9. Control

Ibarely slept last night—I could only doze until three a.m. when I finally heard Evelyn and Caleb return to the house.

And yeah, I checked to make sure he went into the guest room while Evelyn went to her own room. He saw me looking, and he flipped me off without a word.

I don’t care. Mark asked me to watch over his girl, and that’s what I’m going to do.

Which means I can’t let Caleb get his hands on her. He and I are depraved. We don’t always share partners, but we often do, and I know he’s not looking for anything serious after Tess.

He woke up early and headed to the job in San Esteban. Didn’t even make enough coffee for me, so I know he’s irritated.

I get it. Our time with Evelyn at Club Vice was incredible. Her personality is a perfect blend of innocent and naughty. She was eager to learn, and we were eager to show her some new things. If she were anyone else, I would’ve arranged a few more hook-ups before allowing the arrangement to fizzle.

But she’s not anyone else. And as I sit here wishing for something different, I know just how futile those wishes are.

I’m waiting at the kitchen island for her to wake up. Normally, I would’ve left an hour ago to get to the job site.

She shuffles down the stairs and appears in the kitchen. When she looks up and sees me, she squeaks and puts a hand to her chest.

“What the fuck, Lincoln? Sitting here like a creeper?”

I grin. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Yeah, right.” She visibly shakes off the fear, and I try so fucking hard not to stare at her tits in that little t-shirt.

But her tits are fantastic, and I know exactly what they look like while she’s writhing her way through an orgasm. I wish I’d played with them more that night?—

No. I have to stop thinking about her like this. I gulp down a too-hot sip of coffee, trying to obliterate the memory of how her juices taste.

It doesn’t work. No coffee is strong enough to take away that memory. It’s like the girl is imprinted on me.

She turns toward the coffee machine and now I’m confronted with her ass in those tiny shorts. There’s some name brand stamped on the side. I don’t bother reading it because it probably says dick tease, which is what these shorts are.

I need to stop sexualizing my step-niece when she’s just doing everyday things. I’m here for a reason, and I need to remember that reason. I take another fortifying sip of my coffee.

“So, Evelyn,” I finally say, “I wanted to talk to you about Caleb, and setting some limits.”

Slowly, she turns on her heel. Folds her arms across her chest. “Really. Limits.”

“Yeah. Since we’re all living here for the moment. We need some house rules.”

“And you’re gonna lay them out, huh?”

“Exactly.”

Huffing out an exasperated breath, she says, “I am far too cranky to have this conversation, but for the record, Daddy, you aren’t my dad so stop acting like it.”

Now isn’t the time to lecture her about honorifics. Although I’m tempted.

“Sorry for getting off on the wrong foot with this conversation,” I say. “Maybe it’s less about limits. I mainly wanted to give you a gentle warning.”

Her eyebrows raise. “What kind of a warning?”

“Caleb isn’t the kind of guy you want to pursue.”

“Everyone’s just talking shit about everyone this week,” she says quietly, as if to herself.

I immediately feel bad. I don’t want to shit-talk Caleb.

“Look,” I say quietly, “I think Caleb is awesome. He’s my best friend. But you’re my niece, and it wouldn’t be right to let you get your heart broken…even by him.”

“That’s quite a leap. You’re assuming I’d fall for him, that I’m looking for something serious.”

“You wouldn’t be the first to say that and do the exact opposite.”

“Sure, okay. Thanks for the warning.”

She sounds anything but grateful.

In fact, she abandons the coffee pot and returns to her room, and the door closes more forcefully than necessary.

I’d love to take the brat in hand and make her behave. But I’m not her dad or her daddy.

* * *