Desire: A Single Dad Contemporary Romance Read online

  “What! No way, that’s impossible.”

  “Oh, trust me, Crystal. My dad thinks the guy’s great.”

  “Why doesn’t he marry him then?” Crystal starts tittering like a hyena.

  I laugh. Talking to Crystal always lightens my mood, even when she’s on a manhunt and decides to get drunk to make her quarry more appealing. I’ve seen Crystal increase a guy’s score from a three to an eight and a half after five shots of tequila. It was hilarious. “You know my dad . . . he just likes the archetypical ivy-league educated guy from a super wealthy background.” I can see Crystal’s mind working like a piston on the screen of my computer.

  “Okay, I got to give Troy a nine on the looks front, a ten on the money front, a ten on the education front.”

  I raise the palms of my hands up. “Okay, okay, Troy’s an ace catch. Are you saying that I should reconsider it?”

  “Fuck no. Especially not after what he did to you.”

  Yeah, my ex is a real asshole. He’s like one of those very special pralines, he looks great on the outside, but when you taste the center, you want to throw up because you detest the flavor. I know that I can never forgive him for having sex with one of my dad’s maids. Troy had claimed that he had no choice because we hadn’t done it in over a month. I shake my head. Are all guys the same? Do they fuck the first woman to cross their way when they’re horny?

  “Not all men are the same,” says Crystal, as if she can read my mind. “Troy’s a prick. I’m just surprised that your dad would want you with such a man.”

  “He doesn’t really. He just wants to see me safe and secure—”

  “How can he see that happening with a guy like Troy?” interrupts Crystal.

  “Dad never believes gossip. He’s told me many times that Troy would never do anything so low.”

  “But you, like, caught Troy with his cock up the girl’s skirt.”

  I raise my hands. “I know, I know.” I think some more about it. I have my doubts now. I had dumped Troy on the spot after catching him with that other woman, seeing as it had made me sick to the core. Also, it has been nearly a year since the incident, and I still can’t go out on dates with men because of it. It’s as if Troy robbed me of all my self-esteem.

  “What about Zac?”

  My eyes snap open. I stare at Crystal as if she either has found the answer to the question of all questions or is just flaming nuts.

  “I see that you like that idea.”

  “I just can’t stop thinking about him,” I admit. “I’ve had photoshoots all week and every time I have a few moments to myself, I think of him.”

  “I can totally understand that.”

  “You can?”

  “Yeah, totally.”

  “But Zac is like a two on the background and financial check, I don’t know anything about his education, he works as a tattoo artist, and he has a kid. Overall, I’d give Zac a very generous five.”

  Crystal shakes her head as if I just said the stupidest thing she’s ever heard. “Zac’s a ten in looks, a ten in the badass scale, a ten in sexiness, a ten in being a dude, a ten in heart, a ten in being a dad, and I bet you one year’s spa visits that he’s also a ten on the honesty front. A man like that would never cheat on you, no matter how long you haven’t fucked him.” Crystal laughs. “Not like I’d ever not fuck him. If I had a man like that, I’d suck his dick on a daily basis.”

  I laugh, too. I know that she’s right. Ever since Zac conquered my brain, I’ve been having orgasms on a daily basis. Just the wispy manifestation of the sexy tattoo artist has done more for my libido than Troy ever did. “Yeah, Zac’s really something, huh?”

  Crystal nods. “And how he dealt with those two losers you picked up at the Petit Versailles. Smoking.”

  “Hey, I didn’t pick them up. That was your doing,” I say with a laugh.

  We spend some more time discussing whose fault it was. After that, we start talking about ways to get to Zac without looking completely desperate. The more I talk about him, the more I realize just how much I want to see him again.

  19

  Zacchary

  “What? So, you’re saying some dude likes my paintings?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  I could strangle Giovanni. I’ve seen him when he works at the hotel. He’s the personification of suaveness and charm. It’s just when he’s around the guys that his macho nature comes back to the forefront. I always say that Giovanni is like a transformer, he can turn from a laidback and chilled man to an educated and smooth hotel manager. It’s quite amazing. I’d never have it in me to do that.

  “I told you so, dad.” Azure’s as smug as the Cheshire cat.

  I stick my tongue out at my daughter. I’m never going to hear the end of this. I wait for Giovanni to take a few more slugs of his beer and finish off his plate. Watching the way he demolishes his food makes me think that he must have had enough of all the fancy stuff he gets to eat at the hotel. Nothing beats a steak.

  “Wow, that feels a lot better.” Giovanni belches lightly. He exchanges a few jokes with Azure, who loves him like crazy. After she has told him that I’m taking her out to an Italian place, I can’t hold back anymore.

  “Is that it? Tell me more, buddy. Who is this guy?”

  “Listen, Zac. The man is a regular. Every time I see him at the hotel, I encounter him in the hallway admiring your paintings. He’s been doing this ever since I got the owner to let me present them there.” Giovanni takes another draught of beer and the pause seems to last forever, anxious as I am to hear more. “Anyway, he never mentioned your work to me. When we spoke, we just exchanged pleasantries and spoke of the year’s vintage in Napa Valley. He’s a wine fan.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I couldn’t give a shit if the guy drinks piss.”

  “Dad, that’s disgusting.”

  “Sorry, baby.” I glower at Giovanni. “Go on.”

  “So . . .” My buddy leans over the table as if he’s about to impart on the greatest national secret. “Today, Mr. Hutchinson approaches me and asks me outright who the artist is. I’m like wow, I know the guy, he’s a personal friend and so on . . .”

  Next to me, Azure’s bouncing up and down on her seat.

  “This information seemed to please him. Then he asked me whether I could arrange a meeting with you as soon as possible.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I said yes, of course.”

  “Come on, dad. Of course Giovanni said yes on the spot.”

  “Anyway, the moment I told him that I could arrange something soon, I sent you a text and here I am.”

  I frown. “Did the guy say what he wanted exactly?”

  Giovanni shakes his head. “No, all he wanted was to meet you to discuss what he wanted.”

  “Great, what are we waiting for? I assume that he gave you some way to get ahold of him after you’ve spoken to me?”

  As if I had given Giovanni the greatest idea, his face lights up. “Of course he did. I almost forgot.” He rummages through his back pocket and, with a grunt, removes his wallet. “Here we are.” Giovanni holds out an ornate card in my direction.

  “Mr. Arthur Hutchinson.” As I read out the man’s name, a brief flicker of déjà-vu inhabits my brain. I don’t have much time to linger on it.

  “He’s a big shot movie producer,” says Giovanni, registering my confusion.

  “Wow.” Azure starts hopping about in her seat even more than before and peppers Giovanni with questions.

  “Well, let’s get this over with.” I hand Giovanni the card back. As I watch him dial the number on his smartphone, Azure slips her hand into mine while we wait. My heart beats like a blacksmith’s hammer against the anvil. This could be the biggest break I will ever get in my life.

  20

  Zacchary

  “Wow, dad. I’ve never seen such huge houses before.”

  I smile. Azure’s mouth is agape as she gazes at the enormous mansions lining the side of the road. Many of them
are hidden behind high walls, but there are still plenty that present their opulence to passersby. I had decided to take her to the meeting with the potential patron or client, since that’s what I’ve decided to term him as.

  Ever since my conversation with Azure about Holly, I’m reluctant to ask her for another favor. If I had asked Holly to look after my daughter again, there would be an expectation for more and it’s more than I’m willing to give. Azure had made everything clear to me last night. Holly wants more from our relationship and I never saw it.

  I was surprised when Giovanni asked me whether I could see the man who’s interested in my work the following day, but it’s a good sign that he wants to meet me at such short notice. I just can’t understand the urgency.

  “Look at that one, dad.”

  I turn my head and frown. “I can’t see anything.”

  Azure turns her head to look at me. The expression on her face is stern. “Exactly, dad. It’s the biggest house so far. You can only see the walls from here.” She pouts her lips and shakes her head in frustration at my ignorance.

  The farther we get into this maze of luxury, the more I’m reminded of the night I met Stella. So much of the surrounding area seems familiar. And then I realize why, and my eyes open a fraction wider. “Fuck me.”

  “Dad!”

  “Sorry, baby,” I mutter. I don’t listen to any of my daughter’s castigations at my usage of profanity, but rather bring my car to a stop when we reach the all too familiar gate.

  “Is this where we’re going? Wow, dad; it’s incredible.”

  “Yeah.” The place looks even more impressive in the daylight, but it’s undoubtedly the same house.

  On cue, a man in his late forties emerges from a small structure located next to the black iron-wrought gates. “Good morning, sir. How can I help you?”

  “Hi, Jones.”

  The security guard looks at me incredulously.

  “We met the other night.”

  “Dad, you’ve been here before?”

  I laugh. “Yeah, Azure. I’ve been here before.” For the life of me I can’t understand what Stella would want with one of my paintings. More importantly, how the hell did she find out that I’m the artist? “I have an appointment with Mr. Hutchinson.” Seeing the questioning expression on the guard’s face, I add, “The name’s Zacchary Wells.”

  “Of course, sir. Mr. Hutchinson is expecting you.” Jones slowly reenters his cubicle and moments later, the gates jut into motion. “Follow the road up to the main building, but I think you already know the way, sir.”

  “Yeah.” As I accelerate my car up the long driveway, my mind is a cauldron of confusion. I am both apprehensive and excited at the prospect of seeing Stella again. The thought of her sexy body had accompanied me to sleep last night and was right there when I woke up this morning.

  “Why do you know the way, dad?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Azure rolls her eyes. “I didn’t know you’ve been here before.”

  “I dropped a client off one evening.”

  I listen to my daughter prattling on and expressing her amazement at the pristine perfection of the parkland surrounding the main building, which seemed to have distracted her from the fact that I have already been here before.

  By the time I stop the car, a man dressed in fine livery waits for us in front of the main building. Azure is even more impressed than before. The structure oozes old-style opulence with a hint of modernity. To be honest, if I had the money, I would design my home in nearly the same way.

  “Good morning, sir.” The man who has come to greet us turns to my daughter. “And good morning to you, young lady. Please follow me.”

  Still in a trance, I walk up the steps that lead to the house. All the luxury of the entrance hall is lost on me because I can only think of Stella and I catch myself looking around in the hopes that I might find her, but soon, my daughter’s incessant pulling on my hand drags me out of my thoughts.

  “When have you been here before, dad?”

  I see the man that I can only imagine is a butler tense, but he doesn’t say anything as he continues to lead us further into the cavernous mansion. “It’s like I said. I just had to drop a client off here, that’s all, Azure.” I can see that my explanation is not enough, but as we emerge onto a terrace overlooking meticulously appointed gardens, which seem to overlap into different levels of stonemasonry and greenery, my daughter is too busy admiring the scenery to care about her former interrogation.

  “Here we are, sir. You can take a seat here while I fetch Mr. Hutchinson. Would you like some refreshments?”

  “Yeah, a lemonade would be great.”

  Hissing the word please, I give my daughter a hostile look. I may be coarse on the surface, but there’s no way I’ll let my daughter behave like a roughneck.

  “What about you, sir?”

  “The same,” I grunt. My response has my daughter rolling her eyes at me because I behaved just as uncouthly as she did before. Before I know it, the man vanishes into thin air.

  The entire time until the drinks are brought, and after I have nearly finished my first glass, Azure continues to prattle on about the house, and how amazing it is that we’re sitting there. “You’re so talented, dad. Just think, soon your work will be hanging on the walls inside the house.” My daughter’s enthusiasm is infectious. She soon has me laughing with her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  The sound of a woman’s voice makes me snap my head to the source of that sweet sound. Even though I half-expected it, I’m still surprised.

  “That’s no way to greet your father’s guest.” I scan Stella’s fit body with a predatory eye. She looks even hotter than I remember her.

  She is wet and has a towel wrapped around her shoulders. She must’ve been swimming or something. I spend a few seconds eyeing her perfect physique. My piercing scrutiny makes her pull the towel lower to cover her full breasts. I can’t help a smile—as if that makes any difference. I was stuck between her legs for over an hour last week.

  “My father’s guest?” Stella’s gaze shifts to my daughter. She smiles warmly at her. “And this must be Azure.”

  I arch my eyebrows. She remembers my girl’s name. “Yeah,” I answer for her because my daughter can’t seem to get a word past her lips.

  “You’re so beautiful. What’s your name?”

  I chuckle. It never takes long for my Azure to lose her tongue. I relish the fact that Stella reddens a little and shifts her weight from one foot to the other nervously.

  This small gesture of humility surprises me because Stella must get comments about her good looks on a daily basis. I decide that there must be a lot more about this woman than meets the eye. This new discovery is confirmed when I see genuine interest in my daughter sparkle in Stella’s eyes.

  She really wants to get to know her. Wow. Maybe she ain’t just some daddy’s girl after all.

  “Thanks . . . I’m Stella.” She holds out her hand that Azure takes enthusiastically.

  “Is this your dad’s place?”

  “Azure, try not to ask so many questions,” I snap.

  “Don’t listen to Mr. Grumpy over there. You can ask as many questions as you like.” Stella ignores me completely as she beams at my kid, who smiles back at her.

  “So, what are you doing here, Zac?”

  “He’s here at my invitation.” The sound of the newcomer’s voice is deep and authoritative.

  I look over to see a handsome man with grey hair walking towards us. He carries his frame with the determination of someone who always gets what he wants. When he stops right in front of me, I instinctively get to my feet.

  “Zacchary Wells, I’m pleased to meet you, sir.” I take his hand that’s crisp and warm. “And this is my daughter, Azure,” I say, after he has introduced himself.

  Arthur Hutchinson smiles at Azure. “Ah, the joys of having a daughter.” He winks at Azure and shakes her proffered hand.
“I bet this one is a handful, Zac. She reminds me of you at that age, Stella.” Arthur Hutchinson sits down and pours himself some lemonade. “I love lemonade, don’t you?” he says to Azure who nods happily when he refills her glass.

  I’m surprised at his use of my first name, but relieved. This is not some pompous rich dude who takes himself too seriously. While he takes his time to answer all of Azure’s questions, I get to look at Stella again. I see that she’s totally freaked out that I’m sitting at a table with her father. I make extra sure to stare at her bikini panties. She reddens and hisses at me not to say a word, which only serves to make me laugh. I know for certain that she doesn’t want her father to know about the tat or the way we met. Even though I’m trying to torment her, my dick jolts in my pants at the sight of her. Like a mirage in the desert, Stella’s bare pussy materializes before me.

  “Stella, don’t you have an appointment with Crystal?”

  Stella nods at her father. She’s still too fazed to trust her tongue.

  “Good, because I’ve got some interesting stuff to discuss with Zac.” Arthur Hutchinson looks at Azure. “And his beautiful daughter of course.”

  “Yes, I guess I’ll leave you to it, Dad.” Stella walks up to her father and bends lower to give him a kiss on the cheek.

  I swallow deeply when I see her tight ass glistening in the sunlight before me. I knew that she’s hot, but I had somehow forgotten just how much.

  “See you later, honey. So, Zac, let me tell you why I asked you to come here.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Please call me Arthur. Azure and I are already on a first name basis.” Arthur laughs, and my daughter soon joins. I’m glad that he doesn’t consider her a burden.

  I watch Stella walk away. Her ass swings from side to side like a pendulum and it’s one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen. It even beats working on her the other week. When she reaches the large terrace doors, Stella turns back and looks me right in the eye. I swear that I saw a smile flicker across her full lips.