by Amy Brent
“Well, we could go get a drink, and then we could go to the carnival after. I’d feel better going with a friend and then—
“No way. We can go get a drink, and you can go to the carnival alone. I’m not getting involved in babysitting while you and this Ross guy pop your cherry on the Ferris wheel.”
“I wish,” I mumbled. “But no, it wouldn’t be like that. I didn’t want to go to this thing alone, and it wouldn’t look as creepy as if I showed up alone.”
“Why don’t you just call him up and ask him out for a drink sometime. At least then there is no false pretense, and you’d be able to meet without his daughter around.” It was no use; she wasn’t going to go for it.
“Okay, fine.” I turned to walk away, and she cleared her throat.
“Tori, I want you to promise me you won’t go.”
I stopped in my tracks and looked over my shoulder. “I can’t do that, Jackie. He’s the hottest guy I’ve seen in ages, and if I thought Katie would mind, I wouldn’t do it. And if I get kidnapped I’m going to blame you.”
“Fine, we’ll go.” She let out a sound of frustration as I turned around and ran back to the counter.
“Thank you!” I placed my hand on hers, and she pointed a finger at me.
“If he’s some pervert, I’m taking you out of there kicking and screaming.”
I held out my hand she shook on it. “That’s a deal.”
I left and went back to my room and graded papers for the rest of the hour after grabbing something from the snack machine. As I sifted through pages and laughed at what some of the kids wrote for answers, I thought about him. I wondered what made him a widower and guessed it had to have been just after his daughter was born that his wife died. I wondered if he dated at all and knew that sometimes men didn’t date again after the love of their life was gone. The best I could do would be to get to know him, and if he turned out to not be the guy for me, at least I tried.
I would definitely let him know I was interested in having a drink with him or maybe dinner sometime and let fate take it from there. If we were meant to be, we’d be.
I spent the rest of my grading time, thinking about what to wear. Jackie had always dressed up to go out, and though her style was always a bit edgier than me, I figured she could help me look amazing.
I wanted him to want me as much as I wanted him.
Chapter 9
Ross
Katie was excited about the carnival, and I was thrilled to have enough extra money to take her. My money had been so tight lately that we’d been spending a lot of our quality time at the park or the public library. Lucky for me my little girl loved to read, and she was already asking me if she could move up to chapter books. I’d read to her throughout the years, but I couldn’t take credit for her insane love of books. That had come from her mother along with her red hair and temper. Katie didn’t get upset or angry often, but she’d had her moments like any child and could be downright stubborn at times. Today she was trying my patience with what shoes she wanted to wear to the carnival.
“But the red ones are my favorite.” She stomped her foot and crossed her arms.
“The white ones are going to be more comfortable. I’m not carrying you when your feet get tired. You’re wearing the white ones.”
“Please, Daddy?” She poked out her little lip, and in an instant, I was butter.
I knelt down and brushed her hair from her face. “The reason I don’t want you to wear the red ones is that it’s usually really muddy at the carnival, and if you wear the red sandals they will not only get your feet all icky, but they’ll mess up your favorite pair of shoes. But if you really want to wear them, I’ll let you, but it will be the last time you wear them.”
She looked at her feet and then slipped off her sandals. “Thanks, Daddy. I wouldn’t want to mess up my favorite pair of sandals.” And just like that she ran to her room singing and changed into the white shoes.
While I waited downstairs, Mia showed up. “Hey, I hope you didn’t think I needed you tonight. I’m taking Katie to the carnival.”
“No, I came to see if you ever cashed that check you mentioned so I could get paid.” She was dressed in tight jeans which while covering as much skin as they did, were still borderline obscene, and of course, her favorite tank top and bra combo.
I reached into my wallet and took out a crisp hundred. “Here, I’ll get you the rest tomorrow. I was going to ask if you could start coming by more often in the evenings.”
She leaned in closer and smiled. “More security work or did you find a girlfriend?”
“It’s work, and you’d make more money, so that’s all you need to know. What do you think?” She’d never told me no before, and I didn’t think she would now, but she wanted me to think she would. I kept my expression unreadable as she seemed to think about it.
“I will do it on one condition.” She smiled and batted those thick lashes.
“What’s that?” I waited to see what kind of bargain she came up with and she closed the distance between us and placed her hand on my arm.
“A kiss.” She put her finger to her mouth, and I leaned in and kissed her forehead. “No, a real kiss.”
I let out a long breath. “No, what else do you want?”
She slouched and rolled her eyes. “Fine, but I want to have a friend over with me now and then.”
I hadn’t let her have her friends in my house, but now that Katie was a tad older, she could tell me if anything went wrong. “Fine, one friend limit, and no sex.”
“Deal. So, you’re not going to tell me what you’re up to?” She shifted on her feet and gave me a wide grin.
“No.”
“Daddy—
Katie walked around the corner and saw Mia and her little face fell into a scowl. “You’re not leaving, are you Daddy? We’re going to the carnival, right?”
Mia held out her hand. “Take it easy, kiddo. I’m not staying.”
“Mia came to get paid.”
“Are you taking your boyfriend out again?” Katie grabbed Mia’s hand and hugged her tight around the waste.
“Maybe. If he’s nice.” Mia smoothed out Katie’s ponytails.
“He’s not nice. He called you a name.” Mia gave her a look, and she pulled her lips in tight and covered her mouth.
“When did you hear that?”
“He just stopped by for a minute, and when I told him he couldn’t stay, he said I was being a B-I-T-C-H.”
“That spells bitch, Daddy, and that’s what he called her.” I gave Mia a look, and she stuck her hands in her back pocket and lifted her shoulders.
“Nice. Thanks for the lesson, Katie, but I don’t want you to say that word again. It’s not nice, and a man shouldn’t call a woman that.”
“Sorry. I didn’t know she overheard.”
I placed my hand on her shoulder. “Mia, you shouldn’t let anyone talk to you that way. Especially if they are going to use that word.” My wife used to loathe that word and said that people, especially women needed to quit using it.
“Thanks.” She gave me and then Katie a hug before leaving, and I knew I was going to have to have another talk with her about it later.
Katie and I went to the carnival, and it didn’t take us long to find the mud.
“I’m glad this isn’t my red sandals, Daddy.”
“I’m glad too because I’m not quite sure that mud wasn’t sewage.” I wiped her shoes the best I could, but they were ruined. At least one of them was. I used the sink in the public bathroom to clean up and had Katie stand within sight after making sure the place was empty.
“Can we go get some cotton candy now?” We hadn’t been to the carnival but for an hour when the shoe incident had occurred, and we hadn’t seen much other than a few exhibits. For some reason, she’d asked the first clown she saw if he was evil, and the guy had looked at me like she’d ripped his heart out. I spent ten minutes explaining why it wasn’t polite to ask that.
We headed to the first cotton candy stand we could see, and as I waited to place our order, Katie got excited and tugged my pant leg.
“What is it, sweetheart?” I looked down, and she had one arm out and her finger extended to a woman who was stepping up to the stand; her teacher, Ms. Bloom.
“Ms. Bloom! We’re getting cotton candy. Do you want some too?”
I went ahead and ordered a third bag of candy and an extra lemonade. “Oh, no, that’s not necessary.
“It’s no trouble. It’s good to see you.” The young woman had kind eyes and sexy smile, and she didn’t look a day over nineteen.
“It’s great to see you too.” A couple of men passed by and stared her up and down, the way I had done before I realized who she was.
“Are you here alone?”
“Yes, I was supposed to meet a friend, but she backed out on me, and I was already here so I thought I’d get some cotton candy.”
“Well, here you go. Mission accomplished. Would you like to walk around with us for a bit? We’re only here another hour or so, and then I’ll get Katie home for bed.”
“Sure. I’d tell you to let her stay up late, but I don’t want to get myself into trouble.” She giggled, and Katie swung her arm.
She wore a pair of tight jeans with boots and a loose-fit top and my eyes trailed down to her cleavage. She was not at all the immature type like Mia, and that reflected in her dress and how she carried herself.
“You don’t look like the type to get into trouble.”
She turned a soft shade of pink and Katie stepped between us. “She’s not trouble, Daddy. She’s a teacher. She makes the rules.”
We shared a laugh at Katie’s observation, and finally, our lemonades were ready. We took our drinks to a picnic table and sat. Tori seemed a bit flushed and kept giving me curious glances, the type that a woman gives a man when she’s interested.
I wasn’t sure that was a good idea. Even though she seemed to have her head on better than most younger women, having a degree and being a teacher, she was still young enough to be my daughter.
I decided it might be best to keep our conversation geared toward school. “About that program, you were saying you feel Katie would be a shoe-in.”
“Yes,” she nodded as she stuffed the candy fluff into her mouth. “She’s reading well beyond her level, and she’s even doing so much better than the other kids with math and geography. Granted, we’re just a first-grade level class, but we try to incorporate some of those subjects as an early introduction for second-grade. Do you travel often?”
“No, not at all, but her mother and I used to.” Her face fell, and I knew she must wonder about Katie’s mother. “She had kidney failure brought on by diabetes. She died three years ago.”
“I’m so sorry.” She looked at Katie who was busy making a cotton candy mustache. “It’ must be tough raising her all alone.”
“Raising children is tough for two parents, but we’re hanging in there.”
“You’re doing quite well. She’s a very impressive little girl.” She wrung her hands together and then put a stray strand of pale blond hair behind her ear. Her eyes were so pale blue they were almost gray. “You can’t go wrong with the GT program. Of course, she will get to stay in my class for half the day, but she’ll have to go down to Mrs. Lewis’ class for the other half.”
“If that’s what you think is best, I trust you.”
“Do I get to read more?” Katie had been taking it all on. “And I’d like to have another recess and a few trips to the library more per week.”
“This isn’t a negotiation, Katie.” I smoothed down her hair in front. “You’ll be in a special class where you can do your best work.”
“I think you’ll enjoy it, Katie. They do get to go on special trips the other kids don’t get to attend.” That seemed to sell it for Katie. She was bouncing in her seat and then she gave Ms. Bloom a hug. “I will still need you to come in and talk a bit more, and sign the papers.”
Something told me she just wanted to see me again and I don’t think I was being arrogant. She hadn’t stopped looking at me with that star-struck look. I’d noticed her acting the same that day she hit her head in my car, and I wasn’t blind to her checking me out.
The idea of fucking her had my blood flowing, but I knew that wasn’t a good idea, not to mention a conflict of interest where my daughter was concerned, and that’s not counting the age difference, which I still was tempted by.
Working over a hot young thing like her. I could show her things I bet she’d never thought she was capable of and I’d do it all free of charge. I shook off the insane, filthy thoughts and decided I better keep my mind out of the gutter and temptation at bay.
But then she asked me a simple question that not many did often. “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
“I’m fifty-eight.” She licked her lips, and her cheeks reddened. It was the perfect opportunity to ask her the same. There was no way she was as young as she looked, and with any luck, she was at least twenty-five.
“I’m twenty-two.” Dammit. Too young. My cock was protesting, but my brain was saying no way.
“I’m six,” said Katie and then she jumped up to hug me, kneeing me in the crotch. It was what I deserved for having naughty thoughts about her teacher.
Chapter 10
Tori
My heart pounded the entire time we sat together, and I couldn’t help but check out his body. I’d have bet money that he was not a day over forty, and by his fit shape he must work out every day. Now and then I’d catch him looking as nervous as I felt and he adjusted himself under the table a couple of times which made me take notice.
When we stood, I could see a rather large bulge in the front of his pants. I’d thought about that part of him more than once, and I longed to have him use it on me. Sitting there with him and his daughter, I could tell that he was just the type of man I needed to give myself to.
We walked around the carnival and played a few games. I had a stroke of luck at the dart game and ended up winning a teddy bear for Katie.
Katie yanked on her dad’s pant leg and begged him for tickets. “Ms. Bloom promised a ride with me!”
His brows pinched with confusion. “She did?” I had made that promise at school, and he turned and glanced my way as if waiting for an explanation.
“I did. Earlier today she told me that she was coming and I told her I might see her.” He seemed to understand and smiled.
“What a stroke of luck. How about we play a few more games while you finish your lemonade.” He gave me a crooked grin, and we walked to the next booth which was a goldfish toss. If you ringed the bowl, you kept the fish.
“Can I get a fish, Daddy?” Katie jumped up and down. “I’ll take good care of him.”
“These fish don’t live very long.” He gave her a warning look.
“I’ll have to make what life he does have really special, then.” The little girl seemed to truly believe that was all that mattered and it warmed my heart that she had such compassion for her age.
I saw the moment he gave in; his shoulders slouched and he let out a sigh. “Indeed. I don’t suppose one tiny fish will hurt.” He paid the man and got three rings. The first he tossed without a care as if he assumed it would be easy. But the ring bounced off the rims and landed in an empty space. On the second, he stuck out his tongue, curling it up against his top lip, which gave me all kinds of ideas where he could put it. He tossed the ring and looped a bowl.
Katie cheered and hugged his legs then she turned and hugged mine too. My eyes met Ross’s, and he smiled, happy to hand back the third ring to the attendant.
“No, sir. You have another chance. Two fish are better than one.” The guy turned around to take another players tickets, and Ross made a face.
“That’s debatable,” he said. He put his tongue out and tossed the last ring and ringed another bowl.
Katie let out a little squeal of delight, and the at
tendant let her pick out her two fish. She took one that was white and gold speckled and the other which was standard gold. “Aren’t they beautiful?” She had a bit of trouble holding both bowls, and so I took one of her hands and her father, who was still holding her lemonade, took the other.
“Are you done with this?” He asked about the drink and Katie nodded, still looking into the bowl he held. Ross handed me the other bowl and headed to the nearest trash and then he took the bowl back. “That’s much better. Have you decided what to name them?”
“This one is Ms. Bloom, and this one is Mr. Daddy. They are going to get married.” My cheeks stained with blush as his eyes met mine and then he let out a nervous laugh and patted her head.
“That’s nice, sweetheart, but I’m not sure fish get married.”
“Of course, they do, Daddy. How else do they make baby fish?” She shrugged her little shoulders as he stifled a chuckle and glanced my way.
“I guess I walked right into that one.”
“Can I ride something now?” Katie tapped the glass of the bowl and made little kissing sounds at her new fish.
“I guess. What do you want to ride?”
“How about we go on the carousel, and that will be our ride together?” I held out my hand and led the way after she jumped with delight and Ross gave an approving nod.