Page 15 of Daddy's for December

I know he wouldn’t. Jake is bisexual, but not ready to come out. He’s always been the big man of the town, a fiercely sought bachelor, and plays that up for marketing. If I can do anything to support Jake, I will. I know he won’t make me feel weird about marrying Sherry’s daughter. Notreally. Though, I’m sure I will have to put up with more of his jokes.

His fingers squeeze my muscles before he faces the jeweler’s. “I’m so fucking proud of you. I love Winter already. With as much as you’ve talked about her all these years, I feel like I know her. Congratulations. Come on, old man. I’ll help you get the perfect ring for your daughter bride.”

Shaking my head, I enter the open door he holds, but playfully punch his gut as I pass.

An unfortunate email alerts me that my Japanese client requires me sooner than I had expected to leave. They want to start right after the holiday and included Cindy’s group on the email as real estate developer on the project. With a heavy sigh, I try to figure out how to get around this. I don’t want to leave my girl, but have never backed out of a job.

After lunch and a workout in my home gym, I pick up Winter and head home, telling her to dress for a fancy dinner. When she emerges from her old room, she’s wearing an incredibly short, fluffy skirt with a deep V-neck halter top. Little ballet shoes cover her feet and travel up her calves with silk ribbons. She’s like sin in pure white.

“Y-you’ll catch a cold wearing that.”

“I have my coat, Daddy.” She presses her pink lips against the side of mine as I stand stunned at her beauty. Her hips sway dangerously when she walks toward the staircase. Tossing her long ponytail over one shoulder, she smiles at me coyly. “You coming?”

The yearning to bend her over the railing and spank her is overwhelming, but I stroke my stubble with a sweaty palm and nod.

At the restaurant, she continues to dazzle me with her blue eyes. When I order for us, she purses her lips and asks the waiter, “I’ll have a wine, too, please.”

Both the waiter and I pause for a moment before he gives me a look. “Sir, is sheallowed?”

My heart skips a beat as I realize how very young she is. The server and her look at me as if asking mypermissionto allow my daughter to drink alcohol. Part of me is embarrassed at this situation, of how we must look together. Me, her much older father, and her, a freshly eighteen-year-old girl.

The other half gets raging hard that I can control this situation like her daddy.

“Bring the best champagne you have. Andtwoglasses.”

Winter bobs in her seat excitedly, and I slyly adjust myself under the tablecloth. “One drink, that's it,” I tell her while wagging a finger in the air. It’s time for us to become one, and I don’t want her tipsy during it.

“So, why all this tonight? I figured we would stay home and bake cookies or something.”

Brushing my hand back through my hair, I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the ring in my pocket. I was so sure of her answer until this moment. Now, it feels like I had more confidence than sense.

“Um, I wanted?—”

“Hello, Ben.” Winter and I glance up from the table where Cindy leans against Jud Beckham, one of the local bar owners. “So sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you both. I just didn’t want to be rude and leave without saying goodbye. I’m assuming I won’t see you before you head off to Japan the day after Christmas, Ben?” It's clear she's asking genuinely, but isn't aware of the ramifications of her question.

Winter’s eyes grow large and bore holes into my face with some intense emotion. “Uh… Well, I suppose not.”

“You’re leaving intwo days?” Winter’s voice is frail and tiny, but I snag her hand on the table to soothe her. She pulls it back.

Cindy smiles shyly and takes a step away. She mouths the wordsorryto me, her cheeks flaming red. Her date places his hand on her shoulder and leads her away.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that.”

Winter sits back in her chair and crosses her arms. “That you’re going away before the new year? I thought we’d have New Year’s Eve together.”

“So, I thought that maybe you’d like to come with me?”

“Like for a month? Wouldn’t I be alone most of the time?”

Swallowing, I envision the life I have now and understand how much of it needs to change. If I want Winter as my wife… I can’t do it the way I did before. Not like I did to her mother. My hand pushes the ring box deeper into my pocket. “Yeah, but there’s lots of sight-seeing and shopping you could do.”

The waiter sets our food down and pops the champagne. She stares at it, all enthusiasm for the meal gone. “And we could have dinners out there? Like after work hours?”

My fingers twirl the stem of the glass. “Sometimes. Usually I need to socialize with the business associates until late, but maybe a few nights I could take you out and?—”

“I think I’ll stay here with Jan.”

Things grow silent at the table, and I know that I’ve ruined our date. She picks at her steak, and me at mine, but neither of us looks at the other.

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