My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 182 Crazy In Love

Evelyn

The ride home felt like stepping back in time.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, just like that first moment years ago. Back when I was a teenager with a hopeless crush on my dad's best friend-the man who seemed larger than life. Whether it was his words, his smile, the way he laughed, or the sight of him swimming on those warm, sun-drenched picnic days, Jacob Adriano had always been the center of my world.

And now, sitting beside him, I felt like that younger version of myself all over again heart pounding, filled with a giddy kind of love that knew no limits, no fears. I used to daydream about the impossible, about one day being older, wiser, and somehow stealing him away from the world, like something out of a forbidden romance.

But he was mine now. Even after all these years, it was hard to believe. Who would have thought that the silly teenage crush would blossom into this? That I'd be able to call him mine? The missing piece of my soul had been right in front of me all along, hidden in the man I'd loved for as long as I could remember.

"You know, if you keep looking at me like that," Jacob's voice broke through my reverie, a teasing smile dancing on his lips as he kept his eyes on the road, "I might just pull over and do something we probably shouldn't right now."

"I can't help it," I whispered, leaning closer, cupping his jaw and turning his face towards me. I kissed him softly, lingering in the warmth of his lips before pulling back just enough to whisper, "I still can't believe you're mine."

His grin deepened, a spark of mischief lighting up his eyes. "You've fallen even harder for me, Evelyn Fernandez," he teased, biting his bottom lip. "Be careful."

"Why's that?" I chuckled, raising a brow. "Why should I be careful?"

"Because I know how it feels," he said, his voice softer now as his hand reached over to caress my cheek. His touch sent a wave of shivers down my spine. "Every second they're not in your arms, it's torture. Like pieces of yourself are being carved away." For a moment, I just stared at him, and then leaning in, I pressed another quick kiss to his lips. "Don't worry, I'm not going to fuck things up like you did. I am not stupid ike you," I said with a playful glint in my eyes.

His brows shot up before realization dawned, a low chuckle escaping him. "Outrageous little vixen," he laughed, before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead and turning his focus back to the road. Just then, a double-decker bus zoomed past us.

I smiled, glancing at him. "You do realize we could've just died if you were a second late getting back to driving, right?"

He shot me a knowing look, a slow smile spreading across his face. "To die by your side would be such a heavenly way to die."

he meant those words, just as I did. I could die by his side and have no

once more and kissed him-harder this time, with a wild, reckless

***

and Jacob handed the keys

about this?" I said, voice low and teasing. "You and me... a little moment in

me, one eyebrow lifting in amusement. "A quickie?" he asked, his grin widening, his eyes sparkling with playful

us. The warmth of his body, the nearness of him, made it impossible to breathe. Suddenly, I felt like teenage Evelyn again, flushed with excitement, overwhelmed by the man who'd

had to

me against him, our bodies aligning, "have you become a fan of quickies? As far as I know, you prefer sleepless nights and entire days of doing nothing but fucking, just as much as I do." My cheeks flamed

he smiled at me, smug and impossibly charming, made my anger dissolve into nothing. "Forget

made a move toward the

until my back pressed into his chest. His breath was hot and heavy on my neck as he traced

spine.

breath, my skin tingling with the contact. His fingers trailed from my arm to my fingertips, igniting

against my ear, "come to my room." His smirk deepened, his hand tightening

unraveled. I couldn't bear another second without having him. The need to feel him-every inch of him-was

managing to control my breath, I turned, opened the door, and looked back at him, a wicked smile on my lips. He had no idea what I was about to do, but that

began slowly, my voice low and teasing as I stood in the doorway,

"What do you mean-"

finish, I grabbed

inside the house I kicked the door shut behind us, e pressing

was dark. Completely dark.

alone. Safe. And I could do whatever

back, his lips moving against mine with equal

this harder for me, Evie," he panted, his forehead resting against mine. "We're in your house. America. Not Italy. Samuel and