Amanda's Dominant Daddy

by Maggie Carpenter

  “How will you shift all this stuff when you find a new house?” she asked, imagining the ribald conversations of the movers as they carried out the salacious furniture.

  “I’m selling some of the bigger pieces,” he replied, stopping beside her.

  “Bummer.”

  “Don’t worry,” he assured her, moving his lips against her ear. “I’ll replicate this, but there’s new stuff out there now. Believe me, my new playroom will be even better.”

  “Dare I say that’s good to hear?” she giggled.

  “That remains to be seen,” he winked.

  They continued up the stairs, and Braxton walked with her to the bedroom, kissing her softly as they entered.

  “So, beautiful lady, are you ready to face the day?”

  “No. I’d much rather stay here,” she sighed.

  “Nothing would make me happier,” he agreed, “and I know he’s your assistant, but I think Jeremy would have something to say about that. Besides, I have to get this place shipshape for the photographer.”

  “Ah, right. I guess that means I have to shower and leave you.”

  “I guess it does, but you’ll be back tomorrow, and as they say, let the games begin.”

  “Oh, I just had a belly flip,” she exclaimed, touching her stomach.

  “I’d better fetch your bag or you’ll never get into that shower.”

  “Yes, I think you’d better.”

  “I’ll leave it on the bed,” he said, wishing he could throw her onto the rumpled bedcovers and ravage her mercilessly.

  “This is painful,” she grumbled, reluctantly leaving his arms.

  Looking over her shoulder as she moved into the bathroom, she closed the door behind her, then slipped off the robe and hung it on its hook. She gazed at it fondly for a moment before moving to the shower to turn on the faucets. The night before had been wondrous in many ways, and she was surprised how easily she had slipped into the role of a little girl. It had been a healing experience and a total escape, and Braxton had been amazing. Staring at herself in the mirror as she waited for the water to run hot, she saw her face void of makeup, and wondered why she’d used so much for so long, but even as the thought crossed her mind her instinct told her not to analyze what had happened.

  “I always do that,” she said to her reflection. “I overanalyze everything. Not this time. I’m just going to let it be.”

  Stepping into the shower, she closed her eyes as the water washed over her. She felt rested and rejuvenated, and told herself she was hopelessly in crush, afraid to use the word love. There was so much more to Braxton than she’d ever guessed. His looks almost hid who he was. There was nothing superficial about him, and his inner being was as compelling as his handsome exterior.

  The image of his wicked dungeon unexpectedly danced before her eyes, and she knew exactly what she wanted to wear for him. She’d be busy at the office all day, but she could shop in the morning and she knew exactly where to go. It was a place she’d wanted to visit many times but had never found the courage. Now she had a reason, and she was absolutely thrilled.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The photographer had come and gone, and micromanaged by Candy, the picture-taking had taken several hours. Braxton had spent the time sorting through more of his belongings and filing through boxes of stored items in his garage, but before she’d left, Candy had given him some encouraging news. If he wanted to view the unlisted Cape Cod house in Pacific Palisades, she could show it to him the following morning. He’d quickly accepted the invitation. As the sun set he piled the many trash bags he’d filled into his SUV and delivered them to the nearest charity shop. The workers were overjoyed at such a large contribution, and were so appreciative that Braxton promised to bring them more as he continued his clean-out.

  Exhausted from the long, busy day, he took a hot shower, ordered a pizza, and finally dropped on his couch to enjoy a glass of rich cabernet. He was about to call Amanda and check in when his cellphone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Peter Steinberg. He wanted to hear the latest, but he was tired and feeling slightly buzzed.

  “Hi, Peter. Sorry, I only have a minute,” Braxton said as he picked up the phone. “I assume you have an update?”

  “I do, and no problem. I’ll make this quick. I’ve received a letter of interest and a second meeting on Monday morning at ten-thirty, but I have to show up with Carrera Baton and the unnamed actor who’s attached. What do you think?”

  “If they’re willing to sign a confidentiality agreement, I’m fine with it,” Braxton replied.

  “Okay, I’ll let them know and get back to you.”

  “Great, thanks, sorry, I have to run.”

  “No worries. Have a good weekend.”

  Finishing the conversation, Braxton realized he hadn’t asked which production company they’d be meeting with, but he was too tired to call the agent back. He’d find out soon enough. He knew Peter was pitching to the bigger companies so he wasn’t concerned. He also knew one of them was Seaspray Pictures, where Amanda worked. The executive Peter was dealing with there was Erick Weintraub, a man with a reputation for being interested in developing new talent. With Jim Bailey’s name connected to the script, Braxton was sure they had a better than even chance of garnering interest.

  “I’ll have to tell you about all this at some point,” he murmured, thinking about how he’d broach the subject with Amanda, “but I don’t want you to think I’m looking for help. I’ll keep it quiet until something significant happens.”

  Looking forward to hearing her voice, he called her, but when she answered she sounded breathless.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  “I’m fine, just running to my car. It’s so damn windy tonight. Can I call you back when I’m behind the wheel?”

  “Of course,” he replied. “Probably racing off to a dinner meeting,” he muttered, hoping she wasn’t overdoing things, and when she called back just a few minutes later, he asked her if she’d been on the go all day.

  “Not really,” she replied, still out of breath. “I had to do some paperwork for this deal I’m chasing, but I got a good feeling when I spoke to the agent after I sent it off. I listened to a few pitches this afternoon, and then I got a really interesting phone call.”

  “Before we talk about that, will you please take a deep breath and get settled before you head out into the rush hour traffic? You sound frantic. I’m worried about you driving while you’re so harried.”

  She was pulling out of the parking lot, and hearing the protective concern in his voice sent warmth through her heart.

  “You’re right,” she replied, pausing to catch her breath. “Thank you.”

  “Doing better now?”

  “I am. You’re the best,” she said gratefully. “I’m not used to having someone care about me like this.”

  “I do care,” he said, lowering his voice, wishing she were on his way to see him. “Tell me about this phone call. It sounds intriguing.”

  “You won’t believe it, but I’m actually off to look at a house.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “Nope. Jack Mulgrew called me and said he’d heard about a place he thought would be just what I’m looking for. He hasn’t seen it, but from what he was told he thought it would be worth the drive.”

  “Wow. That’s amazing. When you say worth the drive, does that mean it’s outside Beverly Hills?”

  “It is. It’s somewhere above PCH, northwest of Santa Monica.”

  “That is a drive. At least it’s stopped raining, but you’ll still have to deal with traffic. Why didn’t you wait until tomorrow?”

  “I have an errand to run tomorrow and it’s in the opposite direction. Plus, I don’t know how long it will take, the errand I mean, and I wanted to get in a workout as well.”

  “What time do you think you’ll be going to the gym?”

  “Either first thing in the morning or early aft
ernoon before I come to your place.”

  “Huh,” he muttered. “Let me think about this for a minute.”

  “About me going to the gym?”

  “Yes,” he said thoughtfully. “If you make it in the afternoon we could meet up there, then you could follow me home. It would save you driving back into Beverly Hills, then turning around and coming back this way.”

  “You are brilliant,” she declared.

  “I have my moments.”

  “Are you going to continue your clean-out tomorrow?”

  “Interesting you should ask. I’m going to look at a house as well.”

  “Seriously? What’s going on? It’s that gremlin in the tree again!”

  “Could be,” he chuckled.

  “Where is it?”

  “The house or the gremlin?”

  “The house!” she laughed. “I’ve come to the conclusion that gremlins are everywhere.”

  “Somewhere in Pacific Palisades.”

  “Oh, my gosh, we could end up being neighbors!”

  “How trippy would that be?” he exclaimed.

  “Very, and a whole lot more convenient.”

  “Are you driving comfortably?” he asked, lowering his voice.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your beautiful butt. Is it still tender?”

  “You shouldn’t ask me questions like that when I’m on the road,” she retorted, feeling a blush cross her face. “It does things to me.”

  “What sort of things?” he teased.

  “You know very well.”

  “You still haven’t answered my question.”

  “Yes, I’m still a bit tender, thank you very much.”

  “Glad to hear it,” he said, a smile curling the ends of his mouth, then added, “Amanda, you sound so clear. Are you on your Bluetooth?”

  “Uh, not exactly.”

  “Not exactly means no. Hang up. Besides the fact that you could get a ticket, it’s not safe.”

  “I’m fine,” she replied.

  “It wasn’t a request. You’ll be at my mercy in my dungeon tomorrow night. I suggest you do as you’re told.”

  “Yikes. Okay. See you at the gym around three?”

  “Done, now end the call.”

  “Bye,” she said hastily.

  She was off the line, and he shook his head, thinking about what she’d told him.

  “That’s such a weird coincidence,” he mumbled. “Fancy her heading off to see a house in that part of town tonight, and me going out there tomorrow morning. I like all this synchronicity. It feels good.”

  Smiling at the irony of it all, he picked up his glass of wine, took a sip, and willed the pizza to arrive.

  * * *

  As Amanda headed west toward the ocean, she started thinking about what it would mean to move out of Beverly Hills. The small city was a thriving mini-metropolis, and she enjoyed being a stone’s throw away from the shops and restaurants, but things were changing in her life, and changing fast. She felt as if she was being carried along by an invisible energy. Wearing only a touch of mascara and pink lip gloss, she’d received glowing compliments throughout the day from almost everyone who crossed her path, and Jeremy had teased her mercilessly, at one point remarking that he would miss working with the Goth high-school girl.

  “I don’t have to tell you to have a good weekend,” he’d said with one raised eyebrow as she was getting ready to leave.

  “See you on Monday,” she’d grinned, hurrying away from her office.

  “Let’s hope so!” he’d called after her.

  She’d laughed out loud. It wasn’t unusual for Jeremy to have the last word, but as she drove through the busy Friday night traffic, her mind wandered back to the night before.

  The chemistry she shared with Braxton was like magic, and lying next to him was heavenly. Wherever he touched her she felt a spark, when he kissed her, her entire body responded. She could spend an entire day in bed with him and still not want to leave. The thought of being tied up and at his mercy was turning her butterflies into dancing dust-devils, and the hope that he might blindfold her sent a rush of wetness between her legs. Squirming in her seat, feeling the residual scratchiness from his sound spanking, she knew her time in his dungeon would be nothing short of mind-blowing. Taking a deep breath, she turned on her radio hoping for some distraction. It helped. She loved music, and as she sang along to the latest hits, she was feeling much more composed by the time her navigator told her that she’d reached her destination.

  Pulling into the curb, she looked across at the house and was immediately charmed. Telling herself to remain objective, she climbed from her car and headed up the path to the front door. It opened as she approached, and Jack Mulgrew ushered her inside. Glossy maple floors greeted her, and as they moved through the house she tried to hide her enthusiasm. The rooms were light and spacious, and the expansive kitchen resembled hers, with high-end appliances and a breakfast nook. She loved her breakfast nook, but this one was even better. It sat against windows that looked out over the ocean. The entire back of the house had unobstructed, breathtaking views, and though the sun had set and it was almost dark, she could still see the rippling water. Lifting her eyes, she watched the clouds cross in front of the moon, and felt as if she could stare at the captivating scene all night.

  “Let’s go upstairs and see the other bedrooms. You have two down here, then two upstairs.”

  “Yes, fine, let’s go up,” she replied, hating to pull her eyes away from the mesmerizing sight. “Where are the owners?”

  “The husband got an unexpected promotion back east so they’ve taken off to find a place to live. They’ll be back in a few days, but they need to sell quick.”

  “Again with the this has to be done yesterday thing. I swear, Jack, it’s everywhere.”

  “Seems that way,” he remarked.

  The master bedroom was decorated in white and blue. It was large but cozy, and offered a huge terrace through French doors. As she walked outside and stood against the railing, she could smell the sea air, and gazing back up at the sky, she took a long, deep breath. She wanted the house to be her new home. There was no doubt in her mind.

  “What do you think?” Jack asked, walking up to stand beside her.

  “I want it,” she said quietly. “I think it’s fabulous.”

  “I agree, and that’s not the salesman in me talking,” he said, experiencing the magical moment with her. “If you want to make a move I can get you the market analysis over the weekend, and my thoughts about an appropriate offer.”

  “Yes, do it,” she nodded.

  “Can you carry two houses? Loretta will be in town next week, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t say there are no guarantees. I think she’ll jump at your place, but actresses, they can be fickle.”

  “It’s not a problem carrying them, but I don’t think I could make a cash offer without selling the one I’m in. It would be nice though.”

  “Let’s see how it crinkles out. Who knows, by the time the sellers respond, Loretta might have pulled the trigger on your place, but as long as you don’t have trouble pulling off a bridge loan, then we’ll be good.”

  “No trouble at all, Jack. Wow, my heart is pounding so hard!”

  “I’ll bet,” he smiled, very aware of the adrenalin rush she was feeling.

  “Let’s go inside,” she said, still gazing at the moon. “It’s hard to think out here.”

  “I know what you mean,” Jack murmured, also feeling the effects of the stunning night sky.

  “One thing though,” she said as they ambled back into the bedroom. “I do have plans through Sunday night so I probably won’t be able to study your figures until I’m in my office on Monday morning.”

  “That’s not an issue,” he assured her. “The house isn’t listed, so it’s not like there are a bunch of showings lined up, and it will only take me about an hour to write up the offer once we’ve talked.”

  “Do y
ou know if there are other people looking at it this weekend?”

  “The agent told me there are two other parties coming by tomorrow. She would have been here but she had a conflict. Fortunately she knows me well enough to give me the lockbox code and let me in.”

  “Good grief,” Amanda muttered. “I honestly didn’t think things would be happening so fast. I have a friend who has an amazing home in the hills above Sunset Blvd., and his view is just incredible. After I saw it I promised myself that my next place would have a view, and this one, wow, I think it’s as breathtaking as his. I just had no idea things would be moving so fast.”

  “I hate to quote a hackneyed phrase,” Jack said, “but if it’s meant to be…”

  “I say it all the time,” she smiled. “If I didn’t I’d lose what little of my mind I have left.”

  “Do you want to take a last look around? You’ll only retain about twenty-five percent of what you see; at least, that’s what the experts say.”

  “Yes, one last wander,” she nodded.

  Moving back through the house, she stopped at the bedroom she thought would make an ideal office. It offered built-in bookshelves against one wall, and the windows looked out onto a peaceful landscaped area that ran along the side of the house.

  “This would be a super home office,” she remarked.

  “Or a library,” Jack suggested.

  “A library, you’re right. It would be a terrific library.”

  As they continued through the hallway heading back to the front of the house, she paused.

  “Jack, we didn’t open this door.”

  “I thought it was just a closet so I didn’t pay it any attention.”