His Secret Baby

by Ashlee Price

  Shaking my head and rubbing my eyes so that Scott wouldn’t see me, I told myself that I was going to give it a chance. I’d told him I would, and as we finally got off the interstate, I was hoping that it wouldn’t be that much longer until I got to see the place that all of the fuss was about. “Well, I’ll see the place first before we make any life-altering decisions, okay?”

  Scott just smiled again and looked towards the road with confidence. He was sure that I was going to agree, so that made me think that there was something to his plan. I had to distance myself from the idea that it was his father’s plan, of course. I didn’t like the thought of that, but now it was Scott’s idea as well. He had added to the original concept.

  When the car started to slow down to turn off, my heart was pounding in my chest. I wasn’t sure why, but I was suddenly anxious. I could see a large building up ahead, and I had a feeling that that was the place. There was a covering on the sign so I couldn’t be sure until I asked Scott and he let me know that I was right.

  “There she is. It was an old soup factory, if you can believe it, so a lot of it was already there. I know that it’s not ideal as far as location, but the local economy is going to love the big surge of jobs that we’re bringing in. It’s going to be a lot bigger when the extra construction is done, but for now you can at least get an idea of what it will look like.”

  I was looking at the old brick and all of the cars in front of the place. It looked like it was running, and I could smell coffee being roasted. It was my father’s coffee, and I couldn’t help but think that I wouldn’t mind living somewhere close, somewhere I could smell that every time I went outside. I don’t think I could ever get sick of the smell.

  “What do you think so far?”

  “I think it’s big already, Scott. I didn’t think it would be so big. I mean, we haven’t made a decision on this, have we?” I had a feeling that I was the only one who wasn’t on board with all of it.

  “We’re here for you to make a decision. I just wanted to make sure that you got a full picture of what it was going to look like when it’s up and running.”

  “Who are all of these people?” I was looking at all of the cars in the full parking lot.

  “These are locals who were looking for jobs. I told them that it was going to be as a temporary placement unless we decide to really kick it up. In that case, they are all your employees.”

  I liked the scale of the place. It felt huge, and I could see how it could benefit many. It definitely had me thinking, if nothing else. Could this be the answer? So that I could be a good mom and still keep my father’s legacy alive?

  “I just don’t know, Scott.”

  “Come on, love. I have more to show you inside.”

  ***

  While I’d thought that I wouldn’t be impressed, I most definitely was. It was clear that Scott had taken big steps to make everything perfect, and in most ways he had succeeded. It felt like the bistro, and the smell was the same. The employees were all very nice and everything was clean. It was just the way I would have wanted it if I was the one who’d set it up. It was perfect, but I still hadn’t made a decision, and I didn’t want to give Scott any false hope.

  “So?”

  I shrugged, and he smiled. “I have one last thing to show you. It’s kind of a surprise, and I think now is a good time for you to see it. I know how important it is for you to keep your father’s memory alive, and I think I’ve found the perfect way to do just that. Come with me.”

  His excitement was palpable. I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I was sure that I was going to like it. How could I not, if he was so stoked just to show it to me? It had to be something good, and I was excited too by the time we walked to a part of the factory that I hadn’t seen yet. It was clear by what was around that it was the finished product side. He took me to one of the many boxes that were stacked full of what I assumed was coffee.

  Taking a nearby box cutter, he opened one of the boxes on one of the many cases, took out one of the individual bags of coffee, and handed it to me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, but my eyes were welling up nonetheless. Even though my brain was being slow, it didn’t change what I was seeing. There was a picture of me and my father on the front of the package, along with the name of the bistro.

  The picture was of when I was younger and we’d just opened the place and my father was still healthy. It made me realize how much I missed him. Though the picture was altered and the color was off, because it was actually drawn in the foam in a cup of coffee, I couldn’t help but be touched beyond words. Scott had been confident because he knew that I would have to say yes to this. How could I not, when my father’s picture would be in every house that bought it? What better way to keep his memory alive?

  “I love it, Scott. I mean, this is perfect. I knew that it was going to be perfect, but this is too much.”

  “I didn’t want to show you until you’d seen the rest, Jesse. Do you promise you like it?”

  I nodded my head with tears running down my cheeks that I didn’t even bother to wipe away. It was perfect, really.

  “I love it, and I love you for thinking of it. Scott, you’re the best husband that a woman could ask for.”

  He just grinned back at me and then pulled me in for a quick kiss that made it even harder for my brain to work. He really was overwhelming in everything that he did.

  “Your father was right. This is the perfect solution, and I want you to thank him next time you see him.”

  “He’s coming over this weekend. I invited your mother and mine as well. So you can tell them about your announcement.”

  “What announcement?”

  Scott just kind of looked at me like I was being silly. I didn’t know what he was talking about. I’d just found out I was pregnant, so he couldn’t know that. Yet that was the only thing that came to mind.

  “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

  He never seemed to stop amazing me.

  “How did you know?”

  Scott’s smile got bigger and his blue eyes twinkled with the idea of it. “I wasn’t sure, but there are small changes. I was hoping that it would be that, and then I saw you getting teary-eyed earlier and I was pretty sure then. This is good news. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  “I just took the test today, so I haven’t known that long. I wanted to do this first. Scott, how do you know all of this? It’s like you know my body better than I do.”

  “I’m your husband, Jesse. It’s my job.”

  I couldn’t help but pull him in for a lingering kiss. He really was just that perfect.

  ~The End~

  Hiking with My Dad’s Best Friend

  Chapter 1

  Carly had just made it home for Spring Break. While most of her friends were running off to the beaches, she was going on a mountaintop somewhere. Ever since she could remember, her father and her would go on a weeklong hiking trip and camp out underneath the stars. Even as she got older, she found more pleasure out on a cliff side somewhere, than any parties she had ever went to on or off campus.

  The plans had changed that year and Carly was still trying to process it. Her father wanted to take his long-time friend Lonnie with. He had just gotten out of the service after a full career of twenty years and her dad Saul wanted him to come along.

  Carly was not against Lonnie. She had met him a few times and he had seemed nice, but it had always been just the two of them and she was afraid it would affect their bonding time. Through the years, it had always been just the two of them. Her mother hated the outdoors, so it had always been a special time for father and daughter. With Lonnie coming though, Carly wondered if it would be the same.

  ***

  “It will be fun. I haven’t seen Lonnie in years and we have a lot of catching up to do. We were in the service together you know.”

  “I know, he saved your life…”

  “He did and I owe him a lot more than a camping trip. I think it w
ill be fun. He knows a great place with some trails we haven’t seen before.”

  “So why don’t you two just go and I will go down to the beach?”

  Saul could tell his daughter was upset and she was pouting perfectly. Carly had used that look to get whatever she wanted and even twenty years later, it still almost always worked.

  “I don’t want you to be upset. I can just cancel with him and do something next week.”

  “No, I am being silly. It has just always been our thing.”

  “I know and it still is. We are just going to be sharing it with an old friend. You can bring one of your friends along if you want.”

  Carly snorted. Everyone she knew was already off to the beach and she doubted she could get anyone to drag themselves from the sun to go get dirty for a week climbing trails.

  “Doubtful dad. I don’t think adding more people is going to make it any better. I still want to go, so if you want Lonnie to go, I guess I am okay with it.”

  “Thanks baby.”

  Saul gave his daughter a hug and reminded her to finish packing. She ran up the stairs and it was about that time that there was a knock at the front door.

  Chapter 2

  “Lonnie!”

  Saul gave his old friend a hug. He noted the sheer size and hardness of the man. Saul himself had let his body get softer through the years in civilian life, but Lonnie looked just like he had when they were enlisted together 15 years ago.

  “Saul, you are looking civilian brother.”

  Saul smirked. He had known it was coming.

  “Just give it some time, you will soften up too.”

  “I doubt that. You are going to love these trails, though I wonder if your little pudding ass will make it.”

  Saul blocked a punch and gave one of his own to an old wound on Lonnie’s side.

  “Yeah I think so, though you are looking rough all of a sudden.”

  Lonnie rubbed his side and gave his friend a dirty look.

  “You always were a low blow Saul. That is what I liked best about you.

  So are you ready? We are losing daylight.”

  “We are just waiting for Carly to finish packing her things. She should be down in a minute. She just got in from State for the break.”

  “Wow, last time I seen her she was ten I think. I can’t believe she is in college now.”

  “Second year. I don’t know where the time goes.”

  “It just does…”

  Lonnie’s eyes fell on the woman coming down the stairs. He could not see her as the child he had met before. Carly had grown up and there was nothing childish about her now. He pulled his eyes away guiltily and glanced over at his friend. He didn’t seem to notice the look of desire on his friend’s face, but Carly did.

  She found herself surprised to see him. She had memories of him and he looked about the same. The difference was her and her perception of him was quite different. He looked just as big, but now she was not intimidated. His eyes were just as dark brown as before, but now they held a predatory gleam that she was used to seeing. On him, it looked even better, but even more alarming.

  Her step faltered, but she caught herself before she could embarrass herself further. She felt his eyes on her as she got to the landing in front of them. Lonnie was much bigger when she stood next to him and she had to look up to see his face.

  “Hi. Welcome back Lonnie, my dad has told me a lot about you.”

  Carly gave him a quick hug and stepped back.

  “So are you guys ready?”

  “Yes, come on Lonnie. How far did you say the trail was?”

  Lonnie shut his mouth and tried to get his voice. He could feel the young woman’s body still pressed against him and he almost didn’t want to ruin it. After getting his wits, he tried to sound normal.

  “It is about thirty minutes away. We can all ride in my truck if you want or you can follow me down there. I just hope you have 4-wheel drive for some of the spots.”

  Saul shook his head and knew what that meant. The trails were probably in the middle of nowhere and the roads were going to be non-existent.

  “I guess we will take your truck. You still driving that beast?”

  “No I got a bigger one now.”

  Saul chuckled and grabbed his gear to head out. Carly was already outside, standing next to a huge pickup, with wheels that were far too big for it. The blonde woman looked small in comparison and all Lonnie could think about was helping her up into the cab.

  “Here let me help you with that.”

  Lonnie grabbed the duffel bag out of her hands and threw it to the back of the truck.

  “Do you need help up? You are going to have to sit in the middle. I took the back seats out for speakers.”

  “Oh. No, I think I can get it. Thanks though.”

  Lonnie decided that his vantage point was better down below where he stood. He had to admire her limberness and he felt a stir in his pants from the long legs and short shorts that he could practically see up. Her panties showed for the briefest of moments, but the white cotton would be imbedded into his brain forever.

  He cursed at himself and started to wonder how the trip was going to go. He already wanted to jack-off and he just thought of her pushed up against his side the whole way there in the small cab. He groaned inwardly and hoisted himself up after he threw his own bag in the back of the truck.

  ***

  The ride up was as bad as Lonnie thought it would be. He was rock hard only minutes after they left Saul’s house and he was starting to wonder if Carly was driving him crazy on purpose. He had seen a look of mischief in her blue eyes at some point, but he told himself he was probably just wishing that is was what he seen. He couldn’t be sure, but he was already thinking of ways to get alone with her.

  Carly was messing with Lonnie a little bit, but she was finding herself turned on by her own antics. Every time he would try to shift, she would open her legs wide enough that his hand grazed the outside of her thigh. Her shorts had ridden up some and the bottom hem was only inches from her panties.

  Carly sat back when the road became rocky and bumpy, letting Lonnie get a good view of her jostling cleavage. There was no end game in mind for the woman though. She was just turning herself on by his obvious attraction. She tried to keep her father occupied by talking to him about college, the whole time she was sidling up closer to Lonnie’s hard body. There was not much room in the cab, but it was hardly noticed from an oblivious Saul. He was just happy to be out and was more interested in the view out the passenger window.

  “Man it is really far out here.”

  “You know some of the best trails are the ones that few people get to go on. The ones that take a little work, but are so worth it in the end.”

  Lonnie looked down at the long legs next to him and the bouncing tits. There was no question what he was referring to and it made Carly squeeze her thighs together.

  “Have you been on these trails before?”

  “Yes, but I am looking at them in a whole new light. I have a feeling they will be a lot more enjoyable this time around.”

  His deep brown eyes held hers for a moment and then he was back on the road like nothing happened. The man’s words left her shivering slightly inside and she looked at his strong profile. There was wisps of a shadow from the night before and she wanted to move her hand up to touch his rough cheek, but she didn’t dare. Carly was not sure why he was affecting her so much, but she was definitely perking up to the idea of Lonnie being around for the next week.

  Chapter 3

  It was well past noon when the threesome finally got to the parking spot. They were already several thousand feet up in the air and the view was breathtaking. Carly got out of the truck and forgot about everything but the nature all around her. She never felt so at peace.

  “Look dad, it is beautiful here. Why have we never been here before?”

  “I didn’t know you could come around the backside over here to the park. How
did you know about this Lonnie?”

  “I have my ways.”

  He shot a look to Carly that reminded her how naughty she had been in the truck and wishing that she had a few moments to herself. She looked down, unable to keep his searing gaze.

  “Well I think it is beautiful. I am ready to go.”

  Carly climbed into the back of the truck and threw down everyone’s packs. Jumping down, she shimmied hers on her back and looked back at the two men.

  “Come on Grandpas. We need to find a good place to camp soon. It is already later than I thought.”

  Lonnie and Saul looked at each other slightly wounded and followed behind Carly as she led the way. The trail was not as broken in as she was used to, but it was still pretty clear to follow. Her dad had taken the lead after a while and she could hear Lonnie close behind her. She looked behind her once and saw that he was watching her ass as she walked. When she turned back, she could feel it burning with his steady gaze. She grinned to herself and too extra care to make sure her shorts rode up higher.

  There was a bit of interplay between the two while they walked. Carly didn’t see a stump and almost fell back, but Lonnie was quick to catch her at the last moment. Her body felt small in his arms and she thanked him with a little blush on her cheek. Saul was not paying any attention. He too was caught up in the view and the experience.

  They came across a clearing in the thicket and after several hours, everyone was ready for a little break.

  “Why don’t we just set up camp here for the night? There is a stream right there and we might be able to catch a few fish.”

  Saul was already unpacking his small tent and erecting it before anyone else could agree. It was a perfect spot, so no one objected. Carly was finding herself a little frazzled and she was having trouble getting the rods on the top of her dome tent right. After the second failed attempt, Lonnie came over and finished.

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime you need anything Carly.”

  She wondered what needs the offer covered, but was pretty sure she knew which ones he was talking about. Carly hoped that he could not see how turned on she was. She turned and finished before she went in the tent to hide. She just needed a few minutes to calm down. Her body felt over-heated and she decided to swim up the creek a ways to give herself a few moments. In truth she just needed to cool her ardor and she figured a cold swim would do that.