Page 22 of A Simple Love
Her face softens. “I understand. And I know that Victoria has to be completely enamored with the fact that you included Lilly tonight when that wasn’t what you were expecting. So I thank you for that, and for not letting my other daughter down as well.”
I place my hand softly on her shoulder. “I never plan on letting her down again, Mrs. Baker.”
Just as Leslie shoots me a quizzical look, Victoria emerges from the back of the house.
“I put on Dance-Dance Revolution for her to play. Hopefully, that will help her burn off some of that sugar before bed,” she jokes, which makes her mom shake her head before she tells me goodbye and retreats to the back of the house as well, leaving Vic and me alone for the first time all evening.
Victoria fists my shirt hard before swinging me around the corner and up against the front door, shocking me and kick-starting my heartbeat into overdrive from her carnal need. Her hand finds my neck, pulling me down fiercely, her lips meeting mine in an intense kiss that shakes me to my very core, my legs locking to support my body as she ravages me up against the wood. I respond immediately though, meeting her ferocity with my own, licking her tongue with mine in a seductive war in which there are only winners. Her moans spur me on, my hands moving from her hips down to her ass as I pull her into me even tighter, one of my hands moving up to grip her hair on the back of her head.
“Mike,” she moans in my mouth as I continue to take sips of need from her lips, meet her tongue with my thrusts, and worship every inch of her curvy bottom.
She breaks away quickly, coming back to Earth and slapped with the reality that we are in the front doorway of her house where her mom and little sister are just mere feet away.
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes as she wipes the moisture from her mouth from our sloppy, but passionate kiss and begins to back away from me.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Vic. That was hot as fuck,” I whisper, pulling her against me once more. “I’ve been dying to kiss you like that all evening. And clearly, I wasn’t the only one.” I tease her, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.
Her hand finds my jaw again, the tiny pads of her fingers tracing my chin and the stubble that lines my mouth. “Thank you for everything tonight. You didn’t have to include Lilly, but you did, and I appreciate it more than you know.” She smiles affectionately at me, spreading that intense heat from before into a soothing warmth that emerges right from the center of my chest.
“You’re welcome, Vic. But I really enjoyed spending time with her. She’s a fun kid, and she’s your sister. I know that I was looking forward to our time alone, but tonight ended up being a lot of fun.”
“It means a lot to me that you included her. She’s a big part of my life.”
I brush my thumb across her lip. “I wanted to see you no matter what. I just got lucky enough to take two gorgeous Baker women out on a date tonight instead of one,” I joke, making Victoria giggle before placing a chaste kiss on my lips.
“Well, thank you again, Mike. I can’t wait for our next date,” she smiles, releasing her grip on me as she opens the door. “Hopefully, it will be just the two of us though,” she winks.
“Me too, Vic. I’ll call you soon. Good night.” I turn to walk out the door and down the porch steps, watching my feet the whole time while I revisit the evening. Despite the setback, the night went great. Victoria got to see that I care about her sister just as much as her, which definitely helped my case. More than that though, I truly enjoyed the time spent between the three of us.
The best part of the night, though, had to be experiencing tantalizing touches from her hands as we walked the thin line of appropriate affection in front of her sister. And that kiss. God, that kiss was worth the detour of the evening entirely.
I’m so busy rehashing the date in my mind that when I look up as I reach my truck, I’m startled my none other than Frank Baker himself, standing like a brick wall I must either climb or barrel through to pass.
“Good evening, Mr. Baker,” I manage to choke out after clearing the surprise from my throat. He must have just gotten home and decided to wait for me outside.
“What the hell are you doing here again, Michael?” He’s seething, his strong arms crossed over his chest. His disdain for me is unsettling, a problem I honestly don’t understand.
“I was just dropping Victoria and Lilly back home.” My conscience is reminding me to remain calm, but my gut is telling me to be prepared for a fight. I don’t think Frank would punch me, but with the way he’s eyeing me down, I wouldn’t put anything past him right now.
“Victoria AND Lilly? Now you’re after both of my daughters?” His voice booms through the night, loud enough I wonder if the women inside the house will hear and come outside to witness. Part of me hopes for that, that Victoria gets to witness her father’s despise of me, so I don’t have to explain it to her later down the road. Then again, the sooner this all blows up, the faster Victoria would have to decide about whom to date for the long haul, and her father’s detest for me would surely be a factor in her decision.
“Mr. Baker, I swear, my intentions were honest.” I throw my hands up in the air in surrender. “I was supposed to take Victoria out again tonight, but she had Lilly to look after, so I offered for her to tag along. I took them to a movie and then for ice cream. I assure you, sir, I care about both of your daughters immensely. I wish you could see that.” I’m pleading, not a good look for me, but I’m hoping by seeming sincere, I can get him to see that I’m not a threat.
“All I see is a boy who’s daddy proved that Kelley’s are worthless. You shouldn’t be anywhere near my daughters, especially Victoria. She deserves better than you, better than what your daddy raised you to be because let’s face it, he wasn’t here to raise you, was he?”
Alright, that’s it. I’ve had enough of my father’s poor choices coming back to haunt me, and Frank using them as a reason to Victoria and me apart.
“With all due respect, sir, I am NOTHING like my father!” My voice echoes around us, but I don’t care. This man has been making me pay for my father’s mistakes for five years and I’m done.
“My dad left when I was a teenager, but even before that he was barely around, and him finally leaving was the best thing to happen to my family. You’re right, he was worthless. He couldn’t hold a job, couldn’t provide for his family, wasted his paychecks on gambling and booze, and left the raising of me and my brother to my mom, whom if you ask me, did a hell of a job. Sure, my brother and I aren’t perfect, but are you honestly gonna sit here and tell me you haven’t ever made decisions in your life you aren’t proud of?”
“Now just a minute, boy! This ain’t about me!” He chimes in, but I fire right back.
“I’m not done!” I raise my finger to point at him while I continue.
“I do have something to offer your daughter, because the last time I tried to ask her out, you told me that I wasn’t good enough, and God damn it, I’ve spent the last five years wondering what the hell I could possibly do to make myself worthy of her because I don’t know that I am myself!”
My confession startles me, rocking Frank back a bit on his feet as well. I didn’t mean to make that admission, let alone to the man that bread that insecurity in me all those years ago, but maybe he needs to hear that.