Page 16 of Take A Chance

Her face lit up again. “Really?”

“Yes. I’m the nanny now, and I make the new rules.” I splashed her again and said, “Now, get in the water and I’ll give you your first lesson.” I stood in the shallow end so I knew she would be able to touch the bottom, but I moved closer as she slowly turned and lowered herself into the cool water. In no time, she was splashing and laughing. I taught her to self-rescue by pushing off from the bottom and taking breaths as she broke the surface, then moved on to helping her float.

As she lay across my arms, staring up at the sky, limp like a noodle, she asked, “What other rules can you change?”

“Well, for one, I want you to start calling your father ‘Daddy’ or ‘Dad’, okay?” She looked at me, blinking at the sun overhead behind me.

“But Mrs. Pilcher said ‘Father’ is more respectful.” Her matter-of-fact tone indicated the older woman had clearly brainwashed her.

“Yes, it is. But when you’re alone with him, ‘Daddy’ is more affectionate. It means you love him very much. Do you love him?”

Her grin said it all. “Yes, I do.”

“Well then, Daddy it is.”

“What’s this? I expected you to be off to gymnastics.” Blake walked up to the edge of the pool wearing his work suit and holding a set of keys.

“Daddy!” Katelyn squealed. She looked so happy calling him that, and he looked at me in shock, eyebrows drawn in confusion. She squirmed out of my hands and walked over to the ladder and climbed out. “Daddy, Emma says I don’t have to do chess anymore. She’s going to teach me swimming!” She clapped and jumped up and down. “Daddy, come swim.”

“Oh, he probably doesn’t want to mess up his fancy hairdo,” I teased as his eyebrows narrowed on me.

“No chess? Is that so?” His furrowed brow didn’t faze me one bit.

I shrugged and held my arms out to Katelyn, who turned and ran toward the pool shrieking. She leapt from the edge, splashing me, and I stepped back. “Look, Daddy! I can swim.”

She was no more swimming than I was, but she was able to tread water at least. We’d been in the pool an hour or so. I looked up at Blake, who was smiling, and felt my heart warm. “Daddy, come swim!” she cheered again. The look on his face was apprehensive. I'd read it on my father’s face a hundred times.

“Hey, Katie, let’s practice floating a bit more and show Daddy too.” I didn’t bother looking at his face again. I knew the nickname would irritate him, and I wanted to show him how a child should be treated. Maybe he knew and didn’t care—like a drill sergeant or something. Or maybe he didn’t know at all. If it was the latter, I’d show him.

“Sure!” She turned and let me hoist her into my arms again, and when she was relaxed and floating, I glanced up to where Blake had been standing, but he was gone. I noticed his backside disappearing into the house. I sighed, frustrated with him. Maybe he was just the absent father I thought he was, and maybe he was unhappy with my coming in and changing things.

If he thought I would treat his child like a robot learning new programming, he was wrong. He might be fire in the sack, but I wasn’t here for that. I told him we had to keep it professional, and if he needed more proof, this was it. I would not quit on Katelyn because I wanted sex with him, and I wouldn’t comply with his rules to keep him happy so he’d like me. He’d have to fire me if he didn’t like what I was doing.

When Katelyn called to him and he was gone, she was sad for a moment before I reminded her that he’d be joining us for dinner, at least, which made her very happy. We worked on doggy paddling and floating a bit longer, and when I was starting to get tired and hungry for lunch, the back door opened. Blake strolled out of the house with a few towels draped over his shoulders. Katelyn’s back was to him, and he took off like a light, dropping the towels as he ran.

I watched his bronzed body move like a cheetah’s, darting over the grass and the pool deck. He launched into the air with a powerful leap and curled into a ball while shouting, “Cannon ball!”

Katelyn was ecstatic, shouting and cheering, but all I could think about were those muscles and the way he commanded my attention. I backed away and let them splash and play for a while. Katelyn showed him everything I’d taught her today. She was a fast learner, and he looked impressed. It was a happy moment for them even though I still wondered if he was upset with me. I was certain I would hear about it later.

10

Blake

Isat at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, staring out over the back yard. The floodlights lit up the pool area, though light rain peppered the concrete with dark droplets. Yesterday, swimming with Katelyn and Emma was sensational. I hadn’t had so much fun in decades. I’d almost forgotten what being a kid felt like. Emma had a way of doing that, making me feel young again, and it wasn’t just the great sex or her lack of experience. She had a youthful spirit about her that had helped me connect to Katelyn in a new way.

The nightcap wasn’t as satisfying tonight, but I sipped it anyway. I wished I had more time this weekend with Katelyn, even after spending the whole day reading and doing puzzles with her. Emma had been away with her friend Allegra, out shopping or some other activity. I hadn’t pried into her personal life much because what mattered most to me today was Katelyn, but I had missed her presence in the house.

A light far across the yard, near the fence line at the back of the property, flickered. I zeroed in on it, wondering what the light could be. It looked like a flashlight or a phone screen lit up, but from this distance, it was hard to make out. Concerned, I sent Wilem a text message asking him to check it out and put my phone back on the table. Every now and then, we had a prowler, but the security guys always chased them off. I wasn’t so worried about it.

When I heard the door of the kitchen swing open, I turned to see Emma standing there in only a T-shirt, long enough to cover her torso, but short enough to make my cock perk up at the sight.

“Oh, I thought everyone was sleeping. I’m sorry.” She tugged the hem of the shirt and flushed pink.

“No, I am usually up a bit later.”

“I was just going to make a cup of tea. Want anything?”

Her generosity was appreciated, but I had my glass of scotch, which I held up and she nodded at. I watched her turn toward the stove and put the kettle on, then take out a tea bag and a mug. I wished the T-shirt was a bit shorter and revealed more of her backside, but I wasn’t complaining at the current view.

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