Chapter 3

I hurry home from school, hoping Daddy will be home alone. No such luck. The house is dark and empty, so I get started on my homework. A

few more months and I’ll be done with high school.

Every summer, I usually work because I have to pay for my own summer activities. But this summer, I’m not going to work. Mom said she’ll give me a budget as sort of a graduation present since I’m at the top of my class.

My plan was to laze around all summer. If I get ambitious, I might buy a textbook or two and get a head start for my college classes in the fall. But now, I have another goal in mind — get Daddy alone as much as possible.

I’ve messed around with a few guys, but I’ve always been too nervous to go all the way, to take off all my clothes, to be naked in front of someone else. But when Daddy touched me this morning, I was so desperate for him, I would have gladly stripped down to nothing in the middle of the kitchen if he’d asked me to.

I smile as I correct that thought. If he told me to. I want him to tell me what to do. I want to please him and be his good girl. I want to see that dark, hungry look in his eyes. And I’m greedy enough to want it all for myself.

When I hear the garage door open, I push away from my desk and head out of my room. If it’s Daddy, I want him to know I’m home. And I want him to see what I’m wearing.

I tamp down my disappointment when Mom breezes in from the garage. She stops when she sees me.

“Are you feeling sick?” she asks.

“No, why?”

“You’re already in your pajamas.”

I shrug. “I wanted to be comfy while I study.”

Mom holds up two plastic bags stuffed to the brim. “I brought dinner.

Italian.”

My mouth waters as the smell of garlic and tangy herbs envelops me. I

take the bags from her hands, since she also has her purse and her workbag. “What’s the celebration?” I ask, since Mom usually opts for salads or something über healthy. I set the bags on the counter, untie the knots in the

plastic handles, and start pulling out containers.

“I think I have this promotion in the bag. I saved our department from

an utter disaster that Ray caused today. So my boss is making him stay and deal with the aftermath and taking me to Boston this weekend to help him woo a new client.”

“This weekend?”

Mom’s eyes go wide as she seems to finally remember that she promised I could have friends over this weekend.

“Maybe Garrett will be willing to stick around,” she says with a cringe because we both know that’s not going to happen.

I give her a ‘yeah right’ look. He was planning on going fishing to get out of the house.

But that brings back thoughts of what happened this morning and what might happen if I have Daddy to myself all weekend while Mom’s out of town.

“What if we push it off a little until the weather gets warmer? Then Garrett can stay here and I can take you girls to the cabin when the lake is warm enough to swim in.”

I pretend to think for a moment before giving in with a nod. “Okay,” I add a little hesitation to my voice, so she doesn’t think I’m happy about the change of events.

Mom changes out of her work clothes as I set the table. Just as we sit down to eat, the garage door opens with a whir. I get up to pull a plate from the cabinet for Daddy.

“What smells so good?” he asks as he rounds the corner.

“Italian,” Mom says. “I have some good news. We can talk about it while we eat.”

Daddy looks over at me. I’m in much the same position as this morning, stretching up to get a plate for him. His gaze darts down to my ass, then he clears his throat.

“Just let me wash up.”

As he moves past me to the sink, Daddy’s rough hand swipes over the underside of my ass. He squeezes gently before letting go and moving to the sink.

I watch the muscles of his back shift and bunch beneath the gray T-shirt he’s wearing as I take his plate back to the table.

“That shirt’s filthy,” Mom says as Daddy approaches the table. “Why don’t you go change? Then we’ll eat and maybe even play a board game or watch a movie.”

Daddy’s gone and back in less than five minutes. He comes back in a sleeveless shirt and athletic shorts. This time, I let my gaze trail over him as he makes his way to the table. Then we all dig in to the pasta, salad, and garlic bread that Mom brought home.