Dating A Cougar

by Donna McDonald

  And he smelled—pancakes, he concluded, sniffing the air. Alexa was cooking breakfast.

  He smiled and pushed himself up in bed, wincing at the stiffness and throb in his hip. It hurt like hell but made him laugh as well. She’d kill him if she knew.

  It was funny until he walked to the bathroom. Casey wanted to go looking for Alexa and pancakes but realized he needed to stand under a hot shower until he could at least fake not hurting. The moment the hot water hit his lower back and hips, he felt immediate relief. Casey took his time, and when he got out he was almost a good as normal. Definitely was going to need the cane today though.

  When he walked to the kitchen, what he found was Alexa standing in the arms of a very attractive gray-haired man dressed in expensive jeans and polo shirt. They were laughing and hugging. The intimacy between them was obvious.

  Casey looked inside for the jealousy he normally would have felt over the situation, but surprisingly he found none.

  Maybe the shock of seeing Alexa in the arms of another man was too great. Or maybe he just wasn’t able to believe that Alexa could ride him to oblivion, drive him to multiple orgasms, and find anything else worth having without him.

  The man noticed Casey before Alexa did.

  “Good morning,” the man said with a guiltless smile. “You must be Casey. Alexa was just telling me you were here.”

  Alexa smacked the man on the arm with a spatula she was using to turn pancakes.

  “Alexa was just telling you to mind your own damn business,” she corrected.

  Casey looked between the man and Alexa. No—no jealousy, he concluded.

  Before he could examine it further, a female arm found its way around his waist. He stumbled a little sideways in surprise, but she caught him and kept him upright.

  “Good morning, Casey,” Jenna said with as innocent a smile as she could manage. “I’m so glad you could stop by for breakfast.” She winked and laughed as she moved around him.

  Casey decided he definitely needed coffee to deal with all this.

  “I’m not sure I’m talking to you.” Casey said, using his cane to prod Jenna as she walked by him.

  Jenna sounded like Alexa, he thought, as she headed into the kitchen, laughing at him still. “You got me into serious trouble with your mother yesterday. Weren’t you taught to be respectful to your elders?”

  “If Jenna lacks manners,” the gray-haired man said, frowning at Jenna. “That’s probably my fault. I spoil her. Her mother is the disciplinarian.”

  “Morning kiddo,” he said to Jenna, hugging her back when she hugged him tightly.

  “Morning, daddy,” Jenna said, reaching up to kiss his smoothly shaven cheek.

  Ah, Casey thought. Daddy. This was Jenna’s father.

  Casey’s eyes softened then as they took in Alexa’s back and her head bent over the pancakes. She had yet to look at him. Instead, she poured coffee, put the cup in the Jenna’s father’s hand, and pointed to Casey.

  “Take Casey coffee and go introduce yourself,” Alexa ordered Paul, ignoring his knowing look. She didn’t need her ex-husband gloating over her new boyfriend spending the night.

  “Paul Ranger,” the man said with an easy smile, handing Casey the coffee. “We sort of snuck in on Alexa last night. Well, Jenna snuck in this morning early. I had some work in Baltimore and the plane was delayed. I called Alexa’s cell but she never answered. Anyway, it was about two when we made it to the house. I hope we’re not interrupting your weekend.”

  Casey set the coffee on the dining table and put out a hand for Paul to shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Paul smiled again and took Casey’s hand. “Same here,” Paul replied.

  Casey was so absorbed in checking out Paul Ranger that he totally didn’t see the other man walk up to his side.

  “Carter, are you putting moves on my man?” Sydney demanded in a loud voice, making Casey jump for real.

  Paul’s grip on Casey’s hand was the only thing that kept him from banging into the dining table with his bad hip.

  Casey glared at Sydney and swore.

  “Sydney, behave.” Paul said, his voice lowering and his gaze darkening.

  Sydney waved his hand like it was no big deal. “Carter and I are old friends now. He knows I’m just teasing,” he said, defending his actions, making smooching sounds by Casey’s ear as he passed.

  Paul dropped Casey’s hand and punched Sydney hard in the arm as he walked on to the kitchen laughing.

  Casey wasn’t sure what to think about Paul taking up for him.

  “Damn it, Sydney. You scared the shit out of me,” Casey said, making Sydney laugh harder. “You’re lucky I didn’t take you out with my cane.”

  Casey walked into the kitchen as well.

  “Get your coffee and get out,” Casey ordered. “I haven’t had a chance to say good morning yet.”

  “Wow, you’re really grumpy without coffee. Reminds me of someone,” Sydney said to Alexa, walking away with a smile. “I bet mornings are some fun around you two.”

  Casey watched Sydney leave before he turned his attention to Alexa.

  “Gee, is there anything you might want to tell me, Alexa?” Casey asked, leaning against the counter, bracing himself on his cane.

  “Last night was wonderful?” she suggested, keeping her focus on the pancakes.

  “Thanks. No. That’s not it,” he said, fighting a laugh now himself.

  Alexa was flushed and nervous, obviously more embarrassed this morning than she was about anything that happened yesterday.

  “My ex-husband and Sydney are partners?” Alexa suggested with a grin, deftly sliding more pancakes onto the mountain already stacked on the platter.

  Laughter from the dining table had Casey biting back another smile.

  “No, that’s not it either, but I did figure it out.”

  Sure. The puzzle pieces were falling into place inside Casey’s mind. The man Alexa had given to Sydney was her ex. And Alexa still loved Jenna’s father. You could see it in the hugs. But Casey had filed the info away already because he would need more several more years of therapy if he thought about it too long.

  Casey reached out and tugged the pony-tail Alexa wore this morning. He looked down at her yoga pants, the tight top with thankfully—a bra, because he was going to kiss her like he wanted to and nature would take its course.

  Besides, there was no getting around making his intentions clear. The people sitting at Alexa’s dining table were expecting a show, and he was more than happy this morning to give them one.

  He let her pour more batter. “Stop,” Casey ordered, using his best and most commanding Marine voice. “Kiss me good morning. If you don’t, I’m calling the press. They’ll be on your doorstep before breakfast is over.”

  Alexa put her hands on hips and glared at him. Only Casey could see she was putting on her fair share of the performance.

  Jenna giggled and said “Ah-oh.”

  Casey stepped into Alexa and tugged her head back by her pony-tail, kissing her deeply until her hands moved to his hips, holding him in place against her.

  “Good morning. You could have warned me we’d be having company for breakfast,” Casey said when he broke the kiss.

  “Well, I would have if I had remembered,” Alexa told him, actually smacking him with the spatula hard enough to have him calling out in pain. Alexa tossed her head and sent the pony-tail swinging.

  So far, she’d smacked just about everyone with it. It made her feel marginally better about forgetting she’d invited Paul and Sydney to come for the weekend. “No one currently sitting at my table considered I might have company for once. They just waltzed right in during the middle of the night, expecting pancakes the next morning.”

  “Oh,” Casey said. “Well, that’s a good reason then. I’m sorry.”

  He stepped away then, patting her on the shoulder in apology. “Let’s not call this minor skirmish a fight, okay? I’m still recovering from maki
ng up yesterday. I can barely walk this morning.”

  Alexa laughed and turned multiple shades of pink.

  Casey sighed, wishing they were alone so he could show Alexa he was teasing. He wouldn’t need to walk if they were spending the day in bed.

  Jenna had taken a drink of coffee only to spit it on the table laughing when she realized what Casey had said. Grabbing a handful of napkins from a nearby rack, she set about cleaning up the mess.

  “So where’s my thank you for starting the fight yesterday?” Jenna asked Casey, when he finally walked back to the table and claimed his coffee again.

  After he sat, Casey pointed his cane at Jenna. “I’m not as nice as your Dad and Sydney. You might want to wait until I’ve had my coffee to harass me. Your mother almost killed me yesterday because of you.”

  “Sir, yes, sir,” Jenna said with mock salute. “Will hold all smart remarks until after said coffee has been drunk.”

  Casey looked at her in disgust, and then to Alexa who was standing at the stove not bothering to stifle her laughter anymore.

  Casey looked at Paul, feeling genuine empathy for the man having had to deal with these two sassy women all these years. No wonder his hair was solid gray.

  “I’m sure you were a great parent, Paul,” Casey told him. “And I know damn well Jenna didn’t get her sassy mouth from you.”

  Casey picked up his coffee and drank while Paul and Sydney both just beamed at him.

  Jenna smiled and winked.

  When Casey grunted, everyone at the table laughed.

  Alexa brought the coffee pot to the table, purposely refilling Casey’s first. When Casey thanked her, she kissed the top of his head. Then she poured for Paul and Sydney, afterward handing the now empty coffee carafe to her daughter.

  “Make some more,” Alexa said archly, giving her daughter her best mother glare.

  “Yes, Mama,” Jenna replied meekly, sticking out her tongue to Casey.

  “Yeah. Who’s in trouble now?” Casey asked wickedly, gloating.

  “Don’t start,” Alexa said, smacking Casey on the back of his head, listening happily as he called out in pain. “We will have civilized and polite conversation over my pancakes.”

  “Ouch. I can’t believe you smacked me again. Have you had any coffee yet?” Casey asked irritably, rubbing the back of his head.

  “No,” she hissed, tired of taking care of other people. Two nights of no real rest were taking a toll.

  Casey scooted back and jerked her down into his lap, not letting her resist. He pulled his coffee over closer. “Drink, Alexa. I value my life and everyone else’s at this table.”

  “I think I still hate you,” Alexa grumbled, picking up Casey’s coffee and drinking.

  Casey grunted and settled her better in his lap.

  “Fine,” he said, sighing heavily. “Drink the damn coffee. Maybe you’ll like me after.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Paul and Sydney exchange some sly looks.

  Jenna came back to the table with the giant platter of pancakes and another containing ham. She made one more trip for pancake syrup and toppings, and another to bring a now full coffee carafe back along with a coffee cup for her mother.

  Alexa slid off Casey’s lap and into a chair next to him.

  He reached over and patted her leg in approval, eliciting yet another sigh from her. This one felt a lot like contentment to her, though a much better kind than she had known for many years.

  Looking around the table, Alexa had to admit her odd family seemed more complete with Casey there.

  Jenna shoveled a giant bite of pancakes into her mouth, closing her eyes in pleasure. She looked at her mother, recognized the mental debate going on, and gave her a thumbs-up sign.

  “I’m glad the pancakes are so good,” Alexa said dryly, rolling her eyes at Jenna’s lack of manners.

  Jenna looked at Casey who was now deep in sports conversation with both her Dad and Sydney.

  “Yes, Mama. The pancakes are good.” Jenna looked at Casey again, and then swung a knowing gaze back to her mother. “Everything is excellent this morning. Don’t you think?”

  Alexa’s throat got really tight. Her daughter actually approved of Casey. All Alexa could do was nod in reply. If she tried to talk, she was going to cry.

  Jenna patted her mother’s arm and went back to eating. She knew her mother needed to be ignored until she’d had time to collect herself.

  Casey felt Alexa’s emotions shift and turned to look at her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, concerned about her again. He hadn’t seen Alexa off-balance except with him. God help him, he actually preferred her sassy mouth.

  Alexa nodded to ease Casey’s concern, smiled at little, and turned her attention to her pancakes. She reached over and patted his leg and then picked up her fork.

  Now all eyes looked at her, and Casey noticed every gaze held the same question.

  Humility was cause for concern in a woman like Alexa. Not wanting to embarrass her further by asking more questions, Casey put one hand on her leg in support, and went back to his conversation with the guys about the obscene amount of money athletes were paid.

  Jenna looked at Casey’s hand on her mother’s leg, and then at the flush of pleasure on her mother’s face. That’s the way it should be, she thought. Who wouldn’t want quiet support and understanding from someone who really knew you?

  Unfortunately, when Jenna thought about such intimacy for herself, she could only see one man’s hand on her leg, which was too bad. Just like it was too bad Seth Carter wasn’t more like the man who’d raised him.

  It had taken all of ten minutes to see Casey understood her mother, accepted her, and wanted the best for her. And her mother and Casey barely knew each other by most dating standards. Maybe it happens faster when you’re older, Jenna thought.

  Or maybe she just sucked at dating.

  Jenna sighed and kept on eating.

  Chapter 19

  In the family room at the back of the house, Casey sat on a couch that seated five people with Alexa’s leg pressed to his. While it wasn’t the way he’d originally planned to spend Saturday evening with Alexa, it wasn’t bad.

  Alexa had rounded out the family group by inviting her friends Regina and Lauren over to meet him.

  Paul and Sydney had made a pizza run earlier for dinner. Now Paul and Regina were engaged in a death match over air hockey. Paul scored the winning slide and gloated, while Sydney cheered him on.

  Regina swore, gave them both a middle finger salute, and stomped off to use the restroom.

  Alexa had been right. Casey liked Regina Logan. The woman had fire. Too spirited and outspoken for him—Alexa’s sass was more than he needed—but he could see the woman had a giant personality and guts in spades. Regina would have made a damn good Marine, providing she hadn’t gotten busted every ten seconds for venting her temper.

  On the other hand, Casey wasn’t sure Lauren even had a pulse. She was the most congenial, easy-going person he’d ever met. Lauren McCarthy glided around the room smiling. She seemed to enjoy the competitive friction in the crowd, but didn’t engage in it. Lauren stood to the side, helped people with their drinks, their game remotes, their—well, their whatever.

  Lauren reminded Casey of a tamer version of his wife. Susan had also been nurturing but had a sassy mouth like Alexa’s when you riled her. Lauren probably never swore.

  Casey looked with greater appreciation at the woman seated beside him, suddenly immensely appreciative of Alexa’s faults along with everything wonderful. Alexa was a challenge, but a hell of a lot more fun than she was work.

  “Why aren’t you over there beating Paul?” Casey asked her. “Your friends and your daughter are getting slaughtered. Womanhood is going down the toilet in your family room while you just sit there and watch.”

  Alexa yawned and arched an eyebrow.

  “It’s your fault I’m a walking zombie. I’m still hung over from two late nights in a
row and more sex than I’ve had in a decade—maybe two,” she whispered, making Casey laugh at her grumbling.

  Casey put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to his side. He felt a little guilty for wearing Alexa out, but it would have been impossible not to be happy she was tired because of him. Not one of his more sterling character moments, but hey—he was a guy.

  “Here, baby, sleep on me. You need to rest up for when company leaves tomorrow,” he said in an answering whisper.

  Casey kissed the top of her head when she leaned on him.

  Alexa turned her head, giggled against the front of his shirt, and then snorted.

  Regina plopped down beside Alexa. “Did I just hear you snort?” she asked a now laughing Alexa.

  Regina looked at Casey. “You must be really funny. Alexa only snorts when something is hilarious. Lauren and I used to compete at telling her jokes trying to get her to do it.”

  Casey looked at Alexa. “You snort all the time with me. You must think I’m hysterical.”

  Alexa laughed, snorting again. “I do. But I hate snorting,” she said. “It’s so not elegant.”

  Casey thought if Regina rolled her eyes any higher, they’d go through the top of her head. Damn, if he didn’t like the woman.

  “Well, hell. Of course, we wouldn’t want to be less than elegant when we laugh,” Regina said dryly, sipping her drink.

  Alexa looked at Regina and her drink. “Straight coke,” Regina said. “There’s nothing in it. Two and out already.” She crossed her chest with a big X. “Swear to God. It’s just a stress reliever.”

  Alexa leaned over and hugged Regina, almost making her spill her coke. “I love you. I don’t mean to nag.”

  “Good friends ask,” Regina said, patting her cheek.

  “So, Casey,” Regina said conversationally, a wicked gleam in her eye. “Did you get all the testosterone in your family? If it’s too personal a question, you don’t have to answer.”

  Casey looked at his lap, pretending to study his crotch with great interest, and then looked back at Regina.

  “How can you tell?” he asked. “Is there some sort of test?”

  Regina threw back her head and laughed loudly.