Falling for My Boyfriend's Dad(18)

"Don't worry, sweet girl, we'll figure it out," I promised. "Everything will work out, don't you worry."

Those incredible warm brown eyes gazed up at me again.

"Do you promise?" she asked softly, her little palm reaching out to take  mine. And I gave her a squeeze, catching those small fingers so that  our hands were intertwined, an expression of understanding, partnership  and commitment.

"Yes, baby," I promised. "Absolutely." And I fucking meant it, those  words were the truest words I'd ever uttered because yes, I was going to  make good on my promise to take her virginity, to own that pussy, to  make her mine. But on an emotional level, I was facing up to my  responsibilities as well. Because I was going to make sure that Ally was  okay, that we were okay together. Better than okay, we were going to be  fucking amazing together, I was going to blow open her world, give her  everything I could. And I caught myself then because what the fuck was  happening? I was an alpha male dallying with an eighteen year-old virgin  who was my son's girlfriend no less. It was fucking wrong, it was  fucking taboo, and yet I didn't give a shit. I was set on transforming  Ally's world emotionally and physically, and yet somehow  …  I was the one  losing control.





CHAPTER TEN


Ally




"Hey, you wanna go in the Apple store?" I asked, a sparkle to my eye.  Jonah was immediately on it, pulling open the big glass door and letting  it slam shut behind him. I sighed, rolling my eyes a little. The Apple  store in Manhattan is an architectural wonder with dozens of soaring  skylights, a glass elevator and a curving, spiral staircase worthy of a  museum. But still, this was the Apple store. Inside there were a million  gadgets that all looked the same to me, everything encased in  Stormtrooper-like white plastic.

I shot Rob a glance and he frowned. This wasn't his cup of tea either.

"After you," I murmured softly, a twinkle in my eye. But neither of us  moved, rooted in place because the store was jam-packed, like a sweating  sea of humanity, all jostling elbows and BO despite the A/C on max. So  Rob turned to me, eyebrow raised.

"Baby, let's go somewhere else," he rumbled, shaking his head.

And I let out a sigh of relief, flashing him a quick smile.

"I agree," I nodded quickly. "There's a Starbucks one block to the  north, east, south or west, you choose," I said with a cheeky grin.

And Mr. Martin slapped my butt lightly, letting those big fingers trail  across my curvy ass. I spun to look at him, eyes wide and shocked. We  were in public, he couldn't be touching me like that. And what if Jonah  saw? But the boy had already disappeared into the throng of people, and  besides, the big man was unperturbed, leaning in to brush my ear with  his lips.

"I want people to know that you're mine," he murmured. "My son's not  gonna see, he's already trying out those new 3-D goggles," he nodded.  And it was true because I turned and saw Jonah then, screaming with  delight with clunky headgear strapped to his face as he moved a joystick  right, left, then right again, his frail body ducking and weaving as if  he were flying a jet, or maybe killing monsters.

I just shook my head, not sure what to say. But Mr. Martin said it for me.

"Not exactly boyfriend material, huh?" he asked, eyebrows quirked. "The  way he left us standing here, ditching us like two parents at freshman  orientation."

And I sighed again, shaking my head because yeah, Jonah's behavior was  so juvenile, and today had been especially atrocious. It was the day  after Thanksgiving, and as I puttered about in the kitchen, pouring  myself a cup of coffee, the boy had barreled out of his room screaming,  "Post-Thanksgiving sales, come on, come on!" brandishing some flyers in a  clutched fist. Good thing I'd left Mr. Martin's room early because it  was only seven a.m.         

     



 

"Calm down," I soothed, keeping my tone easy. "I'm sure it's fine,  there's plenty of inventory, we're not going to miss anything."

But Jonah shot me daggers.

"Are you kidding? Did you grow up with things handed to you on a silver  spoon?" he snorted. "If we aren't the first hundred in line we're going  to end up with nothing, nada. I'm gonna have to karate chop some little  old lady just to get to the stuff I want."

I shook my head, sighing. My insides curdled at the thought of seeing  Jonah fight, a little old lady could probably pin him in a lock and take  him down, but this wasn't the right time to mention that. I wanted to  keep him happy, to go with it, so instead I just murmured, "Ready when  you are," picking up my jacket.

But the weight in my stomach lightened when a deep voice growled, "I'll  come with you." Because when I spun, Mr. Martin was there, dressed  casually in a pullover and jeans, big form huge and relaxed, looming in  the kitchen. Would he come with us? Oh my god, that would make Black  Friday shopping so much better, more bearable.

And Jonah just nodded happily.

"Perfect, you can help me carry bags," he said before grabbing his jacket. "Let's go, let's go!"

And that's how Rob and I found ourselves the designated porters as his  son browsed in the Apple store, lost to the world. A mature individual  would want to spend time with family and friends, but Jonah wasn't  having any of that. Instead the boy was lost in a virtual world now, a  world where he roamed prehistoric Earth with dinosaurs, soared the skies  as an intergalactic traveler, explored salt mines on alien worlds.

But there's only so much you can do because kids need to grow and  develop on their own. So might as well leave the boy to it, and I turned  to Mr. Martin with a cheery smile.

"Ready for Starbucks?" I asked. "Again, there's four within one block of us, just depends on which direction you want to go."

And the big man threw his head back and laughed deep in his throat, blue eyes dancing.

"Little girl," he leaned forward, his tone low. "Coffee sounds great but I have something else in mind."

I pulled back.

"What?" I threw him a teasing smile. "Is it something naughty?"

And he threw his head back again and laughed.

"Naw, not yet but I like how you think," he said. "No, I thought I'd take you shopping."

I colored.

"No, it's okay," I said quickly. "I have plenty of clothes, it's not necessary."

"Who said I was going to take you clothes shopping?" he asked wickedly.  "One of my favorite stores is right here, just around the corner," he  said, grabbing my elbow and steering me through a throng of people. "Ah,  here it is," he said, stopping before a heavy, imposing glass door.

I looked inside and gasped. The store was like a winter wonderland,  hushed, exclusive, filled with salespeople milling about in elegant  black suits, glass cases glowing, lit from within. Because each drawer  was filled with baubles, priceless gems that sparkled and shone with  fire, red, blue, green, mixing together like the colors of the rainbow.

"Um, maybe not," I whispered, cheeks flushing. "I can't afford anything  in here." Honestly, I was intimidated to even go in. The salespeople  would probably shoot me dirty looks and then stare me out of the store.

But the big man was casually confident.

"Who said you were going to buy anything?" he asked. "My treat," he said  with finality, and nodded as a security guard opened the big glass door  for us. I hesitated for a moment, still a little nervous, but then an  elderly woman with a huge sheepdog swept in before us, the animal huge  and shaggy, snuffling and drooling like crazy. What the? The dog was  cute sure, a ginormous ball of fluff, but he was going into Tiffany's?  Was that even okay? Surely the salespeople would kick them out, it  wasn't right.

But the woman was already inside, a suited man almost bowing as he took  her jacket, another assistant grabbing hold of the dog's leash. And  seeing my befuddled look, Rob just grinned at me.

"Hey, if Lassie can go into a store so nice, I'm sure we can too," he  said with another wicked grin. And I smiled then, suddenly buoyed by his  words, his confidence. Because yeah, if that sheepdog, drooling  everywhere, was welcome in a fine jewelry store, then I could do it too,  I wasn't the poor little girl from nowhere wearing patchwork overalls  with straw in my hair.

So I stepped into the elegant space, re-energized, happy, beaming. Mr.  Martin often had this effect on me. Whereas I'd been shy and timid just  moments ago, now I felt happy and sure of myself, like I belonged. And I  definitely belonged because immediately a salesgirl was upon us.         

     



 

"Hello Mr. Martin," she purred. "So nice to see you again."

I stopped short. Rob had been to Tiffany's enough times that the  salespeople recognized him? But the alpha male shot me a grin, and then  did the craziest thing.