I liked the idea, plus it would keep them busy as I finished outlining my plan. I was more than confident now that I could find someone to handle my clients while I moved in the background. I would have more time with the kids and Highland.
“Do you have startup money or is this on Mommy and Daddy?” I was already moving Neela around in my arms to get my phone so I could put in an order for their supplies. I thankedGod for same-day delivery of their stand because I wasn’t a builder.
They looked at each other dumbfounded by the question, making me laugh.
“Whenever you don’t have the money to pay upfront, you’ll ask for people to invest or get a loan from the bank. Today, consider your daddy your investor. Now, since this is your idea, this will be your job. Mommy will only help make the lemonade and set you up, but you have to get customers, okay? So while we’re waiting on the lemons, go make signs to advertise your business. There should be construction paper and markers in the playroom.”
Cece squealed as she shook her tight fist in the air before they left me alone to finish my business plan to present to my own investor. I just prayed the Captain was as easygoing as I had been with their plan.
I chuckledas Neela yelled at passing cars with the sign that spelled out lemonade in an assortment of colors and letter sizes.
We had been out here for the past hour and a half and I must admit I was having way too much fun watching the kids work their stand. Of course, I added cookies and brownies on the menu to help drive people to their stand. My baby girl, who’d slept through most of the hard work, was their biggest supporter. I was surprised by the amount of traffic they had at their stand. I’d refilled their lemonade pitcher three times.
“Mommy, do we have more brownies? This lady wants two but I only have one left,” Cece yelled while Jo-Jo busied himself pouring the lemonade with Cece looking for more already packaged brownies.
“No baby, you can offer her two cookies though.”
I put my attention back on my tablet, scrolling through health insurance options I could offer my employees at a good price. Everything was coming together with my plan to expand.
“I leave you alone with the kids for a few hours and you put ’em to work. I hope they at least turning a profit out here.” I looked up to see Highland standing over me, still in his uniform, causing me to gawk at his fine ass. I didn’t even want to think about the insane amount of time I stared at him without saying anything.
“Daddy!” the kids yelled in unison and I was glad too because a minute longer and my intrusive thoughts of attacking his ass were going to win.
“A lemonade stand, huh? And whose idea was this?” Jo-Jo and Cece both said “me” while Neela raised her lying hand.
“Mommy said we needed the money since we have two houses and we’re going to the beach. Cece and I just wanted to help out.” He shot me a stern look, which had me now avoiding his eyes.
Fuck, Olive, maybe you shouldn’t have said that.
“Daddy has a lot of money that he makes for you and Mommy to spend, y’all don’t have to worry about working, but if you want to learn how to earn money, let me get a cup of lemonade please.”
There he was again, including me in his plans.
Olive, maybe he got over the whole job thing and wants to work on y’all.
In my mind it was obvious at this point. Since that day I sent the picture of me and the girls and he saidallhis girls, I had been on cloud ten thousand with my overthinking, hoping maybe Highland was coming around.
After getting his lemonade, Highland made his way back over to me, holding his hand out. I was pulled up, switching places with him putting me on his lap. I was stiff, unsure of hissudden change. It had been weeks since Highland and I were this comfortable with each other, and now here I was, on his lap, sitting too dangerously close to his fat ass dick that was brushing up against my thigh.
“Why do I get the feeling that you used the money I gave you for this summer project? That was your money to buy whatever else you needed to be comfortable when you come down to the Keys, Olive,” Highland said as he tried his drink. His slight moan had me grinning at him appreciating my lemonade.
I shrugged.
“They said they were bored and I had it to invest in them. I’m creating core memories, the money spent is worth it, Captain.”
Really, Olive? Again with the name slip.
It wasn’t my fault though. It was him and all this familiar comfort he was giving me.
Highland snuggled his face into my neck, groaning his irritation as he kissed me softly, which had my eyes snapping shut.
What in the fuck is this?
“Yo, I swear you’re so fucking hardheaded. Do you have everything you and Jo-Jo need?” he asked, still in the position that had my breathing heavy as my heartbeat in my clit was pulsating.
“Y-yes,” I pushed out. I was just saying shit because I couldn’t even complete a straight thought when Highland began to caress my thighs.
Highland was fucking with me and I couldn’t take it. I went to move so I could at least breathe normally but his strong arms held me back against him tightly.
