Page 33 of Please, Sir

Miss Riley Rivers seems like she may be up for the challenge.

I wonder if she thinks about that day behind the barn, with the splinter, as often as I do.

In the shining light of Saturday, with Riley in a killer sundress, laughter on her lips and a smile in her eyes, I can’t stop seeing her bent over my leg, my flogger marking her bare ass. My booth is empty, and I take this moment to approach her and talk about last night.

Not theseeing my cock and running her face into my naked chestpart. More like, picking up my sulky teenager and bringing her home when Jo Jo never even called me. I owe her a thank you for that—and I’d like to see how Jo Jo is doing at cheer.

Those are the reasons my boots are eating up gravel in the direction of Riley Rivers. Those are the main reasons, at least. Truth be told, I just want to talk to her.

I know I don’t need to be wanting to talk to Jo Jo’s twenty-something cheerleading coach. Jesus I almost feel perverted for it. And Jo Jo respects and adores Miss Riley. It’s clear. Hell, she tells this cheerleading coach more than she tells me. And she called Riley last night to get her after something clearly happened. She didn’t call me. She didn’t text me. I wasn’t even a consideration. That means Jo Jo trusts Riley.

I should not fuck with Riley. I should not throw their relationship into jeopardy, because if I like Miss Riley, Jo Jo surely will not. That’s how her mind works. Dad and dad’s likes are bad; everything not related to dad, good.

I know it’s a phase, but until this phase is over, I ought to keep away from Miss Riley, and let Jo Jo have her as her safe, trusted adult.

I just want to chat with her a little about last night, that’s all.

Her blue eyes tug to mine the moment I approach, as if she may have spotted me coming over and got a little nervous. I think that’s cute, too. I tip my hat.

“Miss Rivers,” I greet her.

“Hi there, Mr. Turner,” she says, her cheeks flushing. She immediately brings her hand to her face, fanning herself. “Hot day, huh?”

Now I know it’s been years since I’ve been inside a woman, held a woman’s hand, dated, all that noise. But the flush of arousal isn’t something a man forgets. I widen my stance to give my dick room to calm down, because seeing her react to me is arousing.

“Yep,” I agree. “I just thought I’d come over and talk to you, seeing as how you and Jo Jo seem to have a bond.”

Her face relaxes at the mention of Jo Jo, and that does something to my chest.

“I like Jo Jo so much. She’s such a sweet girl,” she says, her eyes searching mine as the honest words tumble from her lips. I can tell she means them because Riley Rivers wears her exact emotions all over her face. A memory of her dropped jaw from last night flashes through my mind.

“How’s she doing, you know, with cheerleading? Moving up to JV was a big jump. She doing okay?” I ask her, and the way her face doesn’t rumple with confusion leads me to wonder if Riley knows how Jo Jo feels about me. Me not being in the loop doesn't seem to surprise her.

“Huge,” she says, sputtering on the word. “I mean, yeah, no, it’s a big jump. A huge jump is what I meant, that’s why I said huge,” she assures me, her cheeks and the tip of her nose ruby red as she smooths her palms down her dress. “Anyway, um, well–”

I save her, jumping in to pick up the end of that sentence. “I didn’t quite get much out of Jo Jo last night. She wassupposed to be sleeping over at Alexa’s and… I didn’t expect her home. What happened?” I ask, a sliver of embarrassment worming through me at the fact I’m asking her about my daughter. “She doesn’t talk to me much,” I add, reaching up to grab at the back of my neck, attempting to knead away my own discomfort.

“High school is tough,” she says after a moment's pause, choosing her words carefully, so as not to bend Jo Jo’s trust, clearly. “But Jo Jo is tough, too. She’ll be okay. Last night was just… high school girl stuff.”

High school girl stuff seems like an answer that also means,you’re not gonna find out so quit asking.

“Nothing too serious I hope,” I prod.

She shakes her head, wisps of blonde hair falling over her eyes as a breeze rolls in from the pasture. She pushes her hair back, chewing the inside of her mouth a little before erupting into apologies. “I’m sorry about last night. When Jo Jo called, I was–I had a full— I mean, I just needed to run in and use the restroom before I drove back to my place and Jo Jo said down the hall and it was dark and,” she shakes her head, her eyes snapping shut for a moment as she forces a little exhale. “When I opened the first wrong door, I should have left. I’m sorry. And I’m also sorry for, you know, looking at… you,sir.” She huffs out a breath like she’s glad she’s done with that speech, and though I know I ought to leave it alone, I cannot help myself. I really can’t.

“Jo Jo’s right, you know. You don’t have to call me ‘sir.’”

Her tongue darts out, sweeping along the swell of her bottom lip, her eyes gravitating to my mouth for a split second. “I don’t even mean to. It just… comes out.”

Our eyes lock, and my groin throbs.

She’s Jo Jo’s confidant, and Jo Jo needs that.

I do not need to go and get interested in this gorgeous young thing.

But here we are, me continuing the conversation even though I’ve already asked the allotted amount of questions I should be asking.

“What about you? How’s the school year for the newest health teacher? And the newest contributor to the Bluebell Leader.” My mind is still circling onI don’t even mean to. It just… comes out.Riley smiles, and I find myself wondering if she’d like the contents of my secret garage cabinet.

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