A Curvy Girl for the Cadet: A Perfect Fit Novella (11 page)

“Scary man?” The senator’s wife asked. “You are sleeping with a man my granddaughter thinks is scary. I’m not sure I approve of this.”

“She doesn’t really think I’m scary, do you, honey?” He walked forward extending his hand. “I should introduce myself. I’m Clayton Calhoun. I’m Daisy’s fiancé.”

*

Daisy wasn’t sure she heard Clayton correctly. She could have sworn he had just said that he was her fiancé but that couldn’t be right. She had partied hard in her college days and was fairly sure she had lost more than a few brain cells, but she was pretty sure Clayton Calhoun had never asked her to marry him.

And if he had… Was he crazy?

“You’re going to marry, Mama!” Aubrey gave Clayton a big happy smile. It was rare that she saw Aubrey smile like that and while Daisy wanted to be happy to see it, she knew that in the end she would only end up disappointed.

“Am I marrying you?” she asked lightly, very aware that the Scotts were watching them intently. They had been here for the past hour, trying awkwardly to get to know their granddaughter.

Clayton had been with her when she told Aubrey about them. About her father whom she would never meet. It had been difficult. Difficult to find a way to tell her that there were more people in her life who wanted to love her, but at the same time keeping away the fact that those people might want to take her away.

Daisy wouldn’t let that happen no matter what. But she was still enormously pissed off that these two people with their money and their privilege would take a child from the only mother she knew just to keep a promise to their deadbeat son.

Aubrey didn’t react to the news much. She didn’t seem very excited to learn about her grandparents. She didn’t seem hurt over her father’s loss. But maybe she had numbed herself to it. Maybe at seven she had experienced loss so many times that she held back. She didn’t form attachments or expectations like another small child might. And that depressed the hell out of Daisy.

“It’s okay to tell them, Daisy. It’s a delicate situation. Daisy still works closely with her former mother-in-law and we haven’t told her yet. We haven’t told anyone yet.”

“Congratulations,” the senator said coolly and Daisy suspected he wasn’t buying what Clayton was selling.

“Aubrey.” Clayton looked down at her. “Do you think you can bring out the cake we bought yesterday?”

“And the little paper plates and the forks, Mr. Calhoun?”

“You don’t have to call me that anymore, baby.” He bent to kiss her forehead. “Just Clay. And if you can manage all of that without dropping it, go for it.”

“I’ll use a tray. Mama has one with flowers on it.”

Aubrey was growing attached to Clay, Daisy realized. She had always seemed to like him. Had always seemed to see another side to him that most people had missed. That Daisy had missed. She couldn’t allow Clayton to break her heart.

He would too.

She had been so blown away by his transformation. By how much he looked like a cross between a young Marlon Brando and Paul Newman that she didn’t realize why he had transformed.

He had mentioned the meeting he had gone to yesterday. He didn’t go into details. He just said it was about his job offer. He must have decided to take it. The short haircut. The shave. It was all in preparation to go back. To be a soldier or something that was dangerous and would take him away from here.

She didn’t know how long he had left here, but she realized that she would miss him when he went. And so would Aubrey. She had lost enough men, enough loved ones in her life. She couldn’t allow this to go on any longer.

“Good girl,” Clayton said as he opened the front door and let her inside. “Please sit.” He motioned to the white wicker furniture on the porch and the Scotts took their seats again. “Daisy told me about your meeting yesterday. You kept throwing around the phrase stable two parent home, like being a married couple could make that little girl any better than she already is. She’s sweet. She’s kind and she’s more respectful than most adults I have known. You would not be better parents. That child has been through a lot and the fact that she has turned out as well rounded as she has is a testament to Daisy’s parenting. But if you plan to pursue this, the fight won’t be as easy as you think.”

Daisy just stared at Clayton. He was transforming again before her eyes. She knew he was a commanding officer in the army. She knew he had been a leader, but seeing him now… She could just picture him issuing orders to his unit. It was kind of sexy.

“I was a first lieutenant in the United States Army. A Ranger. Honorably discharged and highly decorated. My father, grandfather and great grandfather were all high ranking officers. I got my recommendation to West Point by the vice president when he was still a senator and he was there when I received my Bronze Star. I run Sanna and Son Property Management which is being turned over to me shortly when the current owner retires. Go ahead and check me out if you don’t believe me.” Clayton looked from the senator to his wife. “If you want a fight, you’ll get one. I’m not a God damn politician who makes threats and side deals. I’m a soldier. I know how to get things done and if you think you’re going to come here and take Aubrey you’re dead wrong. Who do you think the public will side with? The injured veteran with the spotless record or the old senator with the asshole son who never bothered to care for his only daughter? You think about that.” He opened the screen door and stepped inside. “I’m going to go check on Aubrey.”

Daisy exhaled when Clayton was gone from sight. His threat hadn’t been directed at her and yet the force with which he gave it make her heart beat faster.

“I’m aware of Clayton,” the senator said after a moment. “His family has a long history of service. He’s actually a fourth generation West Point graduate. I knew his grandfather, the general. He’s incredibly brave. But I’m sure he has already told you the story of how he came to be awarded.”

“No,” she said honestly. “He didn’t even tell me about his Bronze Star. Clayton is the kind of man who doesn’t think he should be awarded for doing his job. He’s out of uniform now, but he brings just as much honor and integrity to everything he does. He’s a good man and he’ll be a wonderful father.”

“But you’re marrying another veteran of the same war,” Mrs. Scott said. “Aren’t you concerned about that?”

“No,” Daisy said truthfully because she knew she wasn’t marrying Clayton. But if she was it’s something that might trouble her a bit. “Danny wasn’t a veteran when I married him. And Clayton is a very different man from him.”

“We’ve rented a house here for the summer. We haven’t decided how we would like to proceed yet, but we would like to get to know her. She’s our family.”

“I could be spiteful. I could not allow you to see her until you came back with DNA proof and even then I could choose to keep her away, because as her grandparents you don’t have any rights. But I’m not going to do that, because I wouldn’t deny her the opportunity to have two more people love her. But if you mention anything to her about coming to live with you, I’ll ban you from her life so fast your heads will spin.”

“Understood.” The senator nodded. “We would like to take her for lunch if that is okay with you. And maybe for a little shopping.”

“Books. Buy her books. She loves them. And technology. She is going to learn how to code this summer. Maybe you can get her a book about that.”

“We will. Thank you, Daisy.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll go get her.”

She went inside to see Clayton and Aubrey sitting in the kitchen in deep conversation, but they stopped as soon as Aubrey spotted her.

“We were waiting for cake. What happened?”

“Sorry.” Clayton turned to look at her and it was like she was seeing him for the first time all over again. “We were just talking.”

“About what?”

“It’s private, Mama.”

“Private? You want privacy in my house?”

“Yes, Mama. It’s important.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “Your grandparents would like to take you to lunch and then shopping. But I’m forbidding you to come home with a horse, pony or any other animal that needs to be stabled. You got that?”

“A dog doesn’t need to be stabled,” she said matter of factly.

“No animals. No living things. No drum kits. No property.”

“Property?” Aubrey squinted in confusion.

“Yes. Don’t come back and tell me you own a brownstone in Tribeca because it was a good investment.”

“Okay.” She hopped off her chair and gave Clayton a big hug before she approached Daisy. “Pick me up, please.” She reached upward and Daisy felt a wave of emotion slam into her. Aubrey used to ask her to pick her up like that when she was just a baby.

“I love you, Cookie.” She squeezed her.

“I love you too, Mama. I’m happy you’re getting married.”

“Oh.” Daisy locked eyes with Clayton. “Thank you. Are you going to be okay with your new grandparents?”

“Yes.”

“Are you feeling okay about all this? It’s a lot.”

“I’m okay. I’ve always wanted grandparents.”

“You have?”

“Yes. I want a big family.” She wiggled to get down. “But having just you is nice too.” She walked away then, leaving Daisy feeling empty and kind of guilty.

“Come here.” Clayton reached for her hand and pulled her close. He rested his head on her chest. “You sure about letting her go off on her own with them?”

“No.” She ran her fingers through his short hair. “But right now I’m more concerned about you telling them we were getting married.” She smacked the back of his head. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“That they would back off. I’ve never used my connections to get ahead, but my family has them and I wanted to let them know I’ll use them. I’m pretty sure I made my point. They won’t push it anymore.”

“I think you made your point too, but what happens when we don’t get married? They’re staying here for the summer. They are going to find out you lied. Especially about the business. Do you know how easy it will be to verify that? And then they’ll really try to fight me for her when they find I out I’m involved in this scheme with you.”

“It’s not a scheme. Mr. Sanna wants to give me his business. He has had the papers drawn up. I didn’t lie about that.”

“He wants to turn it over to you?”

“Yes. Alex never wanted it and he said I’m like his son.”

“But you were offered a job overseas.”

“Yes. I was.”

“And what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to be your fiancé for a while. Nobody has to know but the Scotts.”

“But Aubrey knows. That’s who I’m concerned about. She really likes you and she wants us to get married. I don’t want her getting hurt, Clay.”

“Don’t worry about Aubrey. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Just trust me on this.”

She wanted to, but she didn’t think she could.

Chapter 11

“We should probably get dressed now,” Clayton said to Daisy a little while later as she lay naked on her bed.

“We probably should,” she said, not moving.

He was glad she didn’t move to cover herself. She didn’t even have a blanket over her body for modesty. All those long thick legs, and curvy hips and beautiful full breast were on display for him. He ran his hand across her stomach, loving the way the soft slightly curved surface felt beneath his hand. He was getting hard again just touching her.

“Why do you touch my stomach all the time?”

“I like it.” He leaned down and nipped her right above her belly button. She let out a surprised squeak and squirmed beneath him, but he kissed her where he bit and that little yelp turned into a moan.

He lived for that moan. That throaty sound she made whenever he did something she liked.

“With the scruffy beard and hair, I could see why a guy like you would like me. But now that you look like a Greek god I would have pegged you for more of a super-fit-beach-body-perky girl.”

“I don’t even know what that is.” He kissed up her belly, giving her slower, more scorching kisses as he traveled upward.

“You know. A girl with abs and sun bleached hair. One that runs on the beach for fun and lives in yoga pants and a sports bra.”

“Why the hell would you think I wanted that?”

“Because you look like you belong in California or Hawaii surfing on the beach. And guys who look like you, go for girls who look like them.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t go by looks.” He cupped her breasts in his hands and squeezed them, loving the way the warm plump flesh felt in his hands. Her nipples went hard again and he ran his tongue across one, just to hear the sweet sounds she made. “I like women with tattoos and long dark wavy hair and cute tummies that are perfect for kissing.”

“You smooth player. Come here and kiss me.”

He positioned himself between her legs and slid inside her. She was ready for him. She was always ready for him and he kissed her as he thrust inside. “Like this?”

He thrust again, accompanying it with another hot wet kiss. “Don’t tease me,” she moaned. “I don’t know how much time we have and I’m close.” She pulled his mouth to hers and moved beneath him, spurring him on. Her climax came quickly and powerfully and as soon as he felt her squeezing around him he lost control too.

He collapsed beside her, not wanting to move away from her yet. His kissed her throat, her skin was slightly damp. She smelled of sex and flowers. It was becoming his favorite smell. “You have got to stop kissing me, Clay. Or we’re likely to start all over again.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with going for a fourth time.”

“Last thing we need is Aubrey walking in here and catching us. She already told the senator and his wife that we were sleeping together.”

“As far as they know, we’re engaged. There’s nothing wrong with us sleeping together.”

“Engaged.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe you told them that.” She got out of bed and reached for her dress that he had flung on the dresser when he stripped her. “I’m going to take a quick shower. You stay here or we’ll end up at it again.”

“I’m okay if we end up at it again. In fact I would really enjoy that.”

She smiled at him and he wanted to freeze that moment and lock it away in his memory. Her standing before him naked with just a yellow dress in her hands and smiling only for him.

“I’ll be back soon. Get dressed just in case Aubrey comes back.”

She left the room and he didn’t move for a while. Aubrey thought they were getting married. In hindsight it might not have been such a smart thing to say in front of the little girl, but he couldn’t change it now.

He didn’t know why he had said it. Or what had possessed him to. He had come here today to use his former rank and family connections to bully the Scotts into backing off. But being her fiancé made more sense. It made them think that he would be permanently attached to her, that he would be there to help provide the stable two parent home the Scotts thought she needed.

And maybe Aubrey would benefit from having a father around. But she was a good kid and Daisy was doing a hell of a job with her and he couldn’t stand by and just let anyone come here and try to take what mattered the most away from her.

He got out of bed and put on his clothes. He could go home and enjoy the rest of his day off, but he didn’t want to leave Daisy yet and he couldn’t find a reason why he should. He liked her. There was something about her he trusted and it had been a long time since he had trusted anyone except his sister.

He heard the shower turn off and a few minutes later Daisy emerged dressed again with a bottle of lotion in her hands. “You want to stay for dinner? I think we should grill tonight. I’ve got some wild boar and apple sausage that I’ve been dying to try.”

“Wild boar?”

“Yes. I can pickle some red onions to go on top. You haven’t lived until you’ve had pickled red onions on fresh sausage.”

“What happened to plain old pork, chicken and beef? Normal people grill hamburgers and hotdogs. You roll out the wild game.”

“I was planning on throwing on some burgers too. You don’t have to try it.”

“I’m going to try it.” He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. “This is why I like you. You always do something unexpected.”

“Clayton Calhoun!” they heard from a distance. “I know you’re home. Get your fanny out here.”

The yell was accompanied by banging and Daisy looked up at him. “If you tell me that’s your estranged wife looking for you, I’m going to kick you in your man parts.”

“No.” It was worse than that. “It’s my mother.”

“She sounds mad.”

“You’re telling me.”  He had been kind of blowing her off these past few days. She wanted him to come over for dinner, but he always made an excuse. He didn’t think she would get mad enough to pound his door down though.

He walked out to Daisy’s porch to see that it wasn’t just his mother there. His father was there too. And his sister. His entire family was back together it seemed for the sole purpose of kicking his behind.

“Is that your dad?” Daisy asked from behind him.

“Yeah.”

“You’re his clone,” she said sounding kind of awed.

“Don’t remind me.” He stepped off the porch, warily making his way to his family. “I’m here, Mom. What’s up?”

“Don’t you what’s up me, mister. Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“Are you engaged? And if you lie to me, I’ll know. And trust me you’re not too old to put over my knee.”

Shit.

How the hell did she find out? He knew she didn’t know the Scotts and he was pretty sure she wasn’t tech savvy enough to have Daisy’s place bugged. “Uh, where did you hear that?”

“Your sister.”

“How the hell did you hear that?”

“Belinda told me that she overhead her daughter talking to one of the girls she goes to school with. She said, ‘Mr. Calhoun is going to marry my mommy. But he told me to call him Clay.’ I know there is only one Clayton Calhoun in this town and it’s you and who the hell are you marrying? And holy crap you shaved!” Maggie stumble backwards as the realization sunk in. “And you’ve cut your hair. I’m going to cry again.”

“No!” That was the last thing he needed.

“Don’t cry, honey.” His father caught Maggie and wrapped a supportive arm around her. “Just because he looks like your old man again, doesn’t mean it’s a cause for tears. I think I’m much better looking than him anyway.”

“So it’s true,” his mother said. “You aren’t denying it, so it must be true.”

He looked back at Daisy who was standing silently on her porch.

“It’s Daisy, isn’t it?” Maggie gasped. “I knew it! I knew you had something going on.”

“Daisy?” His mother followed his eyes. “Is that her? You come here right now, young lady.”

Daisy stepped off her porch bare foot, and looking frightened. He didn’t blame her. He had been to war, been shot at and blown up, but his mother still managed to scare the shit out of him.

Clayton grabbed her hand and squeezed, not sure how the hell they were going to get out of this one. “Mom, Dad this is Daisy.”

His mother surprised them all by letting out a happy scream and jumping up and down. She threw her arms around Daisy and kissed her cheeks. “Hello, beautiful girl. Welcome to the family!”

“You’re going to welcome me? Just like that? You don’t even know me. I could be a horrible bitch.”

“But you got him to get a haircut and shave and that’s all a mother could ask for.”

Daisy laughed. “You’re not hard to please.”

“She’s a stunner, son,” his father said smiling. “An absolute stunner. Congratulations.”

“I’m so happy. I love her.” Maggie started to weep again and for a moment Clay got caught up. His chest swelled with pride and he was happy that his family was so pleased with his choice in a bride. But then he remember that he wasn’t going to get married, that Daisy wasn’t his bride.

He looked over at her and realized that she was probably going to kill him.

*

“You beat me here,” Loretta said when she walked into the shop the next morning.

Daisy purposefully came early after dropping Aubrey with her grandparents for breakfast. “I have forty-five things to tell you.” She hopped up from her seat. “I take a couple of days off to be with my kid and my life explodes.”

“What?”

“Remember how Jane got pregnant and never told me who the father was? Well, that father turned out to be the son of a senator. He died and on his deathbed he asked his parents to take care of Aubrey and give her a horse.”

“A horse?”

“A horse! And they showed up at my house talking about that time I got arrested in college and Danny dying and about taking her away because I couldn’t give her a stable two parent home and I melted down a little bit and told Clayton. And then Clayton came over and told them they were going to have a fight on their hands because his grandfather was a general and he knew the vice president and he told them that he was going to marry me to get them to back off.”

“What?”

“And they bought it. Only they didn’t back off all the way. They rented a house and are staying here this summer to see Aubrey and Clay and I were going to pretend to be fake engaged for them, but Aubrey told her friend from school, and the girl’s mother found out and told Maggie and Maggie told Clay’s parents and they all showed up last night and neither one of us told them the truth and now we’re fake engaged.”

“Fake engaged?”

“Fake engaged! And you’re the only one who knows.” She ran out of steam then and rested her head on Loretta’s shoulder.

“Okay,” Loretta said slowly as she rubbed Daisy’s back. “I’m no dumb bunny, but I think you might have to explain that to me again.”

She explained it all again, but slower this time. Loretta didn’t say much. Just nodded and continued to rub her back.

“Sounds like he was just trying to be your knight in shining armor.”

“He was and I appreciate that. But his family thinks we’re getting married and they were so happy. And so nice. His mother must have hugged me ten times yesterday. And then there is Aubrey. She likes him Loretta. She’s happy about this and I feel like shit because none of it’s real. I don’t want anyone getting hurt over this.”

“I get it, honey. But what’s the other option? Tell everyone you lied? Do you think that would be any better?”

“So what do you think I should do?”

“Let it ride for now. Worry about it when the time comes.”

“Don’t worry?” she asked as she walked to her station, ready to work on today’s arrangements. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”

Clayton walked through the door then, and she was surprised to see him. It was as if her thoughts had conjured him up.

“Hey. Good morning, Loretta,” he nodded his greeting before he turned his attention back to Daisy. “I stopped by your house this morning, but you weren’t there.” He was in his work clothes today. In a well-worn pair of jeans that hugged his powerful lower body just right. She had slept with him, seen him naked, kissed and touched his body, but seeing him there in her shop gave her a little rush, made her stomach go fluttery.

That was another reason why this fake engagement worried her. She didn’t want to end up with her heart broken when it all ended.

“I dropped Aubrey off with her grandparents for breakfast and came straight here.”

“Oh. I thought you might have been avoiding me.”

“Why would I avoid you, Clayton? It wouldn’t change anything.”

“Clayton!” Loretta threw her hands up. “You’re the big hot bearded guy that Daisy is sleeping with? How the hell did you morph into a more beautiful man?”

“Magic, ma’am. And an industrial electric razor.” He turned his icy blue eyes back to Daisy and stepped around the counter so that he stood face to face with her. “I thought you might be pissed at me. I would be pissed at me.” He flashed her a quick grin that made his eyes crinkle in the corners. “I would have taken my damn head off.”