by Piper Rayne
Snarky and snippy, that’s Caterina and it only makes me want to push her down on the hood of her flashy car, spread her legs and make her scream.
I don’t say that though. “Well, then you’re good at your job.” I twirl my keys around my finger as we stand there in awkward silence before I tuck them into my pocket.
Her eyes follow my movements and then trace up my muscled arm to meet my gaze again. Seems Cat might enjoy the view as much as I am right now.
“I should get going.” She steps back and for a moment, my throat closes as panic flares in my chest. I don’t want her to leave.
“Do you want to come in for a drink?” I ask, though I shouldn’t.
She shakes her head and crosses her arms in front of her. “Lily’s up,” she says.
“If she was asleep would you come in?” I ask, taking a step forward.
She takes another step back but runs into the bumper of her car. Her hand slides out reaching for the hood of her car.
“No, I just meant—”
“Meant what?” My footsteps halt. I’ve pressed far enough and I don’t want to scare her too much since she’s about a second from bolting.
“I need to go.” She turns around and steps around the hood until she’s holding the door handle.
“I had a date tonight.” It’s a stupid thing to say. I don’t know why I said it. But this is the first opportunity we’ve had alone together and I want to try and have a normal conversation with this woman.
My admission halts her escape. She turns her head toward me, the light from the porch letting me get a good look at her eyes. Eyes that are narrowed in my direction.
“That’s nice,” she says in a voice that tells me she doesn’t think it’s nice at all.
“Not really.” I shrug. “It was a bust. Apparently, while I was busy raising Lily, SnapChat was invented and all people do is look at their phones during dinner and take pictures of what they’re doing to let the world at large know, all while they ignore the people they’re actually with. I think there’s a picture of me somewhere in cyberspace announcing that I’m getting married.”
The corner of her lip tilts up and she raises a brow, so I continue.
“Something about filters. She took my picture and made me look like a groom.” Her smile continues to grow and there’s a possibility it will turn into a laugh. As much as I want her to scream underneath me, I want to hear her laugh from something I said.
“Really?” she asks in astonishment, the hand poised on the door handle dropping to her side.
“Dead serious. Bow tie and ‘just married’ written at the bottom. I’ve been out of the game for a while, but tell me—is this modern-day dating?”
Then it happens, she giggles. An affectionate laugh rolls out of her and makes a direct hit to my dick.
“Maybe you should get someone to give you SnapChat lessons?” she says with a smile. She’s facing me now, the idea of taking off no longer at the forefront of her mind.
“Maybe I should. You know, so that I’m not suddenly married and Lily has fictional siblings.”
She laughs again and I swear it’s a sound I could become addicted to.
“I’m sorry, Caterina,” I say.
Her body freezes mid laugh and she holds my gaze, swallowing deeply.
“What I said, was wrong. Lily loves having you as a counselor, it’s just when the subject of her mom comes up, I tend to go on the defense.” I step forward and she doesn’t move. One hand presses on the roof of her car and my other reaches to grab the free hand hanging at her side. She doesn’t pull back when I entwine our fingers.
“I shouldn’t have overstepped,” she says softly.
True, but this is not the time to discuss that.
I shake my head. “You were trying to help and I appreciate it.”
I squeeze her hand. Is she uncomfortable or unsure what to do? She wanted me a long time ago, and from the way her eyes still burn with desire, she still does. The question remains, do I want her? She still has a lot of red flags, but when I’m in her presence, the reasons to stay away don’t seem so important.
“Cat,” I say, inching closer, wanting to feel her body pressed to mine, wanting to know how sweet she tastes.
“Marcus,” her voice is shallow and the fight that’s usually there is absent. “We—”
“What? We what? Tell me Cat, if I kissed you right now, what would you do?” I inhale her scent and one hand leaves the roof of the car, grazing down the side of her forehead.
“Marcus,” she gives a small shake of her head, but her eyes fall closed when I brush my fingers to her temple.
“Answer me.”
Our breathing is the only sound I hear, drowning out the rustling of the forest around us.
“I’d...kiss you back.”
Pushing my body against hers, a small growl escapes my throat at the way she fits perfectly against me. I let go of her hand and wrap my arm around her small waist.
Swallowing down all the confusion and hesitancy I’ve had toward her, I decide to show her exactly what I’ve been imagining doing to her since she showed up in Climax Cove.
I lean in, our lips only a few inches apart and I can practically taste the sweetness of her. Cat sucks in a shallow breath and I close my eyes, preparing for the moment I’m sure to beat off to later.
Squeal.
A car barrels into my driveway, screeching its brakes when it comes to an abrupt stop. I know who it is before he climbs out of his stupid ass car.
“What the—” Dane stops, taking in the scene in front of him.
Cat tries to squirm out of my hold, but my hand tightens along her side to keep her pressed against me.
Dane stares at us, confusion wrinkling his face. I’ve never seen him speechless, and I must admit, I’m enjoying it. Especially after the nightmare date he hooked me up with earlier tonight.
“Leave.”
Finding his voice, his annoying laugh echoes through the air. “Well, I think I should apologize.” He rounds the back of Cat’s car.
Her gaze darts between me and him. She wiggles her body and this time I let her go because Dane is about to make a jackass out of himself, but in the end, it’ll be me who cares, not him.
“Apologize?” I ask.
Dane winks at me and holds his hand out to Cat.
“I’m Dane Murray, this guy’s best friend.” He nods his head in my direction.
Her hand smoothly slides into his and he shakes it once. I’m happy to see that his eyes remain fixed on her face instead of dipping to those curves of hers that beg for attention.
“Caterina Santora,” she introduces herself.
“If I’d known that our Marcus was already taken, I wouldn’t have tried to hook him up tonight.”
He lets her hand go and she tucks both her hands behind her back, leaning back onto the car.
“He’s not, I mean, we’re not...” she stumbles over her words and I don’t bother trying to help her out for a minute.
“She’s Lily’s counselor,” I finally say and her head whips in my direction. I cock my eyebrow. Wasn’t she the one who was just insisting that nothing was going on between us?
He winks and Cat’s cheeks pink. “Counselor. Right. Got it.” He takes his fingers and runs them along his lips in a zipper motion. “My lips are sealed.”
“Now that you’ve met, you can leave.” I direct my words to Dane.
“Oh, no, I should get going.” Cat opens her car door and before either of us can argue, she’s in her seat with the door closed.
“I can skedaddle so you two can…you know…continue doing whatever it is single dads do with camp counselors.” Dane laughs and I control the urge to wipe that smirk off his face with my fist.
I shake my head at him and then peer into the car. Her hands are on the steering wheel and her eyes focused on the back of my truck in the garage.
“Thank you for the bracelet, you saved me from one hell of a night.”
She turns her head in my direction. Her eyes are so blue…I’d love to stare into them as I’m drilling in and out of her.
Fuck. Stop thinking, you asshole.
She must catch Dane still behind me because that lust filled look in her eyes moments before he barreled in has disappeared. Whatever moment we shared is now over.
“You’re welcome. See you tomorrow.”
She reverses the car and I barely have time to get out of the way so she doesn’t run over my feet.
I watch her car leave my driveway and I wish it were turning in. Six years ago, I may not have wanted anything to do with Caterina Santora, but she’s all grown up now and I want to feel my way around exactly how grown up she’s become.
“The camp counselor?” Dane’s hand plants on my shoulder.
“Leave it alone, Dane.”
“I didn’t think you had it in yah.”
I turn to go into my house, but he’s on my heels.
“I don’t remember inviting you in,” I say, never turning around.
“I’m practically family. I don’t need an invite. Plus, I want to hear all about how you started hittin’ it with the camp counselor. You bend her over a tree stump yet?”
I shake my head, walking into my house through the garage and making my way to the kitchen. “It’s none of your business.”
“Everything is my business.”
“Daddy!” Lily runs up to me in the princess nightgown Santa brought her last Christmas.
Ashley’s not far behind her and she glances at Dane, her gaze remaining fixed there.
“Why are you up?” I ask Lily, placing her on the counter.
“Lily, you’re a party girl.” Dane walks up to give her a high five.
“Hi, Uncle Dane.” She smacks his hand.
I walk toward Ashley, who’s gaze still hasn’t moved off Dane. Pulling out my wallet, I grab the cash to pay her. “Ashley?” I ask, waving my hand in front of her face.
She snaps out of the trance she’s in and smiles, the apples of her cheeks now flushed.
“Thank you, Mr. Kent.” She takes the money and shoves it into her pocket.
“I’ll walk you out.” I wait for her to go first, but she’s not moving. Once again, her eyes are zeroed in on Dane.
“Want some ice cream?” Dane asks Lily, opening the freezer.
“Yeah!”
“No, she doesn’t.” I shoot a warning glare to Dane.
He rolls his eyes and holds his hands up in the air. “Papa Bear says no.” He hops on the counter beside Lily and plasters on a matching gloomy face. He’s like a child himself half the time.
“He always says no,” Lily says and the words cut me.
I never wanted to be the strict father. Not that I gave it much thought before Gretchen told me she was pregnant. But before Lily was born, I didn’t see this being my role. I wanted to have pillow fights, build forts, let her eat crappy food until late at night. But that scenario evaporates into the ether when you’re the sole parent. I have to be the mom and the dad. It sucks, but Lily needs stability and rules if she’s going to grow up to be a responsible adult.
Dane’s lips purse and he nods, his eyes finding mine across the room. We couldn’t be more opposite in our parenting tactics.
“Bye, Lily.” Ashley waves.
“Bye, Ashley.” She waves back and then Dane jumps off the counter, taking her into his arms and dancing around the kitchen.
Lily laughs and Dane pulls out his phone for music. With Lily secure in his arms, the two of them circle the island and the kitchen table. I’m not a jealous person, but at this moment, the fact that Dane gets to be the fun one hurts.
11
Marcus
I had hoped to run home and shower before heading to pick up Lily. I doubt you have to ask why. Cat doesn’t need to see me in my jeans and boots covered in sawdust. Not that I was going to put on cologne and a fucking tuxedo, but a clean pair of jeans or shorts would’ve been better than this. As usual though, time wasn’t on my side.
I run my hands through my hair and little chunks of wood fall to the gravel path below.
Story of my life. Running from one place to the other.
When I arrive, all the kids are outside the cabin playing a game of hide and seek. My footsteps slow when I see Cat sitting down on a bench, placing a Band-Aid on one of the kids. She blows some loose blonde strands of hair blocking her vision out of her face only to have them fly up and fall right where they were a second ago.
The little boy sits, tears staining his cheeks as she says something I can’t hear, but the small smile that emerges when she’s done tells me she has the trust of these kids. After only a few weeks, that’s impressive.
The boy runs away and Cat searches the group of adults until she spots what must be his parent. It’s another dad who appears to be high on the white-collar spectrum. He’s in a pair of khaki’s and polo, typical insurance salesman look. Responsible and trustworthy.
What a dick.
I watch the man’s gaze dip down to Cat’s cleavage and my heart starts beating faster. She smiles, pointing and expressing everything with her hands as she recounts the story of how his son hurt himself. He reaches out and touches her bare arm and I clench my fists at my sides. It could be a reflex move, one of understanding and gratitude, but red coats my vision. Cat steps back and his hand falls off her arm back down to his side.
Good girl.
“Daddy!” I look down to find Lily staring up at me.
I bend down to her eye level and she brings her hands up, running them through my hair.
“You’re a mess,” she says.
I tickle her sides and she slides from side to side to get away from me. “Stop it, Daddy.” She’s laughing so I continue to tickle her ribcage.
“Are you making fun of me?” I stop tickling and pick her up, dangling her by her feet and swaying her from side to side.
“Watch out for the tree.” She puts her arm out like I’d actually hurt her. “Daddy!” she screams then giggles.
“Watch out for Drew.” I knock her lightly into a boy from her class.
He smiles and gives her a little shove of his own. Whoa kid, this is my joke.
“Daddy!”
I pull her up and rest her stomach on my shoulder. “Are you going to make fun of me again?” I ask her and she giggles once more. I can never get enough of that sound. My one arm holds her secure over my shoulder as I wait for her answer.
“No!”
“Promise?”
She giggles. “Pinky promise.” She holds out her pinky finger.
“That’s a pretty hardcore move, Lily.” I glance up to find Cat in front of us, a smile instead of a scowl on her face.
I let Lily down and she stands at my feet. “Daddy’s dirty.” She shakes her head then turns to me with an excited gleam in her eye. “Guess what I made?” She runs away, leaving Cat and I by ourselves.
I can’t help but wonder what these other parents have been thinking for the past few weeks. I mean, while the other parents talk with the other counselors getting a run down of their child’s day, Cat has been my sole go-to counselor.
“I just came from work,” I remark, my hands continuing to rub down my jeans.
“I’m sure you’ll feel better after you shower.”
Visions of my shower jerk-off sessions to made up scenarios between Cat and me bombard my mind and I widen my stance, praying for the first time ever that my dick stays limp.
“I mean, I can’t wait to take a shower after camp every day.”
Now my imagination has her in the shower, water cascading over those perky tits and her round ass.
“You know, to get all the dirt off me.” She’s rambling and I can’t bite back the smile on my lips.
“I imagine camp can get dirty,” I say and her cheeks flush.
“I just mean—”
“I’ve never wanted to be a loofah more in my life.”
Her gaze shoots to mine
, that pink flush now a flaming red. She clears her throat but I don’t miss the way she crosses her legs. Does she need to dull the ache? God, I hope so.
“Mr. Kent,” she says back to her all-business tone.
“What happened to Marcus?”
She glances around us and then fixes her gaze back on me. “I’m your daughter’s camp counselor. We can’t. It’s—”
“Inappropriate?”
She nods, a smile tipping up the corners of her lips.
“Yeah, I don’t much care about that.”
Her shoulders tense and as she looks at me, I can’t decipher if it’s desire or annoyance in her gaze.
“Look, I made a boat!” Lily’s in front of us with a Popsicle stick boat and thrusting it into my stomach.
“Popsicle sticks?”
Cat narrows her eyes, remembering my insult the other day. However, the anger that filled them that day is no longer there, replaced with resigned amusement.
“You’re a natural,” I say, running my hand over the top of Lily’s head.
“Just like her daddy,” Cat remarks and my hand freezes on Lily’s mass of blonde hair.
I stare at her but she hasn’t clued into what she said yet.
“How did you know my daddy makes boats?” Lily asks.
Cat looks down at her for a split second before she gasps and covers her mouth. But it’s too late.
“Um ... I think you mentioned it,” her eyes never meet mine as she concentrates on Lily alone.
“I never told you,” Lily says, the honest girl she always is.
“Are you sure? I don’t know how I would’ve known then.” She still can’t meet my gaze.
“Lily, can you go grab your lunch bag?” I ask, keeping the Popsicle stick boat in my hands.
“Okay.” She skips off toward the cabin, oblivious of the tension that’s now like a blanket over our little group.
She runs off, but I see her get distracted by another kid outside the cabin doors. For once I’m happy she’s lollygagging. There’s nowhere else I want to be right now. Well, unless having Cat underneath me is an option, or being under her works, too.