My Father's Best Friend

by Ali Parker

  Too soon, the gallery closed. Out into the night, we went again, the city singing as loudly as it had before. Everything crackled with life, the world taking on a pristine quality it hadn’t possessed previously.

  Andrew’s hand slid slowly along the car door as he opened it for me. Unable to break my gaze from his, I lethargically dropped into my seat. Having a moment to myself before he joined me in the car, I pressed my palm against my mouth and let out a giddy giggle.

  If he asks me over to his place, I’m going to say yes.

  I’d decided before the date even began that that’s what I would do, but now I couldn’t wait to get over to his house. Unless that was out of the question due to Raven being there.

  Of course. I have to invite him into my apartment.

  My pulse pounded as Andrew pulled into the street and back in the direction of my place.

  “Thank you for tonight,” I said, breaking the silence.

  His layered gaze, even half concealed in the dark, had me melting against the seat. “Thank you.”

  “I haven’t had a night this fun in ...” I shook my head. “I probably shouldn’t answer that.”

  Andrew’s boisterous laughter filled the car. “It can’t be as long as it’s been for me.”

  “Wanna bet?”

  That beautiful side grin stretched his lips. “Okay, on three we’ll both say the last time we had a night this fun.”

  “Deal.”

  He watched me out of the corner of his eye. “One. Two. Three.”

  “Never,” we both said.

  “Wait.” I stared at him, wishing I could see his eyes better. “Did you say never?”

  “I did.”

  What else was there to say? For a few seconds, we grinned at each other like idiots. Never had I had a night like this. Never had I hoped to.

  But never had finally arrived.

  At my apartment complex, Andrew parked right in front of my front door. The porch light beckoned me forward, asking me to not show up alone.

  “Don’t move,” he said.

  Before I could do that, he was at my door, acting the part of the perfect gentleman, just as he had all night long. His soft hand slipped into mine, drawing me out of the car and close to his chest. Within a heartbeat, a strong arm was around my waist. I lifted my face up toward Andrew’s downturned one, relishing his warm exhale against my lips.

  “We don’t have to do this right here,” I softly said, working the suggestive angle.

  “Good idea.”

  His hand trailing down to mine, we walked to the front door. As I fumbled for my key, Andrew abruptly turned me around. Perfect lips cradled against mine, giving me the kiss that was already familiar. I leaned my body against his, hips and chests pushing together.

  With a delicate moan, Andrew pulled back. Gazing at me, he pushed his fingers through my short hair.

  “Come in for a while,” I said.

  His lips pursed in a kind of rueful yet happy way. “I wish I could, but it’s late. I need to get home.”

  I tried to hide my disappointment. “Yeah. It is late, isn’t it?”

  I would have stayed up until the dawn with him.

  “What are you doing next Saturday?”

  “Nothing, I don’t think.”

  His cool fingers, chilled from the night, ran down my neck and over my shoulder. “Let me take you out again.”

  “I would like that.”

  His eyes glowed. “Good.”

  This time, when he moved closer, I was ready for it. Going onto my tiptoes and wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him with everything I was worth.

  Too soon, we were apart, and Andrew was taking a step backward, his fingers slipping from mine.

  “Good night,” his sexy, hot voice said.

  “Good night.”

  Unlocking my front door, I slipped inside and turned on the living room light. I stayed still, listening to Andrew’s car engine as it faded away. Alone for the first time in hours, I kicked off my shoes and did an actual spin.

  Yes, a spin. No princess gown required.

  Though it went without saying that I had, ironically, found my Prince Charming.

  Chapter 16

  Andrew

  I saw her before I even opened my eyes. Deep brown irises. Curved, pink lips. Long, butterfly lashes. Her delicate frame pushed against mine.

  Heat rolled through me, and, eyes still closed, I stretched my arm across the bed, reaching for Lanie and finding nothing but cold sheets under my palm.

  Cracking an eye, I took in the room. A shaft of light entered through the part in the curtains, hitting the end of my too-big bed.

  With a groan, I rubbed my eyes and stretched out further. What had I been thinking leaving her on the porch the night before? The way my hands ached for her was nothing compared to the way they did now. Pulsing need throbbed in my palms, finding its way down to my torso before going lower and entering the most painful place it could.

  My cock twitched, coming to life and pressing against the thin fabric of my boxers. Sighing, I flung an arm over my eyes. Getting up was pointless. What day was it? What was I supposed to do?

  Who knew? I couldn’t find a single fuck to give, not with visions of a sexy woman dancing before my eyes.

  I could text her and ask her to come over.

  Realizing how stupid that was, I laughed and sat up. This wasn’t college, and I’d left her on the porch for a reason.

  As much as I wanted Lanie—no, needed her—one of my primary concerns was showing her I cared. I didn’t want her to think I was merely interested in getting in her pants. So, though it had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done, I hadn’t gone inside her apartment when she asked me to.

  I’d known that one step over her threshold and I’d come undone. There would be nothing stopping me from tearing her clothes off and putting my mouth on every inch of her delicious skin.

  I’d already gone a long time without a woman in my arms. Months—and I didn’t like thinking about that last time since it hadn’t been memorable or intimate at all. I could wait a little longer.

  Sitting on the edge of my bed, with the most painful hard-on I’d had in years, I cursed myself for being so chivalrous. If only Lanie were in my bed right then.

  The things I would do to her, they’d make most women blush.

  I had a feeling about Lanie, though. She would be able to take whatever I gave her.

  Hauling my ass into the bathroom, I turned the double shower heads on cold. Jumping into the chilly spray, I braced myself against the freezing water. It did the trick, though. A few minutes later, and I was back to normal, physically speaking.

  Yanking a towel from the rack next to the shower, I tied it loosely around my hips. As I went to grab a smaller one to dry my hair with, a scream pierced the air.

  Dropping the towel, I rushed out of the bathroom and down the hall, taking the stairs several at a time.

  Catapulting myself into the living room, another yell assaulted my ears but this one the familiar kind.

  “This is so hot!” Raven yelled.

  “Jesus,” I cursed, grinding to a halt. Of course. It was Raven being dramatic.

  From the kitchen, her eyes caught mine, widening once she saw me in the towel. “Ew. Dad. What the hell are you doing?”

  My cheeks filled with heat. “I thought someone was hurt!” I huffed.

  “No. I just burned my finger on the pan.” She put her finger in her mouth and sucked it, continuing to scowl at me.

  Karen appeared, a bowl and whisk in her hands. “Oh! Goodness.”

  I glanced down at my hips, where the towel hung precariously low. “I heard a scream,” I mumbled, grabbing at the towel.

  Karen averted her eyes. “We were just making breakfast.”

  “I wanted to surprise you,” Raven said, also turning her back away.

  “Oh. That’s sweet.”

  “Yeah,” she thickly said over her shoulder. “Now can yo
u get some dang clothes on?”

  “You don’t need to give me attitude,” I reminded her as I tramped back upstairs.

  Despite the incredibly embarrassing run-in, a smile rested on my face as I dressed in jeans and a shirt. Being Sunday, going into the office was optional. In theory. I always went, no exceptions.

  But maybe that day I wouldn’t.

  In the kitchen, a veritable spread covered the table. Raven and Karen had gone all out, cooking up what must have been every breakfast food in the house.

  “This looks amazing,” I said, sliding into a chair.

  “Have a biscuit,” Raven said. “I made them.”

  The burnt edges told me as much.

  “What are your plans today?” I asked, taking an offered biscuit. I’d just crack it open and eat the inside.

  “I dunno.”

  “Hm.” I nodded, digging into the home fries and eggs Karen must have made—on account of them being edible.

  “Coffee?” Karen filled a mug and set it by my plate without waiting for an answer. As she took a seat between Raven and me and the two of them began talking about homecoming, the normalcy of the situation struck me.

  This was a regular morning for them. For years, Karen had arrived at the crack of dawn. She’d get Raven ready for school and feed her breakfast, two things I always missed. For me, the first meal of the day was whatever my assistants brought to my desk.

  My housekeeper was more of a parent than I was.

  It hurt to realize it, but the truth was the truth.

  “I don’t know if I’m going,” Raven said, cutting her pancakes into tiny pieces. “No one has asked me.”

  “Oh, you don’t need to go with a boy,” Karen said.

  Raven shrugged. “I guess not.”

  “Can you ask someone who doesn’t go to your school?” I questioned.

  Raven pursed her lips. “I’m not sure.”

  “I have this employee, Beck. He has a nice son your age. Smart. Cute.” I winked.

  “I can’t have my dad set me up.”

  “Why not?”

  I could tell she was looking for a good answer but couldn’t locate one.

  “Beck is a member of the country club. Maybe we can meet up with him and Zach there. I’ll call and see if they can make it today.”

  “What about work?”

  “I’m not going in today.”

  Dead silence filled the kitchen.

  “Well,” Karen briskly said. “It’s a good thing I dusted your office here last night. It’s all ready for you.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m working from home today, either.”

  Raven’s and Karen’s gazes slowly met before they both turned to me.

  “Okay,” Karen said.

  “Hm,” Raven offered.

  “The country club?” I repeated. “What do you say? I’ll make a reservation for lunch. And if they can’t make it, we’ll play some golf. You’ve never used those clubs I got you last year.”

  “Do it,” Karen encouraged, knocking her shoulder against Raven’s.

  Raven still acted like she didn’t want to go, but I could see her breaking. “Okay, fine. But I’m not staying if this Zach guy is lame.”

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you. This is an arranged marriage. The wedding is next week.”

  “Dad.” Raven rolled her eyes. “That’s disgusting.”

  “Karen is laughing,” I pointed out, nodding at the woman hiding giggles behind a palm.

  An hour later, we were ready to go with not only our clubs in the trunk of the car but also with a lunch appointment with Beck and his son set up for noon. As I drove toward the club, I realized exactly what was happening.

  A day off. I was taking a day off.

  Hell had finally frozen over.

  “This guy better not be stuck-up,” Raven said as we entered the club’s lobby.

  I passed our golfing gear over to one of the caddies. “We’d like to play after lunch,” I told him. “Around one. Four of us.” I turned to Raven. “If he’s stuck-up, I owe you lunch.”

  She scoffed. “Very funny.”

  Over her shoulder, I caught sight of a familiar face. “Hey, go wait at a table, all right? I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “Okay.” She already had her phone out, face in it as she shuffled into the restaurant area.

  On the other side of the lobby, Saxton’s face lit up. “Andrew!”

  With a wave, I made my way over to him. The woman who he’d been talking to turned around, revealing her polo and name tag.

  “This is my good buddy, Andrew Marx,” Saxton said, shaking my hand. “You’ve probably heard of him.”

  With that perplexed face, she hadn’t.

  “Andrew, this is ...” Saxton frowned.

  “Maya,” she prompted. “And I have to get back to work. It was nice meeting you, Andrew.”

  “You too.”

  “Hey,” Saxton said as Maya slowly walked away. He lowered his face and stared at her. “I’ll call you.”

  Her lashes fluttered. “Okay.” Smiling, she disappeared through a service door.

  “Making a move on the staff now?” I good-naturedly asked.

  Saxton shrugged. “It’s the reason they hire such pretty girls. They want guys like me and you to keep coming back. What are you doing here today? Don’t tell me someone agreed to meet with you on a Sunday.”

  “No, no meeting. Just here to play some golf with Raven and meet up with a couple of friends.”

  Saxton’s eyebrows disappeared underneath his bangs. “And then you’re having a meeting in town.”

  “No.” I laughed.

  “Okay,” he slowly conceded, still looking at me like he didn’t know who I was.

  Truth was, I was starting to not know myself either, and I loved it.

  “What are you doing here? Other than, uh, that.” I let my eyes suggestively trail toward the service door Maya had gone through.

  “Yeah, that.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I’ll call her later in the week. I have this Italian girl I’m meeting with.” Saxton bit down on his bottom lip and rolled his eyes up. “The body on this girl. Damn, man.”

  I shot a quick glance over my shoulder, just to make sure my daughter had gone into the restaurant and wasn’t overhearing Saxton’s lewd expressions. For not the first time, annoyance was gathering in me over the way he talked about a woman.

  “You should come with,” he said.

  “I’m busy. Golf and lunch.”

  “Yeah, but later. Over at my place. Francesca’s friend will be there. She’s very friendly.”

  He meant loose.

  “Thanks, man, but—”

  “No more buts, Andrew. There’s gotta be cobwebs growing in your pants.”

  I laughed at that. Just when Saxton started to annoy me, he always said something ridiculous that reminded me why we were friends. “The thing is, I’ve been seeing someone. So, I’m not looking.”

  His face turned into one of pure shock. “Huh?”

  “Yeah.” I rubbed my jaw and nodded.

  “Wow. Good for you, man. Good for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Since when?”

  I shrugged, not wanting to divulge too many details. “I met her not too long ago, but it’s going well.”

  I was very aware that “seeing someone” was quite a stretch. Lanie and I’d had one date. But that was all I needed. For the first time in years, something other than work had been on my mind that morning.

  I hadn’t been interested in any of Saxton’s women before, but now the very idea of giving a woman who wasn’t Lanie a second look repulsed me. My eyes belonged on only one woman. My lips, as well. My hands. My everything.

  “Is it serious?” Saxton asked.

  “Uh.” Could it be?

  I’d never entertained the idea of entering into another long-term relationship. How would that work out with Lanie? At some point, Raven would find out about us. I’d hav
e to be prepared for the shit to hit the fan big time.

  “We’ll see,” I told him. “I should get over to the restaurant. See you later.”

  “You too, man.” Saxton gave me a new kind of smile, a mix of awe and surprise. Apparently, my news had rocked his boat.

  I took my time finding Raven in the restaurant, mulling over the conversation I’d just had. Maybe mine and Lanie’s relationship wasn’t smart or even that ethical. If the school board found out about it, they could take issue with it.

  And there was the age difference as well. I’d worried briefly about that before.

  Though, really, on our date the night before, I hadn’t thought about age once. Lanie and I connected on everything we talked about. The night couldn’t have been more perfect.

  If Lanie and I kept seeing each other, I’d have someone to spend the weekends with, someone to take with me to events, and maybe someone to wake up with once in a while.

  Those things were all situations I craved, I knew then, though I hadn’t let myself acknowledge it before.

  As far as Raven, I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.

  So what was the issue?

  Nothing, I realized. In one woman, I’d found everything I didn’t know I was looking for.

  The only thing left to do was to make her mine for real. The next time I saw Lanie, I would stake my claim in the best way I knew how.

  Her body. Her soul. Her heart. She didn’t know it yet, but they would soon belong to me.

  Chapter 17

  Lanie

  Dirty Pirate Guy was no more.

  “I don’t get where he could have gone,” Erica sullenly said, stirring the cocktail she’d gotten in place of her usual wine.

  “You want me to justify that question with an answer?”

  Even in the softly lit bar, her eye roll couldn’t be missed.

  “Look at it this way. Now you can focus more attention on doing yoga.”

  “Hm.” She pretended to mull over that. “Why, I never thought of such a thing.”

  “Why, do give it a try.” I laughed, mimicking whatever proper accent it was she’d tried on.