Extensive (A Single Dad Box Set)

by Claire Adams

  I pointed my gun in front of me, just in case something went wrong. As I tiptoed inside the front door, I looked cautiously from all sides. The burglar could be anywhere; I had to be ready to attack if the need arises. I pulled my phone in my pocket, carefully dialing 9-1-1 as I kept my guard around the place. As soon as the other line picked up, I told them to come to my place as soon as they could.

  “Please hurry up.”

  Just as I finished saying the last word, I spotted a shadow of a man walking out the back door of my house. He wore all black, and his mask was black as well, covering everything except for his eyes. My hand which held the gun vibrated hard, my heart jumping out of my chest. I could easily shoot and kill my target, but why would I? Instead, he fled without any problem as he crashed through the back door and ran out into the backyard.

  I melted to my knees, sinking down on the ground. My hands were still shaking desperately as I dropped the gun on the floor. It was the most life-threatening experience I had ever had, and where I was terrified, I still wasn’t willing to kill someone.

  I broke down and cried. I heard the police car siren pull up, which forced me back into reality. The police came inside and searched the area to see if the burglar was still around.

  “What happened, miss?” One of the police officers came to my aid, helping me stand to my feet. I tried my best to return to my old self, recalling how things were when I came to my house so I could answer the man’s questions.

  “I came here and found that the front door was open. I was frightened, but I wanted to find out what happened. I carried my gun and walked in.” The police officer was jotting down notes as I spoke. “And when I went inside, I saw a man. He wore a black mask and black clothes, so it was hard to get a visual on him.”

  In between our conversation, Hunter came running over to the house with Vince in tow. He stood beside me and wrapped an arm around me as he held Vince’s hand. “Kylie. What happened?”

  “Someone broke in again.” I leaned against him.

  He looked worried and saw that the gun he gave me was still lying on the ground, unused. He picked it up and gave it back to me. The police stared at me with a suspicious look on his face.

  “That your gun, miss?” he asked.

  Hunter spoke up. “Yes. She has a permit and a license to carry the gun. She purchased it from my gun shop.”

  The police nodded, satisfied by Hunter’s statement. He pocketed the notes and pen, turning back to me for additional inquiries. “So, I suppose you know how to use a gun, miss.”

  Hunter interrupted me. “Yeah, Kylie. I know you can shoot any target accurately, but why didn’t you fire it?”

  I faced Hunter, my eyes filled with fear. I shook my head, disappointed in myself.

  “I couldn’t pull the trigger. When I was about to shoot the man, something inside of me stopped me. I just can’t kill another person.” I looked down at the gun, grasping it.

  The policeman gave me a warm look. “That’s okay, miss. You did the right thing. We don’t know if the man had an accomplice or any weapon. Shooting him might have only caused things beyond your control in case you failed to shoot your target.” He looked over at Hunter. “You need to stay somewhere else, miss. We can’t let you hang around here, especially now that your doors are broken.” I looked around to see what he meant. Both doors of my house were knocked down by the culprit, the locks broken. I looked around the house. It was a mess. Almost all of my things were scattered about.

  “I see. I guess I’m going back to my mother’s house then,” I whispered half-heartedly. It felt like a bad move, seeing that we weren’t exactly on good terms.

  Hunter obviously had other plans for me.

  “We appreciate you guys for coming, Officer. She’s coming with me,” Hunter intervened, answering on my behalf.

  “Great. If you’ll excuse me then, I’ll help in investigating the area.” He turned his back and walked away from us. I kept my eyes on him, still in awe as to what he had told me. The fear that consumed me suddenly vanished. It felt like time stopped moving.

  “Dad. What’s going on?” Vince glanced up and asked.

  “Not now, buddy.” Hunter turned to face me. “Come on; it’s not safe here.”

  My heart was beating fast again. It wasn’t due to fear anymore, but the handsome man standing beside me, protecting me. He wanted me with him for the night, and I wasn’t going to refuse him. Not ever.

  Goose bumps raced down my skin as his hand entwined with mine, holding me tightly as he walked us out of my house. We walked across the yard and walked into Hunter’s house. Hunter released me and walked Vince back to the living room.

  He crawled up on the couch and started watching some cartoons. I sat down next to him and smiled down at him. “Thanks for coming to save me.”

  “You bet! Are you okay, Kylie? What were the cops doing at your house?” Those big, green, puppy-dog eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

  “Yeah, everything’s okay now. Don’t worry about it, Vince. Nothing you need to be worried about.” I stroked his dark hair.

  He looked at his father, confirming my statement. Hunter knelt down to stare into his son’s eyes. “She’s right, buddy. But to make sure things are okay, Kylie’s sleeping over so two superheroes can watch over her.”

  A big grin spread over his adorable face, captivating both of us, without a doubt.

  “You’re safe here, Kylie. Dad is the strongest hero ever!”

  Hunter kissed his cheek and took him to his bed, reminding him that it was past his bedtime already.

  I followed as Hunter took Vince to his room and then went to his own. It felt awkward to watch him make the bed. When he finished, he turned to face me with a smile on his face.

  “It’s been a long day for you. You can stay in here, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  He walked past me to leave, and my body tensed. I clenched my hands into fists as I listened fervently to his footsteps as he walked out, leaving me alone. I wanted him to stay with me so fucking bad.

  I wanted him to lie in the bed beside me. I ached for him to stay with me, to tell me everything was okay. I wished I had stopped him, but my head was jacked with all my problems and the long list of things I needed to do.

  Instead, I collapsed on his bed and tried to relax. I started to fall asleep, his scent lingering around me and calming my frantic heart.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Hunter

  The bright rays of the sun welcomed me to the new day, glistening before my closed lids to wake me up. I stretched as I yawned, still sleepy after a few long hours of sleep. I sat up on the couch, taking the blanket off.

  I sat up and took my phone from the coffee table alongside the couch. While I searched for Garren’s contact number, I thought of what to cook for breakfast. It was the least I could do for Kylie. I needed to pamper her, even just in my own, simple way.

  As I found his name, I dialed his phone and waited for him to pick up. After a few rings, Garren’s voice finally greeted me a good morning.

  “What’s the buzz, man? Why are you calling so early?” He sounded as if I woke him up from his sleep.

  “Garren, I need to take the day off today.” He asked for an explanation right before I was able to provide him one.

  “Why, dude? What happened?”

  “Things got out of hand last night. Kylie’s house was broken into again, and she needed a place to stay. I volunteered to keep her around in the meantime. It’s the least I could do for all the help she did for Vince and me.”

  He fell silent for quite some time. “Yeah, that’s good. I’m happy you’re finally on the right track, Hunter. I’ll get ready to go to the shop, man. No worries.”

  “Thanks, Garren. I owe you like ten at this point.” I smiled and dropped the call as he agreed. I did owe him, and knowing him, he wouldn’t let me live it down.

  I went to the kitchen and checked the pantry. Good thing I’d just gone to grab some grocerie
s. We needed them. Anticipating the dinner date tonight helped somehow. I wasted no time and prepped our first meal of the day.

  As soon as I finished making our breakfast, I went to Vince’s room to wake him up. There, I found Kylie sitting beside him as Vince showed her some of his drawings.

  “Look, Kylie! This one is you, and there is Dad. And of course, this one’s me!”

  I walked to see the drawing, but Vince hid it behind his back. I asked for him to show it to me, but he shook his head and stuck his tongue out instead. “No, Daddy. I’m not showing you this until you can take me to the lake and fish. I plan to give it to you as a present, so don’t cheat and look!” He kept the drawing out of my sight.

  “Okay, fine, I give up. Let’s eat breakfast instead, buddy. I prepared something special for our beautiful guest.” I held out my hand for Kylie.

  The three of us sat around our dining table. My mind drifted back to the dinner date I had with Kylie. A simple yet romantic night with her.

  I put the meal I had prepared on the table, the aroma filling up the entire room.

  “Let’s see what master chef Hunter has to offer,” Kylie teased, taking a little piece of everything onto her plate.

  I observed her every move, waiting for her verdict. I didn’t know why but I felt nervous and anxious about what she had to say. I hoped she liked what I prepared for her.

  “Mmm. I didn’t expect it to be this good. Come on, Vince. Try this out.” She put some of the food on the little guy’s plate and smiled over at me approvingly.

  Relief flooded me, and I filled up my plate and enjoyed the sounds of them enjoying the meal. Vince talked the entire time. The kid was too much.

  “So, I asked Jill why she needed to keep five pencils if she only needed one. Anyway, she has a big sharpener with her,” he narrated, introducing us to one of his classmates. We laughed at his innocent perspective on things. At such a young age, he knew the importance of being resourceful and thrifty. It made me feel a little better as a parent.

  “Hey, buddy. I forgot to tell you something,” I said when he ran out of things to say. “I took the day off today, so I can spend more time with you and Kylie.”

  Vince hopped out of his chair, jumping up and down. I took Kylie’s hand and squeezed it tight. She must have felt the same.

  “I like that idea. I will call Mom to say that I won’t be coming into the convenience store today.” After finishing her meal, she excused herself and called her mother. Vince continued his meal and finished off immediately.

  “Buddy, you should get that drawing ready for me. We’re going to the lake today.” His face lit up with a bright smile. Standing up from his seat, he ran toward me and hugged me with those tiny arms.

  “I love you, Daddy.” His words were the best prize I could get for all the work I did.

  “I love you too, buddy.” I kissed his head while I hugged him tightly. “You better take a bath and get dressed. We’ve got a fun day ahead of us.”

  He nodded and ran to his room to get his clothes ready for his bath. It was the day I had promised him for a long time. The day he had waited for so long. No disappointing him this time.

  Kylie returned after she had gone to her house to get some clothes, going alone after she finished her call with her mother.

  Crossing my arms, I glared at her like a father to his teenage kid. “Why did you go to your house alone?”

  She looked terrified by my sudden mood shift. “I needed clothes?”

  I stepped closer to her, the worry I felt evident through the expression in my eyes. “You know we can’t tell if it’s safe to stick around your house. The trespassers could be anywhere, baby. You should keep yourself guarded at all times.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” She nodded, the new clothes she took pressed close to her chest. Trying to ease the tension between the two of us, I tipped her chin to make her face me.

  Those daring pair of clear blue eyes bore into my soul, reminding me of the spark I felt the first day I saw her. Her beautiful face looked up at me, so delicate and gentle and charming, enticing me with just one look. I tucked her golden blonde locks behind her ear, keeping a strand that fell away from her face.

  “I want to keep you safe. Help me do that.”

  “Thank you. I want you to keep me safe too. I’ll help.”

  I released my hold on her. From the way she looked at me, I knew she felt the same. There was something special between us that I wanted to dive into, but it wasn’t time just yet.

  She excused herself to go to the bathroom and to prepare for the fishing trip. I proceeded to my room, getting ready myself for the trip. Crazy as it might seem, but I felt a sense of joy having her around. I wanted to protect her.

  After a few minutes of packing and preparing our stuff for the fishing trip, the three of us ventured to the road. Vince was happy to sit in the back seat, claiming that he wanted Kylie to be beside me throughout the journey.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off the woman beside me, her body everything I wanted beneath me. A cropped shirt allowed me to peek at her perfect curves, plus the high waisted shorts she wore fit her flawless legs. The red bandana in her hair made her look cool, keeping her locks away from her angelic face.

  We arrived at the lake and got out of the car. As I carried our stuff, Vince was eager to begin his search for his catch. He took his fishing rod and marched to the dock, finding the best spot to garner a lot of fish. Kylie walked behind him with an empty tin pail in her hand.

  I sat down and helped her down beside me, putting our stuff near us as we sat on the side of the lake. Kylie beamed at me with her captivating smile.

  She watched as Vince waited patiently for his bobber to go under. I couldn’t help but stare at her, memorizing everything I could about her. A smile played along my lips, and I reached out and brushed my fingers down her thigh.

  “Have you ever been fishing before?” I asked as she looked my way, stealing my breath.

  She squinted at me while grinning as if her secret was revealed. “First time. You seem to be getting a lot of my first times.”

  Heat rose up my chest as my cock twitched. The fact that I’d been her first lover meant more to me than she realized. “I want all of them.” I smiled.

  There was something new about her today. She looked more confident. “Thanks for letting me tag along. I think I’ll visit this place more often.”

  “So, you love the outdoors?”

  “Yeah, I love the sea too. I also love hiking. I’m an active person I think.” She was flexing her arm to exhibit an imaginary biceps. What captured my interest was the flesh that peeped out of her torso when her cropped top enabled a sneak peek. She looked fit and athletic, a body every woman would die to have.

  “But what surprised me is your cooking prowess.” She teased me with her elbow, smirking at me as she kept those big blue eyes on mine.

  “I believe you are the better cook between the two of us.”

  “I give up.” She raised her hands, pretending to surrender.

  As if on cue, Vince caught his first fish. He screamed happily as he reeled in the catch.

  Kylie looked surprised. “That’s a big fish, Vince! Way to go!”

  I took the fish off the hook. The wiggling, huge catch was a big trout, one big enough to eat. We put it in the pail as I put another worm on Vince’s hook, readying him for his second catch.

  Spending the next few hours teaching Kylie how to fish, and Vince catching the most fish out of the three of us, made the day one of the best I’d had in a long time. We got to ride back home with our ice cooler full of fish.

  After I had parked the car in the garage, I pulled our equipment and stuff out of the vehicle. Vince was asleep in the back seat, exhausted by his efforts to catch most of the fish in the cooler.

  After I had carried him to his room, I went to the kitchen where Kylie was cleaning up the plates we had brought along on the trip.

  “Hey,” I called out and let
my eyes run down the back of her perfect body, her ass grabbing my attention like a siren.

  Turning off the faucet to hear me out clearly, she faced me with her eyebrows raised. Her lips were parted. Even though thoughts of her during that night played before me, I focused my attention on her instead. “Yeah?”

  “I’m going to check your house, okay?” I waited for a response, but I got nothing. Instead, she walked forward, closing the gap between us. Her long, thick lashes batted alluringly as she blinked at me, timid in a way that left my body hard and aching.

  “Please come to your room when you get back. I have to show you something.”

  Despite the skepticism I felt, I was certain that I need not worry about anything. She smiled at me before I turned my back, leaving the house to check on hers.

  I walked around the yard, looking for traces of someone breaking in. I found nothing at all. The doors were still blocked the way we had left them. Even on the inside, there was nothing strange.

  After being assured that everything was okay, I returned to my house. I climbed the stairs, venturing the steps toward my room. I wanted to know what she was dying to show me. As I approached my room, my mind went wild with possibilities. I peeked an eye in the gap of the door and saw Kylie facing the other side, pulling her cropped top off, which left her creamy skin on display.

  “Hunter.” She turned to face me, her flawless skin exposed, her body so fucking beautiful. The only things she had on was her bra and matching skimpy panties. Her fair skin was inviting me, drawing me nearer. I stepped closer, lured by the beauty that was waiting for me.

  “I want you tonight.” She touched my face, pulling me closer to her.

  I wrapped my hands around her waist and leaned in. “You don’t know how much I’ve been controlling myself around you,” I murmured against her mouth, our lips touching tentatively.

  “Well, stop. I don’t want you to control anything…but me.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kylie

  I had been dreaming for days about Hunter. I’d ached to hold him in my arms again, to feel his hard body pressed against mine. To have him kiss my lips passionately like the first time was my deepest, darkest desire.