4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Rory
“So, you’re a single dad and a handsome one at that.” Paige’s mother sidled up next to me outside Carlotta’s school. I wanted to say her brazen comment shocked me, but I’d experienced so many lately I was no longer surprised.
I’d turned down several invitations to dinner, one from a teacher offering to help Carlotta ‘settle in’, although I wasn’t sure that was all she had on her mind by the looks she was giving me.
As much as I hated doing it, I found that being blunt was the only way to get rid of them. Fuck what they thought of me.
“I’m not looking to date right now.” I took a step away from her.
It was true. I had no plans to date or go for a casual dinner with anyone. While I wasn’t moping around all day, every day, I still missed Mia.
Her smile, her infectious laugh, her love.
I didn’t think that would ever change. Did I think I’d find love again? Who knew what the future held, but it wasn’t on the top of my list of things to do.
Working and caring for Carlotta. Those were my priorities. I wasn’t destitute, but London’s living came with a price tag.
“Oh, come now, Rory. I wasn’t asking you on a date.” Paige’s mother laughed, the most fake sound I’d ever heard. “I was thinking about how well you were doing, bringing Carlotta up all on your own. How did her mother die again?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. This was another question I’d been asked over and over. Some women had no tact whatsoever when all they saw was an eligible bachelor.
“I’d rather not talk about it.” I smiled as sweetly as I could and hoped she’d get the hint. She tilted her head and peered at me through her false eyelashes. Her forehead didn’t move, no doubt full of Botox.
“Well, if you change your mind.” She turned swiftly, easily keeping her balance on her high heels, her skin-tight summer dress leaving little to the imagination.
Another time, another place, I might have been interested, but there was no attraction, just an overwhelming sense of being a target for one or all of the single mothers at the school, and there were plenty of them.
“Papa. What are you doing here?”
In a fit of whimsy, I’d turned up at Carlotta’s school to collect her. This past week, I’d had the overwhelming feeling I was being followed, and I’d been concerned for her safety.
It had started that one morning and hadn’t abated since.
The hairs stood up on the back of my neck. Each time I stepped out of the door, I sensed a tingle. I couldn’t explain it, but it was definitely there.
I’d called Isadora, asking if Ernesto had sent men to follow me, but she’d denied all knowledge.
Needless to say, I didn’t believe her. I wouldn’t put anything past my bastard of a father-in-law. I suspected he’d do anything to have Carlotta back under his roof.
“Hey, sweetheart.” I ruffled her hair and pulled her in for a hug, despite her protests.
“Papa, not in front of everyone.” She wrestled out of my grasp and smoothed down her hair. At least she was laughing, so I hadn’t completely fucked it up for her.
“Okaaay.” I took her backpack and slung it over my shoulder. “I finished work early and thought I’d come pick my favourite girl up from school.”
“Shhh, they’ll hear.” But she took my hand, and we strolled back to the apartment. We wouldn’t have many more days this warm as summer slipped into autumn.
I wanted to say I was being a good father picking her up, but unease had me concerned that Ernesto’s men had found us.
Not that I was hiding, but the last thing I wanted was an altercation with them in front of her.
“What do you fancy for tea? There’s that sushi restaurant you like. We could go there if you wanted.”
“Urgh, I have homework to do.”
“Anything I can help with?” Carlotta didn’t need help. She was as clever as her mother had been.
“How are your maths skills? I’ve got some algebra and an essay to write for English.”
Nope, I wasn’t helping with either.
“Did you get all this today, or have you been putting it off?” Carlotta was studious, and I knew homework wasn’t something she wouldn’t do. She loved learning.
“I always do my homework when I get it, Papa. This doesn’t have to be in until Friday, so I guess it could wait.” She bumped into me playfully.
“Then sushi it is. I’ve got a few calls to make when we get home, but we’ll go out after that.”
Every step of the way home, the feeling of being observed continued. I glanced around us but still couldn’t see anyone. This was so weird, but the last thing I wanted to do was concern Carlotta.
“Who are you looking for?” she asked as we neared the apartment.
“No one. Why?” I hadn’t hidden my caution as well as I’d thought.
“You’ve been looking behind you the entire way home. Did you think Paige’s mum was going to follow you and pounce?”
“What do you know about Paige’s mum?” I knew girls talked, and I was interested in what she had to say.
“Paige told me her mum thought you were handsome. Are you going to go on a date with her?” She didn’t sound happy.
“No. Why would I do that? But more to the point, what did you say?”
She shrugged. “I said I thought you were handsome, and that Mamma had too.”
For the first time in ages, a lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed back my tears. Just when I thought I’d got over the crushing grief, the smallest thing could set it off again.
Carlotta stopped in her tracks and hugged me, her arms tight around my waist.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t.” I sniffed, letting the tears fall. I wasn’t ashamed of them. “Sometimes it hurts to think of your mamma.”
“I know. I get sad too.” Her voice hitched with emotion.
We clutched each other, our shallow breaths in unison as we shared our grief.
I forgot how young she’d been when we’d lost Mia. Ten was no age to lose a parent, especially her mother.
How would I explain all the things a girl needed to know? And there was so much to know. Boys, puberty, friends, life.
We’d cross that bridge when we came to it.
The roar of a motorcycle broke the bubble we were in, and I glimpsed a leather-clad rider racing away.
A sharp pain spread through my chest, bringing me to my knees.
“Papa. Are you okay?” Carlotta knelt beside me, her brow furrowed with concern.
My heart stuttered, and I seriously thought I was having a heart attack right here out on the street, but slowly, the beat steadied, and a feeling of calm suffused through my body.
I slowly stood, feeling hot, flustered, and, well, horny. What the hell had just happened?
I peered in the direction the motorcycle had gone, but there was no sign. I vaguely remembered seeing one before, and the more I thought about it, the more I was convinced it had been there every day, sans rider.
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Let’s get inside. I’ve got a few things to do before we go out.”
I tried to talk and act normal, not wishing to upset her more than she already was, but as I stood, my legs turned to jelly.
It took all my strength to stay upright and reach the apartment, but instead of going to make my calls, I slumped on the sofa, exhausted.
“You’re worrying me, Papa.” She sat next to me and placed her hand on my forehead. “Hmm, no temperature. Should I call someone?”
“I’m fine. Maybe a glass of water?”
Reluctantly, she stood and returned moments later with a chilled glass of water.
I gulped it down, and the feeling of calm remained. Thankfully, the pain had receded, and I vowed to visit the doctor as soon as I could.
What if something was wrong?
“We don’t have to go out. I can cook something.” She worried her lip. I smiled and tried to reassure her.
“No. I’ll be fine after this. I promised, didn’t I? Go start your homework, and we’ll go out in a while.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The pain might have gone, but a warmth in my groin reminded me how horny I’d felt.
Since Mia had died, I’d not looked at another woman, let alone had sex. I’d barely masturbated in that time, but my dick pulsed in my trousers, and the urge to do it now was almost overwhelming.
I wouldn’t risk it, though, seeing how concerned Carlotta was. It’d just be my luck for her to walk in on me.
No. I’d make those calls. Then I needed to have a shower and be ready to go in an hour. I dropped by her room and let her know to be ready.
She perked up, the beautiful smile lighting her face.
I shut myself in my study and called the office, making sure that all was in order after leaving early. My secretary, Lisa, said I had a couple of appointments the following day, but other than that, everything was fine.
That done, I undressed and stepped under the spray of my shower. I leant against the tiled wall and let the hot water cascade over my neck and shoulders and release some of the tension gathered there.
Who was on the motorcycle? Was my extreme reaction anything to do with that?
Perhaps it had been a panic attack. That would make total sense. I’d been tormented lately, worried to death about Carlotta. Ernesto’s words still rang clear in my head. He hated I’d taken her away from him, but she was my daughter. Not his.
Even though worry filled my mind, blood surged to my neglected cock, bobbing in front of me, demanding attention. What the hell?
I tentatively touched the tip with my finger and groaned.
God, it had been too fucking long. I circled the base and ran my hand down the length. I shivered with anticipation, eager to do it again.
Not that I had time for this, but all common sense flew out the window as once again I stroked my cock, surprised at the hardness. I wasn’t long, five or six inches at most, but from my experiences at private school, which we wouldn’t talk about, I knew I was thicker than most.
Mia had never complained.
“Papa, are you almost ready?” Well, that answered the question of whether to continue. I begrudgingly removed my hand and washed my hair and body, avoiding all contact with the dick that would not quit.
A quick blast of ice-cold water and flaccidity returned. How would it look, going out to dinner with a boner?
Not great, that was for sure.