By the time I arrived back at my place the Californian sun had begun to set. It glowed like a red ball behind my house, which was set on a hill with an amazing view of the whole city. I parked the car and took the stone steps two at a time. I opened the door, peeled off my jacket and tie, and tossed them over the back of the chair opposite the door.

The housekeeper had been around that morning and the place smelt of lemon oil polish. I liked my place. I had spent thousands getting it designed in a minimalist style. It was a style that photographed well and looked slick when it appeared on the front covers of the lifestyle magazines that ran the occasional profile-story of me.

I switched on the air-con and went to the liquor cabinet. Pouring myself an extra-large scotch I made my way out onto the balcony. The evening air was balmy. I took a sip and let myself linger on my high perch, the buzz of the city noise below seeming far away and irrelevant. This was the moment I loved most in my day. Alone, finally at peace with the world, the office far behind me.

I allowed my brain to switch off as I watched the restless activity of the streets in the distance. My thoughts returned to Madison. She must be nineteen now. That made me feel outrageously old. How did she get to be so grown-up, and I was still the same asshole I’d been nearly two decades previously?

I wondered what she would make of me now. Maybe I’d be painfully uncool to her. Maybe I would have that slick-older-man thing going on? Not that I particularly wanted her thinking of me like that.

Girls of her age were not my thing, no matter what they looked like, or how aggressively they expressed their interest, I wasn’t interested. I had absolutely nothing in common with them. That was probably why I was the only person in the city Kevin could trust her with. He knew I shot for more mature women. Women who didn’t play coy, girlish games. Women who understood the score. They knew what they wanted and were not afraid to ask for it.

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket. It was my date for the evening.

“Hey gorgeous,” she purred in my ear.

I leaned my hip against the metal railing. “Hey yourself.”

“Do you know what I’m doing right now?”

“Nope.”

“I’ve got my legs open in front of the mirror and I’m sliding my fingers into my pussy.”

I smiled. See what I mean about mature women. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. You won’t believe how wet I am.”

“Tell me?” I ordered, my cock twitching with interest.

“My juices are dripping onto the bed.”

“Fuck, Victoria,” I muttered.

“I could really do with a very big cock right now. Wanna come over and play with my pussy?” She chuckled throatily.

“I can’t,” I groaned, silently cursing Kevin. “I’ve got a house guest I have to go pick up.”

“A house guest?” Her voice sharpened.

“Yeah. Kevin’s kid. She’s down from England for a holiday, but Kevin has had to rush off to a business trip. There’s no one to take care of her so she’ll be staying at my place for a week,” I explained glumly.

“Oh, how nice of you.” She sounded relieved.

I looked at my watch. “Got to go pick her up now, as a matter of fact.”

“Okay, I’ll see you at eight?”

“See you at eight. Don’t tire yourself out too much.”

“I won’t,” she said with a chuckle.

I made my way back inside, the cold air felt delicious. I hadn’t realized how hot it was out there. I thought about a quick shower and then decided against it. There wasn’t enough time. I would just pick her up, show her to her room, and then I would have time to get ready for my date. She would probably be too exhausted to do anything more than have a hot shower and drop into bed, anyway. The trip over from England could be a motherfucker. I placed my glass down on the black marble countertop of the bar, and headed for the door.

Rolling up the sleeves of my pale blue shirt, I hurried down the steps and got into my car. Kevin’s home was only fifteen minutes away from mine, and I managed to avoid most of the traffic so I pulled up outside his place with time to spare. I didn’t know why, but I felt a jolt of nervousness run through my system. Weird.

I had been to his home a thousand times before. I had spent so many nights there drinking, strategizing and laughing, but this time felt different and I couldn’t put my finger on why. Probably because I really wasn’t looking forward to playing nursemaid to a teenager. I got out of the car and started walking toward the front door.

Maybe, because I found it hard to think of Kevin as anything other than a bachelor. Of course, I knew he had a daughter, but it hardly ever crossed my mind when she lived in England. Sometimes, when she called on his cell, or I did remember he was actually a father, I’d look at him in wonder, and have an uneasy feeling that time was passing me by and I was wasting my life.

I walked up to the door and buzzed the bell. His place was more old-fashioned than mine, a converted townhouse that towered over the street below. It was cool and classic, like him. Kevin opened the door.

“Hey,” he greeted, and jerked his head toward the interior to motion me inside. “She’ll be out in a minute. I think she’s in a bad mood.”

“Take it as a compliment,” I said with a shrug. “I can’t think of many people who’d be pissed they didn’t get to spend time with me.”

“Fair point.” He grinned. I heard footsteps on the stair, and glanced up. And my jaw dropped.

Whoa! That was Kevin’s daughter! Since when?

She was fucking gorgeous.

My gaze swept up and across her body as I took in every inch of her as she bounced down the stairs. And bounce, her round, full breasts did. Magnificently. She wore a cream top that cut off a couple of inches above the waistline of her skin-tight shorts, revealing a band of skin the color of thick cream. Her long legs were bare, and her blonde hair was scraped back into a ponytail that accentuated her high cheekbones. Her mouth was plump and daringly red. Whatever happened to the flat-chested, shy girl who couldn’t look me in the eye?

I closed my mouth with a snap, and for all our sakes, did my best to cover my pervy reaction. I didn’t want Kevin thinking I had designs on his daughter, and I certainly didn’t want such an idea getting into her head either.

“You’re not going out wearing that?” Kevin frowned.

She rolled her eyes. “Why not? Is it cold outside?”

I tried not to smile.

“Does your mother allow you to go out dressed like that?” Kevin demanded. He looked like he was doing his damndest to keep his temper in check.

“Just chill, okay. It’s not like Uncle Quinn hasn’t seen me naked before.”

My eyes nearly fell out.

“Madison,” Kevin roared.

She shot a look at me. It was totally conspiratorial, as though she was inviting me into a secret game with her. “Do you mind if I come to your house dressed like this, Uncle Quinn?”

Whoa! This girl was pure trouble. I glanced at Kevin. He looked furious and frustrated. Ah, the joys of being a father.

“Well?’ she prompted.

I shrugged. “I’ve got no problem.”

She turned and met her father’s gaze rebelliously, as though daring him to force her to get changed.

Kevin’s jaw tightened, and I could tell he wanted to press the issue, but he didn’t have time to argue with her any further. A taxi had just pulled up outside and we could all see it through the window. He let out a sharp sigh and changed the subject. “You want help with your bags?”

“I’ll get them,” I offered quickly, keen to get out of this room so I could escape the tension between father and daughter. I had no idea how much of a dad Kevin could turn into all at once.

“Thanks for doing this,” Kevin reiterated as I made my way toward the small cluster of bags parked by the door.

“Not a problem,” I replied. I felt Madison’s eyes on me as I picked up a pink knapsack, hefted it over my shoulder and grabbed the matching suitcase.

“Right, I have to go.” Kevin glanced at his watch, and made his way toward Madison. “I’ll see you soon, hon. Have a good time, and keep in touch, won’t you?”

“Okay.” She hugged him back. “Hope you have a good trip, Dad.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said to her before looking at me. “Take care of her for me, Quinn.”

“Of course.” I nodded, and watched as he made his way out the door and down toward the taxi waiting outside.

The two of us were left alone in there for a moment, and I found my eyes creeping back toward hers. She was staring at me. There was something in her eyes. Some kind of blue fire. I looked into it and got trapped in that flame. I couldn’t look away. Time passed. It felt like an eternity. Her teeth sank into her bottom lip and like some lost soul my eyes latched on the sight. My breath caught in my chest. “Mine.” I heard the word like an angry growl in my head.

Jesus! The fuck are you doing, Quinn?

I dragged my eyes away. “My car’s outside,” I rasped.

She nodded, color rushing into her cheeks.

“We should,” I said. My voice sounded harsh and raw. So not cool. What the hell was going on with me? Tripping up over myself like some clueless teenager. I needed to get my shit together. The sooner the better.

“After you, Uncle Quinn,” she replied, and waved her hand for me to go out in front of her. The way she said Quinn made my gut clench.

“And you can drop the Uncle routine. It’s making me feel like I’m a hundred.” I scowled. I had the feeling I had lost control of the situation. My dick was thinking for me.

Her eyes rolled down my body. “Well, you sure don’t look like you’re a hundred, Quinn.”

Oh, fuck. I’m really losing it. I straightened, rolling my shoulders back, I pushed the door open and headed for the car. As I loaded the luggage into the trunk, I couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of her long, smooth legs as she climbed into the back seat. I had to fucking force myself to look away. I could tell already: this would be a long, long week, and I hadn’t even gotten her back to my house yet.