by K. C. Crowne
But I didn’t want to get my mom’s hopes up. Not until I met with a surrogacy agency and looked into the options. I still had a ways to go with it, and it wasn’t guaranteed, so I kept my trap shut. If I gave her false hope for something she wanted that badly, I’d never hear the end of it - and I’d feel like a huge ass if it didn’t come to pass.
“Have you thought about surrogacy, Abe?”
“Excuse me?” How had my mother literally read my mind?
“Surrogacy. You’re not getting any younger, sure, but I think you’d qualify, and we both know you’d make an excellent father. So have you?”
I opened my mouth to say something, but she’d caught me off-guard. I wasn’t prepared to tell her my plans on meeting with an agency. I also couldn’t outright lie to her either.
But then, an angel with light blonde hair and bright eyes appeared. She had the sweetest face I’d ever seen. Big, blue eyes, perfectly pink lips, and cherubic cheeks with dimples.
Felicity walked over, her hips swishing, showing off her curves. “I’m so sorry for keeping you waiting, Mrs. Hammond. Is there anything I can get you to drink?”
My mother looked from me to Felicity, and a knowing smile spread across her lips. She reached for Felicity’s hands, taking them in hers. Felicity looked a little surprised.
“Oh dear, it’s alright. I’ll just take a coffee, if you wouldn’t mind.”
This woman was not my mother. Felicity strode off and I couldn’t help but check out her ass. She was twenty-eight years old, and she had the curves of a Grecian Goddess. What warm-blooded man wouldn’t check that out?
My mother cleared her throat.
“Yes?” I asked.
“I changed my mind.”
“About what?”
“Surrogacy being your only option. I think that young lady would give you beautiful babies, and from the way you’re looking at her—”
“Mother, please,” I scolded.
“I’m just saying, she was checking you out too and—”
“You already know my feelings about this.”
“It’s been five years, Abe. Are you really going to let one horrible woman ruin you for everyone else?”
“She wasn’t horrible until the end.”
“No, she was always horrible, she was just good at hiding it.”
“And how do I know that I’m not just terrible at picking them, huh? Maybe I’m an awful judge of character.”
“Please, you made a few mistakes, doesn’t mean you’re doomed to only date floozies.”
I grabbed the napkin and clenched my fist around it. A mistake.
“Gloria wasn’t just a little mistake. I almost married her.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t.”
“Only because her side piece reached out to me. If he hadn’t, I never would have found out about the three other men she was stringing along.”
Mom sighed. “She was something else, that one.”
“And Lana? What about her?”
My mother cringed. “Well, you know I didn’t like her from the beginning.”
Lana hadn’t been as bad as Gloria. She’d had a drinking problem, that she hid well, and would often make poor decisions when she went out. But she had no intention of ever quitting the booze, so I quit her instead.
I’d had other relationships too - many over the years. None of them ended well. Not all of them were utter disasters, but they were so short-lived.
Needless to say, I didn’t believe in monogamy. And since I had no desire to engage in polyamory, I remained single. I had lost my desire to play the field, and it was time to grow up and pay attention to the things that mattered. In my case, that just happened not to include.
“Felicity isn’t like that though. She’s a good girl, I’ve watched her grow up.”
“Maybe she is, I don’t know.” I didn’t trust anyone. Or maybe it was me, maybe I was the one turning these women into cheaters. It was just easier to be single.
I knew my mother was right about Felicity though, or at least I wanted to believe she was. Felicity seemed like one of the good ones.
She was also twenty years younger than me.
She needed to date around, find someone her own age.
Not someone like me.
It was off the table.
“But she’s so pretty, smart, healthy, talented…” mom continued listing off Felicity’s positive traits.
“Yes, she is, and I hope she finds someone who gives her everything she wants one day.”
“Who?” Felicity’s voice caught me by surprise.
She placed the coffee in front of my mother.
Before my mom could speak, I said, “I think my mom is ready to order. Aren’t you, mother?”
“Yes, I think so. I’ll have the senior special, dear.”
“How would you like the eggs?”
“Fertilized,” my mom said just as I took a drink from my coffee. I spit it out all over the table. “Kidding! You know, old people humor. I’ll have them scrambled. Thanks, dear.”
Felicity shot me an amused, but confused look, but then wiped down the table and scampered off to the kitchen.
I wanted to get out of there, to head into the office and leave this conversation behind. But I couldn’t trust my mother not to do or say something embarrassing. Knowing her, she’d broker a deal with Felicity in my absence, convincing the poor girl to give her grandbabies.
And as much as the idea appealed to me, I liked her food too much to ruin never being able to step foot in here again.
Felicity
“What a day,” I moaned as I slipped into the booth. “Sorry I’m late, I had to fix the time clock or else spend eternity entering all the time in manually.”
“Why didn’t you call Grant for help?” Piper asked, speaking about her husband and Leah’s brother. “He’s happy to help out.”
Inwardly, I cringed. I hated asking for help, especially from friends. If I couldn’t pay them, I didn’t want them to work for me. Too much potential for drama.
“Oh, it’s fine,” I said, waving it off. “It’s an easy fix.”
Felicity, why did you say anything? You shouldn’t talk about these things. You don’t want people to worry about you or pity you.
Piper looked ready to argue, but I quickly changed the subject. “How are the kids?”
Piper’s eyes lit up right away. She’d always wanted to have a large family, and she was well on her way of achieving that. Two kids currently, one of which wasn’t her own by birth, but she loved that little boy as much as if she’d birthed him herself.
“Caleb starts kindergarten next year. Can you believe it?”
“Wow, no, I can’t.”
“I can’t imagine when Matilda goes to kindergarten, she’s going to give the teacher’s a very hard time. She’s as stubborn as her father, I swear.”
I smiled, outwardly, but on the inside there was a pit of jealousy in my belly. I tried to push it away as the two of them talked about their children. I sat in the background, single and alone, sipping my drink and nodding along as if I could relate to potty training issues or how the kids grew out of their clothes too fast.
Leah must have sensed that I was feeling left out.
“We need to set you up, Felicity.”
“Oh, no, really,” I laughed. “No you don’t.”
Leah scanned the room and a smile grew across her face. “I think I know just the guy too.”
“No, Leah, please—”
But Leah was out of her seat and walking across the bar before I could stop her. I looked at Piper who shrugged.
“We just worry about you.”
“I know, but I’m okay. Really.”
“Are you?”
I opened my mouth to say that yes, I was fine. Everything was hunky dory, but that would be a lie. I hated lying to my friends. Conveniently not telling them things was one thing, outright lying another.
Besides, Leah was already back with an eligible
bachelor at her side.
Levi Atwood was around our age; a year above us in school. He was a firefighter, and most would consider him attractive. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and stayed in good shape. Typical boy next door.
And also not really my type.
“Levi, have you met Felicity? Kellen and Levi work together sometimes, and Levi here is recently single.”
Levi chuckled awkwardly, running a hand over his smooth-shaven face.
“Of course Levi knows me. He comes into the diner several times a week,” I said dryly. I leaned in closer to Levi. “I’m so sorry she’s dragged you into this, Levi. You don’t have to be subjected to this; you can go.”
“It’s okay,” Levi said, “I just don’t think I’m ready to start dating again. Mallory and I broke up a week ago, and—”
“No need to explain,” I said. “Leave the poor guy alone, Leah. Let him wallow in the cheap booze and not be forced to move on before he’s ready.”
Even if Levi had been okay with it, I wasn’t. He wasn’t my type. Not that I really could explain what my type was, but Levi wasn’t it. He would make a nice guy for some lady, I’m sure. Just not me. There was no chemistry there. We’d never clicked that way and forcing it wouldn’t be good for either of us.
Levi took off, joining his group of friends again, and Leah sat down across from me, with a frown on her face.
“Not even one date with the guy?”
“Why? Because you feel sorry for him or because you feel sorry for me?”
“For both of you.”
“Well, don’t feel sorry for me. I’m fine,” I said. “I have plans to open another restaurant in the future, and I don’t have time for dating anyway.”
Leah shook her head, but she didn’t say anything more about it. I really didn’t want my friends forcing newly single men upon me. I didn’t want to enter into a relationship simply to no longer be alone.
My standards were also very, very high.
“Oh, hey there,” Abe’s voice caused me to perk right up.
Abe had come up behind us, and slipped into the booth beside me, taking me by surprise. Both Piper and Leah gave me a surprised but approving look.
“Oh, hello,” I said, a little surprised myself. He was so close to me, and damn, he smelled so good. And I looked like a mess. My hair was messy from being up in a bun all day, and while I had changed clothes before coming into the bar, I didn’t put much effort into it - just a black tank top, jeans, and a cardigan since it was chilly. I hadn’t dressed to impress.
He had a beer in his hand. “Can I buy you a drink? I mean, you did give me a free biscuit with my meal today, it’s the least I can do.”
He nodded at Piper and Leah, acknowledging them, but his eyes were all on me.
And maybe it was the alcohol, but he was leaning in pretty close. He was checking me out, his gaze falling down to my cleavage before looking me in the eye once more.
“Oh, no thanks, I’m good,” I said, holding up my beer. “But thanks anyway.”
He was in jeans, dear God. Jeans and a t-shirt that hugged his body. It was so unlike his usual work clothes of dress slacks and button-up shirts. I actually got a hint of what he might look like naked, and it would certainly aid in my dreams that night.
“Alright, well, it was good seeing you outside the diner,” he said. He patted my arm, and his rough hands felt so warm against my skin. I didn’t want him to pull away. He lingered there for a second longer than a casual touch, but he pulled away and stood back up. “Have a good night, ladies. Nice seeing you.”
Piper and Leah both muttered something to him as he walked away, but I didn’t catch it. I was staring at his ass in those jeans. Dammit. Why did he have to be so fucking perfect and ruin every other man for me?
“Uh, Felicity. No wonder you’re not interested in Levi,” Leah said. “You could have just told me.”
“What are you talking about?” I watched as Abe walked over to the bar, leaning against it to order another drink, showing off that tight ass even more.
“Because it’s obviously there’s something going on there.”
My neck snapped back, and my brain followed, bringing me back to reality.
“There’s nothing going on between us.” I laughed, but neither Piper nor Leah joined in.
“Uh, the electricity between you two was nearly enough to light up the whole bar,” Leah said. “I mean, I think they can see those sparks all the way in Salt Lake City.”
I looked to Piper, hoping she would agree with me, but she chuckled, “Leah’s right. That was hot.”
I took a sip from my beer, refusing to look my friends in the eyes. “You guys are crazy. I have no idea what you’re talking about,”
“Sure, you weren’t just undressing him with your eyes or anything.” Leah laughed.
“I mean, he’s a good-looking man, but that’s it. He’s twenty years older than me, for God’s sake.”
“Yeah, but Elle and Jeremiah make it work, don’t they?” Leah argued.
“That’s different. He’s from a totally different background than me. He’s a freaking doctor, and what am I? A cook at a diner?”
“Don’t discount yourself, Felicity. You’re the owner, and you graduated from one of the best culinary schools in the country. Everyone knows you could work for any restaurant in the world you wanted.”
I snapped my mouth shut. She was right. I’d had offers before setting up in Liberty. But I didn’t want to just work for someone else, and I wanted to return home, to my roots. I didn’t want to live in Los Angeles or Las Vegas or even Paris. But I’d had offers. I just turned them down.
“Still, we come from two different worlds. He’s like super rich. He’s traveled the world with his career and lived in Africa for a bit. We have nothing in common.”
“Except you both have the hots for each other,” Leah said with a wink.
“I think he’s hot, yes. But it’s no different than a celebrity crush. He’s unattainable to me, and that’s why I like him.”
“Whatever you say, girl,” Leah said with a shrug and a knowing smile. “Whatever you say.”
Jeremiah
Damn. Why did she have to look so good? I stared up at the ceiling, my head spinning with thoughts of Felicity. Normally I only saw her in her work clothes; slacks and a plain top that left a lot to the imagination. But tonight, wow.
Her hair was down and falling over her shoulders, slightly messy and wavy. And that tank top showed off just a hint of cleavage. When she got up to use the restroom at some point, seeing her tight ass in those jeans gave me all kinds of bad ideas.
Like following her into the bathroom, pushing her up against the wall, and having my way with her.
Without even realizing it, I had my cock in my hand, stroking it. I pictured her pants being pulled down, her legs wrapped around my waist as I thrust inside of her.
She was so tiny compared to me, I could hold her up easily. And in my fantasy, I did. I plunged inside of her, fucking her up against the wall while she writhed around me.
I bet she’d be tight.
The idea of her pussy spasming around my cock sent shivers throughout my body. I closed my eyes and dove into the fantasy, imagining her cries of pleasure as I brought her to orgasm again and again.
I so badly wanted to make her come, to make her feel so fucking good.
I gripped my member tighter, imagining the spasming of her pussy as she came, her body holding onto mine for dear life.
I wanted to fill that sweet pussy with so much cum that it ran down her legs. I wanted to put a baby inside of her, to fill her belly with my seed.
Just the thought of her being pregnant with my child sent me over the top. A warmth covered my bare belly as I came, groaning as I pictured coming deep inside of her.
It took me a second to come back to reality. I had to clean up, but I was suddenly so tired. A lonlineness crept in that often came after masturbating. Along with guilt.
&nb
sp; She was twenty-eight, for fuck’s sake.
Twenty years younger than me.
She was an adult, obviously, and it was easy to forget the age difference in the midst of our flirting, but the fact was - I was an old man to her.
I wiped myself off with some Kleenex and tossed it in the trash can near my bed. I laid my head back down and closed my eyes, suddenly feeling sleeping. But my brain still wouldn’t shut off.
I was an old man. She had her whole life ahead of her - a family one day, if she wanted one. I remembered being like that too, thinking I had my entire life ahead of me - and I focused purely on my career. Not something I regretted necessarily, but a part of me wished I’d looked into starting a family sooner.
And perhaps, somehow avoided the likes of Gloria and Lana.
Ooo000ooo
“Good morning,” Felicity’s cheerful voice greeted me as she opened the door to the diner. Her smile was as warm as a bonfire on a cold Utah night. But the smile didn’t go all the way to her eyes, and I noticed it falter once I’d stepped inside.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything is fine,” she said, but her voice no longer had that cheerful lilt to it, the one she had almost every single day.
“You sure?” I turned on my heels, stopping her in her tracks. We were between some tables, and she was close enough that I could smell the light vanilla scent that clung to her skin.
Felicity sighed and pushed past me, rubbing against me as she passed by. She was trying hard not to look me in the eye as she walked toward the counter. I normally sat in the same booth, every day. But today, I was sitting at the counter.
She saw me sit down but didn’t say anything.
A voice called from the back, “Felicity, can you come here for a second?”
I saw the look of dread that crossed her face. She looked physically pained.
“I’ll be right back.”
I couldn’t make out most of what was said between her and who I believed to be Allison. I couldn’t make out the words, –but I could make out the frustration in the tone.