Page 151 of The Single Dads Club
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to get going, cupcake.”
I threw the covers off and leapt from the bed.Don’t cupcake me…
“Alexa…talk to me. What’s wrong?”
I spun around, facing him. “What’s wrong? You’re seriously asking me what’s wrong?” I was not having this conversation while naked. I jerked on my clothes, feeling close to violence that if he so much as tried to lay one finger on me, I’d annihilate him. If he didn’t know what was wrong, there was no use talking to him at all. “So just like that, you’re going to…go off and dothattoday?”
He hung his head, apparently at a loss for words.
“Don’t call me.” I stomped out of his room, grabbing my purse and keys on the way, and tore out of his house to my waiting car as quickly as I could. I said a silent prayer of thanks for the pickup on my X5, the law be damned. I’d like to see anyone try to pull me over. I’d castrate a police officer before I let anyone stand in the way of me crawling into my bed. Through tear-filled eyes, I dialed MacKenzie.
“’Ello?” she groaned sleepily.
“Kenzie, I need you. Now.” I sniffed, wiping my cheeks with the back of my hand. “And bring Jell-O shots.”
She hesitated, bed springs creaking in the background. “It’s seven in the morning.”
“I know. But it’s an emergency.” I wiped the tears freely streaming down my cheeks and sucked in a deep breath. “I slept with Cade last night. And things went to shit this morning.”
“Oh, crap. Okay, hang in there, I’m on my way.” I heard rustling in the background as MacKenzie sprang into action, just like I knew she would.
“Bring vodka, too.”
“On it.”
Chapter 18
Cade
I moved through my morning in a haze, still stunned over the turn of events. How did Alexa not understand that what had happened withuswas real, and that this was just my job? A job I planned on quitting as soon as humanly possible? She obviously didn’t trust me like I would need her to if we were going to make anything of us.
Alexa hadn’t even given me a chance to explain, she’d just jumped to conclusions and stormed out on me. I hadn’t bothered to stop her. The disgust and judgment written all over her face told me what I’d known deep down all along—I would never be good enough for her. And the truth stung like a motherfucker. Especially after the special night we’d shared.
She would never be able to comprehend that sometimes there were things in life that you didn’t want to do, but had to do to take care of your family. And Lily was my family. I’d do anything for her. Life wasn’t all fucking sunshine and rainbows. Real life was hard. I’d always done what needed to be done. Period. She said she understood my responsibilities regarding caring for Lily, but when it came down to it, she bailed. End of story.
I’d stayed up half the damn night, my brain spinning as I held Alexa. I knew I wasn’t going to go through with the shoot today, but I did need to see Rick and tell him face to face. But now? Now that Alexa had bailed … fuck. I released a heavy sigh and tore my hands through my hair. Fuck it. What did I have to lose? And not to mention I needed that fucking money. The bills from Lily’s latest surgery were about to go into collections. I had to protect Lily. I couldn’t let bill collectors come after us and take our home.
After getting Lily off to school, I took a lengthy shower, shaved my chest and groin, and then got dressed and made sure to stretch. I recalled from my previous shoot that three hours of sex will make you sore in the oddest places.
When I arrived at the set, the model I was going to be working with was already there, getting her hair and makeup done. She certainly didn’t fit the porn-star image. Her looks were the epitome of the sweet girl next door. She had wavy, shoulder-length brown hair, big brown eyes and was more cute than sexy. I felt weird and itchy already.Just breathe, dude.
I went up to introduce myself. “Hey, I’m Cade, er, I mean Sebastian.”
She smiled warmly. “Hi. I’m Jill, but you can call me Britney.”
“Got it. Nice to meet you.” I returned her smile. At least she seemed like she’d be easy to work with, which was nice. I didn’t need any more drama today. I had no idea how I was going to hold it all together as it was. She turned back to the makeup artist to finish up, and I went to find Rick.
Today’s shoot was relatively straightforward. We’d start in the opulent master bathroom, where I’d find Britney taking a bubble bath, and after spending a few minutes kissing and helping to wash her, I’d lift her from the tub and carry her into the bedroom where we’d finish out the scene.
“I have a request and you’re not going to like it,” I informed Rick.
He squinted at me. “What now?”
“I’m not going to fuck her. We can simulate the sex and if you capture us from the right angle, the viewer will never know.”
He shook his head. “No way. What we film is genuine. It’s erotic and sensual and never fake.”
I stood my ground, posture straightening. “Those are my conditions, or I walk right now.”
