Page 18 of Played By my Grumpy Boss

Bryce seemed to sense my mood and brought it down a notch. “I saw the pictures. She’s hot, dude!” he nudged my arm as we walked along. “Too young for you, though, old man!”

I drew in a sharp breath. “I wish that was the only issue,” I told him, as we pounded up the stairway. “Her dad’s my best friend and right now she’s living in my apartment, as my daughter’s nanny. So, I’m like, her boss.”

Bryce stopped dead, turned to face me and let out a low whistle. “Shit, man, that is real bad,” he said. “Sounds like you need to leave that hornet’s nest the hell alone.”

I didn’t let my emotion show on my face. “Yep, I reckon so,” I said. “And keep this to yourself, brother. It’s history anyway. It won’t happen again.”

“Sure. I won’t even tell Julie. I got your back,” he said, as we headed into the locker room.

I showered and changed, keeping up the banter with the guys, like nothing was wrong. Then I strode out to my car with the same spring in my step as usual. But when I got into it, finally alone, I sank back into the seat and blew out a deep breath.

“Shit. Shit. Shit fuck and shit.”

I trusted Bryce implicitly – he was my best buddy on the team, and a really decent guy. I trusted his judgment and his opinion, and he’d been a hundred percent clear – Mary-Beth was a no-go area. I hadn’t really understood until he said it, that that was the opposite of what I’d wanted to hear.

* * *

I got home and Bryce’s words were still ringing in my ears, as some kind of delicious cooking smell hit my nose.

“Hello? Anyone home?” I called, as I made my way down the hall. Kayla was at her mom’s – I didn’t get her back again for a couple days. My heart lurched at the thought and I realized with shock that – for the first time in a long time – I was actually missing her. Hanging out with her, Mary-Beth and Maddy in the kitchen the night before had been really fun. I’d felt like I had the old Kayla back, or, perhaps, the next evolution – the young woman she was growing into.

“Hey, Alex!” came Mary-Beth’s voice. I followed it to the kitchen and found the door open, a baby bouncer attached to the frame. Maddy was in the bouncer, pushing herself happily up and down with her little feet.

“I hope you don’t mind that,” Mary-Beth said, turning and waving towards the bouncer. “It means I can actually get things done in here.”

I didn’t even let myself look at the wall above the doorframe, to see if it was getting damaged by the bouncer’s fixings. I’d laid awake last night realizing that I’d gotten way too serious about the renovations. Laughing with my daughter had made me remember that there were more important things than perfect plasterwork.

“It’s fine,” I said. I wiggled my fingers in Maddy’s face. “Hey, Miss Bouncy, how’s it going?”

Maddy grinned and pointed at me, and then shrieked and waved her arms in delight.

“Well, that’s a nice welcome, young lady,” I said, feeling my heart swell with emotion.

“If she could speak, she’d tell you she wanted Mr. Moo Moo Pants again,” Mary-Beth told me. She was by the oven, stirring a big pot of something delicious-smelling on the stovetop.

“Luckily, she can’t, because I wouldn’t be able to say no to her, and there’s no way I’m doing that again,” I said. I’d finally been persuaded by Mary-Beth and Kayla last night, and Maddy had loved my cow-related, funny song and dance.

“I can’t believe you remembered that, from, what ten years ago when you made it up for Kayla?” said Mary-Beth.

“It’s amazing what sticks in your memory,” I said. It was an innocent comment, but it set off a cascade of images in my head – Mary-Beth kneeling up on my bed, going wild with pleasure as I fucked her hard from behind. Mary-Beth on the kitchen counter, my fingers pushed deep into her pussy. Mary-Beth unzipping that shit hot dress and making me watch, my rock-hard cock throbbing for her, aching for her…

My thoughts must have showed on my face, because she smiled knowingly and added some chopped parsley and sage to the pot, sprinkling them from a height. Then, “We mustn’t forget to turn off the heat,” she said, meeting my eye. I could hear the invitation to flirt in her voice.

But I didn’t take it. Bryce’s words rang through my head, chasing the forbidden images away, and I got a hold of myself.

“That smells great – what is it?” I asked.

“Risotto. Butternut squash and pine nut. Here, try it.”

I wanted to step back, but I couldn’t. She was magnetic, and I wanted to be close to her more. I let her put the spoon to my lips.

“Blow, it’s hot,” she said.

There was a frisson of electricity between us as she drew close, and a wave of desire rippled through my stomach. I could smell her perfume and her natural scent. Her breasts were almost touching my chest, full and inviting in another simple blue linen dress. I desperately wanted her to slip her hands around the back of my neck and push her fingers up into my hair and pull me towards her and...

“You like?” She was frowning. “Is it bad?”

I focused on tasting. “No, it’s great. Delicious. Shame I can’t have any.”

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