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Keeping It In #4
Stay Right There
He sent her away at nineteen. He has waited three years. His daughter doesn't know yet.
The summer Sage was nineteen, her best friend's father set his hand on the back of her neck at the dock and let her stay there. Three nights and nothing else — and on the fourth morning he told her she was too young, and meant it, and sent her home.
She's not too young anymore.
Vincent Maro is forty-six, divorced, and the most controlled man Sage has ever been near. He's spent three years pretending he doesn't know exactly when she turned twenty-two. Now his daughter's in Chicago for the summer, Sage is back at the lake house, and the thing he sent away is sitting on the edge of his desk at midnight, done waiting.
He doesn't make her ask twice.
He keeps her in his lap while he works — still, quiet, his hand spread flat on her, good girl in the same low voice from the dock. He won't be rushed and he won't let go, and every time she shifts he tells her the same stay right there.
It was supposed to be a summer secret.
Then his daughter's car comes up the drive a week early.
🔥 best friend's dad · age gap (24 years) · older divorced hero · younger curvy heroine · he's been waiting · praise kink · lake house instalove · daughter discovers them · warming kink · breeding talk · pregnancy HEA
The summer Sage was nineteen, her best friend's father set his hand on the back of her neck at the dock and let her stay there. Three nights and nothing else — and on the fourth morning he told her she was too young, and meant it, and sent her home.
She's not too young anymore.
Vincent Maro is forty-six, divorced, and the most controlled man Sage has ever been near. He's spent three years pretending he doesn't know exactly when she turned twenty-two. Now his daughter's in Chicago for the summer, Sage is back at the lake house, and the thing he sent away is sitting on the edge of his desk at midnight, done waiting.
He doesn't make her ask twice.
He keeps her in his lap while he works — still, quiet, his hand spread flat on her, good girl in the same low voice from the dock. He won't be rushed and he won't let go, and every time she shifts he tells her the same stay right there.
It was supposed to be a summer secret.
Then his daughter's car comes up the drive a week early.
🔥 best friend's dad · age gap (24 years) · older divorced hero · younger curvy heroine · he's been waiting · praise kink · lake house instalove · daughter discovers them · warming kink · breeding talk · pregnancy HEA
83 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 30, 2026
I am a sucker for a good age gap, best friends dad romance...why am I like this! I love that her friend was supportive.
June 14, 2026
She thought she was counting minutes. He was already planning permanence.
Sage knows the rules before she breaks them. Vincent is her best friend’s father, twice her age, and the one man she’s spent years trying to keep as a private thought instead of a choice. But one summer at the lake house strips away the distance, and Sage stops pretending patience feels like control.
Vincent has built his life on restraint. He understands pressure, timing, and what happens when something carries more weight than anyone admits. With Sage, every careful line he’s held starts to bend because she sees him too clearly to let him hide behind silence.
What begins as forbidden heat becomes something quieter, deeper, and harder to dismiss. Their intimacy is built on trust, stillness, surrender, and attention that turns wanting into devotion. The more they choose each other in private, the harder it is to pretend this is temporary.
Sage moves from controlled longing into deliberate choice, learning that wanting Vincent doesn’t make her reckless when she’s honest about what she needs. Vincent shifts from restraint into careful possession, letting desire become protective, steady, and real. Together, they turn forbidden tension into a trust-heavy dynamic built on control, surrender, stillness, and the decision to stop treating their connection like something with an ending.
An erotic, kink-forward, age gap romance with best friend’s dad tension, forbidden intimacy, praise kink, warming, control and surrender, and a quiet lake house full of choices that can’t be walked back. It explores desire, patience, trust, restraint, loyalty, emotional honesty, permanence, and the risk of being fully seen. It’s about a woman who stops measuring her life in safe increments, a man who turns stillness into devotion, and a love that becomes less about crossing a line than choosing where to stay.
The Elevator Pitch: At a quiet lake house built for solitude, Sage finally stops treating desire like something she can schedule and contain. Vincent has spent years holding the line, but when she steps across it, restraint becomes its own kind of intimacy. What begins as a forbidden summer arrangement turns into a private architecture of trust, control, and choice.
Heat Level: 🖤🔥 Erotica / Kink-Forward
Sage knows the rules before she breaks them. Vincent is her best friend’s father, twice her age, and the one man she’s spent years trying to keep as a private thought instead of a choice. But one summer at the lake house strips away the distance, and Sage stops pretending patience feels like control.
Vincent has built his life on restraint. He understands pressure, timing, and what happens when something carries more weight than anyone admits. With Sage, every careful line he’s held starts to bend because she sees him too clearly to let him hide behind silence.
What begins as forbidden heat becomes something quieter, deeper, and harder to dismiss. Their intimacy is built on trust, stillness, surrender, and attention that turns wanting into devotion. The more they choose each other in private, the harder it is to pretend this is temporary.
Sage moves from controlled longing into deliberate choice, learning that wanting Vincent doesn’t make her reckless when she’s honest about what she needs. Vincent shifts from restraint into careful possession, letting desire become protective, steady, and real. Together, they turn forbidden tension into a trust-heavy dynamic built on control, surrender, stillness, and the decision to stop treating their connection like something with an ending.
An erotic, kink-forward, age gap romance with best friend’s dad tension, forbidden intimacy, praise kink, warming, control and surrender, and a quiet lake house full of choices that can’t be walked back. It explores desire, patience, trust, restraint, loyalty, emotional honesty, permanence, and the risk of being fully seen. It’s about a woman who stops measuring her life in safe increments, a man who turns stillness into devotion, and a love that becomes less about crossing a line than choosing where to stay.
The Elevator Pitch: At a quiet lake house built for solitude, Sage finally stops treating desire like something she can schedule and contain. Vincent has spent years holding the line, but when she steps across it, restraint becomes its own kind of intimacy. What begins as a forbidden summer arrangement turns into a private architecture of trust, control, and choice.
Heat Level: 🖤🔥 Erotica / Kink-Forward
June 16, 2026
Ever since she turned eighteen, Vincent Maro has been Sage’s impossible dream. Not only is he twice her age, but he’s also her best friend, Cami’s father and has never given the slightest indication that he sees her as anything more than his daughter’s friend. Every summer spent together at their lake house has felt like a delicious kind of torture, with Sage quietly nursing feelings she’s convinced will never be returned. This year, however, things are different. With Cami away in Chicago, Sage is finally done pretending. Vincent has always been careful not to cross any lines with Sage. He stays away, working in his study, as much as possible, because the temptation is hard to resist. The trouble is that Sage sees through all his defenses to the desire that’s been simmering underneath just as long as hers. What follows isn’t a dramatic explosion so much as a gradual unraveling. Layer by layer, they shed their defenses and finally give in to feelings that have been waiting patiently for years. While I’ve read every book in this series, this installment felt the most intimate by far. When Vincent pulls Sage onto his lap and tells her to stay right there and seeing how long she could stay completely still was like the ultimate form of edging. The emotional connection between Vincent and Sage is what stood out to me most. Their relationship is built on a compelling foundation of trust, vulnerability, control, and surrender. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s the tenderness woven throughout their dynamic that gives the romance its emotional weight. I also appreciated that neither Vincent nor Sage wanted to hide their relationship once they decided to be together. Given the circumstances, Cami’s reaction was always going to be the biggest obstacle, and I thought her response was handled with a surprising amount of realism and sensitivity. Yes, the book definitely leans more toward steam than plot, but the characters were easy to root for, the emotional payoff was satisfying, and the romance felt genuinely heartfelt. Without question, this was my favorite book in the series so far.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2026
Another age gap, close proximity, kooky story. Sage is 22, Vincent is 46, and Cami is his daughter and she's best friends with Sage. Sage is staying at the lake house for the summer while Cami goes to Chicago for an internship. Why Sage is staying there, I don't know.🤷🏼♀️ But she is and she wants Vincent. Ever since she was 18yrs old. Not knowing he has a certain k!nk.
The words: "I know" is repeated farrrr too many times.🫢🫢 Yes. Again.
The weird mechanics of having so many conference calls while she sits on his lap as he conducts business and no one sees her sitting right there.🖥️😂😂 It's comical. I giggled. She's leaning back against his chest not forward. There's mistakes. Big glaring OTT ones. She has her back to him then he flips her only to have her back to him again. Uhh. Why flip her if she's already.... Never mind.lol One paragraph, how should I put this: he's done and removes himself. A couple of paragraphs below: he's still... in.🙄 *Spoiler* The biggest kicker, his ex-wife shows up, she stays in his kitchen while he goes to another room, the study, better Wi-Fi reception, with Sage on his lap, and they're all having a conference call with a lawyer discussing final assets.🤣👩🏼💻👨💻🧑🏽💻🤣 I'm not kidding. Vincent actually hid Sage away from Diana. That reveals plenty.
"Diana is in the next room and she had no idea. I am on her ex-husband's c*€k...."~Sage
The only realness was when Cami came home and knew. But the smutfest continued despite Cami's hurt. Savage. This is more smut than anything else. It's ridiculous and weird.😹 Happy reading.*•>§<•*💛💛💛
🚩🚩Read the TWs. 18+ read.🚩🚩
👨🏻💼🧦👩🏫Thank you to Piper Kane. The opinions shared here are my own.👩🏫🧦👨🏻💼
The words: "I know" is repeated farrrr too many times.🫢🫢 Yes. Again.
The weird mechanics of having so many conference calls while she sits on his lap as he conducts business and no one sees her sitting right there.🖥️😂😂 It's comical. I giggled. She's leaning back against his chest not forward. There's mistakes. Big glaring OTT ones. She has her back to him then he flips her only to have her back to him again. Uhh. Why flip her if she's already.... Never mind.lol One paragraph, how should I put this: he's done and removes himself. A couple of paragraphs below: he's still... in.🙄 *Spoiler* The biggest kicker, his ex-wife shows up, she stays in his kitchen while he goes to another room, the study, better Wi-Fi reception, with Sage on his lap, and they're all having a conference call with a lawyer discussing final assets.🤣👩🏼💻👨💻🧑🏽💻🤣 I'm not kidding. Vincent actually hid Sage away from Diana. That reveals plenty.
"Diana is in the next room and she had no idea. I am on her ex-husband's c*€k...."~Sage
The only realness was when Cami came home and knew. But the smutfest continued despite Cami's hurt. Savage. This is more smut than anything else. It's ridiculous and weird.😹 Happy reading.*•>§<•*💛💛💛
🚩🚩Read the TWs. 18+ read.🚩🚩
👨🏻💼🧦👩🏫Thank you to Piper Kane. The opinions shared here are my own.👩🏫🧦👨🏻💼
June 16, 2026
Be still by MeemsAngel82
This was an h that knew what she wanted and went for it. This is a full book with smooth writing and a h that can't keep her distance from her best friend's dad anymore. A topic I usually stay away from, it was done calmly and brought peace between the tension that had been brewing between the two of them.
She hadn't wanted anyone else and he felt the same. They had two weeks alone together.
Her friend took things super calmly! No high drama here, just a steamy read between two consenting adults that finally had alone time. They didn't shy away from one another after they started and then started playing the staying game.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was an h that knew what she wanted and went for it. This is a full book with smooth writing and a h that can't keep her distance from her best friend's dad anymore. A topic I usually stay away from, it was done calmly and brought peace between the tension that had been brewing between the two of them.
She hadn't wanted anyone else and he felt the same. They had two weeks alone together.
Her friend took things super calmly! No high drama here, just a steamy read between two consenting adults that finally had alone time. They didn't shy away from one another after they started and then started playing the staying game.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2026
Book 4 of Keeping It In.
'Stay Right There is a warming romance — age gap, stillness as intimacy, and a heroine who finally stops measuring. Explicit throughout. Standalone with full HEA and pregnancy epilogue.'
The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'Stay Right There is a warming romance — age gap, stillness as intimacy, and a heroine who finally stops measuring. Explicit throughout. Standalone with full HEA and pregnancy epilogue.'
The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was solidly drawn and impressive. Another great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2026
A great story; we follow Sage and Vincent. Vincent is the father of her best friend, and she has secretly been in love with him for years. Vincent has been trying to deny for a while that he has feelings for her too. After some time, they decide to take the plunge and can no longer deny it, so they admit it. Sparks fly, but despite everything, the question arises for both of them: will his daughter and her best friend feel if she finds out? Highly recommended!
I received an Advance Reader copy of this series and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an Advance Reader copy of this series and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2026
This best friend's dad, age gap of 24 years romance explores a new kink that I have never read. I would call it either a patience kink or a sit still kink.
FMC has lusted after the MMC who just happens to be her best friends dad for four years and she will have him this time when its just going to be her and him and the lakehouse. It turns out it was a mutual lusting. He uses stillness as intimacy which is new. In this short but spicy novella, patience really is a virtue.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
FMC has lusted after the MMC who just happens to be her best friends dad for four years and she will have him this time when its just going to be her and him and the lakehouse. It turns out it was a mutual lusting. He uses stillness as intimacy which is new. In this short but spicy novella, patience really is a virtue.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sage has been patient for years and is done waiting. Vincent's not sure what he wants.....to begin with, until she 'stays'.
'I don't think about what I'm doing or what it means or what happens in September.
I think about twenty-three minutes.
I think I want more than twenty-three minutes.'
A good story with warm characters and a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'I don't think about what I'm doing or what it means or what happens in September.
I think about twenty-three minutes.
I think I want more than twenty-three minutes.'
A good story with warm characters and a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
An interesting read, especially as someone new to this subgenre. I enjoyed the backstory surrounding her relationship with his daughter, along with the insight into his relationship with his daughter and the brief glimpse of his ex. These details added depth to his character and helped explain why he's so controlled. Overall, a good read for an instalove plot.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 14, 2026
This is the first I have read that has what I would call a "patience kink." She has had it bad for her best friend's father for years and finally decides to approach him about it. He is a very untraditional type of MMC, but I did enjoy reading how stillness created such a strong bond for them. Being in the moment and how that relates to a shared connection can be seen in many ways, but this one was an interesting twist on it.
June 15, 2026
4.5 stars
Great novella to read! No angst, no games, just good feelings all around. Great spice.
Sage and Cami are best friends. They are going to spend the summer in Cami's family summer cabin.
Enter Cami's father Vincent - of course he will be in the cabin soon.
Sage and Vincent have been in each other's radars for at the last two years, and something has to give.
HEA - recommended!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great novella to read! No angst, no games, just good feelings all around. Great spice.
Sage and Cami are best friends. They are going to spend the summer in Cami's family summer cabin.
Enter Cami's father Vincent - of course he will be in the cabin soon.
Sage and Vincent have been in each other's radars for at the last two years, and something has to give.
HEA - recommended!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2026
This book was amazing, and I really enjoyed it—I was absolutely loving this book and thoroughly enjoyed it! It was sweet, so sweet, hot, sexy, and steamy—it definitely had some great heat to it. The story is deep, interesting, very well written, and a great addition to the series! The romance and chemistry between the characters were absolutely incredible. It was wonderful, and I truly enjoyed the characters!
June 16, 2026
Vincent is Sage’s best friend’s father. This was definitely an age gap romance. For this very short book, the author was able to flesh out the characters. It isn’t extremely in-depth but enough to give you some understanding of the leads. There is plenty of spicy action. If you want a quick and entertaining read, this would fit the bill.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
I like how author usually has a backstory vs instalove. Sage was in love with her BFF’s dad, Vincent, for a couple years. They finally acted on it and both felt “seen” in this relationship and it went beyond just attraction. Enjoyed it!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Beige. I think we should paint the cieling beige" Ok, so partial stars for cleaner execution than some of the other recent shorts, but yeah, meh. Was there spice? yes, but cinnamon-level. Spicier than closed door, but only just. Required more patience than I was willing to happily invest in a novella.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 13, 2026
Book 4 of Keeping It In series, this is about Sage and Vincent. She’s had a crush for a long time, he’s been denying it for a while, one night changes everything. I like that Cami takes her time to be okay with everything, but ultimately wants them to be happy. Definitely more smut than plot.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2026
Sage and Vincent have spent summers together since she's friends with his daughter, but this summer will be different. She's wanted him for two years, him for four years. He's has specific tastes and she's more than willing to meet them. Their sweet story crosses an age gap but it doesn't matter to them.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
Because I'm more of a story with spice kind of reader versus spice with a lose framework around it. I don't think I was the reader for this and that's okay. You may be the perfect reader for this light lunchtime read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 21, 2026
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had an okay plot. If you are into 🐓 warming, then this is the book for you. There was a lot of that.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 22, 2026
Another quick read that delivered exactly what it set out to. No major surprises, just an easy and entertaining story to enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 22, 2026
I've read a lot of books written by Piper Kane; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
This is part of Keeping It In Series; it is a stand-alone short story. The story is about Sage & Vincent.
This is part of Keeping It In Series; it is a stand-alone short story. The story is about Sage & Vincent.
July 17, 2026
Sage has been in love with Vincent and when she is staying with her best friend's dad. One night she steps into his study room and that is where it gets interesting.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 18, 2026
Loved the age gap in this book. It’s also very k!nky and forbidden! Definitely an awesome book. Definitely recommend it.
June 22, 2026
A spicy, sugar rush that shakes up the senses. Short and sweet is a winning combination. Stay Right There has all the right moves.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews