Summer Daddy Read online

  “Anything for you, my friend. I’ll have it ready within the hour if you’d like to pick up a copy.”

  “Absolutely. I’ll see you soon.”

  After ending the call, I feel worlds better.

  And after picking up the document and making sure it looks legitimate, I make my way to the bakery here in town. Paige should celebrate her birthday. In fact, she has many reasons to celebrate, and I want her to have a little fun. The woman behind the counter offers to quickly decorate the top with a happy birthday wish, and I give her an extra tip for the trouble.

  And on the way back to my house, I wonder if Paige is as innocent as she looks.

  Chapter Two

  ~Paige~

  By the time I get to the Intracoastal Waterway dock, I’m overcome with a case of nerves all over again. Moses gave me a key, so I assume no one is at Ocean Paradise. But I can’t help but wonder if anyone else stays there with him.

  He gave me instructions to wait for him. So he must have a plan to find a home for me. At least I’m safe. With a roof over my head and some food that isn’t considered throwaways, I’ll be living like a princess.

  A young woman at the dock’s small office lets me know that Henry’s boat is at the end of the pier. “He’s an odd bird. You can’t miss him,” she laughs.

  I thank her and walk to the end of the pier, dozens of seagulls flying overhead. The salty air smells so good, and I’m thankful in this moment that I chose to move here after my parents were killed. There’s a peace in Mimi Beach I’ve never felt anywhere else.

  As I approach the end of the pier, I see a small fishing boat that’s painted every single color of the rainbow in splotches along the side. An older man who looks to be in his 70’s is playing 60’s music from an old 1980’s boom box, his wild, gray hair blowing around as he whistles to a Beatles song that comes on the air.

  I stand next to the boat, hoping he will turn around and see me. But he’s tracing a peace sign on the inside wall.

  “Excuse me,” I say at a break in the song.

  He jumps and spins his head in my direction.

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. Are you Henry?”

  “In the flesh,” he answers, his lips sunken in from having lost his teeth.

  “Hi, I’m Paige. Um, Moses sent me here. He said you would take me to Ocean Paradise.”

  Henry stands up, moves closer to the bow of the boat to get a better look at me, then shakes his head. “Lucky bastard. Ok. Hop in.”

  “Oh no, it’s not like that. I’m not a—I mean, he didn’t—” Jesus, I don’t know what to say, or think.

  Henry leads me to the stern, then extends a hand to help me on deck. Feeling slightly trepidatious, I take his hand and step up.

  “I was just joking. Moses is a good man. He’s helped a hell of a lot of people over the last few months. But none of them as dang pretty as you.”

  My cheeks start to blush. “Well, thank you. That’s awfully nice.”

  I haven’t heard a compliment from anyone in so long, I’ve forgotten what they feel like. Even Moses seemed distant when I was in his office. Like he was hesitant to help me. That’s what I’m used to, I suppose. Well, at least he came through and offered me a place, even if it is just temporary. What I plan to do while living here is look for a job. And then I can save up for my own place so I won’t be a burden to anyone.

  Once we arrive at our destination, Henry helps me off the boat and onto a dock. Up a hill sits a cute colonial style bungalow with cedar shakes and a huge front porch. God, it’s like every girl’s dream home. If every girl were me.

  Henry passes me my bag while I’m staring at my temporary home. “Here you go, darlin.’ You take care, now.”

  I flash him a smile. “Thank you so much, Henry. I’m sure I’ll see you again, right?”

  “You betcha.”

  Palm trees surround the home, as well as giant oak trees covered in Spanish moss. I don’t think I’m ever going to want to leave this place. Above the front door is a rectangular piece of wood with the words “Ocean Paradise” etched inside the dark grains.

  I unlock the door and walk in to find a typical bachelor pad. It’s clean and neat but lacks the womanly touch. The kitchen has the essentials, though: coffee maker, toaster oven, and a pantry at the end of the cabinets.

  My stomach growls and I help myself to a package of crackers as I walk around the house, making sure no one else is here. There are two bedrooms, the guest room containing a day bed, a shelf with a handful of books, and a small television. Well, at least I won’t get bored.

  I walk back to the kitchen and rummage through the refrigerator. I’d like to do something nice for Moses, maybe cook him a simple dinner of spaghetti or baked chicken, but I’ve no idea if he has dinner plans already, so I just cut up a tomato and make a sandwich, scarfing it down with a glass of juice.

  With a full tummy, I realize how long it’s been since I took a normal shower, where I actually have some room to move around and a way to shave comfortably. So that’s next on the agenda.

  Inside the shower is a brand new razor, never been used. It’s bright pink, and as I look in the corner of the tub, I can’t help but notice bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Very feminine bottles with feminine smells. I wonder if there’s a story there. There must be, unless Moses brings girls here on a regular basis.

  No. I can’t let myself think like that. He’s a nice guy. He’s a humanitarian. One of the good guys. He’s not a womanizer.

  I feel like a new woman once I’m dry. My skin has a healthy glow once again, and I smell good for the first time since I can remember. After using the hair dryer and applying some citrus scented lotion, I wrap a terry cloth robe around me and lie down on the day bed, wondering if I’ve landed in a dream.

  And sleep comes all too easily.

  ~Moses~

  The moment I walk through my front door, I can smell her ghost.

  Memories of my ex come crashing back, but it occurs to me that Paige likely took a shower in the guest room. I don’t know how long she’s been without a home, but I know if it were me, that would be the first treasure I’d seek out. I make a mental note to purchase some new shampoo and conditioner—ones that don’t smell like a cheating, lying no-good piece of trash.

  I set the cake on the table, aware of how quiet it is. When I poke my head in the guest room, Paige is fast asleep, her hands curled up under her head and the robe she’s wearing flipped up to reveal her soft thighs and pink panties.

  My cock twitches inside my pants, and I pull the door closed, wanting her to sleep for as long as possible. I’m sure she needs it. Right down the street is a general store with a little bit of everything, so I figure that now’s as good a time as any to grab a few needed essentials.

  I pick out some hygiene products—shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, new razors, hairspray and brushes, scrunchies. Then I go through the aisle again and pick out different scents of the same products, wanting Paige to have a multitude of smells and brands to choose from. I also pick up a new robe for her—pink satin—and a few tank tops, just in case she needs something new.

  The woman at the checkout eyes me rather funny. I’ve never been fond of her. She’s rough around the edges and I once caught her snatching a candy bar from a toddler’s hand, saying that she was convinced he was about to shoplift. A toddler.

  Feeling concerned that I’m drawing too much attention to myself with all these new feminine products, I come up with a bullshit story. You never know who’s working with our “guests.”

  “I know how this looks. I’m donating these to the local mission.”

  “Oh?” She raises a brow and smacks her gum. “Would you like for me to put them with the others back here? We have a delivery every month.” I look behind her and see the large cardboard box filled with food, cleaning supplies, and stuffed animals. Across the front is a piece of paper with a handwritten message in black marker: “Donations for Mimi Beach Mission.”
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  I force a smile. “Thanks, but I’m on my way there now. I’ll just take them myself.”

  When I get back home, Paige is still asleep. I leave the bags outside her door, then get started on dinner. I’ve never been much of a cook. I typically just toss a burger or steak on the grill and sit outside with a beer. But something tells me that Paige isn’t a fan of burgers or steak.

  I have enough fixings for a salad, so I toss one together and slide it in the fridge, then start rummaging through my cabinets to see if I can come up with some ideas.

  “Are all these for me?”

  Paige’s voice startles me. When I turn around, she’s dressed in cotton shorts and a plain white t-shirt, both bags dangling from her wrists.

  “Yes. I just bought them at the store down the street. How did you rest?”

  I step her way and notice her cheeks look adorably rosy. “Amazing. And thank you. I … didn’t expect all this.” She lifts the bags in the air before setting them on the table, quickly eyeing the cake but not saying anything about it. “And there’s plenty of shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom already.”

  “That stuff is old. It needs to be thrown out. Besides, now you have new everything.”

  Her lips curl into a smile that makes my heart melt. “You’re very kind, giving me a place to stay and buying me all these wonderful things. How will I ever repay you?”

  By being mine forever, I want to say. “No repayment is necessary, Paige. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

  “I am too.” She clasps her hands in front of her, and I can’t help but move my gaze over her body. She notices, too, those cheeks of hers turning a darker shade of pink as she nervously ticks her head towards the fridge. “I was going to cook some dinner, but I wasn’t sure if that was okay.”

  “You can cook?”

  She nods with a smile. “I used to cook all the time. Before my—well, before I lost my home.”

  My heart twists, feeling sad for her. “I’ve got some hamburger and steaks. Nothing fancy, I’m afraid. Do you like burgers?”

  She taps her chin and flits her eyes to the side. “How about I make some meatloaf?”

  “Don’t tease me.” Meatloaf is a favorite, but I have no clue how to make it.

  She giggles. “I don’t tease. I deliver.”

  Her smile fades and her cheeks turn crimson. Blood rushes through my cock, and I swear if one hair fell from her pretty head, you’d hear it hit the floor.

  “I mean, I don’t make idle threats. If I say I can do something, I can do it.”

  I lick my lips and smile softly. “I knew what you meant.”

  “Why don’t you get comfy then, and I’ll get started.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

  I grab a beer from the fridge and sit at the bar, watching Paige gather everything she needs. When she bends down to retrieve the eggs from the fridge, I can see the lower swell of her ass pushing through the bottom of her shorts, and I stifle the growl that’s attempting to climb up my throat. But then she swiftly bends at the knees, taking that gorgeous ass out of sight. I wonder if she could feel my stare on her, could know that I was imagining running my hands over those sexy globes.

  I need to get my mind off her body and onto something else. “Do you feel comfortable talking about what happened to your parents? Did they kick you out or…?”

  She sets the eggs on the counter, next to the hamburger, and pulls in a deep breath. “They were killed in a car accident about a year ago.”

  “Here in Mimi Beach?”

  She shakes her head. “Capel City, about a hundred miles inland. I managed to land a job right after they died, even though they are scarce there. But then I got close to a co-worker with a drug habit, and when she stole thousands of dollars from the safe one night and blamed it on me, our boss believed her.” Paige lets out a sigh as she cracks some eggs in a bowl, and I feel sick inside as she continues. “No one would hire me after that. I had no family and nowhere to go. I didn’t really have a lot of friends at school because I’m kind of a nerd, and really shy. It’s scary how quickly you can lose everything. Anyway, I didn’t want to stay in Capel City. So when the bank closed on the house, I took a bus here and …”

  When she pauses, it’s easy to see her story is painful. I don’t want to push her. Yet she keeps talking.

  “I remembered a girl in one of my classes telling me that her aunt worked at the YMCA here in town. She’s been helping me out, letting me take showers there and giving me the leftover food from the day care. She takes my clothes home and washes them, too. If it weren’t for that, I don’t know if I would have made it.”

  So many questions plague my mind. “And this woman didn’t offer to take you in?”

  “No, she didn’t,” Paige answers, opening the cabinet above her and staring blankly. “Do you have any breadcrumbs?”

  I walk to the cabinet next to her and pull down the box, passing it her way.

  “Thanks. Anyway, I did ask to stay with her when we found out they were coming. But she said she just didn’t have the room. And I didn’t push the subject. I mean, what could I do? She obviously didn’t want to be saddled with the burden of another mouth to feed.”

  “My god, I’m so sorry, Paige.” Jesus, people are assholes. How could anyone let an innocent girl be taken away like that?

  She grabs a jar from the spice rack and looks at me, sadness tugging at her face. “I don’t want to be a burden to you either. Please tell me if I am.”

  Everything in me wants to pull her into my arms. But I know that would be too much. “You are not a burden. Don’t even think like that, Paige. You can stay here as long as you like.”

  Forever, as far as I’m concerned.

  Her face softens and she smiles. “Thank you. But it’s only for the summer. Once the …” she circles her spoon in the air and looks upward, “… you know who are gone, I will be too. And, I plan to look for a job so I can support myself. Who knows? I might not even have to stay here all summer.”

  She wipes her forehead with the back of her hand as my heart sinks. Fuck. I don’t want her to leave. She can’t leave. On paper, I’m her …

  “Don’t rush out on my account. I’ve got documentation that you belong here, with me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She turns to face me, those inquisitive blue eyes melting my resolve. “I wanted to be sure you had the highest level of protection. Just in case these “guests” of ours start poking and prodding.” I slide a folder across the bar and open it up, showing Paige her new fake birth certificate.

  Her mouth drops open as her eyes scan the page. “You mean … you made it look like I’m your …?”

  “Daughter, yes. And I’m your daddy.”

  She pulls herself to an upright position, sinking her teeth into her lower lip as she lets her eyes dance around my face. My fucking cock grows stiff again. and I feel like the dirtiest old man ever.

  “My … daddy?” she says.

  Fuck. Hearing her say that ignites something inside of me. And I can tell it does her too.

  This is going to be one hot summer.

  Chapter Three

  ~Paige~

  Once the meatloaf is ready, Moses and I sit down to eat, and I decide to revisit our earlier topic. “Do you really think we need to take it this far? I’m sure the others who have found temporary homes and shelters aren’t walking around referring to their hosts and hostesses as mom and dad.”

  It seems so odd to me, but at the same time, I appreciate what Moses is trying to do.

  “I’m sure they’re not. But with you and I, well, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Are you opposed to calling me daddy while you live here?”

  I nearly choke on a piece of meatloaf. Not because I’m shocked at his question. I’m more shocked at how my body is responding. I’ve never been with a guy. I’ve rubbed that swollen nub between my legs more times than I can remember, bringing my body to earth shattering orgasms. Bu
t certainly not lately, and never with an accompanying daddy fantasy. However, when I think about calling Moses ‘daddy,’ I’d be lying if I didn’t say it made me wet.

  “I’m not. Are you opposed to thinking of me as your little girl? Because that’s basically what I’d be.”

  Moses ticks his head to the side and wipes his brow. “I’m aware of the implication. And yes, I’m perfectly fine with referring to you as my little girl.”

  My pussy swells once again, clenching as I think of sitting in daddy’s lap and rubbing myself on him. I’m sure he would think I was disgusting if he knew where my thoughts were headed.

  “I guess we’ll have to play the part when we’re in public, too. Won’t we?”

  He lifts a brow. “It’s an absolute necessity.”

  I get these swarms of butterflies that flutter through me. I want my new daddy to take me places and buy me things. To spoil me.

  And then I realize how ridiculous all that is.

  “Speaking of little girl things … I brought home a cake for you. It is your birthday, isn’t it?”

  I peer across the table at the box I saw earlier, thinking that it looked like a birthday cake but not wanting to pry. “Is that for me?”

  Moses winks and taps the edge of the box. “No little girl should go without cake on her birthday. And she should celebrate it properly with her daddy.”

  Warmth floods me and my nipples prick into hard points. God, what is wrong with me? “Is cake a little girl thing?”

  His eyes search my face and his lips pull apart in a soft smirk. “It can be.”

  I don’t even know what to make of that.

  “I’m afraid I don’t have any presents, but I’d be happy to take you out for ice cream.”

  “Cake and ice cream? What have I done to deserve all this?”

  “All little girls should be spoiled on their birthday. Now, the only remaining question is, do you want cake first? Or ice cream first?”