Sibling Rivalry

Chapter Four-1

Chapter Four

AIMEE WASN’T SURE what to think, much less say. Until just a few moments ago, she didn’t dare think of Clint as someone she could date. He was just the guy in the apartment building she helped out once in a while and who appeared in her fantasies. He was a friend. Safe. He had a daughter. He was the single father whose wife ran off. He was the reason she m*********d so much.

She remembered how he came across when he first moved into the Sea Breeze Condominiums with Abigail, looking for a fresh start to life, forlorn and lost. Aimee would see them in the elevator or at the pool, occasionally down at the beach. At first, it was a wave here or a smile and a nod there. Bonnie left a few months prior and Clint walked around like a beaten dog, trying to make the most of what life dumped on him. Eventually, he dragged himself out of his funk and became a more cheerful human being, his smiles bigger, waves more inviting. They began to talk more, and Abigail would run up to hug her. His babysitter backed out on him one day when he had an important meeting to get to and Aimee offered to watch the three-year-old for him. That started happening more and more often, as she made herself readily available for him, and Aimee watched their friendship grow.

If she was honest with herself, she had to admit she was attracted to him from the start, even when he was lost in his brooding. It wasn’t just his looks either, although he was candy for any female’s sweet tooth. It was more the way he took care of his little girl. He acted like a man while the rest of the men his age were just trying it on for size. He didn’t appear to be the player just looking for notches until the future Mrs. Asher arrived.

Now, here he was, asking her out on an official date or, at least, it sounded like an official date to her, even though he downplayed it. Had their night out been a ploy, after all? Had Karla been right about people with ulterior motives? At this point, did Aimee even care?

“I, uh, I don’t see why not.” Oh god, I sound like an i***t. “It would be fun.”

He chuckled and his smile made her heart beat faster. “Are you sure? You don’t sound so positive.”

She felt the heat of the blush on her face as she bowed her head slightly. “Sorry. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it. I mean, I assumed you had someone else you were dating.”

“I don’t have much time for dating. Besides, do I look like the guy who would invite you out when I was dating someone else? I don’t know many women who would go for that.” He toyed with his water glass as he watched her. His eyes were smiling, as well. Sparkling, even, in his mirth.

“No. No, I don’t think you are. I know I wouldn’t like it.”

“I’ve had it done to me. I can tell you, it’s not a good feeling being left alone.” He scooped up some of his mashed potatoes as he watched her.

Why not go out with him again, even if it was only as friends? She had to admit she was enjoying herself. She felt good around him. Safe. Not that she doubted she would. She took a deep breath. “I would love to go out with you again.”

He nodded as his smile got bigger. “Good. Now, we have to decide where to go.”

As they ate, they continued to share what they each enjoyed doing when they went out. Aimee was pleased he seemed as mellow as she was when it came to things. He wasn’t much for going out to a club. He didn’t mind dancing, but he would rather it be low key as opposed to one of the noisier places that allowed the barely legal crowd inside. He was more of a coffeehouse type of person than a night club. He liked ballgames and walking the beach. Being a single father, most of what he did had to include Abigail, since babysitters were not always reliable. He made himself a promise he told her, that he would not be like her missing mother.

Aimee listened to him talk, feeling proud for some odd reason that he was as he was. She would have been disappointed if he was quick to dump his daughter on a babysitter so he could go out every night. Since Aimee had known him, he always did his best to put Abigail first. Marty Harper, Aimee’s father, was the same way. He sacrificed himself in order to make sure Karla and she had everything they needed. As far as she could remember, the Harper children never did without anything. Her father would pick up extra shifts in order to buy them the things they whined for. Aimee eventually caught on to what he did and stopped asking for things. All she really wanted was to sit on her father’s lap and have him read to her. It was time spent together that mattered to her, and Marty Harper always had time for his daughters.

“Did you two save any room for dessert?”

The waitress’s voice startled Aimee and, looking down at her plate, she was surprised the meal was actually over. She couldn’t remember ever being lost in someone so much. Clint’s voice held her captive, and she was pleased to be his prisoner.

Dessert was declined—they didn’t have vanilla ice cream with sprinkles—and the check paid. As they walked outside, Clint said, “How about a stroll on the beach? I don’t often get to enjoy it at night.”

“Sure,” she said, smiling up at him. Her cheeks were going to kill her with how much she found herself smiling like some silly schoolgirl. “Sounds like fun.” The evening breeze picked up, and she wrapped arms around herself, rubbing heat into her arms.

“Wait here a second.” He disappeared around the corner to where the truck was parked and, when he returned, he had a light jacket in his hands. “It’s not much, but it might help against the chill of the ocean breeze.” He wrapped it around her shoulders, rubbing her arms as he did before letting go.

His thoughtfulness touched her. If he had ulterior motives, she found herself being okay with it. Hoping for it, actually. “Thank you.”

The half-moon hung high overhead as they made their way down the rickety steps behind Charlie’s Place and onto the soft shore of the Atlantic. The breeze was harder on the beach than it was up at the restaurant and she found herself pulling the jacket Clint gave her tighter around her torso. Clint walked with his hands stuffed in his pockets and stayed between her and the crashing waves, a small barrier against the ocean wind. It had been a long time since she walked the beach at night, and she had forgotten how soothing it could be. Or how romantic.

Other couples walked the beach, most hand-in-hand. They even passed a few groups who were out just wandering around, trying to sober up enough to drive back home. The moonlight danced on the water, an enticing invitation for lovers to sit and bask in the waves as they decorated the sandy shore. Aimee was afraid of what might happen if they sat and just watched the waves come in. She already felt out of her element. It was one thing to fantasize about this type of thing, but quite another for it to actually happen. Karla would never let her live it down. It had been over a year since Aimee dated anyone and that relationship hadn’t turned out so well, thanks to her sister. Karla had a way of taking over things.

“You know, I really do appreciate all you do for Abigail. She loves when you come over.” He glanced at her for a second as he said it, and then looked ahead again, the smile still on his face. “You definitely should come over more often.”

“I adore your daughter. You never know what she’s going to say next.”

He laughed, the sound bouncing off the waves. “She is missing a filter, that’s for sure.” He began to tell her stories of when Abigail offered advice she heard her father make in the privacy of his home to the people he grumbled about. As he spoke, Aimee thought of what it would be like to date someone who had a child already. She always wanted children, but her own, not those of another woman. She never thought about dating a single father before and wondered how she would feel being a stepmom. Her eyes went wide, and she was grateful for the darkness to hide the surprise of her own thoughts. He asked you out on a date, for crying out loud. It wasn’t a marriage proposal. It wasn’t even a real date. More like hanging out together. Yet, didn’t she owe it to herself to think ahead? Didn’t they owe it to Abigail? If their relationship changed, it might affect the three-year-old, especially if it went poorly. Abigail’s mother already walked out on her. The little girl didn’t need someone else vanishing on her. It wasn’t fair to her.

“Have you dated much since Bonnie left?”

“Not at all, actually.” He shrugged, the movement barely noticeable in the dark. “For the past year, Abigail has been my world. To be honest, I’ve been nervous about bringing someone else around. Of course, it also took a while for me to realize that Bonnie wasn’t returning. I haven’t even heard from her. After three months, I sold the house and moved into the Sea Breeze Condominiums.

“That has to be rough.”

“It is, but it’s time to recapture my life. People have kids and still go out. I just have to figure out how to make it all work. It’s different than a normal broken family, where the child is bounced back and forth between parents. I’m glad Abigail doesn’t have to go through that, but it at least allows each of them to have a social life. Tonight has actually been a much needed break.”

“I’m glad I could help out.” She bumped shoulder-to-shoulder with him. “It’s been fun babysitting Abigail’s father.”

They both laughed as the waves crashed beside them. As they walked, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to babysit Clint back at his place. She opened her jacket, no longer feeling the chill of the evening, but rather the heat of her thoughts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mitch had his hands on her waist, keeping her pinned to his crotch, which was announcing his plans for the evening. She ground herself on his swollen member, teasing him with the thought that his plans could be hers, as well. She had one hand around him as the other played with her dark hair, the strands falling from her fingertips in small waves, her hips gyrating a seductive dance that promised if they shed their clothes, she would be more than eager to fulfill his manhood’s wishes.

Of course, it was all a tease—at least, for now. It was how the game was played. Karla allowed men to think they had a chance with her, so she could manipulate them into giving her what she wanted. Once they did, she usually fulfilled those teasing moments. She couldn’t have word get out that she only frustrated men now, could she? She may need something from them down the road, so it paid never to burn a bridge. Sometimes, she gave it up ahead of time, but that was usually only when she knew she was going to get her way in the end. She didn’t know Mitch well enough to know if he would be easily swayed with a piece of ass or not, so for now it was all in the tease.

And tease she did. She could tell by the bulge in his jeans that her grinding was having the desired effect. Furthermore, she could tell that once she did end the game, she was not going to be disappointed in the final results. It was probably a good thing she wore jeans and not a skirt, because she was sure if she were, she would have had it slid up in front and her flower sliding up and down his thick stem, even through his pants.

The song they danced to ended and a new one faded in, taking over the beat. Karla led them back to their spot at the bar, both breathing heavy from the show they just put on. She needed a break if she was going to keep this up for a while. Besides, Mitch Greenway had enough to think about for now.

“So, after that display, I’m assuming you and Brad are not an item,” Mitch said, as he picked up his Jack and Coke and took a swallow.

Karla sipped on her drink, using the time to catch her breath while she formulated her safest reply. Men loved to talk, and she didn’t need Brad to be a casualty in her negotiations. After a moment, she shrugged as she set the glass back on the bar. “I’m not officially dating anyone. Too much fun to be had. Brad is someone I hang out with and together we have some fun. After the fun, we both go our separate ways until we need to have some more and no one is available.”