.

Then her lips found his and his heart raced. Her soft mouth moved on his, her tongue stroking the seam of his lips. He opened, welcoming her in. Her tongue dipped into his mouth, her delicate exploration making his cock swell.

She tasted of wine and his gaze swept to where she’d been sitting in the living room. There was a nearly empty bottle of wine and a single glass.

He drew back. Shit. Her warm welcome had made him think that tonight might be the start of something new and special between them. Romantic. Sexual. Fulfilling.

But if she’d been drinking …

“I’m so glad you came over,” she said, her head pressed against his chest. He stroked her hair from her face.

“Of course. Is everything all right?”

She gazed up at him, her soulful eyes gleaming with sadness. “It’s over between Dare and me.”

She took his hand and tugged him forward. He grabbed the bag then let her lead him to the living room.

“I’m sorry, Ash.” He placed the bag on the coffee table as she turned around.

“No you aren’t, but that’s okay. I know it’s because you care about me.” She slid into his arms again and he couldn’t help but hold her close and enjoy the play of her lips on his again.

“Yes, I do and that’s why I need to back off right now.”

Her eyes widened as she gazed up at him. “But why?” Her hand flattened on his chest and stroked downward. Very slowly. Sending heat wafting through his body as she neared his growing cock.

He planted his hand on top of hers, stopping its travels.

“Ash … sweetheart … it looks like you’ve had a lot to drink.” He eased away from her soft body. “There’s no way I’d take advantage of the situation.”

He gestured to the nearly empty wine bottle on the coffee table.