College Daddy: A Single Dad Romance

by Amber Heart

  "That can be arranged. I look forward to it. Bye."

  "Bye." Opal checked the time: just past five. She was assuming that he'd want to meet up with her that night. It was all too much to handle; that's why she wanted to put it off until the next day. Maybe she would have time to sort her head out by then, or back out if that's what she was going to do in the end anyway. At least then she could avoid dragging this poor guy any further into her evil web of deceit.

  Opal called Judith and asked if they could meet up. She got the machine. "Hey, gorgeous. I know you're swamped filling my shoes at work. But I really miss you. I'll show you to your favorite dessert bar." She tried to sound as pathetic and sickly-sweet as possible, hoping the promise of free sweets would tempt Judith.

  It did, and they met up at Harry's Sweet Treats on the corner of the block where Judith's apartment was, a thirty-minute taxi ride from Opal's place.

  "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist this offer," Opal said once they'd taken a seat at the dessert bar. The tables were the sparkling kind of metal that some beachside ice cream bars had. There were pictures of all sorts of crazy desserts on the walls, as well as happy, yet stuffed, people who'd won the various eating challenges that were on offer.

  "Well, I guess I can put up with your company if there's free fudge."

  "I've missed you, hon."

  "I've missed you too, Opal. You should see how stressed out I've been without you at work. That, and it's taking up all my time for socializing. I'm sorry I haven't been around the past week."

  "That's not your fault. I would have been too ashamed of my new job anyway." Opal looked at the menu she had in her hands. She'd been clutching the thing like it was a safety charm or something. "What are you going to order? Remember that I'm paying."

  "That depends. What kind of money are you making at the strip club?"

  "Shh! Don't tell everyone in the place. I'm not exactly proud of what I do. I know I'm just working bar, but what women wants to work at a place like that?"

  "Strippers? Women who like women? People who don't give a shit what others think of them?" Judith had a sparkle in her eyes that often meant she was ticked off.

  "They’re really over working you, aren’t they? I thought they were going to bring in outside workers to pick up the slack. At least, that's what Alfred told me when he fired me."

  "He has, but it's impossible to bring them up to speed. They're not there every day either, just part time. I'm on my own the rest of the time. I tell you, I'm this close to quitting, I don't give a shit what happens. Hey, maybe you can get me a job too. I used to take a few bar shifts in college."

  "And I'm sure you'd get great tips, little cutey like you. But I need you on the inside so I can bring Owen down."

  "Yeah, about that … he threatened to 'bring me down' if I did any more snooping. How he knew, I don't know. I'm just lucky he only has his suspicions to go on there. You know, he told me that I shouldn't even associate with you."

  "Is that why I haven't seen you since I left?" Opal felt a great wash of sadness overcome her.

  "You know me better than that. If anything, it's made me more determined that he's the guy behind you getting fired. I've just been too busy, I promise. Would you mind if I backed off looking for evidence at the office for now?"

  "Do you what you gotta do, Judith. I don't want to cause any trouble. So, have you decided what you're ordering yet? That double choc fudge supreme looks mighty tempting."

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Boyd was getting pretty tired of his uncle treating him like a squished patch of dog shit that he'd found on the bottom of his expensive shoe. It took plenty of thinking about it, but he finally resolved to confront the old fucker. He decided to go give the old guy a piece of his mind, then thought it would be best for everyone if he just left it alone. That went on, back and forth, anger and turning the other cheek, for a good hour. In the end, it was thinking about what Felicia had said about Carl keeping tabs on Opal, even though they'd only just met, which made up his mind for sure.

  That's what lead him to the busy warehouse owned by Carl. "I need to see him," he told the grumpy little woman behind the front desk. "And don't give me any of that crap about him not being here, or him being too busy. I don't give a fuck, you hear me?" He was trying to sound as pissed off as he felt, without losing his sense of control.

  "Do you have an appointment to see your uncle, Boyd?" That was right, she remembered him. "Or are you here to see me?"

  "What? Why the fuck would I be here to see you? Now, tell me, is he in that office or not? I'll just go see for myself, shall I? Might give the greedy cunt a heart attack to see me unexpected.

  "Are you serious? You're kidding me, right?"

  "What, you think I wouldn't enter a room without permission? I'm not eight years old, sweetheart."

  "Yeah, that's what you called me on our so-called date. I think that was when your uncle still hadn't figured out what kind of a person you really are." That face, those lips, such pretty eyes even full of resentment, that chest, those hips. Boyd remembered why he should have recognized her.

  "Oh, boy. You're probably wondering why I didn't call you back, right? Look, I was just barely over being a kid then."

  "Yeah, and I still had some hope in men before then too. Don't worry, you're not the first guy who's messed me around. You probably won't be the last either, as much as I hate to admit that. Tell you what, just go through and talk your lies to your uncle, okay? I don't have the time and I don't get paid enough to deal with this right now. Excuse me." She got up and headed for a door that was marked as the employee's bathroom.

  "Bravo," said Carl from the door that was slightly ajar. "That was quite a show. So, you and Tabitha hey? You were a dog even back then. My, how your mother would be proud of you. Get in here before you cost me a lawsuit." Boyd followed Carl into the office, and his uncle locked the door behind them. "I don't want any more of my female employees throwing a tantrum because you had your way with them and tossed them aside. God damn it, Boyd, don't you know what prostitutes are for? I thought I had a better influence than that. Lord knows I tried to fill in after my brother and your mother passed away. And look at you. You're a disgrace to the Houston family name, for fucksakes!" He went and sat behind his enormous desk, picked up a half smoked cigar from a green glass ashtray that was on top of it.

  "You still smoke? Oh, that's right, you moved on to much harder stuff than tobacco, didn't you? But you still drink whiskey, if I'm not mistaken."

  "It's good to know you're keeping tabs on me. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to have a relative who cares." Boyd had lost a lot of his steam after being put on the spot like that. Yeah, Carl had a way of doing that to people. He'd work an angle they weren't expecting, making things more personal than they were comfortable with. That's when he'd shift things to be in his own favor; one of the things Boyd used to admire, but now something he hated about the man.

  "I didn't come here to deal with your underhanded shit, Carl. Don't pretend you're any better than me. You've just had longer to learn how to avoid getting caught."

  "Yes, exactly. I don't go around throwing money at every tight skirt and set of fake tits I see. I don't waste my mind on drugs and cheap bars. You were given an advantage so you could have the best. People like us don't have run-ins with the law. We don't wind up in lock up for drinking and vandalism."

  "That's what I came to say, mostly. Well, first, I came to tell you to stay the fuck away from my new girl. I know you started watching her. She's not into anything illegal so you might as well give up right away. If you give a shit about our family name so much, just let me have this."

  "Is that so?" Carl's smile made Boyd sick to his stomach. There was too much spiteful pleasure in it. "And what's the other thing you came to tell me all about?"

  "You don't need to worry about me ruining your 'good' name any more. I've decided to stop making trouble."

  "Oh, why's that? You're not wo
rried about losing all that money you didn't earn, are you?"

  "We both know the deal, so cut the shit, Carl. I'll pass that interview, because I'm smarter than you, and I've got a better lawyer than you, despite your efforts to get her to change sides through the years."

  "You got the part about having a good lawyer right at least. But I've been at this game for much longer than you, Boyd. That's one loyal bitch though, I'll give her that."

  "Don't call Felicia a bitch."

  "Oh, why? Because she cleans up your messes, you think she gives a damn about what happens to you? Once your money's gone, and hopefully once you're in prison for a long time, you're not going to see her face again as long as you live."

  Boyd kicked an antique looking wooden chair so hard it almost fell over. The thing was heavy as five regular chairs as well, but he was strong and trying to manage his bubbling emotions; mostly anger. "Why are you doing this to me?"

  "Because you're a fucking punk, Boyd. You used to be one of my favorite people, right up until you became a man. But that man turned out to be the kind of scumbag I really hate. You've got no honor, no self-respect, and you waste money that you didn't earn. I'm sorry, I truly am, but you're a piece of shit in my mind.

  "Wow, what a nice way to speak to your only nephew, your only living relative."

  "I don't have a nephew. There's just this punk my brother gave birth to one day, and he's been nothing but trouble ever since. The worst part is, no one else ever realized it but me. Me and all the poor schmucks you screwed over. Well, you're the one getting screwed over this time--you have no idea. You're going to lose that money, be sure of that."

  "Yeah, we'll see. Just be sure your secretary lets me know when you finally keel over. I wouldn't want to miss that funeral." He stormed out of there, avoiding eye contact with Tabitha, who'd returned to her station behind the desk.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The next morning, Boyd was ready to leave his penthouse well before eleven. He'd gotten up at around six, after going to bed nice and early the previous night. There was no way he wanted to look like shit to take Opal out. That had not been a problem, since it was honestly as boring as shit spending the night alone, without any cocaine, cheap sluts, or even expensive sluts, to make things more interesting. The main problem was that Boyd had never been forced to face his own mind without some kind of barrier.

  Carl was right, there was no denying that. Boyd was a total shit head, and had been for some time now. The process of making amends, undoing all the harm that he'd caused to people? Well, that seemed straight up impossible. For starters, he could not even remember the names and faces of a lot of those people. Hell, he didn't even get the names of many of the women he fucked and then fucked over. But he wasn't about to start apologizing for paying women for an honest job, even if it was a blowjob, or a good old fuck session. No, they had the right to sell whatever was theirs, if they chose, as far as Boyd was concerned. But he had gone overboard a lot of the time, and taken things too far, been more of an asshole than he needed to be.

  After all, there was no need to be an asshole at all.

  He didn't even want to start remembering all the vandalism, theft, and chaotic mayhem that he'd caused throughout his young adult years, right up until that point in time. Instead, he tried to focus his thoughts on what he was going to do to prove to Opal that a bad boy could still make a viable partner for a special woman. If he could just get her to become a regular part of his life, he might be able to use her positive energy to stay on the right path.

  Boyd took Opal to a carnival, at the risk of doing something incredibly cheesy. "I hope this isn't what you were expecting," he said as they sat on the Ferris wheel and looked out across all the other rides, games, and food stands.

  "You certainly got what you were aiming for then, Boyd," said Opal. She'd been having a good time, as far as he could tell. Still, there was the nagging suspicion that she was hiding something. He was annoyed that both Felicia and Carl had gotten into his head, and were trying to ruin something that he wanted so badly. But why did he want it so badly? That much was obvious to him, as soon as he got to spend more time with her.

  "I just didn't think you were interested in something that only money could buy. This is fun that everyone could enjoy, on every level. I don't know, common ground I guess."

  "And maybe you just couldn't think of what to do on our second date?"

  "So, we're officially dating. I'll write that in my journal before bed tonight."

  "What makes you think you'll have time to do that before bed?" Opal asked. She winked at him and then leaned in for another kiss. They hadn't kissed or been intimate in any other way that day, apart from an awkward hug when he picked her up in his limo.

  "I knew the carnival was a good idea. Bitches love carnivals." That was funnier in his head, although it didn't seem to offend her, which was a good point.

  "Yeah, yeah. I'm sure plenty of high school kids have gotten their first hummer after taking their date on the roller coaster and showing how brave they are."

  "Don't you think we're a bit old for the roller coaster?"

  "What, are you scared or something? Besides, if you're going to look at it that way, we shouldn't be here in the first place. It's okay, I don't feel like bringing up my breakfast anyway. I was never really the type of girl to go on the big rides."

  "Not much of a risk taker then?" The Ferris wheel brought them up to the very top of the ride, and they could look around at everything. The city expanded out forever it seemed, leaving little room for anything but busy people and hard structures that housed them through work, rest, and play.

  "I don't think you know me well enough to make sweeping assumptions like that, Boyd."

  "We were getting pretty personal the other night. You're right though, I don't know you that well. There's just something about you, Opal. I'm not sure what it is yet." He looked at her studiously, hoping that if she was up to something, it would be unnerving and lead her to give herself away; anything, some tell, like a twitch at the corner of her eye, or breaking eye contact in a suspicious way. But there was no such thing, as far as he could tell. Either she was honestly interested in him, or she was just a great actress.

  "Please, you don't know me yet. Hey, have you ever wondered if you could get away with having sex on one of these rides?"

  "You can. Whoops …"

  "Ah, of course, the well-traveled gentleman who's put his dick inside half of the city. Do I need to get myself checked out or something?"

  "No, you don't, I get tested regularly." That was probably not something he should have shared. Things might not last very long if she learned too much about him. "So, what does a nice girl like you want to hang around a scumbag like me for?"

  "Maybe I've been living a boring life that needs to be shaken up? Or, maybe I think that the whole bad boy thing is at least somewhat of an act, and you're not such horrible person after all. You think I care if you've had sex before? Who hasn't? Just because I was engaged until recently, it doesn't mean that I'm a nun or something."

  "I kind of wish this ride would break down like in those shitty movies, so we would be stuck up here all by ourselves." He detected a cheeky smile on her lips. The ride was coming to a stop, nearing the bottom.

  "What would you do if we were stuck up here all alone?"

  "The least I'd do is grab your tits," Boyd said, then he did just that. The ride operator, a middle aged woman with some kind of lady mullet and shoulders like a linebacker, saw them. She smirked a bit and shook her head.

  "You two wanna keep that shit off my ride? Thanks," she said with a weird drawl.

  "Sorry, ma'am," said Boyd. They ran off together like teens who'd just been busted making out under the bleachers.

  They walked through a long lane of different games, with the noise and commotion from each one being operated, and all the people walking around having fun, almost drowning out their conversation. "I can't believe you got to first base
right there on the Ferris wheel. Wait until the guys hear about it after baseball practice," said Opal loudly. She had to lean over to Boyd's ear or he might not have heard her at all.

  "I was always more of a football player in school. Isn't that obvious from my ripped muscles?"

  "Football? No, I don't want to play," she replied, screwing up her face.

  "What?" Then, Boyd saw a game where people had to try and throw a miniature football through a ring and knock over some bottles on the other side, to win a prize. "Oh, no, I meant I played football. That's why I'm so hot!" He looked beside him and saw a group of school children who were on a field trip with their teacher. They all started to giggle at him as they made their way by. "Oh great, of course they have the hearing of a, well something that has great fucking hearing!"

  Opal laughed openly at him, which made the children laugh even more. She took his hand and led him away from the noisy games. They went down where there were some sheds and some areas blocked off by fences and locked gates. She led him behind the corner of a building that was sticking out into the makeshift alley way and pushed him against the wall. It was warm from the sun, and her body matched that warmth on his front.

  Boyd's dick jerked up and memories of their night together came flooding back like hot lube all over plastic sheets. She kissed him before he had the chance to do just that. It was insanely hot, and all the people around didn't mean much. Shit, it's not like he hadn't had sex in public before. But if they were caught, and it got out, he'd be screwed. For some reason he was starting to doubt how far Felicia would go to protect him, if he broke his promise to stay good.

  Then, Opal reached into his pants, not breaking eye contact, and pulled out his firm cock. She got down and was sucking it immediately. She moved it in and out of her mouth, quickly working over just the head until it was nice and wet. Boyd stood back against the wall and looked down at her without a care for who might happen upon them being bad.