Chapter 18

Allison

Sierra hadn’t shut up about David or his Career Day presentation since I picked her up the day before, and as we rode back to my parents’ house for a little Saturday girl time, she was still going on and on.

It wouldn’t have been so awkward if I didn’t have thoughts of my own about David running through my mind. Naked thoughts, orgasmic thoughts, thoughts that had been on my mind throughout the night and had me three fingers deep by bedtime.

I fanned myself, cracking a window to let the cooler air into the cab.

“And then he showed us the funny commercials, and the other kids laughed. I got invited to Dylan’s birthday, and his uncle shook David’s hand. His was the best presentation, and everyone loved the Jeep. Dylan wanted me to see if David would bring it to the party. Can he, Mama?”

“I don’t know, honey. Isn’t Dylan the little boy you bit?”

“Yeah, but his uncle told him I did it because I liked him, so he said he forgives me.”

“And you told him you liked him?” I gave her a sideward glance. My little girl needed a long talk about boys. And as I turned into my parents’ driveway, I wondered if my mother would give us both one.

“I told him it might be true. He said it’s okay if it was.” She jumped out of the car before I could shut it off, so I climbed out once I had and walked to the door, which she’d left open as she’d went inside.

“No running in the house, Sierra.”

“That rule only applied to you, cupcake.” Daddy sat in his chair with his feet up.

I went in to hug him and then put my hands on my hips. “How’s that fair?”

“She’s our grandchild. The rules are different.” He gave me a wink.

“I still don’t want her running in the house, or she’ll do it at home.”

“I make no promises to discipline her,” he said, holding up his hands.

“Hey, honey, want to come into the kitchen?” my mother asked. “I’m making a pie, and I have chicken salad on for lunch.”

“Sure,” I said. “I’ll boil the eggs.”

“Already one step ahead of you. So, tell me. How was your first week?”

I blushed, the red in my cheeks a dead giveaway.

“Uh oh,” she said. “You’re not going to start baking oatmeal cookies again, are you?”

“Is it that obvious? It doesn’t help that this one won’t stop talking about him.”

Sierra hugged her grandmother. “Mommy missed all the excitement. Did you know that David’s really rich, Grandma?”

“I’ve heard a rumor or two.” She turned and gave me a wink.

“Yeah, the other fathers said he had million-billions, and he owns most of our TVs, too!”

“He makes commercials and ads, sweetheart,” I said. “It’s not exactly the same thing as owning our TVs. And what did I say about talking about money?”

“Yes, ma’am. But it’s true.” She climbed up to the bar and stuck her finger in the pie filling, and my mother smiled. She’d always let me taste the filling, too, and I knew if I discouraged Sierra, I’d be a hypocrite.

“It is true, but let’s talk about something else, okay?” I asked.

“Okay.” She turned to my mother. “David’s Jeep was warm. He had the heater on full blast, and he told me to sit on my hands. When I got out, my nose was only a little cold, but nothing else. I want a Jeep when I grow up, too. But I want a red one with my name on the top.” She tilted her head and gave me a curious look. “Do girls drive Jeeps too, Mama?”

“Yes, they can drive whatever they want, just like boys.”

“I’m not sure who has the bigger crush on him, you or Sierra.” My mother laughed, and Sierra didn’t miss a beat until my father called her in to watch TV.

“She’s gone on and on about him,” I said. “I’m kind of worried. I don’t want her to get hurt.” Like I had.

“You should really consider pursuing something with that man. I mean, I know you two have been friends your whole lives, and you can’t deny the massive crush on you, but this is your second chance. You might not get a third, and he’s got your family’s approval.”

“You think so?” I couldn’t tell her about the naughty things I’d done in the office, and I felt like a bad girl just thinking them in her presence.

“Well, certainly. He’s a good man, and frankly, I’m ready for you to have another man in your life; someone who will look out for the two of you and protect you. He’s certainly capable, and if my instincts are correct, he’d be up for it.”

“I’m not sure about that. Based on our track record. He’s had other chances, Mom.” I thought of the past, hoping I wasn’t setting myself up for more disappointment; another fuck and run. And worst of all, Sierra had gotten so attached to him so quickly.

What if he moved on to someone else? All the more reason to go for it this time.

“What you should do is ask him what he’s doing for Thanksgiving and invite him to dinner here with us. We could have a nice dinner, and then you and he could take a walk down your old bike path.”

“I don’t know. He probably has family stuff.”

Sierra came into the room and climbed back up to the bar. My mother turned to her. “Don’t you think your mama should ask David to Thanksgiving dinner?”

Sierra let out a howling cheer. “Yes! Please, Mama! Can he come?”

I couldn’t believe she’d pulled such a tactic. “Fine, I’ll ask. But I’m not pressuring him to change his plans, which, I’m sure he already has.”

As Sierra cheered some more, I went out on the back porch and sat in the swing that David had asked me to go to my prom in. We’d stepped out for some fresh air and to catch up, and he’d told me Missy had told him that I didn’t have a date. I’d never felt so pathetic and relieved all at once. Doug had been supposed to take me, but with us fighting, he’d canceled on me a week before. I’d already bought a dress and everything.

I could remember several times when David had come to my rescue. One time, he’d even battled a wasp nest and lost. It had turned up in a matter of days in my playhouse, and he donned a hockey mask and some bike pads to knock it down and spray it. One flew out so fast, popping him in the cheek near his eye, that he never saw it coming.

Another time, he’d stood up to some older boys that had taken my ball from the yard, and he made them give it back, although one of the kids had punched him in the stomach and made him throw up.

I dialed Katrina’s number, knowing I needed to talk to someone about what had happened in David’s office.

“I thought you’d forgotten me.” Katrina’s voice was loud, and there was radio noise in the background, which meant she had me on speaker phone and she was most likely driving.

“Are you on your way to work?”

“Nope, I just got off. I’m going home and soaking my feet. How’s your new gig?”

“Well, I hate to gush.” I didn’t think she’d want to hear about how wonderful my new job was when her feet were hurting from hers.

Her laughter rang through the phone. “Go ahead, gush away. I need to live through you. My life had been boring as hell lately.”

“It’s been great. You missed out on Sierra yesterday at the diner. She hoped to see you there.”

“Aww, damn. Did she come in with your parents?”

“No, actually, she was with David. He brought her in for a milkshake after Career Day. Seems he’s the big hero in her life at the moment.”

“And what is he to you? Have you two been getting along?” The way she sang the question, like a child on the playground teasing, made me giggle. “Oh, that giggle wasn’t a denial. Someone’s been getting chummy with the new boss, right?”

“Maybe.”

“Don’t maybe your best friend. It’s not healthy. Now, spill what you have to tell me before I go nuts.”

“We may have gotten intimate.”

“You spent the night with him? Or was this a ‘slutty, under the desk blowjob’ kind of thing?”

“It was over the desk, and it didn’t stop at a blowjob.” I kept my eyes on the door, and my voice low as if my father could hear me through the brick.

“You filthy little slut; fucking the boss.” She belted out a laugh. “Damn, I want your life.”

“It was so sudden. One minute, he comes in, telling me about Sierra’s Career Day and how she hugged him, and the next, he’s hugging me with his tongue down my throat.”

“Nice. Is he even hotter now or what?”

“He’s definitely more experienced, and he’s really filled out, too. I mean, he was always big, but he really puts Doug to shame.”

“I can’t believe you never got around more. Time to make up for it with some steamy office rendezvous, right?”

“I’m not sure if it’s going to happen again or not. With our track record, he’s bound to leave the country, and I’ll never hear from him again.”

“No. This is your chance. He’s so into you. And I was thinking. You know how you said he didn’t have anywhere to put you? What if he just created the position to get you back in his life?”

“He wouldn’t do that. I’m sure the position was necessary. From the sounds of things, Greyson has been holding his hand, and not only doing the CEO duties, but an assistant’s as well.”

“Oh, well. Regardless, you’re fucking the boss. How does that feel? I bet you could already ask for a raise.”

“I won’t press my luck. I’ll settle for more sex and a relationship.”

“I think you’re on your way. I don’t think he’d be fucking you if he planned to can your ass. Besides, it sounds like he’s already trying to win Sierra’s heart.”

“Oh, I don’t know if he tried, but he sure succeeded. She’s nuts over him; absolutely obsessed.”

“That’s the cutest thing ever. I still think you need to have his paternity tested.”

“I still think you’re crazy. He wouldn’t want that kind of responsibility anyway.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure, my friend.”

“Mom told me to ask him to Thanksgiving dinner here at her place.”

“You should. I bet he’d like a big slice of your pie for dessert, too.” She gave a wicked laugh.

“You’re impossible.”

“I know it, and that’s why you love me. You and Sierra should stop in on my shift and let me comp you a couple of burgers.”

“Will do. I hope it gets better.”

“I’m sure it will,” she said. “We had a rush, and I pulled a double on the early morning crew. Remind me not to do that again. I did get some great tips from a couple of truckers. One even suggested I go out on a date with him.”

“Yikes. Don’t tell me you accepted.”

“Nah, he was my father’s age. Why is it that all the old men want to hit on me?”

“They know a prize when they see one,” I said.

“No, they just think I’m nuts enough that I’ll try anything.” We shared a laugh, knowing that was more than likely the truth, and then she ended the call as she arrived at her house.

I hung up, thinking I might call David with that invitation, but I felt too weird about calling. I had chased him our entire childhood. Maybe it was time I didn’t act so eager.