Page 10 of Boss Daddy
Noah
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman, especially one as inexperienced as Tilly, so it’s an effort for me to stop at just kissing her when I’m craving so much more. But there’s no need to rush. I’ve waited all my life to find someone who touched my soul the way Tilly does. I don’t want to rush the best parts.
That’s not to say that I didn’t love my wife, my boy's mom, because I did. It was just a different kind of love. One born out of youthful exuberance and troubled circumstances, a need to break free. Unfortunately, Katerina was more troubled than anyone truly knew. I went into the army, and she tried to fit into the military lifestyle, tried to be a good mother, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. In the end, her demons won. And now, well, I have a second chance at getting this happiness thing right.
Tilly is somehow innocent and untouched. After seeing where she’s come from and piecing together her life experience from our conversations, I think it’s a miracle she’s existed twenty-one years in that world unscathed. She’s sweet, and she’s caring, and I can only imagine the strength of character it must take to keep that optimism in the face of such hopelessness. She is truly a unique individual.
Lord knows what she sees in an old fart like me. But one thing I do know is I’m going to make sure she never wants for anything again. I may not be an overly wealthy man. But I've amassed enough of a nest egg that I can more than provide for us both. And the income from the bar will do the rest. I can give her the kind of life an angel like her deserves. She can go to college.
And I won't make her wait a moment longer for the peace of mind I can give her. She's mine now.
Grabbing a sheet of paper off a notepad, I scribble a message for her to find when she's finished in the shower. The temptation to join her in there is almost strong enough to keep me here. But this mission is about keeping her here for good.
Once I'm outside, I realize I'm head over heels when the sky is abundantly blue, and the birds seem to be singing their song just for me. I laugh at myself; I sound like a lovesick poet, not the tough guy I've always presented myself as. Some cute girl comes into my life, and somehow, I've turned into a freakin’ puppy dog. Weirder still, I actually like feeling this way.
Heading to my truck, I get inside and drive myself over to the other side of town. There's a conversation I need to have, and some personal belongings I need to pick up. Tilly won't feel the burden of responsibility anymore. It's time someone started taking care of her. After all, isn't that what daddies do?
