“We have a gas leak in a pipe that runs through the north acreage, and I need to supervise the guys fixing it, make sure nothing gets blown up,” he told her as she heard his truck door slamming over the phone connection. “Lynn can get her there, but then she’s going to Monterrey for the day right after drop-off.”
“It’s no problem at all. I was only doing some bookkeeping this morning, I’d much rather go to dance rehearsal. Trust me on that.”
Ty chuckled. “Well, she’ll be thrilled to have you there. I’m sending her costume to class with her so she can put it on before she goes to the dress rehearsal.”
“Of course. Any other instructions?”
“Mm,” he murmured, his voice early morning raspy. “Maybe send me a picture of you in bed? That’d make my day watching a bunch of guys covered in dirt a lot more bearable.”
“You’re terrible.” She grinned.
“I’m bewitched,” he answered. “I can’t get enough of this Viking princess I captured.”
Jodi’s smile softened, and her heart raced. “You need to go to work now.”
“I’ll be waiting on that picture, gorgeous,” he chided.
She rolled her eyes, though he couldn’t see her. “I’ll consider your request.”
After they hung up, Jodi climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom. Her hair was a tangled mess, and the thin white tank top she’d slept in showed nipples and side boob. She looked at herself critically in the mirror and was about to bring a hairbrush to her head when her phone chimed on the counter. She looked down at the screen.
Ty: don’t brush your hair, don’t put on a speck of makeup. I want what I’d see if I could sleep in your bed every night.
Jodi felt her whole face grow warm, while other parts went tingly. She glanced once more at herself in the mirror, then shrugged and went back to bed. Lying down on her back, she held the phone up above her so it showed both her hair splayed across the pillow and the skimpy top she wore. Then she pursed her lips a touch and clicked the shutter.
She sent the photo with no words and waited. A reply came in seconds.
Ty: Fuck. I’m not sure if that made my morning better or worse. I’m going to be at the site with a hard-on all damn day now.
Jodie: Just being accommodating. You asked for it.
Ty: And trust me, I’m grateful. Really grateful. You have any close-ups of that top you’re wearing?
Jodi couldn’t control the way her lips turned up into a devious smile. She’d never done this before—the phone-sex thing—but she thought she might like it.
She slipped her free hand under the stretchy fabric, kneading her left breast while she also arched her back. She took the picture of her torso only, her nipples popping through the white cotton, her waist and belly button showing in the strip of exposed skin below the shirt’s hem.
When Ty’s return text came, it was a picture too—of his very obvious erection under the fly of his jeans.
Ty: That’s what you do to me.
Before she could respond, the phone rang and his name popped up on her screen.
“Hi,” she answered, already breathless.
“I’m dying here.” His voice was deeper than normal and coarse.
“You started it,” she reminded him.
“And you’re going to finish it.”
“I’m across town, cowboy. Not much I can do for you from here.”
She heard him grunt something, and then there was a pause.
“Okay. Let’s do this.”
“Do what?” she asked, her brow furrowing.
“I’m off the road. Tell me what you’re doing.”
“Um, I’m talking to you on the phone.”
“Gorgeous, you’re terrible at this. I guess I have to lead the way. Lie down and close your eyes.”
She did what he said.
“Now, squeeze that tit the way you were in the photo.”
Ah. Now she understood. They were really going to do this?
“What will you be doing?” she asked.
“Whatever you tell me to,” he said darkly.
Her mind nearly short-circuited at that.
“Are you going to pretend it’s me doing it to you?”
“It is you doing it to me, gorgeous. Just the memory of you in my head is enough to get me there.”
She smiled to herself as her hand slipped from her breast to the waistband of her underwear.
“Slide your hand over your abs,” she instructed. “Do you feel those ridges? They’re so damn sexy.”
“Mm,” he answered.
Her fingers drifted toward her core, and she knew she’d find it wet and waiting.
“You got those sweet fingers at your pussy?”
“Yes,” she gasped, her fingers sliding through the slickness there.
“Good girl.”
“Undo your jeans,” she commanded. “Take your cock out and fist it.”
“God, you’re dirty. My dirty Viking princess.”
“Ohh,” she moaned as she rubbed over her clit.
“That’s it,” he coached. “Feel my fingers there? My tongue? I’m licking you up and down, the perfect pressure on all the best places.”
“I have my lips wrapped around your cock” she answered, her voice strained with arousal.
“Yeah, gorgeous, you do, and fuck, that feels amazing.”
Words ceased, and all that could be heard was heavy breathing and soft moans. Jodi let the phone fall to the pillow beside her, speaker engaged.
She clutched her breast in one hand, the other sliding faster and faster over her clit, occasionally pausing to dip inside her core.
Her hips thrust in time with her fingers, and she was so close; then she heard Ty’s voice, demanding, taking charge, sending everything in her into overdrive.
“I’m close, gorgeous. Come for me.”
Her fingers circled and pressed harder, faster, and then she was crying out, the sharp, fast orgasm racing through her.
Ty heard her and groaned, “Fuck, yes,” as he came on the other end of the phone line.
“Oh my God,” she whispered as the last pulses rolled through her.
Ty chuckled in her ear. “You can say that again.”
“Who taught you to do that?” she asked as she picked the phone back up and held it to her ear.
“No one. I’m just so damn horny all the time with you, I’m having to get creative. I can’t spend all day every day in bed with you, so I need other outlets.”
She laughed. “Now you’re probably a mess.”
“But remember I’m the parent of a five-year-old. My truck is well stocked with wet wipes.”
“You’re an amazing guy, Ty Jenkins,” she told him softly.
“I’m amazingly nuts over you, Jodi Morgan.”
“I’ll get Katie at noon. And see you tonight?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, tenderness in every word.
They ended the call, and Jodi closed her eyes, a smile crossing her face as she drifted back to sleep.
15
“Mommy!” Katie cried as Jodi greeted her after dance class.
“Hey, pretty girl,” she said as she bent to pick up the bundle of pink and blonde.
Katie kissed her on the cheek, and Jodi squeezed her tight, gratefulness flowing through her like it did every time she touched the miracle she’d made from her own body.
“Daddy said you’re going to take me to dress rehearsal.”
“Yes, I am, so let’s get your stuff, and when we’re there, we’ll find a bathroom and get you into your costume.”
Katie wiggled, and Jodi set her down. Katie held her hand and led her to the coatroom where the students kept their bags. Possessions secured, they made their way to the car.
Once Katie was strapped into the booster seat in the back, Jodi took them to the elementary school where the dance school would hold their recital in a few days.
The gym was bustling with dancers, teachers
, and parents, mostly mothers. Jodi led Katie into the locker room nearby and helped her strip out of her leotard and tights and wiggle into a different set of tights and a purple tutu.
“My hair’s apposed to be in a bun,” Katie said, brow furrowed.
“Well, let’s see what we can do,” Jodi said, digging through Katie’s dance bag to see what was there.
“Ah, here’s a brush and some bobby pins. We can get it done with these.”
Katie sat patiently while Jodi chatted to her.
“You have my hair, and these curls are impossible to tame, I’ll tell you from years of experience. But if we braid the ponytail, then wrap it around like this, it’ll be a braided bun and it will stay in a lot better.”
“That’s pretty,” Katie said, looking in the mirror opposite the bench they sat on.
“And these little pieces at the front? I have the perfect thing for them.” She led Katie to the sinks and got a few drops of water on her fingers. “If you wet them, then curl them like so—” She wrapped the flyaway strands around her index finger, creating ringlets with them. “They’ll dry like this and won’t be flying all over the place.”
Katie nodded, a bright smile on her face. “You’re good at this, Mommy. My hair’s the prettiest.”
Jodi kissed her daughter on the top of her head.
“You look beautiful. Now you need to go dance like a prima ballerina.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she answered. “Daddy says if you’re going to do something, do it right.”
Jodi laughed. That was Ty all right. “Daddy’s right, so let’s get you out there to do it up.”
They exited the locker room and made their way to the director’s table, where the girls from Katie’s class were gathered.
“Why, Katie,” one of the mothers said as they approached. “What an interesting hairdo you have.”
Jodi’s brow furrowed as she looked around at the other dancers, all of whom had buns too.
“My mommy did it,” Katie announced proudly, obviously not catching the woman’s critical tone as Jodi had.
“You mean your nanny, sweetheart?”
Katie frowned in confusion. “No, my mommy,” she said, pointing to Jodi.
“Hi,” Jodi said, leaning toward the woman with her hand extended. “I’m Jodi, Katie’s mother.”
The woman looked at her hand as if it had a disease, and Jodi retracted it with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh! Well, I’d heard about you, but I thought it must be a silly rumor. I mean who’s ever heard of a woman who gave her child up coming back?”
Jodi’s throat swelled, and she stifled the urge to cover Katie’s ears from hearing the poison.
“Well, here I am,” she said with as much bravado as she could muster. “Not a rumor.”
“Katie, hon,” the woman said, bending over so she was at eye level with the kindergartener. “You can’t dance with your hair like that. Remember how all the dancers need to have the same hairstyle? If you come with me, we’ll get you all set. I have hairspray and an extra hairnet to do your bun right.”
“I like my hair the way it is,” Katie protested, looking to Jodi for confirmation.
“I’m sorry,” Jodi said, though she was anything but. “I’m not sure what’s wrong with her hair?”
“What’s wrong, Katie?” asked a dance teacher as she approached.
“Oh, I was just explaining that she can’t perform with her hair like that,” the evil mother interjected. “It’s fine. I can fix it for her.”
“Hi, Jodi, isn’t it?” the teacher asked, putting out her hand.
Jodi shook it, giving demon mother a look that said, This is what you do to be polite.
“Yes, it’s nice to see you again.”
The teacher smiled patiently. “Ty may not have told you, but all the girls have to wear a traditional ballerina bun, no hair around their faces, no braids or curls. There are specific instructions for how to do it at the director’s table.”
“But I don’t want to change my hair. It’s pretty,” Katie said, her lip jutting out in defiance.
“I’ll tell you what,” the teacher said, kneeling down to Katie’s level. “Why don’t you keep it this pretty way for today since it’s only dress rehearsal, and then for the performance, your mom can do it like the instructions say?”
Katie looked up at Jodi.
“That’s a great compromise, don’t you think?” Jodi asked, pasting a smile on her face.
“Okay,” Katie conceded. “But Mommy? Can we do my hair like this for school?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good!” the teacher announced. “Now that’s all solved, Meghan, I think they’d like your help at the third-grade lineup.”
Demon mother smiled like a snake. “Of course,” she oozed, before taking her pointed tail and heading off to another part of the gym.
“And Katie,” the teacher said, taking Katie’s hand. “Let’s get you to your line. Your mom will be right in the bleachers watching.”
Jodi nodded, smiling as the teacher led Katie away. Then she put her head down and speed walked to the locker room, where she shut herself in a stall before the tears started to flow.
Stupid, stupid thing. What had she been thinking? She really thought she could be a mother after missing the first five years of her life? She didn’t even know the most basic things about Katie’s life. She’d missed all the milestones—first steps, first words, first dance class. She snorted wryly. That was probably the one where they told you about the damn rules for how to do hair.
She leaned back against the door. God. What a mess. Maybe it would be for the best if she took a step back. Let Ty and Lynn do the hands-on parenting. She could be a great cheerleader, go to the functions, tell Katie how fabulous she was, but keep a bit more distance. She obviously wasn’t cut out for this. Her instincts were crap. And why wouldn’t they be? Her own mother had barely even known the name of Jodi’s school. She’d managed to get Jodi fed and clothed—most days—but she’d never once set foot in the school past the first day when she had to sign paperwork. She’d never signed Jodi up for a single activity, never attended one of Jodi’s volleyball games in high school and was late to high school graduation. She didn’t even show up for college graduation.
Yes, Jodi came from the world’s worst maternal stock. And she’d just proven that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
She took a deep breath and wiped the last tear away. But all she could do now was tough it out and make sure Katie had a nice day at rehearsals. She blew her nose, stepped out of the stall, and fixed her makeup as best she could at the sinks before she went back to the gym and tried to pretend she knew what the hell she was doing.
It was the longest afternoon of her life.
Ty stood in the kitchen later that evening, trying to puzzle out what Katie was reporting to him and Lynn.
“But you said your hair was in a bun. So what was the problem?” he asked, confused.
“Not the right kind of bun,” Katie corrected, looking frustrated.
“They have rules about the ballerina bun,” Lynn said, rolling her eyes. “You remember the instruction sheet they send home every year.”
“Oh yeah. Lots of hairspray, right? So you look like a little seal with everything slicked off your face?”
“I like the way Mommy did it better, and she said our hair won’t stay off our faces ’cause it’s too curly.”
Ty sighed and looked to Lynn for help.
“Well, I wasn’t there,” she said, shrugging. “But we’ll get it all fixed before the recital next weekend, I’m sure.”
Ty knelt and tickled Katie on the stomach. “It’s all good, bug. We’ll make sure your hair’s done right.”
She giggled reluctantly. “I don’t like Samantha’s mom,” she announced.
“Well, she was just trying to help, I’m sure,” Ty said, even though he’d met the woman and thought she was a piece of work.
“She made Mommy sad
.”
“She did?” he asked, suddenly on high alert.
“Yes. After rehearsal, she looked like she’d been crying. I don’t want her to be sad, Daddy.”
“Of course not.” Ty was somber.
Lynn shot him a concerned look.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said, putting on a grin for Katie’s sake. “If you go get ready for bed super fast, I’ll let you watch a little of the national rodeo championships on TV with me.”
“Yay!” She jumped up and down. “Chasing cows! Knock ’em down and tie ’em up.”
Lynn chuckled and shook her head. Ty’s sweet, blonde daughter was notoriously bloodthirsty, naming any cow she encountered on the ranch, then asking if that was the one they were eating at dinner.
Ty rolled his eyes. “It’s a little more complicated than that, bug, but yes. Now go get your jammies on.”
After Katie left, Lynn turned from the sink where she was rinsing pots and pans from dinner. Ty packaged up leftovers and stored them in the refrigerator.
“You think something went wrong?” Lynn asked.
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Are you going to ask her about it?”
“Sure. I’ll give her a call after I get Katie in bed.”
Lynn nodded. “Good. I think we need to know exactly what happened.”
An hour later, Ty finally settled into a chair on the front porch with a beer in one hand and his cell phone in the other.
He texted Jodi.
T: Hey. Are you around?
He waited five minutes and didn’t get a response, so he tossed the phone aside and looked out at the darkness, listening to the sounds of the animals in the barn settling in for the night, along with crickets and bullfrogs starting up their nighttime activities.
He hadn’t needed to worry about another person aside from Katie in a very long time. The sensation was foreign to him. The thought of Jodi upset made him itch in his own skin. But he also couldn’t let Jodi’s feelings interfere with Katie’s needs. If Katie’s hair had to be done a certain way for her to be in the recital, then that was what had to happen even if it hurt Jodi’s feelings.
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