He cupped her face, and he pressed a kiss to her head. “I want you to stay. You know, a lot of women would get a kick out of being the first woman to stay here.”
“Really? You think I’m going to fall for that one?”
“It’s not a line. I don’t bring women back here. This is my space, and I don’t share.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. You can go back home by all means, but you can lay in your lonely bed listening to Mandy and Dale fuck, and think about what I could be doing to you instead.”
“You’re the devil.”
“Nah, I’m not. Come on, let’s shower.” He led her back to his bathroom, which of course was way too tempting to deny.
There was nothing wrong with having a little fun.
Not tonight. This was what single people did. Any doubts she had, she pushed them aside. She didn’t need to think about them.
****
Doc sipped at his coffee as Dale entered the office. One glance at Mandy’s empty desk and whatever smile was on his son’s face vanished.
“It’s her day off. I figured you’d know that.”
“You know where she is?” Dale asked.
“Probably out helping Jo.” Mandy was with Jo. They were packing up the last of Jo’s home. Even though she had gotten the house during the divorce, Jo wanted it gone. It was on the market, and from what he saw the other day, she would have no problem selling it.
“Fuck. I wanted to take her out to lunch.”
Doc raised his brow.
“It’s not what you think,” Dale said.
“You’re trying to court a woman that saw you riding three of the club pussy, and you think you’ve still got a shot?”
“Mandy understands things.”
“Mandy knows a great deal, and she accepts a lot. Doesn’t mean she’s going to want you to herself.” He knew Mandy was blunt and didn’t beat around the bush. She made her feelings clear. She had already asked him if it was okay for her to have some fun with his son, nothing meaningful or long-lasting.
Mandy, behind all that bluntness, was a nice woman. Cute and sweet and if she let Dale get close, she’d be broken-hearted. It was one of the reasons he put up with her. She talked constantly, spoke her mind, but was also loyal.
She had been telling him about Jo and her divorce for months. How Mitch wanted to keep Jo, and had even offered them both an open relationship. From what Mandy knew, Mitch liked to play the field. He didn’t want to sleep with his wife, but he liked having her as a security blanket. She was suitable to take to social gatherings, as his bosses liked a family man, but he didn’t find her attractive. She was someone he wanted to use to better himself, but he also wanted to have fun without any consequences. Mandy had told him all the nitty-gritty stuff, and he saw the love she had for Jo.
He could see why. Jo was a sweetheart. She didn’t make waves, and with Mandy working for him, he’d already known a great deal about Jo from the thorough investigation he’d gotten. No one worked for the Nowhere Men MC without being checked out.
“I like Mandy.”
“You’ve had a lot of club pussy.”
“Dad, that’s been over for a long time. Don’t talk to me about club pussy. You haven’t had any either.”
“You like Mandy. She’s your age.”
“Dad, come on, stop riding my ass.”
Doc laughed. “Nothing much is going on here. We may as well pick up the girls some lunch and head on over to Jo’s place.” He wanted to see her.
After falling asleep beside her the other night, he’d woken up to find her gone. He didn’t like it and couldn’t think of a single reason as to why he could go and talk to her. Something casual didn’t mean knowing their every waking moment, or talking on the phone just before they went to sleep.
He didn’t date.
Had never dated.
Dale’s mother had been a one-night stand, and to a fifteen-year-old kid, it had been an amazing night with a posh woman. Come the harsh reality of what it was, he’d regretted bedding her. Not for Dale though.
He loved his son more than anything in the world.
Having Dale around him day in day out was something he cherished.
After Doc climbed on his bike, Dale followed him into town, where they picked up some lunch before heading to Jo’s house.
The front door was closed, but he saw Mandy’s car parked in the driveway.
He parked his bike behind Mandy’s car as Dale pulled in.
Grabbing their food, he didn’t bother knocking, just walked right in.
Mandy was coming downstairs as he entered. “It’s rude to not knock.”
“I tell you that every single day, but you still barge into my office.”
“That’s work. This is a home.”
“What is it, Mand?” Jo came out of the direction of the kitchen. Her long, blonde hair was pinned up on top of her head, and she wore a really nice pair of jeans that molded to her ass.