Then There Was You: A Single Parent Collection

by Gianna Gabriela

  “I think we’re good. Right, Rayne?” Travis wears a mischievous smirk. “It’s quite hot today and I’m ready to lose the clothes.”

  “Uhm… sure.” I shift to get off his lap and this time Travis lets me. “I dropped my stuff around here somewhere. Let me find it and I’ll go change.”

  “Here you go.” Cassidy hands the bag to me. “The slider’s unlocked, and the bathroom’s down the hall, the first door on the right.”

  “Thank you,” I murmur as I walk quickly past her knowing gaze.

  I find the bathroom with no problem and lean against the door after I flip the lock.

  Why does it feel like I’ve run a marathon?

  And why’s every nerve-ending in my body on high alert?

  Because you engaged in the equivalent of thirty minutes of foreplay.

  Reaching into my bag, I search for my make-up remover wipes and spot the bikini I brought for today.

  You’re asking for trouble with this swimsuit selection, Rayne.

  Too late.

  I have a suspicion I’m already in trouble.

  2

  Travis

  “Hmmm… If I didn’t know better, I would say you actually liked her.” Cassidy fiddles with her camera, getting things ready to shoot again.

  While Rayne changes in the house, I decided to utilize the bathroom in the small pool shed and let myself recover from the inferno raging inside my body.

  “She’s attractive. I can’t deny it,” I respond as I jump into the pool.

  I’m not ready for Cassidy’s version of twenty questions, more so because I don’t understand what I’m feeling myself. Attraction’s one thing, but this is a whole new level. It’s like an invisible force pulling me to her.

  The opening of the sliding door draws my attention to Rayne and I’m glad I slipped my sunglasses on while I waited.

  Hot damn. That’s how a woman should look.

  The bikini, which would be modest on most, accentuates every single one of her assets. Pairs of cherries dot the white bathing suit and her generous breasts strain against the halter top, providing a magnificent amount of cleavage. While simple, the bottoms rest low on her hips, highlighting her tiny waist. Her body’s soft and rounded in all the right places.

  “Where do you want me?” Rayne asks Cassidy who failed to notice her arrival.

  “Whoa, mama.” Cassidy’s eyes open comically big. “I’m not into women, but I can admit you in that suit makes me reconsider it.”

  A growl erupts from my chest at Cassidy’s comment.

  What the fuck?

  I’m getting jealous of my best friend.

  My female best friend.

  My very straight, female best friend.

  Cassidy turns towards me, her eyebrows raised clear to her hairline. I shake my head, praying she doesn’t ask, because the hell if I know what that was all about.

  “The two of you have great chemistry, so I’m going to take your lead.” She points to the edge of the pool. “Rayne, I’ll have you start by sitting here and then go with what feels natural between you two.”

  Rayne follows Cassidy’s direction and lowers herself onto the pool deck, allowing her feet to hang over into the clear water. I remove my sunglasses and toss them onto the towel I placed nearby before I jumped in.

  Once I swim over to Rayne, I stand to my full height in the three-foot depth. My entire torso now exposed, as well as, the edge of my trunks riding low on my waist.

  “Aren’t you a sight to behold?” I slide open Rayne’s legs and scoot in between them.

  She places her hands behind her on the concrete and leans back. “I could say the same, but I don’t think I could possibly ever be as cheesy as you.” Her eyes take a deliberate perusal of my body, widening slightly when she catches my semi below the water. “But, then again, it appears you have a lack of blood flow to the brain. I’ll let it slide this time.”

  “Oh, you have jokes now.” I take a step back and paste a sinister smile on my face. “How quickly you forget what happens to those who make fun of me.”

  “You wouldn’t?” She asks, eyes narrowed.

  I nod. “I definitely would.”

  I lower my cupped hands into the water and push a wave in her direction. Water drips from her face and hair, and she’s still fucking gorgeous.

  Is there ever a time she doesn’t look like a damn wet dream?

  “This means war.” She slips into the pool with a quickness and before I can find cover, she sends water splashing into my face.

  I lunge in Rayne’s direction as she continues to shower me. When I reach her, I grab her waist and toss her several feet away.

  I’m frozen in place as I watch her emerge from the water, tossing her wet hair back like some siren, unable to take my eyes off her.

  Fuck.

  What I would give to have that body lying naked under me as I pound into her from above.

  While, I’m sidetracked by my impure thoughts, I miss her sneaking behind me. It’s too late when she jumps up and pushes my head below the water.

  Two can play this game.

  As I breach the surface, I wrap my arms around her thighs and fall backward, taking her under with me. Struggling to breathe through my laughter, I call a time out with my hands when we’re both above water. We take a moment to swim to our towels to dry our faces and compose ourselves.

  “Are you going to be nice?” I ask as Rayne walks back to the center of the pool.

  “Me? If I’m correct, you started this, Mister.” She pokes me in the chest with her pointer finger.

  I pick her up and her legs instinctively wrap around my midsection. “You obviously don’t remember clearly. This started when you decided to make fun of my word choices.”

  “Oh, yeah!” Rayne tosses her head back and laughs.

  I watch as a single drop of water rolls down her neck. Unable to help myself, I run my tongue up her creamy skin to catch the droplet, following the path up to her jaw.

  “You taste as sweet as you look,” I whisper into her ear.

  She places her hands on my cheeks and stares deeply in my eyes. “What’re you doing to me?”

  I’ve been asking myself the same thing all afternoon.

  “I don’t know, but I can ask you the same question.” I pull her into an embrace and her pebbled nipples rub against my chest through her suit.

  “This is crazy,” she whispers into my ear and places a gentle peck where my neck meets my shoulder. “I’ve never reacted this way to a man before. You have my body under some sort of spell.”

  I shudder at her confession.

  “Look at me, Rayne.” Her hooded eyes meet mine, full of heat. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

  Rayne

  “Uh huh,” I reply at a loss for words.

  His lush lips press against mine, tentative at first. The scraping of his beard against my skin feels like heaven. When his lips part and his tongue gently traces the seam of my lips, I open willingly.

  Travis continues to kiss me in a lazy manner. He explores every space in my mouth with his tongue, coaxing me to do the same.

  One of his hands slides down my back and massages my ass cheek under water. Every so often his finger comes close to grazing my core, causing a whimper to escape into his mouth.

  Needing something to do with my hands, I raise one to his head and grip his hair and the other slides between us to lightly stroke his chest. His hand tightens on my ass and holds me as he shifts my body enough to cause his erection to graze my core.

  I pull back, breaking the kiss and needing to gather my wits. “Wow. That was… just wow.”

  “Agreed.” Travis clears his throat. “I’m going to set you down. I need to adjust the problem downstairs before we witness an unfortunate appearance of the goods, which my best friend could probably do without.”

  I giggle at his description and when my feet hit the bottom of the pool, I take several steps away from Travis.

  “Well, guys,
I’m not sure whether I need to bleach my eyes or take care of myself.” Cassidy jokes from where she’s laying on her stomach on the patio. “But the camera and I appreciate your enthusiasm.”

  “Cass,” Travis groans as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Please never mention yourself and masturbation in the same sentence again.”

  Getting back on her feet, Cassidy brushes off her legs. “Just like I never want to bear witness to my best friend practically having sex in front of me again?”

  And the spell’s broken.

  The rest of the afternoon proceeds much the same. The heat level raises from time to time, but we manage to keep things reined in. All the while, Cassidy raves about the great shots and how if she didn’t know we were strangers before this, she never would’ve guessed from the pictures.

  “I’m calling it a wrap,” Cassidy announces after we finish a round of shooting by the outdoor fireplace. “Rayne, you can go ahead and shower in the bathroom you changed in. I’m sure you’re dying to get the chlorine off your body. Take your time.”

  “Oh no, Travis, can go first. I don’t mind.” I know it will take me longer than him.

  “Go right ahead. I’ll use the shower in here.” Travis nods his head toward the small pool shed. “The bathroom’s stocked with everything I need. I use it all the time.”

  Hold on a second.

  “What?” I ask truly puzzled.

  “Oh. I thought we mentioned it. Travis owns the place.” Cassidy packs up her camera supplies not realizing the bomb she dropped on me.

  “I’ll be out shortly,” I call over my shoulder as I head inside.

  Why did he keep the fact he owned this place from me?

  He never even hinted at the fact. And did he keep it from me for the same reason he avoided talking about what he did for a living?

  I run through all the scenarios in my head while I shower and change. The only thing that comes to mind is he’s a player. But then again, after our kiss, he stopped with the blatant advances.

  Not wanting to give it any more of my time, I place everything in my bag and slip on a pair of flip flops. Fiddling with my phone as I walk out of the bathroom, I’m stopped by the conversation pouring through the open window.

  “Wow, Travis. The shoot was hot. The two of you hit it off great. Are you going to get her number?”

  “Cass, stop playing match maker. You know I don’t date and Rayne screams commitment to me. I have Riley and the company to worry about. I’ve only had him for two weeks and I’m still trying to establish my new normal.”

  Riley?

  The asshole told me he was single.

  Who in the hell’s Riley?

  “When was the last time you went out on a date, or even got laid for that matter?” So maybe my player assumption was wrong. “Riley’s two months old. He’s not going to notice if you go out a few times.”

  Whoa. He has a kid.

  “Leave it alone, Cassidy. Rayne’s young, too young. I would never ask her to hang in my world and I’m not in the market for arm candy.”

  Arm candy?

  What the actual fuck?

  “I think you’re not giving her enough credit, or yourself for that matter.” Cassidy’s voice rings with irritation.

  Done listening to this train wreck of a conversation and ready to get out of here, I make my way outside.

  “Cass, thanks for the shoot. It’s been a lot of fun.” I hoist my bag on to my shoulder. “Email me the pictures when you’ve edited them. I would love to see them before they get published. I should be heading home. I have an early start to my day tomorrow morning and still got things to do.”

  “Definitely,” Cassidy replies. “Let us walk you out.”

  The three of us silently walk around the house to where my car sits in the gravel driveway. I open the driver’s side door and toss my bag into the passenger seat.

  Sliding my sunglasses from the top of my head, I push them up the bridge of my nose while I look at Travis. “You know, Travis, you were wrong about me. I’m not looking for a commitment or any relationship for that matter. I may only be twenty-four, but I know what I want in life. And being burned by an older guy who thinks he’s superior to me, is not it. I’m too smart to be anyone’s arm candy.”

  With my parting comment, I climb into my seat, turn on the ignition, and get the hell away from this place. And from men with egos the size of Texas.

  I would be okay with never seeing him again.

  3

  Travis

  “How can I help you?” the grandmotherly receptionist asks from her perch at the front desk.

  “We have an appointment with Dr. Schaeffer at ten o’clock. My son’s name’s Riley Dawson.” Anticipating her next question, I slide my driver’s license and Riley’s insurance card across the counter.

  “Thank you, Mr. Dawson. I see you already completed all the new patient paperwork online. Perfect. Let me get these scanned and then we can get you all checked in.” She hands me back my cards after running them through the scanner and I electronically sign a few forms. “All set. Go ahead and have a seat and the nurse will call you back shortly.”

  “Thanks.” I push the stroller towards a corner in the waiting room to keep it out of the way. I take use the time to respond to a few emails and texts on my phone.

  I will never understand why doctors ask you to arrive fifteen minutes before your appointment when they’re always running late.

  I note the time and realize Riley will probably be waking here shortly to eat. Removing the diaper bag from the bottom of the stroller, I pull out what I need and quickly mix a bottle, so it’s ready when he is.

  As I’m putting the bag back under the cart, I see her.

  Rayne Meadows.

  Maybe if I stay down here behind the stroller, she won’t see me.

  The mature approach. No.

  But with the way things were left a month ago, it’s the easiest one.

  Especially, since I can’t get the woman out of my head. She’s constantly on my mind and it doesn’t help Cassidy can’t shut up about her.

  I did well for the first few days and then Cassidy sent me copies of the damn photos. She said she was sending them to me to get my approval on which ones should be used for the piece.

  Like Cassidy has ever asked for photo approval before.

  No. She wanted to thrust the images in my face to remind me of the day and the mistake she swears I’m making.

  And some days I wonder the same thing.

  My hope of going undetected goes up in flames when her sexy voice calls out. “Riley Dawson.”

  Fuck. Is it too late to find a new pediatrician?

  Swallowing my pride, I stand from my perch. “Right here.”

  Rayne’s gasp echoes in the quiet waiting room. “Travis?”

  “Oh. Hey, Rayne.” I try for surprised. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

  “Yeah. I’ve been with Dr. Schaeffer for the last two years, since I graduated nursing school.” She bends down and peers into the stroller. “This little guy’s one handsome fellow. Yes, you are.” Riley laughs and gives Rayne a wide smile.

  Guess he’s awake now.

  “Go ahead and follow me back.” Rayne holds the door open as I push the stroller through. I wait for her to pass and then follow her into a large exam room.

  “Travis, why don’t you strip him down, but leave his diaper on for now, and we’ll get his weight and a few measurements.” She turns to the computer in the room and types away.

  I wonder. Is she making a note that I’m a douche bag and I tend to open my mouth and insert my foot?

  Doing as she asked, I remove Riley’s clothes and when he begins to fuss, I wrap him with the blanket draped over his diaper bag. I bounce him slightly and find Rayne staring at me like she’s doesn’t know who I am.

  “Where would you like me to put him?” I ask, snapping her out of her head.

  “Let’s get a weight on him first. Go ahead and take
his diaper off now. Then lay him on the scale.” She motions to the side of the room where the scale sits on a waterproof pad.

  “Why do you need him naked to weigh him?” I scoff.

  “Getting an accurate weight’s important.” She giggles at my reaction. “If the diaper’s wet, it will add to the weight. Every ounce counts.”

  “Okay,” I grumble and lay a now naked Riley on the scale. “By the way, do you laugh at all the father’s that come in?”

  “Nope.” She pops the p and presses a few buttons on the scale. “Just you. You can go ahead and put his diaper back on.”

  “Great,” I mumble as she goes back to her computer to enter his weight.

  “Did you say something?” She pretends she didn’t hear me the first time and takes Riley from my arms to lay him on the paper-covered exam table.

  “I didn’t say anything.” I can pretend too.

  The room’s silent while Rayne takes measurements of Riley’s head circumference and length. By the time she’s done, he’s full-blown crying. Effortlessly, she picks him up and rocks him to settle him down.

  If only I had time for a relationship and Rayne wanted one.

  “I think he may be hungry. We’re past his feeding time. Am I allowed to give him a bottle, or do I need to wait?” I reach for the bottle from the cupholder of the stroller.

  “You’re more than welcome to feed him.” She hands me Riley and I pop the bottle in his mouth after settling him in my arms. “I have a questionnaire to go through with you and then it will be a few minutes before the doctor comes in. You have plenty of time.”

  “Thank you.” Taking a seat on the padded bench in the room, I make myself comfortable and get ready to answer questions I’m not looking forward to.

  Rayne sits on the rolling stool and switches screens on the computer. “Okay. Let’s go through these forms. I see from the new patient form you have Cassidy Rivers listed as the emergency contact. You have no prior medical history listed or information on his mother?”