Page 8 of Falling for My Dad's Best Friend

CHAPTER FIVE

Mandy

I set my bags down in a room upstairs, the twin bed a wrought-iron frame with a cozy, rustic quilt thrown on top. How many times had I stayed in this room? There was my rag doll in the corner, plus some pictures of me fishing and swimming in the hole by the creek. And whaddya know, but there was a more picture of me with Mr. Parker on the desk, grinning as we posed together on a jet ski, me with a gap-toothed smile, clutching the big man tight around the middle.

Because he was gorgeous then, and he was gorgeous now. Rob hasn’t aged in the decade since the pic was taken except a couple more creases around his eyes, some flecks of silver at the temples. And little did I know that the jet ski pic would be one of the last times I’d be so close to him, pressed up against that big male body without a care in the world, smiling sunnily for the camera.

So I sighed again. Shit, what was wrong with me? These thoughts were so illicit, I was eighteen to his forty-five, what the hell would he see in me? Nothing, that’s what. But at the same time, there was something in the air. I could sense it in the shivers in my spine, the way that hard male body tensed around me, radiating sensuality. It was hard to describe, the feeling was so primal, calling to my five senses. And god, his scent. I know his scent and something was different this time, making my senses go into overdrive, pussy tingling with excitement.

But I couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. Was it Mr. Parker’s cologne? No cologne smelled like that, cologne was woody or musky, artificial-smelling, and this wasn’t it at all. Was it his shower gel? His shaving cream? The interior of his car even? I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there’d been an aroma clinging to the big man, musky and a hundred percent male, salty, tangy and powerful. My nose had wrinkled like a rabbit, and even now in the close confines of the cabin, I could still smell him from upstairs. So I shook my head. Like I mentioned, I’m going crazytown and it’s an awkward ride to say the least. There was no way I could keep going like this, it’d drive me over the edge and straight into the loony bin.

So scolding myself once more, I headed down the stairs. Get yourself together, I admonished myself. There’s nothing strange smelling, nothing weird, it’s you who’s acting weird. Stop it. Just eat something and act normal, there’s nothing weird, it’s your imagination. And with that, I threw the sliding glass door open and stepped outside with a sunny smile, tossing brown curls over my shoulder.

“Thanks for starting up the grill,” I murmured, rubbing my tummy. “Oh my god, that smells good.” The patties did look really tasty, juicy and crackling, and my stomach growled on its own. I eat a lot, and hopefully I wouldn’t astonish the big man with the amount I consumed, it takes a lot of calories to keep these boobs flush and healthy, my ass big and round. I peered over Rob’s shoulder and glimpsed a couple burger slathered with bubbling cheese and almost moaned with arousal.

“Cheddar, just the way you like it,” chuckled the alpha male, his deft hands turning the patties with a spatula one by one, each one juicy, sizzling and oh so good. “I remembered, little girl, I remembered.”

My cheeks flamed. We’d once been so close, the big man knowing my every secret, my childhood desires, my playful demands and whimsical fantasies. I grew hot all over. Oh god, if only he knew me now. How I fantasized of that huge, bronzed body all over mine, showing me the secrets of men and women, his hands on my most private places, making me tremble, shiver and squeal, that fat cock buried deep. What would Mr. Parker think? He’d probably be disgusted, even if he managed to be nice to me, like this wasn’t some embarrassing incident. Because Mr. Parker wasn’t that type of guy. An asshole sure, but he’d never be an asshole to me, he’d let me down soft, making sure I felt okay and comfortable.

So I knew how the land lay. Anything between us was off-limits and taboo, I was his best friend’s daughter for crying out loud, the alpha male would never go there. Plus, I just didn’t have anything to tempt him with, I was an eighteen year-old clumsy naïf, nothing like the sleek, sophisticated women he usually dated. So pretending like I didn’t care, I started setting the table, folding the napkins just so, placing the paper plates like they were the finest china. And once the burgers were ready, we bit in with gusto, hot juice squirting into my throat on the first mouthful.

“Holy cow this is good,” I murmured appreciatively, savoring my first bite. “You’re amazing with the grill.”

Mr. Parker grinned at me, smile broad.

“It’s my secret ingredient,” he rumbled. “You know, a little somethin’ somethin’ to make these extra juicy.”

And I took another bite, savoring the cheddar mixed with juicy burger patty, plus an unidentifiable tang.

“Let me guess, it’s ranch sauce,” I said playfully, giving him a wink. “You put in Hidden Valley, their super-tangy mix.”

Mr. Parker’s grin just grew wider.

“Yep, it’s a ranch sauce of sorts,” he acknowledged, “but no, there’s no powder mix, I brew my own,” he added, eyes wicked. “But enough about me. How have you been?” the big man asked, biting into his own burger. Each bite of his was as big as three of mine, combined. “I haven’t seen you in a year or so, honey.”

I paused for a moment.

“Fifteen months in fact,” I said archly, giving him the eye. But I self-corrected, the little girl act wouldn’t do, I was grown up and mature now. So I cleared my throat, looking him in the eye. “It’s been fifteen months since my graduation party,” I started again. “Have you been avoiding us, Mr. Parker? What have you been up to?” I teased lightly. “Surely taking care of patients hasn’t completely ruined your life.”

And god almighty, but the big man grew slightly red, dark slashes streaking across his cheekbones. But his voice was smooth as he took another bite of burger.

“Naw, not avoiding,” he rumbled. “But yeah, the practice is busy, every day is like a code red emergency,” he continued. “I barely got away even for this weekend.”

And I shot a look at him.

“You were thinking of not coming?” I asked. Oh my god, I would have been devastated if he hadn’t shown up, I’d been looking forward to seeing him for so long. But Rob merely confirmed my fears.

“Yeah, it’s not easy being a doctor, people don’t exactly get sick at the most convenient times,” he said wryly. “People are sick 24/7, all holidays, all weekends, through Christmas, New Years and Valentine’s,” he added. “Doesn’t exactly make me the most popular boyfriend.”

My ears perked up then.

“Boyfriend?” I asked. “Have you been seeing someone?” I chirped, like it didn’t matter although my heart dropped like a stone. Oh god, oh god, my soul felt leaden, body stiff and even shaking a bit with dread. Bracing myself, I prepared to hear the words that would pierce my heart.

But Rob merely shook his head.

“Naw, not anymore,” rumbled Rob smoothly. “The woman I was seeing wasn’t all that, Brenda and I stopped dating nine months ago, she wasn’t the one, not by a long shot. But enough about that,” he cut me off with a warning look, seeing that I wanted to ask more, mouth already open. “What’s new with you? How was freshman year?”

And I started to reply, going so far as to say, “It’s good ….” Except at that very moment, a gigantic pain stabbed me in the back of the thigh beneath the picnic table.

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