Real Deal

by Piper Rayne

  “I'm sorry, sweetie, I am, but you have me. You’ll always have me. Some kids don't have dads. Imagine not having me in your life.”

  She says nothing and I wait for a smile or a sweet word from her, but she turns around and slams the door behind her.

  Great start to a Saturday morning.

  I'm dressed in my shorts and t-shirt, grabbing my climbing gear out of the garage when Cat's car pulls into the driveway. I zip up my bag and erase the distance between the two of us.

  “How is it you look even more beautiful after last night and I look like death?” I take her in my arms and give her a quick kiss.

  “I'd say it’s probably the ten-year age difference.” She stretches, her shirt rising and giving me a view of her bare stomach—her stomach that had my cum all over it last night. My dick twitches with the memory.

  “Now I don't feel so bad leaving you with a five-year-old for the day.”

  She rewards my comment with a small laugh. “So, I should’ve told you my head is hurting and I want nothing more than to have stayed in bed?”

  I wrap my arms around her waist. “Is that true?”

  She laughs, her smile widening. “No.”

  “Good. It just means that when we go out, Lily will be your responsibility the next day. So the old man can sleep it off.”

  I walk her backward until her back hits my truck. “Has last night been replaying in your mind all morning?” I'm putting myself out on the broken branch, praying to God last night was as amazing for her as it was for me.

  “Let's just say, my vibrator got quite the workout this morning.” She winks.

  Unable to stop myself, I slam my lips to hers, my tongue plunging in immediately. She raises on her tiptoes, her hands landing on both of mine attached to the side of her head. Our tongues duel for control and she lets out a moan I can feel in my balls.

  Then a fucking horn honks. Blares actually, and I don't need to remove my lips from hers to know who it is.

  Cat slides out of my hold, pulling away from the kiss and looks over at the driveway.

  Garrett's pickup truck sits there with Dane inside leaning across Garrett, his hand pressed to the horn while Garrett attempts to push him away. He finally relents on the horn and hangs out the window of Garrett's truck, pounding on the roof.

  “Fuck man, stop banging up my truck!” Garrett screams. A rare occurrence.

  “Oh please, your truck's been used and put away wet for years.”

  Cat snickers behind me.

  “Let's go lover boy. I'm not scaling in mid-day heat,” Garrett snaps.

  “Why is pretty boy worried his hands aren't as strong as he thinks?” I call out.

  Dane exaggerates pounding on the hood again in fake laughter, spurring Garrett to storm out of his truck.

  “Get the fuck in the truck,” Garrett's tone is his usual when he’s unamused by Dane's antics.

  “Daddy's mad, I better stop,” Dane says in a high voice and pretends to cower and slinks back into the truck.

  I see him attempting to calm Garrett down, but the amount of head shaking from Garrett says his attempt has failed.

  I chuckle.

  “You should go,” Cat says and I grab her hand and lead her into the house.

  “Let me say goodbye to Lily. She's playing Barbies.” I stop right before I open the door.

  Her pink plush lips calling to me one more time before I have to put on my daddy role and ignore my libido.

  “Keep doing that and you're never going to leave,” she says, smiling up at me.

  “If I had my choice, those dipshits would be babysitting Lily and I'd be taking you somewhere secluded.”

  “Secluded? As in a place people take other people to murder them?”

  I scrunch my eyebrows at her. “You're insane, you know that? Secluded, as in a place you can scream my name in pleasure until your vocal cords give out.”

  “Hmm.” She rises to her tiptoes and plants a kiss on my lips. “I do like the sound of that.”

  “Seriously, stop the smoochy-smoochy and get your ass in the truck!” Dane yells and I open the door, dragging her in behind me.

  “Lily, look who's here,” I call out.

  She barrels down the hall with a pair of scissors and a Barbie. “Um, Lily, did we buy a Sinead O'Connor Barbie?”

  From the look on her face I know she doesn't understand what I'm saying. Hell, Cat is probably wondering who Sinead O'Connor is at this point. I’m only aging myself.

  “You aren't allowed to use scissors.” I try my best to not imagine her falling with them in her hand and stabbing herself in the heart.

  If you’re not a parent that’ll sound crazy, but trust me. Kids make crazy things run through your mind and it’s usually you imagining the worst situations happening to your child.

  “They're kid scissors.” She holds them up and I notice the dull top.

  “Why did you cut your Barbie's hair?” I ask, bending down to inspect exactly what she’s done.

  “I want Barbie to look like Miss Cat.” Lily glances over my shoulder, holding the Barbie doll up. “See?”

  I look behind me and see Cat trying her best not to laugh or smile.

  “Well, you don't need to cut your Barbie's hair when the real Cat is right here for you.” I stand, holding my hand out as though Cat is on display.

  Lily walks up to Cat and holds the Barbie doll up in the hair like a proud parent. “You like it?”

  Cat bends down and takes the Barbie from Lily's hand. “I'm very flattered.”

  “What's flattered?” Lily asks with a crinkled nose.

  Cat looks from me and then back down to Lily. “I'm glad that you like me so much that you wanted your Barbie to look like me, but Barbie's hair isn't going to grow back.”

  “It isn't?” Lily's entire face droops. I know tears are on the horizon.

  Garrett's horn honks again.

  “Go, I've got this,” Cat urges and I teeter between the door and Lily.

  “So, she's never going to have long hair. My hair grew. When I was a baby, I had a mullet, right Daddy?” she asks.

  I laugh. “Yeah, but Barbie's not real, right sweetie?”

  “Yes, she is. She's right here.” Lily's foot stomps on the hardwood floor.

  “Don't, Lily,” I warn, my voice growing sterner.

  She crosses her arms and runs out of the room.

  “You,” Cat stands up, turns me to the door and lightly pushes. “Can go.”

  “But—” I start to turn and she flips me back around.

  “I've got this. You go have fun with your boys.”

  “You don't understand. She can be temperamental.”

  “Just like her father,” she says in a wry tone. “I've got it handled.” She opens the garage door, fists my t-shirt and pulls me to her. She kisses me hard but short and then nudges me out the door.

  “Be safe, bye, bye.” The door slams and I hear the flick of the lock.

  “Did she really just lock me out of my own house?”

  “Yes, I did. Now go,” she says through the door.

  Reluctantly, I grab my bag and head to Garrett's truck.

  “Mary Poppins got the kid?” Dane asks when I open the back door and climb into the quad cab truck.

  “Fuck off,” is my response.

  He looks around the cab like he’s surrounded by a bunch of zombies. “Why is everyone in such a pissy mood today?”

  Garrett looks at me through the rearview mirror and rolls his eyes and then backs out of my driveway.

  “So, have we nailed the nanny yet?” Dane asks.

  Sometimes parenting Dane feels harder than parenting my own child.

  24

  Marcus

  I'm halfway up Pilot Rock when Dane starts flapping his mouth again. I managed to dodge all his questions on the ride up here. Finally, I got him channeled into coming up with new names for the bar, but now as I'm literally hanging by my fingertips and he's holding the rope below, he's start
ed up again.

  “I'm just curious, what made you take the plunge? It was me, right? Hitting on her at the bar?” he asks.

  “No,” I scream below me and try to get my foot placement just right so that I can get a little higher.

  “What's the plan now? I mean once you screw the nanny?” Dane's mouth is like a tsunami—unstoppable.

  “She's not the fucking nanny.” I don’t know why I even bother responding to his banter, it only encourages him.

  “Garrett? Did we not leave that pretty little thing at his house to watch his daughter?”

  I glance down and see Garrett raise both his hands up in front of him. “I'm not getting involved. I do think you need to worry about Lily growing attached to her though.”

  These two are regular Dear Abby’s today. The local paper should give them their own advice column.

  “She's literally watching your kid, so, she's the nanny,” Dane calls out.

  I turn to look over my shoulder, losing my grip for a second before I grasp another spot.

  “Will you please just focus?”

  “I think a summer fling will be great for you. Enjoy her while she's here. That's what I'd do.” He shrugs and I return my attention back to the giant wall of rock in front of me.

  “That's because your only interest is what your dick wants. And he doesn’t tend to get stuck on one thing for too long,” Garrett says. “There is Lily to consider.”

  Lily, Lily, Lily. These two should know that she's always the first thing on my mind.

  “What are you thinking will happen between you two? You see marriage in your future?” Garrett asks and I'm wondering when he found his voice box. Especially, when I'm half asleep, climbing a rock and my life rests—literally—in Dane’s hands.

  “Lily always comes first, but there's something between Cat and me. Something I've never felt before, but I can't put my finger on it. Lily knows Cat and she’s comfortable with her. I guess I acted without thinking it through entirely, but don't I deserve that once in my life? It wouldn’t matter who I was dating, there’d be no guarantees.”

  The more I think about that, the more I decide to hang on to that theory. I stayed. I fucking stayed and worked day and night to support Lily and give her the kind of life I want for her. Changing diapers and waking up for three a.m. feedings and then heading to the shop wasn't easy. And I did it on my own. I'm not asking for a medal, but I think if I decide to test the waters with the first woman who's sparked my interest, I should be able to, without having to have every scenario figured out like I usually do.

  “That’s not the way fatherhood works. As soon as you stuck your dick in Gretchen without a condom, you chose to put your needs after your daughter’s.” Garrett and his words of wisdom again.

  “I don't believe that. I mean, sometimes the heat of the moment makes you temporarily insane,” Dane argues.

  “You seriously need help. Listen, Marcus, do what you want, but I'm telling you, if this doesn't end in church bells, you'll have one upset little girl.”

  I climb up another shelf of the rock, contemplating what he's saying. I'm not sure I agree with him. Lily will face heartbreak and I do wish I could save her from that experience, but my life can’t stay on hold until she's eighteen. Especially when she’s made it abundantly clear lately that she wants a mother. I’m not saying Cat is that person, but if I never try with someone, I’ll never know.

  Then again, Lily's tears are my kryptonite.

  The cord slacks and I glance below to see four girls sauntering by. Each one in yoga pants and a sport bra. Dane's eyes are focused on them, and even Garrett is taking the time to appreciate the view.

  “Tighter, Dane!” I yell, but get nothing from him.

  My fingertips are inches away from the ledge of the rock when my body slips and falls a foot. Quickly, the rope is tightened.

  “DANE!” I yell, pissed.

  “Sorry,” he mumbles but when I look down again, he's now stopped the girls to chat.

  I start my climb in the same spot for the second time and I'm almost to where I was when the cord loosens again, except this time my entire body flies out from the rock.

  “Dane!” I scream, but by the time he tightens the rope, my body slams into the face of the rock wall. “Fuck!”

  “Sorry, man.” His voice does sound concerned but damn it to hell.

  My hand reaches to my forehead and when I pull it back to take a look, sure enough, it’s covered in blood.

  “Bring me down. I'm fucking bleeding,” I grind out between clenched teeth.

  He lowers me and I kick off the rock as best I can to speed up the process. By the time my feet are back on solid ground, my legs give out. Garrett props me up and walks me over to a boulder to sit on.

  I ease myself onto the rock and the girls ‘oh and ah’ as they peer down at me. I must be as banged up as I feel.

  “Dane, what the fuck?” My anger isn't missed and the girls all say their goodbyes and head down the trail.

  “Sorry. I got distracted,” he says, another lame excuse like he always has.

  “You're about as responsible as an infant.” I stand, but my leg is shooting with pain and Garrett hurries to hold my weight up. “Take me fucking home.”

  “He's okay, he's okay,” Dane says as Cat's wide eyes watch them help me into the house.

  “Daddy!” Lily rushes over, but Cat gently takes her hand, keeping her back.

  “Let them get Daddy to the couch,” she says in a soothing voice.

  “I'm fine, sweetheart,” I tell her.

  “What happened?” Cat asks.

  As we’re making our way over to the couch, I spot the kitchen. It’s a disaster with flour everywhere and baking dishes out. Cat and Lily are both wearing as much flour as the counter.

  “I could ask you the same.” I chuckle.

  She pats down her hair and apron that says, ‘Hot Daddy’. I'm still not sure what my mom was thinking when she helped Lily pick that out for one of my Father’s Day gifts last year.

  “I hope you don't mind.” Her hands move behind her neck to pull the string loose.

  “Not at all. Leave it.”

  Her hands drop to her sides. Dane and Garrett take a seat on the couch and Lily sits on the ottoman right in front of me, staring at all the cuts and bruises on my body.

  “What happened?” Cat asks again on her way into the kitchen.

  She pulls a few beers out of the fridge and brings them over to the table. Twisting the cap off each one, she hands one to Dane and Garrett before giving me the last one.

  I’m happy to take a beer over a kiss right now. She looks adorable playing Suzie Homemaker.

  “What happened is Dane can't hold a rope.” I glare over at him and he rolls his eyes.

  “Marcus can't climb.” He swallows down a hefty gulp of his beer. “May I just say, you're a very hospitable nanny.” Dane tips his beer in her direction.

  “Nanny?” she questions, joining Lily on the ottoman.

  “Are you okay, Daddy?” Lily's voice cracks and a frown mars her pretty face.

  I pat my lap for her to come over. She crawls up and I wince from the pain.

  “Lily, maybe you should...” I hold my hand up to Garrett.

  If being on my lap helps her not to be scared that I look like I lost a fight with a scrappy raccoon then so be it.

  “See, I'm okay. I just slammed into a rock because Uncle Dane got distracted.”

  She eyes Dane and he holds his hands up in the air in defense. “Hey, now, it was an accident.” He covers his head with his hands. “Please don't hurt me, Lily.”

  His defensive act makes Lily laugh and soon so is everyone else.

  “Lily, why don't you get the cookies?” Cat suggests. “Maybe they'll make your dad feel better.”

  Lily jumps off my lap and runs into the kitchen. A second later, she's placing a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the ottoman. Dane grabs one immediately.

  “Hey, how about the
patient first?” I shake my head.

  He chomps down on one, with no regard to what I just said. “If you're the patient, then Cat's the nurse. What do you think, Cat? Can you kiss all his boo boo's and make them better?”

  Lucky for him, Lily's attention has turned to the television, but if it wouldn’t take so much effort, I'd hit him over the head.

  Cat picks up a cookie and hands it to me.

  “Maybe a sponge bath would be good.” Cat looks at me and I can't tell if she's playing Dane's game or if she's serious. I hope to hell she's serious. I might be a little battered, but I'm not down for the count just yet.

  “There you go.” He pats her on the back, standing up with his now empty beer bottle. “Here you go, big guy.” He throws a cookie Garrett's way and he catches it. “They aren't as good as these cupcakes that Charlie's been bringing in lately, but you're pretty decent in the kitchen.” He looks over to me. “I’d give her a seven.”

  “Excuse me?” Cat asks, standing up and following him into the kitchen.

  “That's a compliment. It means you can prepare food and it's edible.”

  “I'd be careful, there's knives in there,” Garrett calls after them and I laugh, sharing a smile with him.

  “Uncle Garrett, where's Sydney?” Lily distracts him as I watch what's transpiring in the kitchen.

  “And I'll rate you about a two for boyfriend material,” Cat hammers back, starting to clean up the counter.

  “Try a one, baby, I don't commit, which is rule number one for a boyfriend. I am, however, number one in the bedroom.” He tips his new beer to her and a look of disgust crosses her face.

  “You're maddening and disgusting.”

  I glance over to Lily, happy to find she's talked Garrett into doing a puzzle on the floor.

  Dane leans against the counter. “For your information, I drive them back to their cars the next morning and I offer my shirt, you know, after I've ripped theirs off them.”

  Cat freezes and stares blankly at him. I'm not sure if she's about to slap him or knee him in the nuts.

  “I'm not having this conversation anymore. My time is much too precious.” She turns around and throws out the flour she scooped into her hand.