by T. L Smith
“I wish I could,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I want to know my daughter. Meet me tomorrow at three, or else my lawyer will be sending you papers for court.” Mitchell stands, throws some bills on the counter.
The asshole comes from money. He bragged about it the first time I met him, when he was drunk, of course. I should have guessed back then he was a dick. All the signs pointed in that direction, but I was too transfixed on the way he would stare at me. It was as if I was some magical creature or, maybe now that I think about it, it was just the alcohol.
“You sure you don’t want to pick things up where they left off?” He stares at my tits. “I could fuck a mother, especially one that looks like you.”
I cringe at his words. “Get the fuck out before I throw you out, Mitchell.”
“Tomorrow, at three, Kat. Don’t be late.” He leaves, Fred holds the door open for him as he walks out.
Catching my breath—the one I didn’t know I was holding—I start to walk into my office and shut the door, locking myself inside. I lean against it with my head simply trying to come to terms with his words.
“Oh, Katarina, it can’t be that bad seeing me.”
My eyes lift to see Blaze sitting in my seat with his feet kicked up on my desk as he plays with a knife, shuffling it around his fingers.
Fuck.
Chapter Fifteen
Blaze
“Smile, Katarina, I won’t bite. Yet.” I snap my teeth at her, and her eyes, which were sad a moment ago, thin as she pins me with her stare.
“What the fuck do you want?”
“What don’t I want?” I kick my feet off the desk. “I don’t want to be left with blue balls. That’s one.”
Kat waves her hand at my words. “Get over it! What? You’ve never had a woman walk out on you?” she asks, her eyes lifting in half a roll. When I don’t reply, they widen. “Oh my God, you haven’t, have you? You’ve never had a woman tell you no?” She slaps her leg, then leans down, placing a hand on each leg and bursts out laughing. “This is good. Damn! This is… oh so good.” Uncontrollable laughter bubbles and just doesn’t stop.
I push up from the desk and walk over until I am standing in front of her. Her laughter takes on a whole new level, and it simply makes me angrier. Waiting for her to finally stand up, I tap my foot, which she also points at while still crouched over and laughs even harder.
“Katarina, are you done?” I ask.
She stands, and when she does, tears are running down her face, and there’s a smile on her lips, but it’s forced.
“Why are you crying?”
Kat wipes at her face, smudging her mascara even more than it is.
“That’s on a need-to-know basis, and you don’t need to know.” She stands taller. “But thanks for a laugh, I really needed it today.”
“You’re welcome,” I reply, confused at her words.
“Why are you here, Blaze?” Her eyes flick to her desk. “And at my desk.”
“I came in to make sure that there haven’t been any more problems.”
Her eyes narrow and she looks to my hand. “Why is there a knife in your hand?”
I slide it into my back pocket. “That’s on a need-to-know basis.” I throw her words right back at her.
Kat sidesteps me and walks over to her desk, and when she gets there, she groans.
“Were you really trying to break into my desk?” She wiggles the drawer, which pops open.
That fucker took me ages to try to open, and even then, I had no luck, as the bastard was locked tight.
“Oh God, you were. You look so guilty right now.” She bites her lip and crosses her arms over her chest, leaving the drawer, which is now pulled open. “Come… have a look, if you want.”
One of the security team and Sparkle mentioned Kat keeps everything stashed in that drawer. No one has seen what’s in it, which, of course, had me interested. Walking over, I look down to see panties, bras, and stockings.
I smirk. “Tell me they’re used.” I grab a G-string and she tries to snatch it back from me but misses.
“No, you asshole. They are backups for me.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Backups?” I question.
“Oh, you know, in case a man comes in and gets me so fucking hot that I have to change my panties. But that hasn’t happened since you started coming in.”
“We can change that,” I say as she slams the drawer shut and reaches for her phone before she starts walking past me. When she gets to the door, she turns back and smiles.
“No, you make me soaked. So, I just don’t bother with panties when I know you’re around.” She winks, then walks out.
I like seeing that I put a smile back on her face.
But that raises the question. Why was she so sad to begin with?
“If you can’t do your job, Silver, I will send your ass home. I don’t want your excuses.” I hear Katarina yelling at the girls. I don’t go back there, but I stand back listening to Kat screaming. She’s avoided me for most of the night. Granted, I stayed in Kat’s office working, but now I’ve been looking around, I want to know how this works, in case one day I no longer have Kat around.
“She’s a boss,” Steve says, coming to a stop next to me. He looks up at my stone-faced glare and looks away fast.
“The girls respect her?” I ask.
Steve doesn’t look back to me when he answers, “Yep.” He walks forward, then stops. “You can come back. They all know who you are, thanks to Silver. Which is why she’s arguing with Kat now,” Steve says, making my eyebrows pinch together. I follow him back and see who Silver is and groan.
Of course.
Both sets of eyes look at me, and I smirk, walking over to Katarina.
Silver, who I know by another name, crosses her arms over her chest.
“I know him. He will be fine with me going,” she says back to Katarina.
“Then I’ll fire your ass,” Katarina retorts back to Silver.
Silver’s eyes go wide, and she looks to me for help. I say nothing.
“You’re going to let her fire me?” she yelps.
“You do know I run this place, not him,” Katarina states firmly to Silver. “Don’t be a pain in my ass, Silver. Go and do the job you’re paid to do. Before I follow through and fire your ass.” Silver’s bottom lip puckers out in some sort of pouting motion, and she storms off like a petulant child who’s just been disciplined.
Turning around to face me, Katarina places her hand on her hip. “You,” she seethes. “How do they know you bought this place?”
“I know most of the girls,” I reply. They come to the club often. They’re fun to watch.
“Of course, you do. How many have you slept with?” She places her hand up immediately. “No. Stop! I don’t want to know. Don’t tell me.” Kat turns and walks off.
I follow until we pass the naked girls who are getting ready. I pay them no attention as I pursue the hot little ass in front of me. When she gets to the back door, she reaches for a bag and walks out. Just before the door closes, I follow her, the door shutting behind me.
“Stalking isn’t a quality you should be aiming for,” she says, opening the bin and throwing the bag inside it. Wiping her hands on her pants, she turns to me.
In two strides, I’m in front of her. My hands reach around her waist, holding her to me, then my lips smash against hers in a fiery kiss.
I can’t fucking resist.
They’ve been teasing me since the moment I saw her tonight, and I need to have a taste. She doesn’t disappoint at all. This woman tastes like all my wicked desires joined into one, and everything I shouldn’t damn well want.
Kissing Katarina is like drowning. You know you need to help yourself, you know you should come up for breath, but the fight doesn’t win out. And soon you’re drowning, unable to stop yourself as you grip on for dear life, hoping she will look just once before you go under.
Kat’s hips push into me, and I groan. Biting her lip
as she catches her breath, I don’t let her catch it for long. I’ve craved this crazy bitch ever since I tasted her. And now she’s the only thing on my fucking mind. I can’t seem to escape her.
Hands touch my chest and push me back, breaking our kiss. “Stop!”
And I do, my hands drop from her body, and she steps back. Her body goes forward as she bends over, hands going on her knees.
Fuck! Is she laughing? I’m so confused.
When she finally stands, she has a straight face. There’s no humor there at all.
“We can’t do this. I have a lot going on.”
“Wasn’t it your plan to make me love you?” I ask her.
Kat touches her lips and smirks. “You’re almost there,” she says. Then she walks back inside, leaving me standing there confused as fuck at her words and laughter.
How could I almost be there? That makes no sense.
What? Because I haven’t touched another person since I tasted her? That I don’t want to touch another person since her?
Fuck!
Is she right?
No, the bitch is crazy.
I don’t fucking fall in love.
Ever!
Though, I did say the same thing about my brother, and he is the last person I would have thought could love, yet now, he can’t seem to breathe without Rochelle.
Wiping at my own lips, which I am sure contain traces of her, I walk around the building and leave.
Chapter Sixteen
Kat
My hands shake as I wait for Mitchell. My leg bounces and I have to hold it to contain it. Why on earth did I agree to this? I see him before he sees me. He’s dressed in a suit, and he looks good. Asshole. Mitchell spots me and turns my way where I’m sitting on the park bench. I don’t get up when he reaches me, being too nervous and afraid of what I will actually say or do. You know, like kill him for one. He is Annabelle’s father, after all, even if he is the shittiest one on God’s earth.
“I didn’t think you would come. I mean, I saw that night when you were out for dinner that you love Annabelle, but you were so self-centered before her I didn’t really believe what I was seeing.”
He isn’t wrong. Before Annabelle, I didn’t care for anyone or anything but my own well-being. She changed a lot for me, and I see the world completely differently now, and I want to be a better person so Annabelle grows up knowing she can be her best self, no matter what.
“I’m here,” I say, my hands still on my leg to stop it from bouncing.
He sits next to me. “You didn’t bring her.” He doesn’t ask in a question, more of a statement.
“No.”
“I want to know her, Kat.”
There he goes again.
I look up at the kids playing soccer on the oval in front of us and sink back, my legs stopping any sort of bouncing now, my nerves gone.
“Why? Why do you really want to know her, Mitchell? I told you about her when I was pregnant. You sent me money to get rid of her.” I shake my head at the thought. I love Annabelle so much, and imagining my life without her in it literally kills me.
Mitchell rubs his hands through his blond hair. “Because I was fucked-up. You saw who I was. Drugs, women. I had no care. I just wanted what I wanted. No consequences.”
“Annabelle isn’t someone you can walk away from. You can’t just know her when it suits you.”
“I’ve purchased a house here. My job is here. I did all that before I planned to come see you, but then I saw you both at that restaurant and couldn’t stay away.” Mitchell turns, his eyes so blue, just like mine, stare at me. “What do you need me to do to be able to prove to you that I will try? I will take things at your pace. I was harsh yesterday. Too harsh. But I know that’s not the way I should be. You’ve raised her. You are raising her. I just want to help. Somehow be a part of that.”
I don’t ever want to hinder Annabelle from getting to know her father. I want her to know I did everything possible for her to try and know him. And I hope he proves me right. I don’t know Mitchell all that well, but what I do know of him is that he isn’t reliable.
Turning to him, I see hope in his eyes.
Could he be telling the truth?
“How about you start paying for some of her things, for a start. Raising her isn’t cheap,” I huff out.
Shit! My family is going to blow a gasket.
Mitchell reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wad of bills, handing them to me. I don’t take it.
“No, Mitchell, I don’t want your money. Buy her nappies, food, clothes, toys,” I say, looking down at the cash.
He immediately withdraws it, and pulls back. “I’m rich, you know. I can give you as much as you need.”
“I don’t want your money, Mitchell,” I reiterate.
“You wouldn’t have to work,” he tells me with a smile.
I hold up my hands. “Whoa there, buddy, I don’t want you. Not now. Not ever. You may be her father, but to me you’re just that. Nothing more.”
“Fair enough.” He nods.
“My family hates you. This is going to have to be a slow process. I won’t just let you have her for sleepovers or even take her anywhere I can’t see her. Annabelle doesn’t know you. You are a stranger to her,” I tell him, standing. I look down at my watch.
“Okay, so maybe I should start with them?” he asks hopefully.
“Do you really want to know Annabelle? Or is this some sort of scam?”
“No. I almost died six months ago, and well… that kind of thing has an impact on you.” He looks down at the ground.
“How did you almost die?”
“Alcohol poisoning,” he says. Although the way his face screws up and his brows draw together almost immediately, it tells me he regrets talking about it. “Don’t think less of me. I haven’t drunk for a while.”
“Last night at the club?”
“Club soda,” he says, holding his hands up.
“I’ll be in contact. And Mitchell?” He looks at me. “Slow.”
Mitchel nods, and I walk away.
Getting into my car, I drive and attempt to hold back the tears.
Realizing that soon, I may not have Annabelle to myself anymore.
Rochelle is the first out the door, Marcus close behind her. As soon as I get there, my mother stands in the doorway, Annabelle’s on her hip, and my father stands next to her.
“How did it go?” Rochelle asks in a hushed voice as I make my way up to where they’re all standing. Taking Annabelle from my mother, I kiss the top of her head as we go inside. Sitting her on the floor in front of me with her toys, she plays contentedly.
When I look up, they’re all watching me.
“I’m going to take it slow. Mitchell has to prove he wants to be in her life.” I look around at their shocked faces and wait for them to speak.
“No way! We can fight him on this,” my mother says. “You’re her mother. You’ve been raising her, not that bastard. The courts will see…” Her arms cross over her chest in a defiant motion, but there’s also glistening in her eyes.
“But if I can save the money and the hassle and added stress of a court case, I should. Also, she should know her father if he turns out to be legitimate.” I touch Annabelle’s hair, it’s the same color as mine.
“Are you sure, Kat?” Rochelle asks.
“I don’t know, honestly. But if we do go to court, he has the money for a damn good lawyer, and why fight him right now when he’s agreed to do things my way until I am comfortable.” I shrug my shoulders and take a deep breath.
“I can’t take this,” my mother says, grabbing her bag and walking out the door. My father walks over, kisses my cheek, and tells me, “I’m proud of the woman you are. It takes a strong one to let that man back in after everything he’s done, or should I say not done. Give your mom some time,” he says while touching my shoulder. “You two are so much alike, it’s scary.” Dad shakes his head as he follows Mom outside. He always follows her
. She picked a great man when she married my father. I hope one day to have the same kind of relationship they share. Maybe one day.
Looking up to Rochelle, she’s smiling. Marcus takes a seat as Rochelle walks over and sits down with Annabelle at my feet.
“He’s right, you know. You’re both hotheads and lose your temper quickly.” Rochelle smirks. “That’s why you butt heads so much.”
“Shut up,” I say while shaking my head.
“Do you need us to watch Annabelle tonight? I know you use a sitter, so you don’t have to use Mom all the time,” she says, surprising me.
“How did you know that?”
She kisses Annabelle’s doll before handing it back to her. Annabelle holds it up again, so she kisses it again at Annabelle’s request. “I came around one night, and you weren’t here.” She shrugs. “You could have asked. You know I will help.”
“I like having a sitter. But don’t get me wrong, I also love all your help. But you guys have a life as well. And honestly, I hate asking all the time.”
“Marcus has even started to warm to Annabelle.” Rochelle giggles as Annabelle stands and walks to where he’s seated. She holds her doll out for him to kiss too. He looks at it as if it’s got a third head.
“Kiss,” she says to him.
We watch and wait.
I look down to see Rochelle smiling so fucking big her cheeks must be hurting. I bet this is why she loves having Annabelle. Anything to make her fiancé uncomfortable.
“Kiss,” she says again to him.
He looks up and scrunches his eyebrows. “I don’t want to kiss it. Take it away,” Marcus says to her.
Annabelle’s bottom lip puckers, and she stays where she is holding her doll out to him. “Kiss,” she tries again. She knows only a few words and is learning more and more every day. It’s the cutest thing ever to hear her talking.
“No,” Marcus says, crossing his arms over his chest.
Annabelle touches his leg and pulls on his lap, trying to climb on him as he sits back. “Kiss,” she says, depositing the doll to the floor. Her mission now is to climb onto Marcus.
