Landon's POV
{Kelsey's Residence- Afternoon}
How a child managed to uncover my secret still baffles me. But now that she knows, I need to keep her mouth shut. No one, especially her mother, can find out I can speak. As long as I'm living under this roof, pretending to be her father, that secret is starting buried.
She's watching me with suspicion in her eyes. I expected that. She's already run a background check on me but all she found was the fake trail I left behind. Let her keep digging; she'll find nothing real.
The little gremlin in front of me placed her fists on her hips, waiting for my response.
"Can you keep it from your mom?" I asked coolly as she crossed her arms.
"I'll do it if you do what I want. Let's make a deal, shall we?" She countered with ease.
Five years old? She seems to be hiding this level of cunning behind a baby voice and pigtails.
Impressive!
"So tell me, what do you want?"
"Marry my Mommy," Her tone carried no doubt, no hesitation.
"Marry?" I echoed.
She nodded, certain.
"You're just my daddy, but not mommy's husband. If you become mommy's husband, I'll keep your secret,"
The terms were simple. And laughable. I didn't need a child's permission to do anything, much less marry someone. But the deal amused me. I'd already planned to do things my way... that is, to play with this mother-daughter duo and leave once I'm done with my task; now I'd just have a witness.
I thought I had gynophobia, but the ghost of her kiss on my cheek? Still warm.
I wanted more.
"Deal. I'll become mommy's husband, and you'll keep my secret," I said. She stretched her little pinky toward me.
"Promise?"
I met her finger with mine.
"Promise!"
"Yay!" She launched herself into my arms.
Back to acting five, I see.
We stayed in her room until Kelsey called us down for dinner. I'd planned to skip and go for a run.
Routine.
Part of my discipline.
But, then I saw the delicious meals lined up on the table.
So much for my damned discipline.
"I don't know what you like, so I made a lot,"
I signed back.
"I'm not a picky eater. I can eat anything,"
"Nice," she looked away, running her fingers through Lila's hair.
"Eat a lot, Lila," she said, placing meat on her plate with her fork.
Lila grinned, eyes flashing with mischief. Suddenly, she looked up at her mother, all innocent.
"Mommy, aren't you going to feed Daddy?"
Kelsey blinked, confused. I dropped my gaze and mirrored Lila's shy act.
"Uhm..." She stammered.
"You... You aren't going to feed Daddy?" Lila pressed, eyes beginning to well up.
Her mother was shocked. No. I was even more shocked than her mother.
She's good. Too good. I almost clapped.
"Don't cry now, baby; I'll feed daddy some meat,"
Lila clapped. I smiled.
This is ridiculous. Why am I enjoying this?
I snapped out of my daze when I saw a piece of meat stretched towards me. I leaned forward and ate it straight from the fork. Her fork.
Her eyes widened...
Wait... Did I just eat from her fork?
I've never done that before... Not even when my mother attempted to feed me.
"Erm... Excuse me," she dropped her cutlery and disappeared.
Was that wrong?
"Lila, Mommy doesn't seem to like me," I whispered, smirking.
"Maybe she's sick... Her face was red,"
Red, huh? I married a shy one.
She didn't come back to the table. When dinner ended, she gave a simple instruction:
"Lila, take Daddy to the room next to yours,"
"Yes, Mommy!" Lila tugged on my hand and led me upstairs.
Lila's room sat between two others. She pointed at one.
"That's mommy's room and that's the room she arranged for you. So you'll have to go there," she pointed to Kelsey's room.
"What are you up to little girl? Your mommy will send me away if she finds me in her room,"
"If she knows it's her little girl's mistake, she'll forget it. Just go!"
Before I could resist, she shoved me inside and slammed the door.
Fine. I'd wanted to see Kelsey's room anyway.
I'm serious when I say I'm not stalking or anything.
It was huge but simple. Understated. She clearly invested time into decorating her daughter's space, not her own. Or maybe she hadn't settled in yet.
I trailed my fingers on the desk and spotted a stack of documents. One caught my eye.
'MISSION' was written on the cover in bold letters.
Mission? What is she up to?
I was about to open it when her voice echoed from outside.
She was coming.
I ducked into the bathroom. Just like that, I heard the door open. Her tired voice came from the bedroom as she sighed repeatedly.
If I'm caught, she might mistake me for a pervert.
I stripped, then soaked my body and hair before wrapping a towel around my waist.
I let out a sigh and grabbed the door handle.
3...2...1
I pushed the door open.
And froze.
I realised I made the most beautiful mistake of my life.
Kelsey stood half-dressed, stunned. My eyes caught her slender and perfect waist. Her skin was so white and without any blemish. I told her I could eat anything... she's not an exception.
And me? Half naked, we, and stunned stupid.
She dropped the files in her hand seeing me with a towel.
"Pervert! You.... Ahhh!" She screamed.
I lunged forward to cover her mouth. She stumbled back onto the bed. I followed, trying to silence her before the guards rushed in.
Bad move.
We landed. Me on top. Her beneath.
"Take your hands off of me! You pervert!"
The door creaked.
Lila peeked in, holding a teddy bear.
"Oh, baby! Come... Help Mommy,"
Lila gave her a deadpan stare.
"Ah! Nanny is calling me,"
"LILA!!! You don't have a nanny!" She yelled and the door slammed closed.
I wanted to laugh so badly that I nearly lost composure.
At least, that bastard Sylus didn't hear her scream.
Still, I let my guard down in front of this weak woman. In one blink, she flipped us.
Now, she was on top.
"I still don't know what you did to my daughter and how you got in here, but if anything happens to Lila, I'll make you regret it and lucky for me, you have no voice to scream for help..."
Weak woman?
No. That was a miscalculation.
She's nothing like I thought, and damn, pressed against her warm, soft body, she's provoking the little guy down there as my body reacted to the danger. Or... temptation.
Either way, it was time I ran a background check on this woman, Kelsey Prescott.