Rumor Going ‘Round Read online

  “Yep, Lindsay even put his bed in your room already,” I tell her.

  “Thank you!” She twirls in excitement.

  “You’re welcome,” Lindsay tells her, laughing at her antics.

  “How about you go get ready for bed quick,” I suggest.

  “Okay,” Paisley agrees.

  “Don’t forget to brush your teeth,” I call out down the hall. “You had lots of sugar today,” I add as an afterthought as to why she needs to make sure she brushes really good.

  “She’s either going to crash hard when her head hits the pillow, or she’s going to be awake all night with excitement because of Buckley.”

  “I hope it’s the first option. I’ve got some plans with you, but need her sleeping, first,” I tell Lindsay, pulling her in for a quick kiss.

  “Is that so, mister?” she asks, walking her fingers up my chest. She smiles up at me, her eyes bright with excitement.

  “I’ve had the need to sink inside you since I first laid eyes on you today. So, the past, oh,” I look at the clock and quickly calculate how many hours have gone by since she arrived “eight or so hours have been a small form of torture. My cock has been at half-mast that entire time.”

  “Mhmm,” Lindsay moans quietly. “I could say the same about you.”

  “Do you think you can stay quiet tonight? Or do I need to turn on the white noise machine?” I watch as a blush creeps up Lindsay’s neck and onto her cheeks. The few nights we’ve spent together this past week when I wasn’t working or when Paisley wasn’t with me, were not quiet ones. This will be the first night we spend together while I have Paisley.

  “I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises, so the sound machine might be a good idea. We don’t need to scare the poor girl,” she quips.

  I nip at her lips, wanting to do more, but I hear the sound of footsteps coming down the hall, so I just press my lips to hers in a chaste kiss and then pull away just as Paisley and Buckley round the corner.

  “We’re all ready for bed, Daddy,” Paisley says. She's in her PJs, and Buckley is sitting next to her like he’s ready for bed, as well.

  “Alrighty, then, let's get the two of you tucked in and sleeping,” I say, pulling away from Lindsay.

  “Good night, Paisley, sleep tight,” she says to my daughter before we can leave the kitchen.

  “Night, Lindsay, thank you for my gift today.”

  “You’re so welcome. I’m glad you had a good birthday party. Thanks for letting me come,” she tells her as Paisley walks over and wraps her arms around her in a hug. My own heart beats a little faster, seeing my daughter including Lindsay so easily. She’s accepted her into our fold just as quickly as I have, and I couldn’t be happier.

  11

  Lindsay

  “Hey, baby, whatcha doing?” Tucker’s voice comes across the speakers in my car.

  “Just driving, what are you doing?” I ask as I flick my eyes to the rearview mirror before I change lanes on the highway.

  “Just woke up. Are you on your way back home?”

  “Yep, Allison, and I got everything we went after today. We had fun heading into the city and shopping at stores we don’t usually go to,” I tell him as I flick my eyes over at Allison. The smirk on her lips tells me she’s thinking about the adult store we stopped at on a whim.

  “Glad y’all had a good time. How long until you’re back in town?” he asks.

  “We’re about halfway back, so maybe thirty minutes or so, but it will be at least an hour before I can get to your place. I’ve got to drop Allison off, first, and help her unload all her things.”

  “Okay, should I plan on you for dinner tonight, or better yet, how about I take my two favorite girls out tonight?”

  “If you want, or we could order in pizza or something easy,” I suggest.

  “Whatever you want, babe.”

  “I’m easy. How about you ask Paisley what she’d want? She’s the picky one.”

  “Easy, huh?” he quips, and Allison snickers next to me.

  “Tucker!” I exclaim. “You’re on speaker. Allison can hear you. Keep it clean.”

  “I’m not going to say anything she hasn’t probably heard out of Lee’s mouth.” He chuckles.

  “Don’t be an ass, or you won’t be getting any tonight,” I tell him sternly.

  “Damn, them some fighting words,” Allison interjects.

  “I’d wear you down,” Tucker boasts.

  “Don’t get too cocky, mister. I could always just go stay at my place tonight,” I remind him.

  “You could, but then you wouldn’t have my arms holding you all night, and you know you want that.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I grumble, knowing that he’s got me on that point.

  “I’ll find out from Paisley what she wants for dinner, and we’ll see you in an hour or so, drive safe,” he says.

  “Sounds good; just text me if you call something in and want me to pick it up on my way over,” I offer before we disconnect the call.

  “So, how is it dating a single dad?” Allison asks.

  “It's fine. She’s actually a pretty cool kid, and we get along really well.”

  “How’s his co-parenting relationship with her mom?”

  “They seem to have a pretty good thing going on. I’ve only been around her at Paisley’s party, and that was fine. She was really nice to me, didn’t act like I was stepping on anyone’s toes. Tucker told me that they agreed before Paisley was even born to always keep her the priority and to work together to parent her,” I tell her.

  “That’s so rare to hear, but refreshing. I’m glad that they’ve made it work.”

  “It really is. I think that maybe because they were never actually together, just a friends with benefits kind of situation, that there wasn’t that hurt from a break-up involved. No backstabbing was going on.”

  “Oh, that’s a good point. Shows off his mature side,” Allison states.

  “I think that it makes him that much sexier. Knowing that he’s not one to play games or use his daughter as a pawn. She didn’t ask to be born into the situation, so why make her a victim.”

  “Exactly, and I’m happy for you. You guys seem happy together.”

  “He makes me happy,” I say, a smile pulling at my lips. “I know we kind of tip-toed around our attraction for a long time, and for a while there, I thought nothing would come of it. But I guess that if things are meant to be that they will be.”

  “If anyone deserves to be happy, it's you, babe,” Allison says, reaching over and squeezing my arm.

  “Right back at cha, girlfriend,” I say, looking over at her quick. “Speaking of being happy, how’s Lee treating you?”

  “Just fine,” she says, the smile on her face telling me everything I need to know. “We’re just keeping it casual, right now.”

  “So, just fuck buddies?” I ask.

  “You make it sound so crass.” She laughs, but I can hear the slight hurt in her words.

  “Why not ask him for more? I can tell that’s what you want,” I press.

  “Because that’s not what he wants, right now, and I don’t want to ruin what we do have going.”

  “You deserve more than to be someone’s booty call,” I tell her.

  “I know,” she says, her voice cracking. I look over quick and catch her swiping at a tear falling from her lashes. “I thought that I was good with the friends with benefits arrangement, but I don’t know that I am, after all,” she admits.

  “So, tell him. Put it all out there, and he needs to either shit or get off the pot. He can’t have his cake and eat it too, in this situation. If friends with benefits isn’t working for you, then it can’t be an option for him. Don’t settle just to make him happy.”

  “You make it sound so easy,” she says, sniffling. I reach into my center console and pull out a few tissues, handing them over.

  “The few times I’ve been around him, lately, he’s been very into you. I imagine he’s just
scared or used to the friends with benefits arrangement. But given a chance to be in an actual committed relationship, he might flourish and be the best boyfriend.”

  “And if he says it’s friends with benefits or nothing?” she asks.

  “Then you hold your head up high, tell him good luck with his right hand, and you walk away with your dignity, knowing that you stood up for yourself. It will be his loss, and if that happens, I won’t be surprised if he’s groveling at your feet within a week, asking for a second chance.”

  “You’re good for my ego.” Allison’s tears turn to laughs. “I’ll take your words under advisement,” she says as I pull in to her place.

  “Want me to stick around and help you set things up?” I ask before we get out to unload.

  “No, I’m going to just relax, bust out a bottle of wine and call it a night. Plus, you’ve got a sexy man waiting on you. He wouldn’t be pleased with me if I kept you longer than I already have.”

  “He’d get over it,” I tell her. “I’m not dropping my friends just because I have a boyfriend. Sisters before misters,” I say, flashing her an exaggerated wink.

  Allison doubles over, laughing. “He’d be so mopey about it, and you know it,” she finally says.

  “Maybe,” I admit. “But he’d get over it. BJs go a long way in turning a man's attitude around.”

  “You know it,” she agrees with me, her attitude already turning back around.

  We unload my car in a few trips, leaving only my things in the back.

  “Thanks for going with me today. It was just what we needed.” I pull Allison into a hug once we’ve set everything down inside her place.

  “Agreed. Let's plan on a pedicure night sometime soon.”

  “Of course!” I tell her before I head out. I look back once more before she closes the door behind me, and know that things will be fine for my best friend. She’s just got to stand up for herself and show that man how good things could be for them if he’d just give things a shot. Maybe I’ll bring things up to Tucker and see what he thinks, since he knows Lee just as well as I know Allison.

  I pull out of Allison’s place and head for my own. I unload my things in just two trips. I didn’t need as much as she did, and my items weren’t as large. She needed some new shelves from IKEA, where I just got a few kitchen things and some other decorative knickknacks. I even picked up a couple small things for Tucker's house.

  “Hello,” I answer, my phone buzzing on the kitchen counter where it rests next to my keys.

  “Hey, baby. Are you going to be here soon?” Tucker’s voice fills my kitchen.

  “Just finished putting things away. Did you ever decide on dinner?”

  “Paisley wants pizza. Do you have any issues with that?”

  “That sounds good to me. Are we going out or ordering in?” I ask, picking up my phone from the counter and heading toward my bedroom. I pull out my overnight bag, placing it on the end of my bed. I toss in some underwear and a clean bra, along with some pajamas. Since Paisley will be over, I insist on sleeping with clothes on, much to Tucker's arguments.

  “I was thinking of taking the two of you to Blaze. That way, we all get exactly what we want.”

  “Sounds good to me,” I tell him, grabbing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from my closet. “I’m just packing an overnight bag now, so I should be on my way over shortly.”

  “Or we could just swing by and pick you up,” Tucker offers.

  “That works just as well,” I confirm.

  “All right, I’ll crate up Buckley and get Paisley loaded, and we’ll be over to get you. See you in ten minutes, tops.”

  “See you then,” I confirm before the line goes quiet. I finish grabbing my things and packing them into my bag before I close it up and carry it out and set it by the door. I pop back into the bathroom quick, making sure that I look okay, before heading out to dinner with Tucker and Paisley.

  I’m just finishing up when I hear a knock at my door. A smile tugs at my lips as I make my way to the door. I open it up to find Tucker standing there with a dancing Paisley.

  “Mind if she uses your bathroom? She informed me when we were almost here that she had to go super bad,” Tucker asks as I look down and see the look on Paisley’s face.

  “Of course, right in there, sweetie.” I point toward the hall bathroom, and she takes off running.

  “Sorry, she said she didn’t need to go when I asked at home,” Tucker says, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me against him.

  “It's not a problem. A girl’s got to pee when a girl’s got to pee,” I remind him just as his lips land on mine. I melt into him, his dominance taking hold as he deepens the kiss. He backs me against the wall, pressing his entire body to mine. I can feel every ridge of muscle and how hard I’m making him. The click of the bathroom door opening breaks his hold, and he pulls back slightly. His lips land on my forehead, leaving a kiss before he takes a small step back.

  “Feel better?” he asks his daughter as she comes back over to where we’re standing just inside the door.

  “Yes! I had to go bad,” she tells us.

  “Yet, at home, you told me you didn’t need to,” Tucker reminds her.

  “The bumpy road made me have to, Daddy,” she tells him, her sass coming out.

  “Oh, the bumps, huh?” he asks. I don’t really know of that many bumps in the road between our houses, but whatever, she’s little and cute, and as I told him, when a girl’s got to go, a girl’s got to go.

  “Who’s hungry?” I ask, bringing both of their attention my way.

  “Me!” Paisley cheers, jumping up and down.

  “Then let’s go!” Tucker says. He grabs my overnight bag from the floor, and I grab my keys, check my back pocket for my phone and grab a light jacket from the coat hook on the wall. Paisley bounces her way out my door and toward Tucker's truck, him on her heels while I lock up and then follow, myself.

  “How’s Buckley today?” I ask Paisley, turning slightly in my seat to look at her in the back.

  “He’s good! We took him down to the pond, and he went swimming!”

  “That sounds fun! Did you throw the ball in for him?” I ask.

  “Yep,” she replies.

  “What else did you do?” I ask as Tucker drives us down the road. His hand slides over and finds mine, our fingers entwining as he rests our connected hands on my thigh.

  “Cuddled with him and Daddy while we watched a show, played inside, colored,” she tells me, ticking things off on her fingers.

  “Sounds like a fun day.”

  “Yep. What did you do?”

  “I went shopping in the big city with my best friend.”

  “I’s love shopping! Did you buy me anything?” she asks, and I can’t help but laugh at her question.

  “Paisley.” Tucker tries to reprimand her for asking.

  “I didn’t, but I also wasn’t really at a place that would sell anything that you might want. I was helping my friend buy some shelves and things for her house.”

  “Oh,” she puffs out, her shoulders falling forward only slightly since she’s buckled in with the five-point harness of her car seat.

  “Maybe next time I go shopping, I can find something for you,” I tell her, and her head pops up, and a smile fills her face.

  “Really?” she asks, excited.

  “Give me some ideas, and I’ll keep them in mind,” I tell her.

  “You don’t have to buy her anything,” Tucker murmurs from the driver’s seat.

  “I know I don’t have to, but what if I want to?” I ask him, turning my attention to him.

  “I just don’t want you thinking that you have to, or for Paisley to think that it is a requirement.”

  “I promise you that I don’t feel obligated, and I won’t make it an everyday occurrence. But if I see something that I think she’ll like, I’ll pick it up. Is that okay with you? I also don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. You are her parent.”

&
nbsp; “That’s fine. I just don’t want her expecting things from people.”

  “You’re a good dad, you know that?”

  “I try my best. I have one hell of a role model to follow after,” he says as he pulls into the parking lot of the mall. The place we’re going tonight is located in one of the spaces that have its own outside entrance. Tucker parks, and we all jump out. Paisley grabs my hand and then her dad’s as we cross the distance to the doors.

  12

  Tucker

  I look across the table at my girls. Paisley insisted on sitting next to Lindsay once we’d gone through the line and had our pizzas built and placed in the wood fire oven. Paisley now has pizza sauce covering both of her cheeks from the way she’s bitten into slices of her pizza. I wink at Lindsay while we listen to Paisley tell another story about her and Buckley outside today.

  Sitting here with these two has me thinking ahead; what it would be like to have this forever, maybe another kid or two filling the booth with us. Seeing how well my daughter has taken to having another woman in my life has me kicking myself for not pursuing things sooner. But I also realize that things happen when they do for a reason.

  “What do you say we stop at the cupcake shop in the parking lot before we head home?” I ask Paisley as we box up our leftovers.

  “Can I get a unicorn one?” she asks.

  “If they have one, sure, why not?” I agree.

  We clean off our table, taking the boxes with us to drop in the truck before we walk across the parking lot for the cupcake place. Paisley slides right back between Lindsay and me, holding both of our hands, swinging them back and forth like only a five-year-old can. “Swing me!” she demands between giggles. She hops, pulling her feet up as we swing her between the two of us. The sound of laughter fills my ears as I listen to Lindsay’s laughter mixed with Paisley’s. Seeing these two together, and having such a great time with one another, just melts my heart that much more. The horror stories I’ve heard from other single dads on how their kids and girlfriends get along had me always shying away from introducing anyone that I attempted to date since Paisley was born.