Page 2 of Daddy Issues

“Wait until I tell you about all the drama at school today. Ashley keeps trying to talk to me but I’m not even giving her my attention. She’s not a good friend. Friends don’t treat you how Ashley treated me. She makes everything about her. It’s the fifth grade, it’s not the Ashley Show. She thinks she’s the main character and it’s not cool. And at lunch, she got so mad because Maya wanted to sit with me and Elspeth and not her. Oh! I made it to the last round in the spelling bee today!”

“Heck yes! Proud of you!”

Did I mention that my daughter is always going a mile a minute? She wants me to know all the ins and outs of the fifth grade, and I soak it up every time. I’ve got major beef with Ashley’s parents and the little narcissist they’re raising. Mila keeps filling me in as we walk through the house together.

“Jesus, what is that mouthwatering smell?” I ask as we get closer to the kitchen.

“Hailey is making dinner! We’re having lasagna and fresh bread from Bean Haven.”

“That sounds delicious. Is your homework done?”

“Yep! Hailey helped me with it. She’s so good at math, Dad. She taught me a trick and it’s like the fractions just clicked. I’m so ready for my test!”

My smile beams as I look at my kid. She’s so damn smart and I know she didn’t get it from me. Mila and I walk through the house, chasing the smell of Italian food and the tunes coming from our kitchen speaker—a band I actually recognize. Mila bolts up the stairs, probably toward her bedroom, as I round the corner into our open kitchen and dining room area.

The sight in front of me stops me in my tracks. Hailey is bent over, pulling a casserole dish out of the oven, and my eyes automatically flick to her ass. She’s wearing a pair of black leggings that leave little to the imagination, hugging her body so close they had to have been painted on. My dick perks up behind my jeans as my eyes travel over her tight body. When I catch myself, I immediately feel guilty for being turned on by that ass of hers. Her dad is my best friend for fuck’s sake.

When Hailey stands, the bare skin of her midriff is on display due to the crop top she has on. Just a flash of silky smooth skin to taunt me. If that wasn’t bad enough, the moment she drops the lasagna onto the waiting trivets, she starts to sway her hips back and forth to the beat of “No Diggity” by Blackstreet.

Jesus Christ.

Her blonde hair rests above her shoulders in a bob, whipping around her face as she turns toward me. Her eyes light up, her lips curving into a smile as if she’s genuinely happy to see me. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel good to come home to someone delighted to see you.

“Hey, Graham! Welcome home. How was work?” her sweet, cheery voice reminds me of exactly how young and completely off-limits she is.

Goddamn, I’m going to hell. Was I seriously just watching Hailey Haven like she isn’t completely off-limits? I take a step forward into the kitchen space, the feeling of my phone a reminder that I could swipe and have a hookup this weekend. Maybe releasing some pent-up frustration would ensure I don’t eye fuck my nanny again.

“Hey, Hails. It was good, got a lot done, how was your day?”

She moves around my kitchen comfortably, like she belongs here, pulling out three plates and silverware.

“It was great, I enjoyed the little sunshine we had today and ran errands downtown. It was amazing to feel the warmth on my skin. Then just normal day-to-day things. Mila wants to watch a movie tonight but there’s no pressure for me to stay, I can go to my bedroom and let you two have some time together.”

“No!” I say a little too quickly. Clearing my throat to pull my head out of my ass, my voice comes out a little calmer. “No, Hails, that’s not necessary. You should join us. It’ll be fun.”

Fuck. What the hell is wrong with me? Hailey is beautiful, there’s no question about it. She wears a confidence that is so goddamn sexy, always saying exactly what’s on her mind, and is completely at ease in her own skin. It’s hot as hell. Which is exactly where I’m headed for checking out my friend’s twenty-two year old daughter.

I make it through Hailey’s delicious dinner, my dick throbbing painfully behind my jeans the entire time. It’s like a light switch flicked on and I’m suddenly hyperaware of every movement Hailey makes. The way her delicate fingers push her hair behind her ears when it falls into her pretty face. The way her plush pink lips slowly curve and close over the tines of the fork, sliding off her bite of food. Fuck. My attention is torn between listening to Mila update us on the latest episode ofReal Fifth Graders of Aspen Ridgeandeverythingabout Hailey.

I force Hailey out of the kitchen so I can clean up from dinner—needing a reprieve from her more than anything. I do my best to adjust my aching cock behind my jeans and dive into scrubbing the kitchen, trying to think of anything other than the way too young, extremely off-limits, gorgeous, firecracker of a woman currently lounging on my couch with Mila as they scroll Netflix.

After I’ve over-cleaned my kitchen and procrastinated the inevitable long enough, I join the girls on the couch, Mila taking up one side and Hailey the other—putting me squashed center. Hailey has her legs pulled up to the side, her bare, red-painted toes nearly resting on my thigh.

My focus remains on the woman next to me instead of the movie. I couldn’t even tell you what movie was put on, my body is completely in tune with her every breath, every shift in her seat, the way she bites her plump bottom lip. Fuck. I’m such a piece of shit for lusting after her. I’m way too old for her and she’s way too innocent and inexperienced. That shouldn’t be so hot to me.

As soon as the end credits roll, I say good night to Mila and Hailey and nearly jog off to my bathroom to wash away the guilt and lust eating me alive. Reaching my hand into the shower, I flick on the water as hot as it will go, the bathroom filling with steam as I rid myself of my clothes.

Stepping under the spray, I welcome the burn, hoping like hell it’ll wash away the thoughts of Hailey currently filling my head. My dick lays painfully heavy, rock hard and throbbing like a sonofabitch. Maybe if I can rub one out and get my head straight, I’ll be able to face Hailey in the morning and not picture her naked.

Grabbing my aching cock with my palm, I give it a tight squeeze from root to tip, the sensation nearly making my knees buckle at the contact. Fuck, what has gotten into me? I’m a forty-two-year-old man and my dick is acting like it’s never been turned on or come before.

My hand slaps the tile wall, bracing myself as I begin to stroke my hard length in a brutal grip. I let my mind wander to a random woman, on her knees with her mouth working me over instead of my hand. Her warm mouth so slick as I press in, tongue swirling around the thick head of my cock as she moans around it. My hands delve into the silky blonde strands of her hair, pushing them out of the way so I can watch my cock disappear past her lips.

Beautiful amber eyes that I would recognize from anywhere look up at me. Eyes that I’ve seen so many times before, the pair I was just looking at downstairs as we had dinner together.

Hailey.

I groan as I tighten my fist, trying to picture someone else, anyone else, but my mind keeps conjuring up her beautiful young body, her gorgeous whiskey eyes, the pink plush of her lips.

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