by Jodi Redford
He chuffed a laugh. “Trust me, I’m no less of a hot mess.”
“Yeah, you two are perfect for each other. Master Kink. Fucking A.”
“Look who’s talking, Kinky Claus.”
After going back and forth ribbing each other for another couple of minutes, they disconnected and Jack finished spiffing up the kitchen. Feminine chatter drew his attention and he glanced toward the archway. He cocked his eyebrows at Sunny’s pink fairy dress. Jane handed his daughter the matching wand. “I know it’s not practical. But she looks so freakin’ adorable in it.”
Recalling their earlier conversation about her tormenting Trig with dress up parties, he chuffed under his breath. “Why do I have the feeling you had more to do with picking out that outfit than Sunny?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Be glad there wasn’t an adult-sized version in her closet that fits you.”
“You can hold the wand. Then you’ll be a fairy too.” Sunny extended the accessory toward Jane like she was bestowing her newfound BFF with the Holy Grail.
He could have sworn Jane’s eyes grew a little misty as she accepted his daughter’s offering. “Thank you. That is so sweet of you.”
Well fuck. If they kept this up he was going to start bawling. He cleared his throat gruffly. “Okay, ladies. To the car.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
He thought Jane was going to lose her damn shit when they walked into the polar bear exhibit. Squealing, she waved her hand toward the massive bear chillaxing above them in the viewing tube. Her expressive features alive with unrestrained joy, she swiveled her focus to Jack. “Look at him! Look at that fat, cuddly bastard. I want to hug him, even though he’d eat my face off.”
Bringing her along today was the best damn decision of his life. “I had no idea you were this into zoos.”
“Oh, jeez. Fair warning, I only get more obnoxious from here. You’ll want to keep a ten-foot distance from me when we get to the giraffes.”
He squeezed her against his side. “Not a chance.”
She slipped her arm around his waist. “This is nice.”
“What, my svelte shape? Thanks, I’ve been working out.”
She pinched him. “Har-har. Yes, that’s nice too. Very nice. But I was actually referring to being here with you and Sunny. By the way, I’m kind of in love with your daughter.”
He glanced toward the other viewing cubby where Sunny was gabbing away with a couple of pre-teen girls who were admiring her dress. “I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual. In fact, I think she likes you more than me now.” He screwed his face into a mock pout.
“Hardly. That little girl has some serious hero worshipping going on with you, bub.” She looked up at him, something in her eyes prodding a funny tug in his chest.
The sensation leaving him off balance and slightly clammy, he wiped his brow. “What do you say we find a spot to sit down and have something to drink?”
If she found his swift change of subject odd, she didn’t let on. They collected Sunny and made their way to the nearby concession stand. He bought a soda for Jane and another one for him and Sunny. He’d learned the hard way that his daughter would take two sips and then insist he carry her beverage for the rest of the day despite the fact she was completely disinterested in it. Sharing solved that inconvenience.
Sunny took her first noisy slurp through the straw and smacked her lips before propping her chin in her tiny hand and smiling moonily at Jane. He had a bad feeling that was exactly what he looked like every damn time he looked at her too.
Thoroughly oblivious of the effect she had on him and his daughter, Jane tapped Sunny’s curls with the wand’s star tip. “Having fun?”
Sunny bobbed her head in response. “You should come live with us forevers.”
Jane slid her gaze to him, obviously tongue-tied. “Err...”
“Sun Bun, Jane has her own home.” Careful not to stick his foot down his throat like he did earlier, he hastened to add the necessary amendment. “But that doesn’t mean she can’t visit us whenever she wants. And even stay over.”
His daughter seemed satisfied with that arrangement. Thankfully, Jane did too. Or at least he assumed so. She didn’t stalk away from the table. He’d take that as a good sign.
“Daddy, I want to ride the train.”
“In a sec, baby. Right now we’re relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.”
Sunny scrunched her brow like she was completely mystified by the concept. He pulled the Skipper doll out of the tote bag and passed it over, a tactical maneuver that’d buy them at least five minutes. While Sunny busied herself introducing Skipper to her new stuffed kangaroo friend, he turned his focus to Jane. “So, do you come here often?” Fuck, it was damn scary how he could wing off a cheesy pickup line without trying. His adult conversation skills were rusty as shit.
“Not as much as I’d like. When we were kids, Trig and I would get to visit at least a few times during the summer. I think it was the parental unit’s way of trying to make us forget Disney Land’s existence.”
He chuckled. “No trips there, I take?”
“Ooooooh no. The land of Mickey is way too corporate establishment for our parents. They’re not exactly thrilled with zoos either, but taking us on African safaris wasn’t in the family budget.”
“That’s right. I recall Trig mentioning your folks are hippies.” He gave her a considering look. “You do realize you can go to Disney as an adult. It is allowed.”
“Yes, Mr. Moneybags. But some of us have this little thing called work and a mortgage. The Magic Kingdom is a luxury I can’t afford right now. Besides, can you imagine how obnoxious I’d be at a place like that? Good grief, you’d have to put me in one of those kid’s harnesses or I’d be running all over like a crazy person high on cotton candy and roller coasters.”
“They sell pirate Goofy hats.”
“Now you’re just being cruel.” Sighing, she picked up her drink and took a sulky sip.
Unable to resist, he leaned over and licked the droplet of soda from her bottom lip as soon as she set her plastic cup down. Not content to end things there, he gave her a proper kiss, being covert with the tongue action since they had impressionable eyes within the vicinity. Her mouth was cold and tasted spicy, delicious, and far too tempting. He wisely snipped the kiss short before it earned him a conspicuous bulge in his pants. Judging from the sultriness of Jane’s expression, he wasn’t the only one suffering at the moment.
She licked her lips and glanced at Sunny. “So, uh, is there a bedtime curfew in the Brewster household?”
“Nine PM on the weekends.” He crooked his finger, beckoning her closer. She complied with the summons and he nuzzled her ear. “But don’t count on getting much sleep.”
~*~
They unanimously voted pizza for dinner. Jack placed the call for delivery and then popped in a video for Sunny before journeying to the kitchen to crack open a bottle of wine. Jane joined him at the counter a few seconds later. He offered her a droll look. “What, you’re not kicking back with Sunny to watch an exciting episode of Danger Mouse?”
“Believe me, I was tempted. I know this will be hard to believe, but I’m basically a big kid with a dirty mind and a potty mouth.”
“I’m utterly shocked by the news.”
Snorting, she inspected the wine label. “Ooh la la. Something tells me this isn’t a Two Buck Chuck.”
“Remember the friend I told you about who owns the winery on Harsens? He keeps me stocked with the good stuff.” He passed her one of the balloon goblets and lifted his in salute. She clinked glasses with him and took a sip of the Shiraz. Her eyes nearly rolled back in her head, which naturally got him to thinking of more pleasurable ways to get the same response from her.
“Okay, this has officially spoiled me for all other wines.” She wrinkled her nose when he topped her off. “Are you trying to get me sloshed? Because you know that’s totally unnecessary.”
“No, but I do like spoiling you
.”
“Seriously, why did your ex let you get away?”
He scratched his jaw. Sighing, she twirled the stem between her fingers. “That wasn’t me being nosy. Just my typical way of blurting out any ole damn thing that pops into my head. Although, if you’d like to share I certainly won’t stop you.”
With the exception of confiding to a few people he trusted, there weren’t many who knew the full scope of his history with Ava. Although it was a struggle, he mentally pushed aside the protective shields armed and ready to slide into place. He wouldn’t shut Jane out. He owed it to her—and himself—to be completely open about his past. “You already know Ava and I weren’t married before Sunny came into the picture.” This part of the conversation was the least difficult to get through.
She nodded. “Unplanned pregnancies happen. You got an adorable little girl out of it, though.”
“I don’t regret Sunny for anything. She’s the only true bright spot in my past with Ava.” He shot a look toward the archway. There was no possible way Sunny would overhear them or really understand what they were talking about. He lowered his voice anyway. “My ex was a regular client of mine at the time. Her big fantasy was bareback sex. An absolute no go for me. I’d never risk my health or a client’s by forgoing a condom. But one night she took that decision out of my hand.”
Jane frowned. “What do you mean?”
He sucked in a fortifying breath and expelled it slowly. Here came the hard part. Just fucking spit it out. “She talked me into doing Ecstasy. It’s the only time in my life I’ve taken a drug stronger than a Tylenol. It was goddamn stupid of me. But I thought I could trust her.”
Jane reached for his hand and squeezed it. Compassion softened her gaze. “I think I know where this is going. You don’t have to say anything more if you’d rather not.”
The funny thing? He did want to tell her. Somehow talking to Jane about this freed some of the heaviness from his soul. “She took the condom off me. I didn’t know it at the time, I was so blitzed. Then she got pregnant and blamed me, said I forgot to use the protection. If not for her getting wasted one night and letting the truth slip, I’d still be clueless to what really happened.”
Jane wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. “I’m sorry. And your ex is a horrible bitch.” She peered up at him, her eyes blazing. “What she did is unconscionable and downright predatory. Criminal, since she didn’t have your consent.”
“The only reason I’ve never gone public with any of it is because of Sunny. It’s my word against Ava’s. With my background, who do you think people will most likely believe? I can’t risk her suing for full custody of our daughter. It would kill me if I lost Sunny. More than anything.”
Jane’s expression remained fierce. “Can I at least punch Ava the next time I see her? Seriously, I have a mean left hook.”
“Guess I should be grateful you didn’t give me a demonstration of it last night.”
She offered him a finger gun in response before hanging her head. “And now I feel like a horrid bitch.”
“Why? For wanting to deck my ex?” He rubbed her nape. “Although I’m neither encouraging nor discouraging it, the offer is sweet.”
“No, I made some bad misassumptions about your relationship with her in the past. Since, you know, I’m a huge asshole and all.”
He chuckled. “Oh yeah? And what did you think happened between me and Ava?”
She hitched her shoulder in a shrug. “I can’t recall the precise details, but I have a foggy recollection of pointing out that your epic asshattery probably made you impossible to live with.” She gave him a sheepish look. “I also might have called you a prick.”
He grunted. “Seems to be the preferred nickname for me.”
Her features adopted a solemnness he was willing to bet seldom homesteaded her face. “When I’m wrong I’ll admit it. I might not like to, but I will. It wasn’t right for me to jump to conclusions and say my typical stupid shit. So I apologize.”
The strange off balance sensation he’d experienced earlier returned. Desperate to tune it out, he smooched her forehead. “Thank you. I appreciate it. More than you’ll ever know. But in the interest of full disclosure, you weren’t entirely off base. I resented being coerced into marriage, even before I found out what Ava did. I went out of my way to ensure being married to me wouldn’t be a picnic for her. Long story short, I was a prick to her every chance I could be. And devastating as it was finding out what she did, a part of me was relieved I could finally leave her and not feel guilty about it.”
She stroked his chest through his polo. “No, I totally get it. And it doesn’t make you a bad person. I think a lot of people would have reacted the same.” She cocked her head to the side when he continued to silently gape at her. “What?”
“You never cease to amaze me. If I’d told all of this to the majority of women I’ve dated in the past, they would have run for the hills. Not that I’d blame them. Who in their right mind would want all of my crazy baggage cluttering up their sane, normal lives?”
Her mouth tipped upward in a wry slant. “You’re forgetting one important factoid. I’m far from sane or normal.”
“Still...a kid, a conniving ex, and an old, has-been gigolo? That’s a lot of madness to take on, even for you.”
“Old has-been gigolo?” Her eyes sparkled. “Okay, that’s funny.”
“What? It’s true. I had to take two damn Motrin this morning.”
She snickered. “Suppose this means no wild monkey sex tonight, gramps.”
“Oh no, there will most definitely be plenty of that.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to put you in the ER or anything.”
He squeezed her butt cheek. “Remember that promise I made about making you squirt? I still fully intend to deliver.”
“Uh, I most definitely don’t remember any promise about squirting.”
“Huh. Must have been a silent promise.”
She rolled her eyes. “What is it with you men and squirting? You all watch too much porn, for fuck’s sake.”
“It’s damn hot and you’ll love it.”
“Color me skeptical.”
He coaxed her closer. “I’m going to enjoy making a believer out of you.” Their mouths met in a leisurely kiss. The softness of her breasts pillowed against him did nothing to dampen his obsession with getting her naked.
If there was a God, Sunny would fall asleep earlier than usual tonight. The doorbell chimed, interrupting his slight guilt over that thought. He reluctantly pulled away and grabbed a twenty from his wallet for the pizza. Glancing up, he caught the flush of desire riding Jane’s face. Growling, he claimed another fast, hot kiss. “Save that thought for later.”
“Like you gave me any other option, you sexy bastard.”
Adding an extra layer of evil wickedness to his laugh, he strode for the entry.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Daddy, can I have Frosted Flakes?”
He clicked the display on the TV. “It’s eight-thirty, Sun Bun. Aren’t you tired yet?”
Snuggled next to him on the couch, Jane chuffed a soft laugh. “Subtle.”
Hell, he was several blocks past the last exit to Subtle Boulevard at this point. He loved his daughter beyond reason. But the kid was going to be the death of him. Between the trip to the zoo and having Jane there, Sunny was in the running for putting the Energizer Bunny out of a job. Short of taking her out with a tranquilizer dart, it looked like she wouldn’t be down for the count anytime soon.
Jane shoved up from the couch and strolled toward the far corner of the room. The magnetic sway of her ass pulled him in like a tractor beam. Squelching a groan, he shifted his focus to the ceiling, praying for strength.
“Hey, that’s my favoritest!”
Sunny’s squeaky shout nabbed his attention and he lifted his head. His daughter was pointing to the picture book Jane held.
“Is it?” Jane inspected the dog-eared glossy cove
r, her eyebrows twin blonde arches. “Well, imagine that.”
“Can you read it to me and Skipper?”
“Hm, most certainly. But the best place to listen to a story is in bed. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Sunny’s features scrunched in deep concentration. A second later her eyes widened like she’d just been given the answer to all of life’s mysteries. She sprung up off the couch and grabbed Jane’s outstretched hand, happily bouncing as they trekked for the hallway.
Bemused, he shook his head. “The woman is scary brilliant.” He waited it out a few minutes, giving them time to get settled in Sunny’s room, and then loped up the stairs. Jane’s animated storytelling carried through the doorway. He paused, grinning like a fool at the different voices she adopted for the various characters. She was good. Hell, he was half tempted to go in there and enjoy the read-along too.
His horniness winning out, he strode to the master suite and fetched a couple of condoms and a vibrating cock ring. He’d never used it for anything other than solo play but he had a feeling it’d get the job done for Jane too. Discreetly tucking all items in his pockets, he ventured downstairs and curbed his restlessness by straightening up the family room.
Approximately fifteen long, agonizing minutes later, Jane reappeared. “She’s conked out. Man, I’d give my left boob to be able to fall asleep that fast.”
“Hm, since it’s up for grabs...”He tossed a stray Barbie into the mesh bin to join her buddies and tugged Jane into his arms.
She anted up a droll look as he cupped her breast. “I set myself up for that one, didn’t I?”
“Pretty much. So I’ve got to ask, how in the world did you know about the book?”
“That it’s Sunny’s favorite? Simple. It’s the most banged up out of the bunch. Meaning you either toss it at the wall a lot or read it to her often. Possibly both, now I think about it.”
“I’ll say it again, you’re scary brilliant, woman.”