“And that’s why it’s lifted because you’re here,” Mike surmised immediately.
“I hope so,” I replied. “I made it clear I was there to talk to and have all the time in the world for her. She opened up to me and I could tell it wasn’t easy but I could also tell she was glad she did it. Yesterday, she seemed even less uptight. I’m a woman, I got that part covered. I’ll find a time, feel her out and if she needs it, sort her out. Where it gets hairy is that I need her to trust me and I also need to clue you in. If she thinks I’m going to run to you to tell you everything she says, she’s gonna clam up. But you also need to know where she is. So you’re going to need to give me guidance about where you want me to guide her, understand that some shit will be just between me and Rees, trust me to do right by her but share with you what you need to know and let me do my best with that balancing act.”
“I trust you.”
This response was again immediate. It was gratifying but I wasn’t certain it was the right one.
I gave him a squeeze and said softly, “Mike, this is your daughter and I haven’t known –”
His hands slid around to lock me in his arms and he gave me a squeeze, cutting me off. “Dusty, she is my daughter and I trust you. My guess is you’ve been gettin’ your period a while now so clearly you’re more an authority on that than me. I love my girl, we’re close but she’s never gonna come to me with that shit and you might think this is fucked, but I’m not only glad about that, I’m relieved. The rest of it, honey, the way you turned out, I am not stressed about. You guide her to bein’ her version of a woman like you, smart, funny, self-reliant, strong, sweet, warm, loving, I’m totally down with that.”
I stared up at him, nose tingling and warned, “You’re gonna make me cry again.”
He grinned, gave me another arm squeeze and dropped his head to touch his mouth to mine.
When he lifted it, he ordered, “Don’t. We got sandwiches to eat. Then we gotta get, dressed, get to the DQ, get cake, get home and you gotta deliver on your promise to kiss me all over. We don’t have time for you start bawling again. We got important shit to do.”
He was right.
So I told him that.
His grin became a smile and his arms left me as he issued another order, “I’ll get plates, you get me a Dr. Pepper.”
“Done,” I agreed, turning to the fridge. “But I don’t need a plate. We can eat at the counter.”
“Pure Dusty,” he muttered.
“What?” I asked into the opened fridge.
“Nothin’, sweetheart,” he kept muttering.
I let it go because whatever he was muttering he was doing it with a smile in his voice. I got him a Dr. Pepper, me a diet one of the same and met him at the counter. Mike got a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos and ripped it open.
I popped my soda and grabbed my sandwich. After a bite it became clear Mike made top-notch sandwiches. Heavy on the condiments but not so much horseradish my eyes watered. Two slices of cheese, one on each piece of bread. And a massive mound of shaved roast beef. I could barely get my mouth around it and it would be better grilled with that cheese melted but it was awesome all the same.
“Thanks, Angel.”
This came soft and, chewing, my eyes went to see his as soft as his voice on me.
“What?” I whispered through roast beef, rye and swiss.
“You took on my shit and made me feel better about Reesee,” he explained then repeated, “Thanks.”
I swallowed. “Anytime, babe.”
His hand came up, tagged me around the neck, pulling me in and up and he gave me a horseradish, roast beef kiss.
It was nice.
We ate. We got dressed. We went to the DQ and got the biggest ice cream cake they had. We came back. We got naked. I kissed Mike mostly all over then Mike took over and kissed me at my best spots. Then he gave me another orgasm, I returned the favor, we showered, dressed and were in the kitchen cooking dinner when Rees got home.
She was happy to see me.
She was happier when her Dad told her she could call Fin and ask him over for dinner.
Even though Fin was there and Mike had not lied, he could lay waste to DQ cake and Fin was his partner in that particular crime, Rees and I managed to save a piece for No.
But barely.
Chapter Fourteen
Gifted
Mike reached to Darrin’s will that was sitting at the side of his desk.
He had half an hour before he had to meet Audrey at Mimi’s. He’d also received a call from Tanner five minutes ago asking where he was then informing him that Tanner’s wife, Rocky would be swinging by because she needed to chat.