Joyce had been best friends with Mia since freshman year of college. That meant she’d spent countless weekends at Mia’s sprawling family home — and countless hours secretly crushing on Mia’s father.
At 22, Joyce knew it was wrong. Ethan Blackwood was 43, a successful architect with salt-and-pepper hair, broad shoulders, and a quiet, commanding presence that made her knees weak. He was strict, protective, and always treated her like one of his own daughters… until tonight.
Mia was away for the weekend at a lake house party. Joyce had stayed behind, claiming she had a paper due. The truth? She wanted to be alone in the house with him.
She was lounging by the backyard pool in a tiny red bikini when Ethan came home early from the office. He stepped onto the patio in his tailored shirt and s
