Chapter Twenty Eight
Daniel shook his head, but the lightness he felt in his chest was undeniable. Stanley was right about one thing: he was curious. And that curiosity was going to drive him crazy.
Robbin’s smile was warm as they all entered the apartment. Ethan ran to him with excitement, eager to show off his gadgets. “Look, dad! I’ve been learning how to use the laptop you got me!” Ethan grinned, his little fingers moving across the keys.
Tasha stood by the kitchen counter, watching the two of them bond. She couldn’t deny the warmth she felt seeing Ethan so happy. Robbin had been nothing but kind to her and Ethan, but every time he got a little too close, she felt the urge to pull back. The ghost of her past, Daniel hovered over her, casting a shadow on everything.
As Robbin placed Ethan’s laptop on the table and turned toward her, she could feel his eyes lingering just a little too long. “Can we talk for a second?” Robbin asked, his voice soft, but there was an intensity behind it.
Tasha nodded, her stomach twisting. She followed him into the bedroom, closing the door behind them. “What’s going on, Tasha?” Robbin asked, his tone careful but concerned. “You’ve been distant lately. Is it about the gadgets? About Ethan?”
Tasha shook her head, running a hand through her hair. “No, it’s not about that. You’ve been great with Ethan, honestly. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Robbin stepped closer, searching her face. “You can talk to me, you know that.”
She wanted to tell him. About Daniel. About the overwhelming guilt she felt for the lies she had built her life on. But something stopped her… fear, perhaps. Fear of what Robbin would think. Fear of what it would mean for Ethan.
“It’s complicated,” Tasha finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Robbin’s eyes softened as he reached out, placing a hand on her arm. “I don’t want to push you, Tasha, but I care about you. You and Ethan mean a lot to me, and I just want to understand what’s going on.”
Tasha’s heart raced, the weight of everything pressing down on her.
Robbin’s eyes held a mixture of concern and patience as he stepped closer, but before Tasha could respond, her phone buzzed on the table. The sudden noise broke the tension, and she glanced at the screen. An unknown number.
“Excuse me,” she said, quickly reaching for the phone. She held it to her ear, her heart racing slightly. Hello? Tasha Taylor speaking.”
Silence.
“Tasha?” she repeated, her brow furrowing. Still nothing but quiet on the other end.
”
Robbin watched her, his expression shifting to one of curiosity mixed with concern. “Is everything okay?” Tasha nodded, even though she felt a chill creeping up her spine. “I think it’s just a wrong number,” she
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said, but something fell off. The silence lingered, stretching the moment tonger than it should have
“Hello?” she pressed again, but there was still no response. She pulled the phone away, staring at it as if expecting the caller to suddenly speak.
Robbin stepped closer, his voice low. “Who is it?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, a hint of unease creeping lolo her tone “Just silence.”
The moment felt heavy, as if the air had thickened around them. Tasha glanced back at Robbin, who was now watching her intently, his earlier playfulness replaced by a serious demeanor.
“I should hang up,” she said, starting to lower the phone, but just then, she heard a faint sound breathing, perhaps on the other end.
“Is someone there?” she asked, her heart pounding. The call continued to hang in the air, a silence that was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
Robbin took a step back, sensing the shift in her mood. “Tasha…”
She shook her head, her instinct to dismiss the call fighting against a growing sense of dread. “I’ll call them back later.”
With a firm click, she ended the call, feeling a mix of relief and confusion. “Sorry about that. Just… a weird
call.”
Robbin studied her, the concern etched on his face. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah,” she lied, forcing a smile. But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something or someone was lingeringly beyond her reach.
Tasha took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling from the call. Robbin stepped closer, sensing her unease. “You know, Tasha, if anything’s bothering you, you can talk to me. I care about you and Ethan. You both mean a lot to me.”
His sincerity warmed her heart, easing some of the tension. “Thank you, Robbin. I appreciate it. It’s just… everything feels overwhelming sometimes,” she admitted, her voice softer.
He smiled gently, and she felt the connection of something deeper between them. As she stretched, a familiar ache shot through her back. “Ugh, I’m so tired. I’ve been working non–stop,” she said, rubbing her
neck.
Robbin’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Here, let me help you with that.” He moved behind her, his hands gently resting on her shoulders.
As he began to massage her shoulders, Tasha felt the tension start to melt away. “That feels amazing,” she sighed, closing her eyes and leaning back slightly into his touch.
“Just let me know if I’m too rough,” he teased, his voice low and warm, sending a shiver down her spine.
“No, it’s perfect,” she replied, her heart racing. She felt a sense of safety in his presence, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.
After a few moments, he leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “You carry a lot on your shoulders, Tasha. You deserve to take a break.”
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Chapter Tavine from
She turned slightly to face him, their eyes locking. The My between them was charged, alectric with unspoken feelings. “I guess I do,” she whispered, her heart pounding
With a tender smile, Robbin brushed a strand of har behind her ear. “Can!
Before he could finish, Tasha found herself leaning in, the pull between them irresistible. Their lips met softly at first, a kiss that deepened as their emotions took over. She felt alive, as if a weight had been
lifted.
Robbin’s hand cradled her face, his thumb stroking her cheek as the kiss grew more intense. Tasha leaned into him, savoring the warmth and safety he provided. Every brush of his lips ignited a spark within her, awakening feelings she thought were buried.
As they kissed, time seemed to stand still. The world around them faded away, leaving just the two of them in this bubble of connection and desire. Tasha’s heart raced, her body responding eagerly to his touch. She felt cherished, wanted in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
Robbin pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. “I’ve always wanted to do that again,” he admitted, a shy smile breaking through his usual confidence.
Tasha laughed softly, her cheeks flushing. “Me too. It feels…”
He leaned in again, capturing her lips with his, this time more passionately. The kiss deepened, their breaths mingling as they lost themselves in each other. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting to feel every inch of him against her.
Robbin’s hands slid down her back, holding her tightly as if she might slip away. The warmth of his body against hers was intoxicating, and Tasha couldn’t help but lean into him even more.
“Robbin,” she murmured between kisses, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah?” he replied, his lips brushing against hers, sending shivers down her spine.
“Just… don’t let me go,” she said, the vulnerability in her voice piercing through the heat of the moment. He paused, looking deeply into her eyes, a promise lingering in his gaze. “I won’t. I promise.”
With that reassurance, they melted into another kiss, both knowing this was a turning point. Whatever had held them back was now a distant memory, replaced by the undeniable chemistry sparking between them, for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to hope.
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