Chapter Six

 

Gavin

 

The sun blasted through the sky, warming the air until it was almost intolerable. Isabella decided it was to be a pool day, and since my work was caught up, I didn’t object.

“You can’t wear that,” I grabbed Stella by the waist.

The yellow bikini clung to her body, barely covering the parts I’d dreamed about licking at night. All I could focus on was that sweet curve from her pelvic bone, the arch above her ass, and that crevice between her thigh and pussy. Fuck!

“Why?” she asked, her face filled with disappointment.

“My dick will be hard, and this is a family swim,” I teased, letting my tongue trace the outline of her neck. “See? It’s already trying to jump out and get ya,” I laughed, stepping back for her to acknowledge the tent created in my shorts.

“What am I supposed to wear?” she asked, rolling her eyes at my obvious affliction.

“A scuba suit would be good. No, those are so tight and slick. What about a muumuu?” I teased.

“You’re gonna just have to get over it,” she laughed, grabbing her sunglasses, and heading out the bedroom door.

I stayed upstairs for a moment, mainly to relieve my poor cock from all the extra blood it had been burdened with. When I felt good enough to face Stella and Isabella, I made my way down the stairs.

I stopped in the path of the outdoor patio doors, just watching the two women in my life for a moment. Isabella was smacking at a beach ball while Stella worked on blowing it up. They laughed, smiled, and seemed to be having a great time. That wasn’t playing a part. There was no way Stella was pretending with Isabella. Was she not pretending with me?

The doorbell rang as I started toward the back door, pulling me away. I walked to the front, opened the door, and was face-to-face with my worst nightmare.

“Caroline?” I asked, staring at the woman who had given birth to Isabella.

“Long time no see, Gavin,” she slurred as she spoke.

Her eyes were blood shot, but wide and wired, and the beautiful blonde hair she’d given Isabella was ratty and wild.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped, not willing for my daughter to come face-to-face with this nightmare.

“What? A mother can’t come by to see her daughter?” she asked.

“You’re not her mother,” I snapped.

“No. I’m not. You hire women to pretend to be,” she laughed.

My heart raced, my fists clenched as they pushed to my side. I wanted to slam the door on her face, but I knew she’d cause a scene if I did.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I scoffed.

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about,” she said.

Her hands were fidgeting, pulling at her hair, wiping her nose, and scratching at her arms. It was obvious she was high, probably desperate. Whoever told her about my arrangement had given her leverage, and she wasn’t going to leave until she got what she wanted.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“You know I’ve been struggling. Not having Isabella in my life has been hard. Real hard,” she whined.

“Caroline, we both know that Isabella means nothing to you. This is who you were when I met you, and this is who’ll you’ll stay. Isabella had nothing to do with that,” I scolded.

“I would hate to see how upset she’d be to know you lie to her every day,” she hissed.

My fists clenched even tighter. I felt my body twitching, trying hard not to attack the parasite in my doorway. “How much?” I asked.

“Fifty thousand,” she said, suddenly very coherent, and no longer upset or filled with self-pity.

“Fine. Then you leave, and you don’t come back,” I snapped.

“That isn’t going to last forever,” she said, smirking to show off her missing front tooth.

“Stay there,” I demanded, and then shut the door.

Isabella and Stella were still outside, blowing up another raft, this time as a team. I opened the drawer to my desk in my office and pulled out my checkbook and a pen.

Back at the door, Caroline leaned against the house, looking as if she’d just nodded off. “Here is fifty thousand now, and an address,” I instructed as I wrote out the check.

She gripped it tightly, but I wouldn’t release it. “Go to that address Monday morning at noon and another fifty thousand will be waiting. But you’ll be asked to sign papers stating you’ll never contact myself, or Isabella, or anyone in my personal, private, or business life again,” I warned. “I mean it, Caroline.” I let go of the check.

“I’ll see you Monday. Have fun with your paid whore,” she laughed as I slammed the door.

The back patio door opened and Isabella and Stella both came inside. “What’s taking you so long?” Isabella asked.

I watched Stella’s eyes on the front door. It was obvious she knew someone had been there. “I’m coming,” I assured Isabella.

“Who was that?” Stella asked.

“No one,” I insisted, and then leaned in for a kiss.

Isabella grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the pool. Stella laughed as she watched the small girl tug me around like a rag doll.

I tried to have a good time, but all I could think about was Caroline’s threat. Who told her about my agreements, and why? I knew I’d have my attorney question her Monday, refusing to turn over the money without a name. Maybe I’d offer her more to come clean, whatever it took. I needed to kill this at the source.

The thought of Isabella finding out made me sick. I couldn’t bear the thought of her feeling Stella’s relationship with her was bought and paid for, and not genuine. I knew it was genuine; anyone with eyes could see that.