Accidental Romance

by Melanie Brown

  “Dad thought I was crazy when I called him to tell him that he was going to get a call in a minute and he had to say that he represented Amber Johnson to the caller,” Steph laughed. “I bet this leads to commercials as well as more modeling. People from all over will see you.”

  “Oh God,” I said nervously. “That means even people back in Abilene. They’ll see me.”

  Steph punched me slightly in the arm and said, “Nobody, and I mean nobody is going to link this beautiful, young woman with some Bobby What’s-his-name from Texas. Your own mother wouldn’t recognize you.”

  I frowned. Some of the shine dissolved from my euphoria. “I sure hope you’re right.”

  After everything was packed away, Steph and I got back into Jack’s car and he dropped us off where Steph had left her car. A few minutes later, we were on our way back to Nate’s house. Steph dropped me off at the front door and drove away.

  When I entered the house, Nathan was sitting on the couch watching T.V eating some Chinese take-out. As I walked towards him, he surprised me by meeting me half way and greeted me with a kiss and led me back to the couch.

  “What’s this I hear from Tony?” asked Nate. “You’re a model now?”

  “Yeah,” I said as I plopped down on the couch beside Nathan. “One moment I’m being fitted for a gown and the next I’m posing for pictures in the park. I’m exhausted!” I closed my eyes for just a second and I fell fast asleep with my head on Nathan’s shoulders.

  * * *

  Chapter Four - The Accidental Daughter

  I opened one blurry eye and immediately felt disoriented. The sunlight entering the room seemed wrong. I closed my eye and felt better. I could feel my new boobs straining against the bra. A fleeting thought wondered why I was still in a normal bra instead of the sports bra I normally sleep in. As I became more awake, I noticed more that the bra straps were digging into my skin. At least my breasts were hurting less.

  I stretched in the cool sheets and rolled to my other side. My arm landed on something in the bed with me. I heard a muffled grunt. I wasn’t alone in the bed! I opened both eyes and lifted myself up on one elbow. This was Nate’s room. Holy crap! I was in Nate’s bed. With Nate. I peeked under the sheets and saw that it was a naked Nate.

  Nate rolled over towards me and sounding only half awake muttered something sounding like, “Good morning, darlin’.” Something flopped onto my bare leg. I didn’t want to touch it, or look so I quickly moved to the edge of my side of the bed. I then slid my legs over the side of the bed and looked at Nate struggling to wake up. I was only in my bra and panties.

  “Good morning, Nate,” I said in answer to his greeting. Nate grunted and looked at me with one eye. I just sat on the edge of the bed wondering how I got here. Last thing I remembered was sitting down with Nathan on the couch after getting back from an afternoon of modeling.

  Nathan yawned and even though the sheet covered it, I could tell he was scratching his crotch. He swung his legs off the bed and stood up and stretched, with his back to me. I turned my gaze back to the wall.

  I stared at the floor. “Why am I in your bed, Nate? We didn’t um… uh…”

  Nate turned to face me and said, “Are you suggesting we had sex just because you woke up in my bed? You were exhausted, and I was tired myself. I carried you up the stairs and just dropped you in my bed. I took your skirt and shirt off. Other than that, I didn’t touch you, if that’s what you’re worried about. By the way, you spooned me the whole night.”

  I stood up, trying not to look at Nate. “Well, I hope you enjoyed it, because I don’t remember doing anything besides waking up. Please. Put on some underwear or something. I’ll make breakfast.”

  “Definitely my kind of woman. Great in bed and cooks, too,” he then laughed.

  I frowned, “That really isn’t funny.”

  It’s difficult to not look at a well endowed naked man who is standing right in front of you. It’s one thing to see Nathan, shirtless, water dripping down his muscled chest, wearing wet, tight swim trunks on the movie screen and quite another to see him standing there in the flesh. He has an impressive build, and it’s easy to see why women are so attracted to him.

  Nate saw my eyes linger on his manhood and grinned, “Like what you see?”

  “Don’t go getting a big head.” When he grinned, I said, “Okay, that wasn’t the best choice of words. But you know what I meant. I’ve just never seen you naked before.”

  “You are dating me, so it’s probably about time,” Nate grinned even more. “You have any idea how many women would love to be standing where you are right now?”

  I flipped the hair out of my eyes and said, “Your ego is showing, Nate. Put something on and come downstairs and I’ll make some breakfast.” I turned away from him and started to walk out the bedroom door. As I passed by him, he gave my butt a swat. I turned around to glare at him.

  Still delivering his award winning smile, Nate said, “Oh, come on! Admit it. You liked it.”

  I continued towards my room and said, “I hope you like your eggs scrambled.” I went in my room and slipped on a t-shirt and sweatpants and then hurried down the stairs towards the kitchen.

  * * *

  I looked up from my plate of bacon and eggs to look at Nate who was just poking at his breakfast with his fork. While it’s difficult to screw up making bacon and scrambled eggs, I thought it was pretty good. I said, “Something wrong with your eggs?” This was the first time I’d made us breakfast so screwing it up wasn’t out of the question.

  “Hmm? What? Oh, no. They’re great,” said Nathan. “I was just thinking.”

  I smiled at him. “Remember, that’s not one of your strong points.”

  He shook his head and said, “No, seriously. Last night I should have put you in your own bed or even just left you on the couch. I don’t know why I put you in my bed. You looked so beautiful and peaceful sleeping against me on the couch; I hated to wake you up. So I carried you up the stairs.”

  I frowned slightly and said, “I kinda wish you had woke me up. I slept in my make-up. I would have preferred to have washed my face at least before going to bed.”

  Ignoring me, Nate continued, “I wasn’t kidding when I said you spooned me all night. You pulled close to me and draped an arm across my chest. Feeling your breasts pressing into my back and sliding my hand up and down your silky smooth legs really started to turn me on. I desired you.”

  “I wasn’t doing anything on purpose, Nate. I was asleep.” Part of me felt excited that he was turned on by me. Another part of me slapped the other part scolding it that I wasn’t really a girl.

  He looked up and reached across the table to touch my hand, “I’m sorry, Amber. But I’m finding it harder to think of us not being in a real relationship. I see your boobs, the way you wear your hair, your perfume, the way you do your eyes and I find it impossible to see you as anything other than a real girl.”

  I placed my other hand on top of his and massaged his knuckles for a few moments. I admit that I have really enjoyed being a girl the past couple of weeks. And yes, I’ll admit that I enjoyed more than I should have being in Nathan’s arms and being kissed by him. It was tempting to move our pretend relationship into a real one, but I knew that only disaster awaited us down that path.

  “I’m glad I’m being so convincing,” I said honestly, “and I’m actually enjoying being your girlfriend. I’m getting to do things I never dreamed of doing before. Not that I actually ever dreamed of being a fashion model, but it was still fun. And yes, it’s very easy to get caught up in this. We just have to keep our emotions in check. I’ve caught myself a couple of times wondering what it’d be like to be Mrs. Nathan Adams. Crazy, huh?”

  “I just have this feeling we’re headed for some kind of disaster,” Nate said, still holding my hand. “We’re getting too close, I think.”

  I smiled and said, “Well, it’s better than hating each other over this. You could be resenting me. Soon you�
�ll be jetting off to Europe, and I’ll be alone in this big house and going to Tony’s office to try to straighten out that rat’s nest. All we have to do is watch our emotions, keep this up for a few more days and then when we’re apart, we can return to our sanity. As long as either one of us can avoid saying the “L” word, I think we’ll be okay.”

  Nathan looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “That’s just it, Amber, I’m really starting to develop strong feelings…”

  I reached across the table and put my finger against his lips and said, “Don’t say it. This has to end one day. And when it does, I don’t want either of us feeling hurt. If we just stay cool and remember who we are, then nothing can go wrong.”

  The doorbell rang just as I was saying my last word.

  Nathan looked up at the kitchen clock and said, “It’s not even nine yet. I wonder who that could be.”

  “I’ll answer it,” I said. “You’re still in your underwear.”

  “I do have a robe on,” Nate protested.

  I stood up and unconsciously kissed the top of his head and exited the kitchen. The doorbell rang again as I crossed the living room. I keep forgetting how big Nate’s house is. For the first time I questioned why a single guy would have such a large home. I shrugged to myself and looked through the peep hole. On the other side of the peep, I saw a fish-eye view of an impatient Steph holding a manila folder.

  I opened the door and said, “Hey Steph. What brings you here so early?”

  Looking a bit perturbed, Steph held up the folder and said, “Dad wanted me to get these script revisions to Nathan as soon as possible this morning… and…” Steph paused and pushed the door open wider and motioned me to come forward. “… And there’s this woman who just got off at the bus stop down the block looking for a Bobby Johnson.”

  My jaw dropped as I stepped out of the house and looked to Steph’s side. There was my mother smiling pleasantly at me. Mom said, “Hello, miss. My son Bobby is supposed to be living here with his old pal Nathan. Is he here?”

  “Mom?” I said with my eyes wide and cold streak shooting down my back.

  My mother smiled with amusement and said, “No dear. I don’t have a daughter. But I have… say, you have an uncanny resemblance to me when I was your age.” She frowned slightly and added, “Does Bobby not live here? This is the address Nathan’s mother gave me.”

  Steph shot me a questioning glance to which I just shrugged at her and mouthed the words, “I don’t know!”

  “Let’s all step inside and discuss it,” I said as I motioned for everyone to enter the house.

  Nathan stepped into the living room with his robe open revealing his chest and of course his exposed hairy legs. He looked at the three of us coming into the house and he suddenly choked on the coffee he was drinking. He coughed and tried to collect himself before saying, “Mrs. Johnson! What are you… I mean how… I … um… What a surprise! Come in, welcome!”

  Mom walked up to Nathan and gave him a hug. “Nathan! It’s so good to see you! Just look at you! Big movie star and all! See what happens you finally get away from computer games? That’s why I sent Bobby here. Is he here? He told me he was living here already.”

  Nathan looked like he was trying to shrink and just looked at the floor. He said, “Um, well… He uh…” Nate looked at me with raised eyebrows.

  Steph sat down in one of the easy chairs and said with a grin, “I want to hear this!”

  Mom turned around to look at each of us, a confused look on her face. She said, “Well? Where’s Bobby?”

  I looked at the floor for a second and then finally said, “Mom.”

  Looking sympathetic, Mom said, “Honey, I’m sorry, I’m not…” She stopped in mid-sentence as she took a closer look. She looked over the top of her glasses to stare at me. She took a few steps towards me before saying, “Bobby? Is… is that you?”

  With a sheepish expression, I said, “Yes, Mom. It’s me.”

  Mom stepped closer and looked me up and down. She said, “What in the Sam Hill is my son doing looking like some trollop?”

  “It’s complicated,” I offered. “And I don’t think I look like a trollop.”

  Steph nodded her head to suggest that I did look like a trollop. I then remembered the make-up I still hadn’t washed off that I slept in. I must look a mess.

  “Explain yourself, Bobby! What if your father saw this! God rest his soul!” Mom heaved a huge sigh.

  “Dad’s not dead, Mom,” I said.

  “He will be when he hears about this!” admonished Mom.

  I desperately tried to think of something more believable than the truth to tell her.

  Nathan said, “Please have a seat, Mrs. Johnson. Would you like some coffee? Steph, make yourself useful and bring Bobby’s mother some coffee.”

  Mom took the offered seat, but waved off the coffee. She pointed at me and said, “Breasts? Are… are those real?”

  I smiled weakly and said, “It depends on what you mean by real.”

  Steph said, “Best that money can buy!” I gave her a withering glare.

  “What kind of perversion is this?” cried Mom as she stood back up. She turned to Nate and said, “Is this your doing?”

  Nate held up his hands and said, “It wasn’t my idea.”

  Mom spun to glare at me. I raised my hands and said defensively, “It wasn’t my idea either!”

  “There must be some reason why my son is a now a girl!” said Mom as her face turned red.

  Steph pointed at me and then to Nate and said, “Your son is Nate’s girlfriend.” As we both turned to glare at her, Steph raised her hands and said, “Hey, we don’t have all day. Let’s just get it out there for her.”

  Mom turned to Nate and said, “You pervert! My son comes to you for a job and you force him to be your sex slave? Wait ‘till your mother hears about this!”

  Nate, losing all his cool demeanor and looking nervous said, “Now, now, Mrs. Johnson. It’s not like that at all!”

  “Mom! Don’t blame Nate!” I exclaimed. “None of this was his fault. None of this was my fault.” I looked over at Steph and pointed. “It was all her fault!”

  No longer amused, Steph jumped up and said, “Liar! You bitch… sorry Mrs. Johnson… how can you say it’s my fault? My dad just asked me to do what you two wanted!”

  Mom whistled and made a T sign with her hands and said, “Time out you three. Bobby, I’m holding you responsible as I doubt very much you got infected with breasts by this lovely young lady or that you were held at gunpoint by terrorists and forced to have breasts. No matter what crazy reason you have for breasts the size of melons the ultimate decision was yours.” Mom folder her arms and scowled at me before continuing, “From the beginning, Bobby. Spill it.”

  I stood there for a moment trying to catch my breath, my head spinning. I glanced at Steph who continued to scowl, her arms also folded. Nate looked like he just wanted to go back to bed and hide. I took a deep breath, “Well, for starters, the boobs are still her fault. She took me to the clinic!”

  “Knock it off, Amber!” Steph stood again. “Or I’ll take those boobs back right now!”

  Nathan raised his hands again. “Girls! Girls! Come on now. Amber, tell your mother just what is going on.”

  Mom frowned, “Yes Amber, do go on.”

  “Okay, okay,” I said. I sat down on the arm of the chair Steph was sitting in. She pushed me off onto the floor. Rubbing my buttocks and frowning at Steph, I stayed on the floor and folded my legs. I said, “Ok, Mom. Well, it all started as a big, huge, stupid mistake that took Nate and me totally by surprise.”

  Sparing no detail, I began telling Mom the whole story starting with the photo that looked like Nate was kissing me up to making breakfast this morning. Mom’s expression ran the gamut from amusement, to horror to outright disgust when I mentioned kissing Nathan. Overall, she was quiet as I was describing events, stopping me only to ask what my bra size is and how I prepared the scrambled
eggs this morning.

  Silence reigned for several minutes after I finished bringing Mom up to date. She stared at me with a tight-lipped scowl, while rapping her fingers on the arm of her chair. Finally she stood up, sighed deeply, “Well, it’s certainly been an educational morning. I think I’ll try to catch a flight back today and help your father write you out of the will.”

  I touched Mom’s arm, “Now Mom. Nothing hasty, okay? No reason to go back home today all angry and everything. You should take in the sights. Go to Sea World or Knott’s Berry Farm or something.” I paused for a second and then said, “Dad doesn’t have a will. Before I left, he was toying with the idea of doing one on-line.”

  Mom jerked her arm from my hand and said, “We’ll write one, and then write you out of it!”

  Nate came around Mom’s side, holding her arm and shoulder and said, “Please, Mrs. Johnson. Let me offer you the hospitality of my home. You can stay here as long as you like… for a day or so.”

  “A day. A month. Doesn’t change that you’re all a bunch of pervs.” Mom shook off Nathan’s hand and started to walk towards the door.

  Steph sighed, jumped up and stepped beside Mom, “Mrs. Johnson! You can’t leave now! Let’s take a walk in Nathan’s backyard. He has a beautiful garden where it’s quiet and you and I can have a little girl talk, okay?”

  Nate and I stood there and watched my mom and Steph walk through the kitchen and out into the backyard. I buried my face into Nathan’s shoulder and started to cry. Into his shoulder, I shouted, “Shit!”

  I backed away from him and sat in the chair Mom just vacated and held my face in my hands, tears streaming down my cheeks. “What the fuck is Mom doing here? Why didn’t she call or something?”

  Nathan walked over to me and stroked my hair, “I’m sure she wanted to surprise you. Next week I leave for Europe, so maybe she wanted to be here to make sure you were ready for that.”

  “I’m twenty-five years old,” I cried. “I’m a big girl… um, boy.”

  Nate continued to stroke my hair, “I’m sure she’s just worried about you. She had no idea we were dating. I imagine it would be quite a shock to her.”