Page 7 of Who's Your Daddy?

Can he just stop talking?My heart pounds rapidly, anxiety throwing every cell in my body into overdrive. Teddy is getting closer, and with each step, my window of opportunity gets smaller. Even though my eyes are bouncing frantically between these two men, I fake a smile. “We’re gonna add my rudeness onto the slate so that it’s no longer an issue when we wipe it clean, okay?”

“Uh...Okay.” Uncertainty is etched on his face, and his movements are awkward when he steps closer. “This is so weird, especially because you just called me a pervert. I don’t think?”

“Don’t think! Just kiss me so we can both go on our merry way.”

His annoyance is heightened by my snappy tone. “Listen, lady, I’ve had about?”

Shit! He’s bailing.“I’m sorry for my abrasive tone,” I blurt. “Can we please proceed with the...customary kiss...of resolution?”

“I don’t even understand how this custom works. What am I supposed to do? Just give you a quick peck on the cheek?”

“No, it’s...” I swallow hard, trying to squelch my nervousness. “It’s customary for it to be on the lips.”

His eyebrows furrow together. “What country are you from?”

I’m not sure if it’s the question or the approaching footsteps that make me lose my cool, but I throw my arms around his neck, putting on more of a show when I slide one hand into his silky black hair. I try not to get distracted by how good he smells and focus on what I need to do. But it’s an impossible task because his cologne is an alluring blend of leather and spice, intertwining with a subtle undertone of smoky vanilla.

He leans closer, dipping his head toward mine, and I take that as a green light. I go the rest of the way and smash my lips against his.

He’s stunned for a few seconds. I can tell by the way his breath stops. My breath stops too because I wasn’t expecting his mouth to feel quite like that. I’ve always considered myself a tall girl, but I have to lift onto my toes to keep my lips pressed against his.

Doing this backfires on me almost instantly because he takes that ashisgreen light. His hands slip around my waist, pulling me closer until I’m flush against him. Something about the way his arms coil tighter around me extracts an involuntary moan out of me. I’m convinced that there must be a switch on my lower back that’s intrinsically linked to my mouth. I was unaware of its existence until now. It makes its presence known when his fingers lightly caress that spot, and my lips automatically part in response.

It’s another invitation that he does not decline, and I feel his tongue lightly skim the seam of my lips. I should be repulsed. I’m not. I should push him away. I don’t. Instead, I angle my head so he can deepen the kiss. What is wrong with me? It’s like I’ve lost autonomy over my body. I don’t get much time to question my insanity because I’m ripped away from him a second later.

Teddy is snarling, staring at me with murder in his eyes. “What the fuck are you doing?” he hisses through gritted teeth.

Excellent question, Ted.I should be asking myself the same thing. As soon as I get my hormones to stop raging, I’m sure I’ll be utterly disappointed in my behavior. Man, am I going to give myself a good talking to later.

Peter remains silent, looking warily between the two of us as he tries to assess the situation. He’s not the only witness to this spectacle. Teddy’s reaction has drawn the attention of curious eyes. Patrons have stopped to watch the drama while a few people in the restaurant have put their utensils down to see how all this unfolds. I wanted his friends to see this confrontation, but an audience is an audience, I guess. And if they want a show, I’m going to deliver.

“What’s the matter, Daddy?” I force myself to hold back a smile when he cringes at the name. “You seem a little upset.”

He cautiously looks around, very aware that people may be close enough to eavesdrop. He lowers his voice to barely a whisper. “I thought I told you to leave.”

“And why would I listen to you?”

“I gave you everything. Anything your heart desired, I provided with no hesitation. And this is how you repay me?” His nostrils flare and his voice rises. He no longer seems to care about the people around us and launches into a full-scale attack. “You’re traipsing around here dressed like that, behaving like a slut, and throwing yourself at the first man you see. This is mybusiness, and I pride myself on its good reputation. My customers don’t come here to watch porn shows. Now leave before I have you forcibly removed from the premises.” He sneers, then spins on his heel and stalks off.

Well, that didn’t go according to plan. Not that I had much of a plan, but I at least expected some overpowering jealousy. I wanted him to say that I was his and no one else could have me. And that was supposed to be followed by a healthy amount of groveling. To say that his reaction was underwhelming is an understatement.

And not only was I whacked with another slap of rejection, he called me a slut in front of everyone. I see the judgment in their eyes as they go back to their meals. Embarrassment and sheer self-loathing collect in the pit of my stomach, and I just want to curl up into a ball and cry myself to sleep.

“I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that the tradition of using a kiss to wipe the slate clean is a bullshit lie, and not the customary tradition of some faraway land.”

I groan inwardly when I hear his voice. I forgot that the player of fields was still standing beside me.

And he heard the entire embarrassing exchange.

I scour the depths of myself, rounding up the last fragments of my pride before I face him again. “No, I’m from...right here...born and bred in California. What gave it away?”

“The accent. The attitude. Pretty much everything. It’s a pity, though. I was hoping there was an exotic island somewhere full of women as hot as you.”

I just met this guy, and yet I’m not at all surprised by that comment. I don’t bother to dignify that with a response, and he continues as if he doesn’t see the chagrin on my face.

“So, I take it you justusedme in that very public act of rebellion against your father?”

My father? How could he possibly think Teddy is my? Oh! Well, I suppose I’d rather have some stranger thinking Teddy is my father. He doesn’t need to know that I was screwing a married man more than twice my age. It’s none of his business, and I’m sure he’d make this situation even more awkward if he knew that tidbit of information.

---