I loosened my tie and rolled the tension from my shoulders. When I’d started Abrams Design and Construction, I’d done so because I wanted to work with my hands, build things from the ground up. I never anticipated how much time and effort I’d have to put into schmoozing clients. It was hands-down the worst part of my job. But it was also the one part of my job that gave me the big fat paychecks I’d become accustomed to.

“I’m home,” I called as I let myself into the house. I dropped my briefcase on the foyer table and toed off my shoes. “Heather?”

“In here, Dad,” she said from the kitchen.

I smiled. Now that my only daughter was a freshman in college, I never knew when or if she’d be home. The nights she stayed on campus late, this big house was lonely and as quiet as a cemetery. I walked into the kitchen to find her at the table, books sprawled out in front of her. “Hey, pumpkin.” I ruffled her hair like I used to do when she was little, and she swatted my hand away.

“I ordered take-out from Mariano’s. Should be here soon.”

“Sounds good.” I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, twisted off the top, and took a long pull.

“How’d the pitch go?” Heather leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms over her head.

“We made the sale. We’ll spend the next two weeks going over blueprints and then construction will start next month.” Setting my beer down, I removed my tie and tossed it on the counter. “I hate wearing those damn things.”

Heather laughed. “You should wear them more often. You look nicer when you’re not in tattered jeans and covered in dirt.”

Shaking my head, I took another drink. “Hey, watch it. That dirt is what’s paying for your college.” I tilted my beer bottle in her direction. “What’re you working on?”

She scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue. “My final project for my business class and studying for final exams.”

Pride swelled inside of me. I never had any expectations that Heather would take over the construction company I’d built, but when she said she wanted to go to college for business so she could learn the ins and outs and someday take over the family business, I didn’t argue. If that’s truly what she wanted, I wouldn’t stand in her way.

I finished my beer and set the bottle in the sink. “I’m going to grab a quick shower and change before dinner gets here.”

She mumbled her acknowledgement, her face buried in her books. Damn, I was proud of that kid. I headed toward the stairs when there was a knock on the door. Dinner couldn’t be here already, could it? I reached for the doorknob when the door swung open, and in walked Corrine Tate.

Tall. Thin. Curves in all the right places. Long hair that begged to be grabbed. Big, innocent eyes. She was my daughter’s best friend.

And my greatest temptation.

“Oh, sorry, Mr. Abrams.” Corrine smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t hit you, did I?”

“No.” I stepped back. “C’mon in.” She entered, and I closed the door behind her. When I turned to face her, I immediately noticed two things. First, she was wearing a very thin tank top with a bra that pushed her tits up into delectable mounds of tanned flesh that I wanted to bury my face in. I shifted on my feet, hoping the erection I felt coming on wouldn’t alert her to the nasty thoughts racing through my mind.

Second, she had two bags with her—one backpack stuffed full of books, and her overnight bag. As Heather’s closest friend, Corrine had been spending the night here since she was twelve, and she always brought the same purple bag. I didn’t care that she spent the night, but knowing she was here, only a couple doors down from my room was a temptation that was becoming increasingly hard to ignore.

Ever since Corrine had turned eighteen a year and a half ago, I hadn’t been able to deny my growing attraction to her. She was a beautiful young woman. Smart. Funny. Dripping with sex appeal. And I wanted her in the worst fucking way possible. Too bad I was literally old enough to be her father.

“Looking good, Mr. A.,” she said, interrupting my thoughts.

My eyes widened, and my heart slammed against my ribs. “What?”

She swirled her finger up and down the length of my body. “The suit. It looks good on you.”

“Oh.” I glanced down at my clothes. “Yeah, I had a sales pitch today. I was just going to go change.”

She pouted, and I crossed my arms so I wouldn’t yank her body to mine and suck on that full, luscious bottom lip that she’d stuck out. My cock strained behind my zipper, demanding to be set free, to sink into her hot, young body.

“That’s too bad. It looks good on you.” She smiled, her emerald green eyes lighting up her face. For half a second, I considered leaving the suit on, for her. But that was a silly fantasy I couldn’t entertain.

“Heather and I have to study for finals.” They attended the local university together, but Corrine was enrolled in a liberal arts program because she was unsure what she wanted to do with her life. She was, as she liked to say, “exploring her options.”

I’d give my left fucking nut to explore her. I nodded. “She’s in the kitchen.”

“Thanks.” She spun on her heel and headed out of the foyer.

Her short shorts barely covered her ass cheeks, and I couldn’t help but watch her walk away, the sway of her hips teasing me. I swore she dressed like that on purpose, like she was hoping to get a rise out of me. Little did she know, it worked. Every. Fucking. Time. I blew out a breath and turned to go upstairs when there was another knock on the door. Christ, it was like a circus around here tonight.

I opened the door and the delivery boy from Mariano’s stood there, holding three large bags. “Delivery for Heather Abrams.”

“Yep.” I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket. “How much?”

“Oh, uh, thirty-six forty-two.”

“Is that the food?” Heather came racing through the foyer and then came to a complete stop. “Hey, Bryan.”

“Hi, Heather.” His cheeks turned pink, and I scowled. “I got this, Dad.” She took the two twenties from my hand and nudged me out of the way.

As much as I wanted to lock her up in her room and never let her think about guys, let alone be with one, I could take a hint. Dragging a hand through my hair, I retreated to the kitchen. I froze. Corrine was bent over in the fridge, ass on full display. Momentarily closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, but my cock was already rock hard, and that view wasn’t making it any softer. The tank top she wore barely reached the waistband of her shorts, leaving a sliver of her back exposed. My gaze lingered on that spot as I imagined dragging my lips across her flesh; then my eyes lowered to her hips. I flexed my fingers, dying to know how my hands would feel on her hips, grabbing them as I slid my hard cock in and out of her. I adjusted myself. From this angle, it appeared as though she weren’t wearing panties. Fuck that was hot. She straightened and turned around. My eyes snapped up to her face.

“Thought you were changing,” she said, closing the fridge and twisting the top off a bottle of water. “Not that I’m complaining or anything.”

“I was, but the food is here.”

She looked around as if she didn’t believe me.

“Heather’s out there flirting with the delivery boy.” I frowned.

Corrine laughed. “Ah, yes. Bryan. She sorta has a thing for him.”

“I noticed.”

“Aw, don’t worry, Mr. A.” She stepped up to me and patted my chest. The touch sent a shiver through me and caused my dick to twitch with need. “Bryan’s a good guy.”

“No one will ever be good enough for my daughter.” I nearly snarled the words.

Corrine’s hand fell away from my chest, trailing down my stomach before she pulled away completely. I immediately missed the feel of her hand on me, even if it was an innocent touch. “She’s lucky to have someone who cares so much.”

My heart squeezed. Corrine’s father was a prick who cared more about work than his own family. And her mother was always too busy fucking anyone with a dick who would give her a second look. That’s why Corrine spent so much time here, so she could get away from her messed up parents. And I was more than happy to accommodate her.

“Hey.” I took her hand into mine, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. Her hand was so small and delicate compared to mine, her skin silky soft. “There’s no one out there good enough for you, either.” Not even me, although I would never hurt her like some of the other assholes she’d encounter during her life. I would worship her, protect her, always be there for her.

“Thank you.” She closed the distance between us, her chest rubbing against mine with each breath she took.

My shirt did nothing to hide how hard her nipples were, and I suppressed a groan. She’s only nineteen. She’s my daughter’s best friend. I repeated the mantra, but it wasn’t having the same effect it normally did.

“That means a lot,” she whispered.

I gave her hand a squeeze then released it before I did something stupid. Like bend her over the counter, yank those shorts down around her ankles, and shove my cock so deep inside her, she wouldn’t know where she ended and I started. “Well, it’s the truth.” My voice was deeper than usual and raspy.

She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to my cheek, dangerously close to my lips. This was not the first time she’d kissed my cheek—far from it—but this time was different. Electric. She lingered as if she wanted me to turn my head a fraction of an inch and meet her lips. And God damn if I wasn’t contemplating doing just that. It would be so easy.

“Corrine, honey.” She smelled like coconuts and the beach. Instinctively, I slid my arm around her waist and drew her closer. She was all soft curves and luscious warmth, a stark contrast to how hard every part of my body was, and there was no way she didn’t feel my erection pressed against her. I knew I should care. I should pull away, try to hide my arousal, but a part of me—that sick, twisted part of me that I tried to keep buried—wanted her to know how I felt when she was around.

“Got the food,” Heather said as she entered the kitchen. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving.”

Corrine jerked away abruptly and cleared her throat. Without a word or glance in my direction, she stepped around me. Shit. I’d crossed the line and made her uncomfortable. I was such a dickhead. Any crazy notions I had about her, about being with her, had to remain locked up tight in my mind. An unattainable fantasy and nothing more.

I turned my head and looked at Heather, who was curled up on the opposite side of her king size bed, sleeping soundly. I envied her. My mind wouldn’t quiet down long enough for me to find the peacefulness of sleep. All I could think about was Noah and that moment we’d shared in the kitchen. And we’d had a moment. I was positive of that. In all the years I’d known him, of all the times I’d kissed his cheek, he’d never responded like that. He’d never slipped his arm around me and pulled me closer. Never whispered my name. And he’d never gotten an erection.

Was it possible he felt something for me? Because God knew I’d been crushing on him hard for years, ever since I was sixteen and had lost my virginity to a bumbling idiot who couldn’t figure out how to keep his dick inside of me, who then broke up with me in front of a group of his friends. I’d gone home with Heather later that day, crying. Noah had hugged me and told me it would be okay, that the guy was a jerk and I deserved better. When I was seventeen, I’d hooked up with a college guy. It was slightly better, but it was over so damn fast I’m still not sure anything actually happened. It was then I truly realized what I wanted—a man. Not a boy, not a guy pretending to be a man. I wanted a man who knew what he was doing and who knew how to treat a woman, both in and out of the bedroom. But not any man.

I wanted my best friend’s father.

I wanted Noah Abrams.

Sighing, I stared up at the ceiling. On my eighteenth birthday, I’d made a vow to myself that I would test the waters, see how he felt about being with a much younger woman. Every effort I’d made had failed. Until tonight. I don’t know what changed, but something had. And I needed to know what.

Flinging the covers off, I eased out of bed, careful not to wake Heather, and tiptoed over to the window. It was pitch black outside, and the sky was angry, like it was ready to open up and rain its fury down on us. I glanced back at my best friend. Could I really pursue her father? It would kill her if anything ever did happen between us. That would be the ultimate betrayal, wouldn’t it? But on the other hand, I was miserable and lonely. I wasn’t excited about any of the college guys I’d met this past year. None of them made my heart race and my breath catch, not like Noah did.

I needed to know, for my own sanity. If Noah turned me down, then I guess I’d have to live with that. But on the off chance he didn’t… It was a risk I had to take. Taking a deep breath, I slipped out of the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind me. From the hall, I could see downstairs. The living room light was on, indicating Noah was still awake. My heart jackhammered in my chest at the same moment the rain started, the sound like rocks on metal, making my veins fill with adrenaline.

Thankfully, my knees didn’t give out while I walked downstairs, but my legs were shaking like crazy. I passed behind the couch, where Noah currently sat. He was hunched over the coffee table, the black shirt he wore stretched deliciously tight across his muscular back and shoulders. I headed into the kitchen under the guise of getting a drink. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, took a drink, then returned to the living room.

Noah looked up, and his dark eyes narrowed as they raked down my body. I’d intentionally worn my favorite pair of white panties with an oversized button up shirt that barely covered my ass. My skin heated as he continued to stare. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” There were papers spread out across the coffee table. I held up my water. “I just came down to get a drink. Would you like something? I can get it for you.”

“No, thank you.” He cleared his throat. “I expected to see you sooner or later.”

My eyebrows rose with surprise. “You did?”

“You always get restless when it rains.” He averted his gaze.

I stood, stunned. He was correct. Something about the rain made me restless, and when it started, I had to get up and move. But how did he know that? Not even my parents were that observant of my behavior. A tiny thrill shot through me at the thought he paid more attention to me than I realized.

“Mind if I sit for a little while?”

“No.” His voice was strained.

I curled up in the corner of the couch, tucking my knees to my chest. If Noah turned his head, he’d get a direct view up my shirt. “What’re you working on?”

“Sketches for a new house we’re building.”

I took another drink, willing him to look at me, but he was hyper-focused on the papers in front of him. Frustration bubbled up. Dropping my feet to the floor, I sat next to him, my leg resting against his. He tensed but didn’t move away. I peeked at the sketches. “Wow, that looks more like a mansion than a house.”

He chuckled, the sound rich and velvety. “Yeah, it’s the largest house we’ve ever built.”

“Impressive.”

Tossing his pencil on the coffee table, he sighed heavily and leaned back, rubbing his hands over his face. He wore thin, cotton pajama pants, and the outline of his cock was unmistakable. My gaze lingered there until he spoke, interrupting my visual feast. “You haven’t been around much lately. Everything okay?”

I grinned. “Aw, have you missed me?” I teased.

He sliced a look at me, and his lips twitched as if he wanted to smile but didn’t. “Things any better with your parents?”

That was certainly a mood killer. “No.” I shook my head. “They’re still fighting like an old married couple who hate each other. I seriously don’t understand why they just don’t get divorced. It would make everything so much easier.” In fact, it was so bad, I’d gotten on-campus housing and when I wasn’t here at Heather’s house, I was in my res hall.

“I take it you haven’t been staying at home much.”

“God no. I can’t stand to be in that house for more than five minutes. I’ve been spending a lot of time on campus lately. Studying for finals and stuff.” I shrugged. “But my roommate is like a bitch in heat and has a different guy over every night, so…”

Noah let out a sharp, surprised laugh, which made me smile. He had a great laugh. “A bitch in heat, huh?” The dimple in his right cheek made a rare appearance.

“This fancy education is really expanding my vocabulary. Bitch in heat is much more poetic than dirty slut, don’t you think?”

“You’re something else, Cori.”

My heart tripped over itself. He hadn’t called me Cori in years, not since I was thirteen and he’d driven to my house at three in the morning to pick me up because my parents were fighting again, and I hadn’t wanted to stay there. I still remember the very first time he’d called me Cori—my mother unleashed her special brand of crazy on him, insisting I was her little princess, not a tomboy, and no one was allowed to call me Cori, which, according to her, was a silly boy’s name. From that point forward, I was convinced Noah called me Cori just to piss off my mother. And I sort of loved him for that.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you decided to come over tonight. The house is too quiet when you and Heather aren’t here.”

I tilted my head and studied him. Was that the only reason he was glad I was here? “Speaking of finals… I have to interview a local entrepreneur for my Entrepreneurship class, and I was hoping I could do you. I mean, interview you.” I bit on my bottom lip to stop from laughing at his shocked expression.

“Uh, yeah, that should be fine. I have some free time tomorrow afternoon if you want to stop by the office.”

“Really? That would be great. Thank you.”

He glanced at the large, ornate clock on the wall. “Don’t you have an early class tomorrow?”

“Not too early. It starts at nine.”

“It’s getting late. You should probably get to bed.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” I nudged his knee with mine. “If you don’t want me around, all you have to do is say so.”

Sighing, he leaned forward, propped his arms on his bent knees, and hung his head. “No, I’m not trying to get rid of you.” His voice was weary and tired. Keeping his arms on his legs, he turned his head just enough to look at me. His eyes were darker than the stormy night sky, and a million times more dangerous. “Can I ask you something?”

My heart lodged in my throat. “Yes,” I whispered and licked my lips. I scooted forward on the couch so I was closer to him, our shoulders touching. “You can ask me anything you want.”

“Why do you insist on walking around here in clothes that are too damn tight and short? The first few times I ignored it, thinking it was just you being a teenage girl trying to find your style, but now…” He turned away from me and rubbed his hands over his head, lacing his fingers behind his neck.

Heart racing, I waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. He kept his head down, and the silence stretched until I couldn’t take it a second longer. “But now what?”

He made a sound that was a mix between a sigh, a groan, and a laugh. “But now I’m starting to think you’re doing it on purpose.” He straightened and looked me dead in the eye. “Are you?”

I nodded, knowing I wouldn’t be able to speak. For the past year and a half I’d been putting myself on display for him, hoping he’d notice me as something more than his daughter’s best friend, wishing he’d see me as a woman worthy of his attention and not some inexperienced, teenaged girl.

“Fuck. Corrine.” His long, dark lashes fluttered as he momentarily closed his eyes, and he leaned back once again. I couldn’t tell if he was relieved or pissed by my admission.

I licked my suddenly dry lips and swallowed the lump in my throat. “I didn’t think you ever noticed.”

He stared at me with disbelief, almost like I was insane for thinking he hadn’t noticed.

“But then tonight, in the kitchen, when I kissed your cheek…” I drew a shaky breath as the memory of that rushed over me, making my face heat with desire. “You responded to me. I felt it.”

“Shit.”

I put my hand on his leg, and he tensed. The muscle in his jaw ticked. But he didn’t tell me to stop or push my hand away. He didn’t get up off the couch and walk away from me. This was it. If I didn’t make my move now, I was afraid I’d never have another chance. And I’d never forgive myself if I missed this opportunity. Before either of us could say or do anything else, I leaned closer and pressed my lips to his.