Three Strikes and You're Mine

by R.S. Grey

The intricacies of Chloe’s working and living arrangement are utterly lost on my six-year-old. “Chloe has a date,” I explain, hoping that will solve it once and for all. Harper looks at me like I’m a complete idiot. “So? We could take her on a date. Dad, don’t be such a slob—go put something fancy on and we can go for ice cream, my treat. I have money in my play purse. What does ice cream cost? A dollar? Dollar fifty?”

Luke is a hunky muscular bear of a man. If I were one of those ladies who, I don’t know, (I haven’t put a ton of thought into this or anything) enjoyed getting tossed around the bedroom, Luke would be able to deliver on that.

have my romance book, and joke’s on Luke because the duke is about to rail his duchess, so I’m actually happy to have the day off, thank you very much. If reading regency porn on the beach is wrong, throw me in handcuffs and haul me off to jail.

I can’t believe it. You think I’m hot hot?” I grip the edge of the pool and shake my head. “Chloe, don’t make me spell it out. It’s hard enough as it is.” “Okay, but what if you just told me one time and then—” She slices her hand through the air, cleaving off the end of her sentence. “Never again. I’ll pretend I have amnesia, I swear.”

“I am insanely, annoyingly, couldn’t-stop-if-I-tried attracted to you. I have thought about kissing you a hundred times in a hundred ways.”

“Okay, new plan,” she quips. “I’ll quit and make this easier on us.” The suggestion sends a fissure of panic through me. “No.” “You could fire me?” “I’m not firing you.” She sighs lightly. “Oh, all right. Amnesia it is.”

“I’m not leaving Chloe! She needs me!” She looks to me for backup, and I smile. “It’s true, kiddo. You’re so brave. Braver than me, that’s for sure.” She raises her chin. “See?” Then she holds out her hand. “But, I will take your phone so I don’t have to watch the blood and guts part.”

“Boyfriend, huh?” He damn near blushes. “I didn’t think they’d let me back otherwise.” “I’m sure she would have been okay with it if you’d just said you’re my friend.” He shrugs and looks away. “I didn’t want to take any chances. Also, it’s my fictional scenario—why should I be friend-zoned?”

“So here’s the thing. I was thinking maybe…my new mom could be Chloe.” She holds up her hands to stop me before I can interrupt. “Or if not Chloe, maybe it could be someone like Chloe.” She sounds so conspiratorial I can’t help but smile. “Chloe, huh?” “Yeah, you think she’s pretty, don’t you?” “Beautiful.”

“Yeah, not sure if you could tell from the way I just attacked you downstairs, but I’m pretty interested in fucking you.”

Well guess what, it’s tomorrow, and I feel like my life is spiraling out of control. It’s all blowjobs in the shower one second and then MAYBE MOVING IN WITH A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER the next!