“Always.”
We shared a grin before he turned serious.
“She had to fly to Washington last night.”
I didn’t have to ask DC or state. Leah had always reported on foreign affairs.
“Big story. A couple of senators wanna review the intelligence on Iraqi WMDs. They announced it yesterday.”
“Ah.”
“Anyway,” he continued, “since you’re here… d’you mind if I ask a favor? I have a client who’s on the fence about a big lease. They’re looking at the building again.”
“On a Saturday?”
“Commercial real estate,” he said with a resigned shrug. “You know how it is.”
“Yeah.”
“My assistant can handle it, but…”
“You’d like to be there to close the deal. No problem. You want me to take McKenna home?”
“Or you can take her back to your house,” he said. “I’ll pick her up there.”
“That works.” McKenna was practically our fourth daughter.
“Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
“Leah can pay me back.”
He grinned. “The usual?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks again. I’ll tell Mac.”
The rest of the party passed in a blur of conversation from the grown-ups and shrieks from the tween girls. Allie’s ex had rented a bounce house, a big inflatable castle, so the lack of air conditioning was only a minor nuisance.
The girls were having so much fun that Madison didn’t start opening presents until four o’clock. She received three copies of the new Harry Potter book, so I was glad we’d bought her Bath & Body Works instead. Afterward, we sang “Happy Birthday” and then ate cupcakes and ice cream.
Moms and daughters started saying their goodbyes, but the last ones didn’t leave until almost six o’clock.
“C’mon, girls,” I said to mine and McKenna, “let’s help clean up.”
“You don’t have to,” Allie objected. “You’ve done more than enough already.”
“Nah. That’s what friends’re for.”
With all seven of us working, we cleaned up the mess and put away the food in no time.
“Thank you so much,” Allie said. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“Our pleasure. And I was thinking…” I met her Caribbean eyes and felt like I was falling into them. I caught myself before I did it for real, but Allie’s smirk returned. “Anyway,” I continued, “since your A/C’s out, why don’t you come to our house. We can cool off in the pool. The girls won’t be hungry for a while—”
“Me either,” she agreed.
“—but we can order pizza if they are.”
“Are you sure? You’ve already done so much.”
“Please, Mom,” Madison said.
“Yeah, please!” Carly piped up.
Emily, Susie, and McKenna nodded hopefully.
“Well,” Allie laughed, “how can I say no to so much enthusiasm? Let’s do it.”
* * *
I kicked hard and launched myself onto the edge of the pool. I landed with a plop of wet fabric. I was wearing a swimsuit in deference to our guests, who weren’t nudists. The girls wore them too, including McKenna, who’d borrowed one from Susie.
I’d chosen a new pair of trunks that Christy had bought me a year ago, although I probably should’ve tried them on before I’d worn them in front of company. The wet fabric clung to my skin and outlined the shape of my dick. It wouldn’t have been a problem under normal circumstances, but I was half-hard from random thoughts of Allie.
Then again, maybe they weren’t so random. She’d worn a one-piece suit that accentuated her curves and showed a healthy amount of cleavage. The low-cut back revealed faint tan lines where she normally wore a two-piece suit. I could easily imagine her breasts in a bikini.
Or bouncing underneath you… swaying as she rides you… swinging as you fuck her from behind…
Will you stop! I half-shouted, half-pleaded. You’re obvious enough as it is.
The better to tempt her with.
I rolled my eyes. I hate to burst your bubble, but most women don’t care what you look like.
Christy does.
Yeah, and she’s the exception that proves the rule.
All of a sudden Allie turned and caught me watching her. I felt my cheeks heat like I was a teenager. Allie grinned and swam toward me, so I hopped off the side and into the water, although not before she caught sight of Mr. Big’s telltale outline.
“Are you okay?” she teased.
“Yeah, of course. Why?”
“You look a little, ahem, light-headed.”
Funny, ha ha. “Maybe too much sun,” I deadpanned.
“Do you need to get out?”
Or get off? the little head suggested.
“I’m fine,” I said aloud. “Maybe in a bit.”
“You’re probably right.” She leaned close and said in a mocking undertone, “Wouldn’t want to scare the children.”
For a moment I thought about playing dumb. Then I decided to roll with it. She was a grown woman, after all. Besides, she started it.
“Sorry,” I said. “They’re new. I’ve never worn ’em before.”
She feigned confusion. “The shorts…?”
“Yes,” I chuckled. “Of course, the shorts.”
“Okay. I was wondering. For a moment I thought you were talking about… you know.”
“Nothing new there, I’m afraid. It’s all original equipment.”
Her eyes flashed. “You said equipment.”
“You’re as bad as Christy.”
“Maybe worse.” Her next thought was obvious, I haven’t gotten laid in how long? “Why?” she added aloud. “Is that so wrong?”
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“Oh, no,” I chuckled. “I’m gonna plead the fifth on that one.”
“On the grounds that you might incriminate yourself?”
“Exactly.”
She laughed softly, and I caught the silver flash of her tongue stud, which was probably what she’d intended. Then she moistened her lips, in case I’d missed the first hint. I knew other women with their tongues pierced, but most of them were in their twenties. Allie was the only mom besides Christy. They both liked teasing me about it, and Allie had done it almost from the moment we’d met.
“Oh, boy,” I said, “is it getting hot in here?”
“I dunno, you tell me.”
“Think I’ll take your advice and get out of the sun. I’m going over there.” I nodded toward the table and chairs on the breakfast patio. “You’re welcome to join me.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
I waded toward the stairs and climbed out. The conversation had only made things worse, and my dick was harder than ever. Fortunately, my towel covered the bulge in my suit as I dried my face and chest.
I kept my back to the kids, but they were too preoccupied to notice. They’d finally run out of energy and were floating on pool noodles in the deep end. Even Spike and Buck had settled down. They watched me from the shade of the master bedroom patio without a care in the world, for my hard-on or anything else.
Allie moved beside me and picked up her own towel. She didn’t say anything, but I felt her presence like a hot wind. She was nearly my height, and I watched her chest out of the corner of my eye as she dried off.
She waited until I looked at her directly before she gathered her hair over her left shoulder and squeezed out the water. The trickle ran down her chest and disappeared into the valley between her breasts. Her nipples made little shadows in the material of her swimsuit. She gave me a coy smile and practically dared me to look.
“Hey, Dad…?”
Allie held my attention and wouldn’t let go, so Emily raised her voice with eleven-year-old impatience.
“Dad…? Dad…? Dad!”
“Saved again,” I said to Allie, who grinned. I put on my dad face and looked toward the girls. “Yes, sweetie?”
“Can we order dinner soon?”