Live-In Position

by V. S. Tice

  That evening, when Collin arrived home, Victoria and I were sitting in the kitchen, eating dinner.

  “Hello, beautiful ladies.”

  “Welcome home, Daddy,” Victoria grinned at him and then shoved another forkful of chicken into her mouth.

  “Hey there,” I smiled and turned back to my plate.

  “That is not the kind of greeting I desire.”

  My chair squeaked as it scraped away from the table. I grasped onto the side of the seat to keep from falling off. Collin pulled me up and kissed me.

  “That’s more like it.” He grinned down on my surprised face. I shook my head at him. He went to make his plate.

  “How was your day at school?” he asked when he sat down to the table.

  “It was good.” Victoria shrugged. Then she lit up. “But the best part is that I get to go see Pawpaw and Carla get married! I am so excited. It’s okay, Daddy, right?” Her hands were clasped as if she were praying, her eyes begging.

  “What is a pawpaw?” He looked at me curiously.

  “It’s actually a who.” I cleared my throat and took a drink of water. “Pawpaw is my father. She created the nickname for him when we visited last year.” I opened my mouth to talk to him about the trip, but he cut me off.

  “Your father is getting married?”

  I nodded. “He finally proposed to his girlfriend, Carla.”

  “Is she going to wear a big white gown? I hope she wears a gown. It would look so beautiful,” Victoria chimed in.

  “I don’t think she’s going to get the big wedding dress, but we’ll have to ask her what she is—”

  “Wait,” Collin cut me off, “when did you find this out?”

  “Today. He called me this afternoon.”

  “Oh.” His eyebrows drew together. “So, you’re leaving?”

  “Yes, Saturday morning I’m going to drive Victoria and me—” He began shaking his head.

  “No.”

  “W-what?” I choked. He certainly wouldn’t try to deny me going to see my father. He sure as hell couldn’t tell me where and when I could go.

  “You won’t be driving Victoria and yourself to Tacoma.”

  I scowled. “And what makes you think I won’t be?” My arms crossed over my chest defiantly. A half-smile spread on his face.

  “Because I’ll be driving with you.” His half-grin spread into a full smile.

  “Oh.” I immediately started mentally berating myself for jumping to conclusions.

  “You don’t mind, do you?” His face filled with concern as well as a slight hint of anger.

  “No, of course not.”

  “Besides, this will be the perfect time for you to tell your father about us.”

  My eyes narrowed at the look of victory on his face.

  “No, it won’t be,” I said smugly. Two can play his little game.

  “And why not?” His temper rose.

  “Because he already knows.” I smiled wide.

  Victoria giggled as I screamed. Collin yanked my chair over to him. He planted his lips firmly on mine and then pulled back to look into my face.

  “I love you so much.” His voice was low, but Victoria’s snicker told me she heard.

  “I love you too.” I kissed him lightly. “Now if you wouldn’t mind putting me back by my dinner…” Collin smirked playfully as he pushed me back in front of my plate.

  I GROANED WHEN I looked at the clock late Friday afternoon. Grace would be arriving in twenty minutes. Victoria was pouting in her room because she didn’t want to visit with her, Collin was working in his office – more like hiding – and I was in the kitchen baking bread in an effort to preoccupy myself.

  When the familiar chime of the doorbell filled the air, I took a deep breath and walked toward the door, yelling up the stairs for Victoria as I went. I had to take another deep breath before I pulled the door open.

  “Good afternoon,” she purred and pushed by me. “Collin! It’s so good to see you.”

  I looked over my shoulder. There he stood with Victoria’s hand in his. His eyes narrowed on Grace.

  “Baby—” Grace began to coo toward Victoria.

  “Victoria, why don’t you go and get a drink while I speak with Grace for a moment?”

  Grace beamed. I was curious about his intentions.

  “Would you?” He motioned to the living room.

  “Of course,” she replied, using that damn seductive tone she frequently used around Collin. I wanted to fist her red hair and yank her out the house. She sashayed her bony butt when she walked by him. Without a second glance at her, Collin looked to me.

  “Sophia,” he held out his hand for me to take. A small smile inched on the side of his mouth.

  Taking his hand, he led us into the living room. Grace was already seated. The glare she gave our connected hands was enough to make me want to jump on the coffee table and yell “in your face, lady!”

  Collin sat on the couch across from Grace, pulling me down next to him. We were hip to hip, and his arm was wrapped behind my back. My inner girl was doing a happy dance.

  “Grace, I would like to discuss how upset Victoria was at the end of your last visit.”

  “Yes,” she sat up straight and proper, “I, too, was concerned about her.”

  Yeah right, you damn crazy woman. You didn’t even call to ask how she was.

  “I’m sure you were,” Collin’s words were laced with sarcasm. He cleared his throat and continued.

  “I understand you’re pregnant again.” His words were strained. It made me nervous. The sly smile that slipped across Grace’s face made my stomach knot up.

  “Yes.” She placed a hand to her small bump.

  “Well, perhaps you should slowly work Victoria into the idea of a sibling. She didn’t seem too receptive to the idea—”

  “As I’m not too receptive about my daughter calling me by my first name, while she labels the help as mommy,” Grace quipped before Collin finished. His arm around me tightened.

  “While you’re in my,” he paused and took a breath, “our home, you will respect my fiancé.”

  “Of course, I apologize for my behavior, but you must understand how it feels for a woman, a mother, to deal with such a thing.” She was really laying it on thick. I could only hope Collin wasn’t buying her act.

  “I’m sure that it is.”

  My head snapped to look at his face. Did he really believe her BS?

  “However, I will not force her to call you mom. If you prefer something other than Grace, we can talk with her about it.”

  Grace’s eyes narrowed on me briefly. Did Collin catch it?

  “I suppose Grace will do, for now.” Her eyes shifted from me to Collin with a large grin on her face.

  “I’ll go and get Victoria.” Collin walked out of the room.

  The fake sugary sweet smile slipped off Grace’s face. A sneer appeared.

  “If you think for one second you could possibly replace me where either of them is concerned, you are more ignorant than I thought,” she snorted. “Collin and I have history and a connection, not to mention his inability to resist me.”

  “Oh, well, if he would rather have a bony, cruel, irresponsible woman who is pregnant by another man, he can have you,” I growled back.

  She snorted again.

  “I can assure you there is only one person I want.” Collin’s abrupt statement cut through our tension.

  Grace looked up, shocked. It would have been easy to let worry and insecurities settle in, but instead my cocky side grew. Standing from the couch, I walked directly toward Collin, passing him.

  Leaving the room, I spoke over my shoulder, “I can assure you that you’re the only person I want as well. In fact, I’ll be upstairs in our bed if you need me.”

  There was a low rumble in his chest. I couldn’t find it in me to be embarrassed or ashamed for talking that way in front of Victoria. When I reached our room, I shut the door and danced around laughing. I couldn’t
help it. I was so proud of myself.

  Chapter Thirty

  -ONE

  VICTORIA WAS BOUNCING around her room, throwing things into her bag, humming. I left her to finish and began my own packing. Reaching up to a high shelf in my closet, the feel of Collin covered my back. I gasped. He chuckled while wrapping his arms around my waist.

  “That was not funny.” I lightly smacked the arm latched around my stomach. “What did I tell you about appearing out of nowhere, huh?”

  “Did you need help getting something down?” he chuckled.

  “Maybe,” I pouted. He nudged the side of my head with his chin. “I was trying to get that sweater.” I pointed to it. He reached up with one arm and pulled it down.

  “Thank you.” I took the sweater and started to walk away, but he wouldn’t release me. “I need to—” He spun me around and claimed my mouth. Moaning, I dropped the sweater. He pressed his body into mine, shoving us against a row of hanging clothes. Lowering his lips over my chin and neck, I was finally able to pant out some words.

  “Victoria…Tacoma…” I tried to catch my breath, but his roaming hands were distracting. “Gotta leave soon…” I moaned once more. “Collin,” I warned.

  “Fine,” he growled and released me.

  “You are so—”

  “In love with you,” he finished.

  My heart melted. Rising up on my toes, I kissed him quickly. He eyed me hungrily. I had to run out of the closet.

  “I can catch you,” he teased.

  “We really need to go soon so control yourself.” I tossed the large sweater into my bag.

  “Control is only fun if it means I get to tie you to the bed and order you to do things.”

  My head shot up to determine if he was serious. The grin on his face was playful, but I could tell he meant every word. My stomach flipped with excitement, which surprised me. Would I really consider letting him tie me up?

  The drive to Tacoma was quiet. Victoria played her video game in the backseat. Collin spent half of the drive on his phone with various people. I tried to read through some of the edits from the publisher, but reading and riding in a car have never been a good combination for me. When the nausea set in, I decided to put the book away and give it a break.

  Collin’s hand woke me a little later, wandering around my thigh. I wiped at my eyes and stretched. Looking over my shoulder I saw Victoria, too, had fallen asleep.

  “How long was I asleep?”

  “Only about thirty minutes or so.” He shrugged a little.

  “Is that all?” It felt longer.

  “Yes, definitely not long enough for me to molest you in your sleep.” He winked. My heart fluttered.

  “Pervert.” He burst into a full belly laugh, which made me laugh too.

  “When did she pass out?”

  He shrugged again. “Not long after you. You two seem to be very in sync with each other.” He smiled at me before looking back to the road.

  I lolled my head back onto the headrest and glanced out at the passing scenery. Movement from his hand caught my attention. I looked down to my lap and then up to his grinning face.

  “What do you think you are doing?”

  “Exploring,” he said with a smile.

  I shook my head. “Keep your exploration to a minimum. Your daughter’s in the backseat.” I swatted at his hand playfully.

  “Come on, she’s sleeping.”

  I gasped and he grinned.

  “I’m only joking,” he laughed.

  When we pulled up to my dad’s house, I was excited to be back home and quickly got out of the car. Collin grumbled from the driver’s side, upset I didn’t wait for him to open my door. The smile on my father’s approaching face completely voided out all of Collin’s grumbling.

  “Dad!” I jumped into his open arms. “I’m so excited.” I squeezed him harder.

  “Pawpaw!” Victoria ran up and wrapped her arms around his legs.

  “Hey there, little princess.” He pulled out of our embrace and picked her up into his arms. “Have you been good?” She nodded furiously. “Good, because I think we have some cookies waiting for you.” He sang the last few words.

  “We definitely have cookies.” Carla appeared on the top step of the porch.

  “Carla,” I exclaimed and bolted up the steps. Taking her into my arms I squeezed her too. “I am so excited.”

  “You are?” she teased. “I’ve been waiting on him forever.”

  We both laughed and a flash of red hair went past us.

  “Honey, be careful. They’re still hot,” Carla called out, racing to catch up to her.

  My father and Collin stood uncomfortably. Crap! Walking back, I took Collin’s hand.

  “Dad, this is Collin Bishop, my fiancé. Collin, this is my father, Rick.” I motioned between the two of them.

  Collin released my hand and held it out to my father.

  “It’s a pleasure, sir.”

  My father accepted his hand.

  “Same here. I’m glad you could make it down today.” Discomfort was written all over my father’s face.

  “Anything for Sophia,” Collin answered without missing a beat. My father gave a nod of approval.

  Once we were in the house, we sat drinking iced tea and eating cookies. Victoria grilled Carla on her wedding dress. She couldn’t understand why Carla was not wearing a poofy white gown. In the end, Carla took Victoria to see the white suit she had chosen.

  Victoria tried not to look disappointed at the white dress jacket and skirt with the small cap and veil, but I knew her too well. She had big hopes for a large wedding like Miranda’s. I offered her more cookies to make her feel better.

  Soon the time came to drive over to city hall. Dad worked for the city for so long that the judge was a long time friend. It was nice to watch my father get married by a family friend. Not to mention the look on both Carla and Dad’s faces as they pledged forever.

  “We could be next, you know?” Collin whispered into my ear.

  I turned my head and saw complete seriousness on his face.

  “I have a feeling your father will be next,” I whispered back.

  “I meant today.”

  The words were breathy and sent tingles through my body. I shot him a look.

  “There’s a waiting period and a lack of marriage license, sorry.”

  “Vegas?”

  I shook my head.

  “Why won’t you marry me?” he whined.

  “You know why, now stop. Today is about my father and Carla.” I took his hand into both of mine just to reassure him my rejection didn’t change how I felt about him.

  Instead of a reception, we ate a late lunch at a local diner. The patrons of the diner toasted their chief of police and his new wife. Back at the house, I anxiously grabbed the gift I purchased out of the car and took it in.

  “Oh, Soph, you didn’t have to get us anything,” my father objected.

  “Nonsense! It’s not every day my daddy gets himself one hell of a woman.” I winked at Carla.

  He opened the box and pulled out the sun block, towels, and sunglasses.

  “Um, Soph, I don’t—”

  “Keep digging,” I urged.

  After taking out the local attraction maps, berets, and large empty picture frame, he found the envelope. Slipping his index finger under the flap he reached in and pulled out two tickets.

  “We can’t accept this.” My father looked at me in shock.

  “Of course you can,” I insisted. “You need a honeymoon.”

  “A what?” Victoria asked.

  “What did she do?” Carla looked over my father’s shoulder at the tickets. “Sophia, really, we can’t—”

  “Of course you can,” I sighed. “I wanted to do this for you. Please?”

  “I don’t know,” my dad hedged.

  “What is a honeymoon?” Victoria asked again.

  “It’s like a vacation for two people after they get married,” Collin answe
red and set her on his lap.

  “Oh.” She sat with a concentrated look.

  “So you’ll take the tickets, right?” I stuck out my bottom lip.

  “That’s not even fair,” my father chuckled. I stuck it out further. “Okay, okay.” He patted Carla’s knee. “Looks like we are going to Paris for our honeymoon.”

  “Yay,” I cheered and hugged them both.

  “Do I get to go on your honeymoon with Sophia?” Victoria rotated in Collin’s lap.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You said only the two people who get married go, but I want to go with you.”

  Collin smiled.

  “Of course you can go,” I rubbed her head and sat back down next to Collin.

  “She can?” he whispered to me. I nodded and moved back to the conversation about Paris with Carla and my father.

  The hours passed and after dinner Victoria dozed off in my lap.

  “Perhaps we should let you get her to bed,” Carla looked around. “Where are your bags?”

  “Oh, I need to get them out of the car.” I stood.

  “We’re staying here?” Collin’s question made everyone look at him. “Not that I object, I just wasn’t aware.” He put his hands up in surrender.

  “Would you rather stay somewhere else? We can.” I rubbed his knee.

  “Why don’t you leave Victoria with us? She can sleep in your old room.” I looked at Carla. “Then you two can get a room at the hotel.”

  “We can’t ask you to watch Victoria,” Collin stated.

  “Don’t you trust us with her?” my father teased.

  “Of course we do, but it’s your wedding night,” I argued.

  “You should have tonight to yourselves,” Collin added. I nodded in agreement.

  “Nonsense. We’ll have two weeks in Paris alone,” Carla objected and pulled Victoria from my lap. “You go get her things.”

  “What if she wakes up and is upset because we aren’t here?” I followed her to the stairs.