Free Six Month Rule (Kingston Ale House) by A.J. Pine

that whatever she asked of him, he’d give it, no objections. “I want to know why you only shave once a week—and if it has anything to do with where you disappeared to last weekend…or where you were supposed to be tonight.”
    Holly’s lips were on his again, but he froze against her. He was sure she felt his whole being go rigid. And then she stepped away.
    “Shite.” He growled under his breath, and Holly’s eyes grew wide.
    “Look,” she said, regaining her composure. “It’s not like I’m looking for anything big here, Will. But I’m not a home wrecker. If there’s someone else back in London, I want no part of this.” She motioned between them. “Do you understand? It doesn’t matter that I can barely stand right now or that you taste better than ice cream—and that is saying a lot coming from me. I mean, you have no idea. But I don’t condone cheating, okay? I won’t be the girl—”
    “I have a daughter,” he interrupted. And there it was, out there. Despite their professional relationship and the bleeding Atlantic Ocean separating her world from his, there was also the small matter of Sophie, the six-year-old other woman in his life, the reason why someone like Holly would never be right for him and why he could never be right for her.
    “That’s it,” he continued, knowing the short, lovely something that was between them was over. “That’s my big secret. Her mum left me before she was born. Can’t much blame her, but yeah. I have a daughter. Her name is Sophie, and she’s six, and I should have been back in London squeezing in a few precious hours with her, but instead here I am.”
    “Will, I—I don’t know what to say.”
    He shook his head. He needed to get out of here, and fast. Because he could still taste Holly on his lips, feel her on his skin, and if she asked—if she still wanted him now—he’d follow her right up to her apartment, but that wouldn’t be good for either of them.
    “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m sorry. This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have… You’re home safe, yeah?”
    She nodded and pulled her keys out of her pocket. She wasn’t even carrying a purse. This is the real Holly , he thought. Stripped down to the bare essentials, and all he could think about was that he was already too bare in front of her.
    “I’ll stay to make sure you get in safe.”
    She took a step forward, and he used the last ounce of his willpower not to reach for her.
    “Will, you don’t have to go.”
    He shoved his hands in his pockets and took a step back.
    “Yes, Holly. I do. I—this could only be temporary. At best,” he said. “I’m only here because it’s my last step in the fulfillment of a contract I never should have signed. I was an arse to even consider jeopardizing our professional relationship. I’m sorry.”
    She closed her eyes—a long, slow blink. And when she opened them, she nodded and walked to her door without another word. Will watched her enter her building, and then he turned and walked away.

Chapter Nine
    Shit.
    Holly let her head thud against the door after she kicked it closed behind her.
    Shit.
    He’s—a dad. Will Evans—king of rude dismissals, enigmatic behavior, and kisses that had molten heat still pooling in her belly—was a father. That’s where he took off to that first weekend and where he was supposed to be now. Home. With his daughter.
    His daughter .
    Part of Holly wanted to run after him, pull him close, and tell him she knew what it was like to miss someone. Not that Brynn moving out was even remotely close to what he must be feeling, but still. She got it, loving one person more than everything else and having to say good-bye. With their parents both retired and constantly traveling, Brynn was it for Holly, the one person who would always be there for her. Except now she wasn’t.
    Holly closed her eyes and started reliving the kiss, not able to shake the feeling of standing on her tiptoes and pressing