Page 3 of Claimed by my Bestie's Dad

“Do you want to sit down?” I ask, motioning to the sofas. “You’re clearly here for a reason.”

Madison blinks a couple of times and takes a deep breath like she’s remembering that shedidshow up at my house for a reason. She slowly settles into the couch behind her, and I take an armchair a safe distance from where she’s sitting.

“I did. I came here to talk.”

“To talk? About what?”

Madison fidgets with the hem of her shirt, and her eyes dart around the room as if she’s looking for an escape route. I’m sure that whatever she wants to talk about or whoever she is…the subject is now increasingly awkward for her to bring up.

“I… Well, I think it’s pretty clear you don’t know who I am.”

I frown and study Madison’s perfectly rounded face and plush lips again. She doesn’t seem… Well, maybe she is a little familiar. But it’s the kind of familiar that could be anything from having seen her face in a magazine once to looking like someone I used to know.

“I’m Aurora’s friend.”

My heart stops for a moment at the mention of my daughter’s name. This woman in front of me is mydaughter’sage? All of a sudden, I knowexactlywho Madison is. She lives right next door. She grew up there with her parents. Aurora was always going over there for sleepovers.

But then, she moved out, and the older couple moved out. I noticed that someone bought it, but I haven’t paid enough attention to know who. Apparently, Madison just moved back, as an adult…and I have completely overstepped my bounds.

I work to keep my composure.

“I think I remember you now.” Some sort of apology is in order, but I can’t apologize for being attracted to Madison. I lick my lips. “I apologize for being confused about your identity. I really thought you were my… Well, it doesn’t matter now. But for the record, youarevery attractive.”

Madison blushes and looks at her hands, which are in her lap. She probably already knows I think that based on the feeling of my dick pressing against her ass, but I have to tell her anyway.

I shake my head. “So, you came here to talk to me about something. Is it something to do with Aurora?”

“It’s about a loan. I wanted to ask if you’d consider giving me one.”

A loan? The realization hits me like a bucket of cold water.

I straighten up, and my good mood evaporates. Because if she was here as my escort, then she’s welcome. If she’s here to tell me something that’s happening with my daughter, then I also welcome her with open arms. But to ask formoney? It’s probably just for Aurora’s benefit anyway since I told Aurora to stop asking me for money.

My tone changes. “You’re here to ask me for money?”

She nods, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Yes, I’m going to start a surfing school, but I don’t have the funds?—”

“Let me make one thing clear: I don’t appreciate being ambushed in my own home. Especially not for a handout.”

Madison’s eyes widen, and she scoots back on the couch, clearly taken aback by my sudden change in demeanor. “I wasn’t trying to ambush you. I just thought?—”

“You thought wrong. I don’t give out loans to people who can’t pay them back. And from what I hear, you’re not exactly swimming in cash, are you? Aurora said something about one of her friends being out of a job. Why would I give money to someone who doesn’t have a job?”

She flinches, her face paling. “I… It’s to start a business. I don’t have the funds to start it up. Aurora suggested asking you. I’ve come up with a business plan I could show you.”

I narrow my eyes at her, my patience wearing thin. “And why would I invest in something like that? What do I get out of it? I might as well throw a few thousand dollars in the next homeless person’s hand I see.”

Madison opens her mouth to respond, but then she hesitates, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. She’s thinking about it, considering how to spin this, but I’m already done with the conversation. I’m not in the mood to be manipulated or guilt tripped. I feel embarrassed for treating her like an escort. Even though that’s my fault, not hers, I don’t feel like having to continue this conversation.

“Let me save you the trouble. The answer is no. I’m not interested in your sob story or your business plan. All my money was self-earned. I have to go in and face difficultsituations as a doctor, and that’s not easy. You want money? Go earn it like the rest of us.”

Her expression hardens at that, and I can see the flash of anger in her eyes. Good. Let her be mad. Maybe it’ll teach her not to go begging for handouts next time.

“Fine. I get it. I won’t bother you again.”

She pushes herself up from the couch and heads for the door, her posture stiff with tension. I feel bad for treating her that way, but my embarrassment trumps my guilt.

I’ve got better things to do than deal with Aurora’s broke friend.

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