He's My Daddy Now

Chapter 4

*Jim*

This girl is going to be the death of me. I got her number. Well, she put it in my phone for me like some old man and then texted herself so she’d have mine. It wouldn’t have stung so much if she hadn’t called me Daddy. That wouldn’t have stung so much if I hadn’t liked it so damn much.

I sigh as I park outside the house. Emmy. I didn’t even get her last name, but I can tell you every perfect line in her cunt, so pink and ripe and just begging for me. The girl has some experience, but clearly not anything good. She was so shocked when I made her breakfast, as if I would toss her in the car and dump her back at the bar. What kind of guys is she wasting her time with?

I lift my phone, about to text her, but she said she lives an hour from the bar, and I don’t want to distract her. I go inside and head to clean the kitchen, but it looks like she already did—such a sweet girl.

No, not a girl, I try to remind myself again. She’s a woman. She’s twenty-two. That’s old enough to have begun an entire career. Some women get married at a younger age than that. She’s not a girl. She’s a woman. A woman who likes to be spanked and call me Daddy while being f****d out in the broad daylight.

I never take a day off, so I don’t know what to do with myself. The boys can handle the work, and it would be insulting for me to check on them. Emmy cleaned my kitchen, and the house is clean. I think about changing the sheets on the bed, but they smell like her, and, well, I don’t. It’s creepy, but I don’t think I care.

Giving up on finding anything to do in the house, I go out to the barn, saddle up my horse, and head toward the stream. It’s been a long time since I rode alone, just for fun, and it’s peaceful. Unfortunately, I can’t get Emmy out of my head.

She’s beautiful, no doubt, but something about her draws me in. Is it how innocent she seems? I have to admit that making her moan in ways that she clearly hadn’t before was intoxicating. It’s wrong, though. So incredibly wrong. She’s a grown woman, I remind myself, taking off even further into the fields.

I return to the barn, removing my saddle and letting my horse drink. Lunch will distract me from the fact she hasn’t called to let me know she made it home safely. The back of my property doesn’t get cell reception, but I stayed where it would. I sigh, stomping up the stairs and jumping in a cold shower. I’m a grown-ass man, and this is ridiculous.

Once done, in the kitchen in jeans and making lunch, I finally cave. I just need to know that she’s alright.

-You didn’t call. Did you make it home alright?

I stare at the phone as I wait. Three dots, then none. Three dots, then none.

-I’m sorry. I’m home.

I’m relieved she’s home, but that’s it? I think I’m reading more into this than she is. She’s young, and I’m an old man. She probably doesn’t want to see me again. My phone chiming pulls my attention.

-When I got home, I finally decided to do what makes me happy.

-What’s that?

-I dropped out of college and enrolled in cosmetology school.

I smile at that. I don’t know what exactly she has going on, but if it makes her happy, I’m glad. And it makes me happy that she told me.

-I’m glad you’re doing what makes you happy. Thank you for sharing that with me.

I don’t hear from her the rest of the day. It’s obvious that she comes from money, and I’m assuming her rich Daddy is paying for her school and has had some things to say about it. She confirmed my suspicions that she’s still in school, which means she can’t afford that fancy BMW or the well-dyed hair on her own. She definitely can’t afford to keep up with those perfectly manicured nails. I’d guess the makeup she had on was expensive as well. No, she has rich parents.

Good. She deserves nice things and parents who will take care of her. And even if her parents have spent the day yelling at her, it’s 11:00 PM. They can’t possibly still be with her and upset.

-How are you doing, Darlin?

She’d blushed the first time I called her that, and I love it so much that I may never stop.

-I’m fine. I thought you’d be asleep now.

-Because I’m old?

-No, because you woke up so damn early.

I smile. She didn’t say that I’m not old, but I’ll take it. I’m nearly twice her age, though not quite.

-Were your parents upset you dropped out?

It’s a long time before she finally answers me, and I can barely hold my eyes open as I wait.

-Dad doesn’t know yet. My mom died when I was younger.

I lean up when I read that. s**t. I shouldn’t have asked.

-I’m sorry, Emmy. I shouldn’t have brought it up.

-It’s alright. You couldn’t have known. But to answer your question, Dad will be upset when he finds out.

-Are you going to tell him?

Another long pause before she responds.

-I don’t know. He’s already mad at me. He’ll find out when they return his money for the semester.

-How are you paying for cosmetology school?

-I don’t know. They let me set it up on payments, so I guess I’ll get a job.

I frown. Surely, he wouldn’t be so mad that he won’t pay for her school, even if it’s not what he pictured for her. When Ava finally came back into my life, I happily paid for her school. She hadn’t asked, but it had been so long that I just wanted to help in any way I could. Taking on the cost of her education was the least I could do.

-Talk to him. I’m sure it will all be fine.

She doesn’t respond, and I fall sound asleep. The alarm pulls me awake too damn early. I look at my phone, finding no response, so I get dressed for the day and head out, coffee in hand.

“Hey, Boss,” I greet Mike. He’s been with me for years now and runs things here. “I’m going to help out today. Just tell me what to do.”

“You sure?” he asks, arching an eyebrow.

“Yup,” I confirm. “I need a distraction.”

He nods, completely understanding. “I’ve never seen you bring a woman home til the other night.”

“Cause I haven’t,” I say, walking to the barn to saddle my horse. I’m not talking about this s**t. Not with him.

I pull out my phone, disappointment washing over me as I find no text. The sun isn’t even up yet. I’m sure she isn’t either.

-Good Morning.

I shove my phone back in my pocket and head out, following the guys for the day and trying my best not to think of those beautiful blue eyes.

I do manage to leave my phone alone all day, and my heart sinks a bit when I finally look and find I still don’t have any messages. Not even a hello. I’ve read into this too much. I shove it back into my pocket and help clean the barn stalls.

“You want to talk about it?” one of the guys asks me.

I realize that I’ve not been hiding my anger very well. “Nope.”

They leave me alone the rest of the afternoon, not saying a single word. I finish and head back to the house, completely exhausted. Good. I’ll make some dinner and go straight to bed.

After a quick shower, I throw on a pair of sweatpants and head to the kitchen. Steak for one, as always. Whiskey for one, as always. Except for two nights ago when Emmy was here. I sigh, eat dinner, and stomp up the stairs to bed. I check my phone one last time to find no new messages, then fall asleep.

*Ring*. *Ring*. There’s a pounding on the door. I look at the phone and see Emmy’s name lit on the screen.

“Hello?” I ask groggily, not knowing what time it is. “Are you alright?”

“Will you let me in?” she asks, and I can hear the upset in her voice. “I’m outside. I’m sorry it’s late. I just… I should leave.”

“Don’t,” I say, sitting straight up. “I’m coming.”

I rush down the stairs and rip the door open to find Emmy standing there, black lines down her face, lips swollen from crying. I reach my hand out to her, and as she takes it, I gently tug her inside the house.

“Are you alright?” I ask.

“I’m sorry,” she says, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I shouldn’t have come.”

“Hey,” I say gently, wiping a tear away with my thumb. She still hasn’t answered me.

“Are you hurt?”

She shakes her head. “I’m not hurt. It’s just…”

I can smell alcohol on her breath. “Emmy. Are you drunk?”

“I’m not drunk,” she says defensively. “I had a drink, but I’m not drunk.”

I sigh and pull her to my chest. She is drunk, and she’s a mess. Looking out the window, I find her BMW parked in the drive. She drove here. After another glance at the car, it doesn’t appear to be damaged. Thank goodness.

“Come on,” I say softly, leading her to the stairs. She didn’t wreck. We can deal with the rest tomorrow. I pull her into the bathroom and wet a rag, reaching up to wipe her face. She lets me, and as the dim light hits her face, I can see how upset she is. Something happened, and it hurt her deeply.

“You’re too nice,” she hiccups.

“Someone’s got to take care of you,” I tell her with a small smile.

I lead her to the bedroom and help her sit so I can take her shoes off. I pull her up to stand and slowly inch her jeans down her legs, smirking. “You wore underwear today.”

She smiles, but it doesn’t meet her eyes. She steps out of her jeans, and I toss them on the chair in the corner before tugging her t-shirt over her head and unhooking her bra. I pull one of my shirts out of a drawer, but she frowns when I pull it over her head.

“You’re not going to f**k me?”

I shake my head. “No. Not like this.”

Her lip quivers, and I’m really not sure why. I tuck her into the bed and climb in on the other side, pulling her to my chest.

“I don’t deserve for you to treat me like this,” she says softly. “I’m a monster.”

“I’m not treating you like anything,” I say, confused. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”

She shakes her head and lays in my arms in silence for what seems like forever. Her breathing slows, and I think she’s asleep, but she surprises me when she finally says something.

“I was going to do what you said and tell my dad,” she says softly. “Today was my mom’s birthday. We always have dinner at her favorite restaurant today. Always. He told me he made the reservation weeks ago, so I showed up and waited. I waited and waited, but he never showed up.”

I hold her tightly. My poor girl. How could he forget something so important to her, even if it isn’t to him anymore?

“I’m sorry, Darlin,” I say softly into her hair. “You can’t drive drunk, though. What if something happened to you?”

She shrugs slightly against my chest. “He wouldn’t know for weeks.”

“But I’d know,” I tell her, letting the words slip out before I realize. It’s too much, too fast, but it’s true. I spent the entire day pissed off because I didn’t get a text from her. I wouldn’t know what to do if something happened to her.