Sweet Thing (Naughty Things 2)

It’s only her father who gives me pause. And yet it was meeting him, and seeing her with him, that changed my mind that night I asked her out.

She is special. Not just special the way a father thinks his daughter is special, but in other ways too.

She kissed him on the cheek before she left. He gave her an heirloom diamond ring instead of a car for her birthday.

There are real familial ties at work here. And I like that. I love it, actually. Because that’s not anything I’ve ever had before. I have Ozzy. He’s my only family these days. But it’s not the same. A business partnership isn’t like a love relationship. And sure, I love the guy. I’d do anything for him and he’d do anything for me.

It’s just not the same. I need more than that.

And her father seems to like us. Ozzy, because everyone loves Ozzy. But me too. He’s dropped by our office twice this week because he was in the neighborhood for meetings. He’s excited about our project and both times he’s reminded us of the Spring Fling at the country club.

I feel like this is a good sign. That one day, if Aria and I continue to see each other, I could go to him and explain how I feel about his daughter and he’ll understand. He’ll get it. He’ll get us and everything will work out.

If that vibe wasn’t there I wouldn’t have done it. I wouldn’t have asked her out again.

But it was. So I did.

Is it wrong to date someone seventeen years younger than you?

Probably. But by whose standard? She’s a legal adult. And even though this started out as a one-night stand, that’s not what it is now. We stumbled a little that first weekend but we took time to think and fate brought us back together.

I feel like we’ve been given a second chance. A do-over.

So what if people look at us funny? Does it matter what they think if I love her?

Not that I love her. I don’t love her. She doesn’t love me. This is all totally in the like department… for now.

But if we did fall in love, then who’s to say that it’s wrong?

Ultimately no one gets to decide that but us. Her and me. And I’ve already decided it’s not wrong. Not if you love someone. Not if you’re doing it for the right reasons. So I’m going to make sure she knows I’m doing this because I want her.

I want to get to know her. I want to see the young woman her father sees. The innocent one. The sweet one.

“Jesus,” Ozzy says. “What the hell are you daydreaming about? All week you’ve been distracted.” He sits on the corner of my desk. “What’s going on with you?”

I take a deep breath and let it out. “You remember that girl I was telling you about?”

“Which one?”

“The last one,” I say, rolling my eyes. “The young one.”

“You mean,” he says, raising one eyebrow at me, “the eighteen-year-old baby?”

“She’s not a baby. She’s an adult. And she’s interesting. And good. I like her.”

“Oh, shit,” he says, rubbing his hand across his jaw. “Who is she?”

“I’m not ready to go there just yet. But maybe soon. If this all works out. I’m taking her out tonight. Real first date kinda thing,” I say.

“Ah, man,” he says, dropping a folder onto my desk.

“What?”

“Real first date? Like you just threw away the one-night stand and decided to start over? What the hell? Are you falling for this girl? Because I gotta say, that’s not a good idea, Ryker. Age difference. It never works out. Cut your losses, dude. She’s gonna shatter you. I mean, eighteen? She hasn’t even lived yet and you…” He shakes his head. “You’ve lived a little too much.”

I’ve lived a little too much.

Not untrue, either. I’ve got the figurative scars and literal tattoos to prove it.

“And what’s up with this drummer stuff? I’ve asked you to come out and have drinks with me all week and every time you blow me off for the fucking drums. What gives? What’s going on?”

“I like it,” I say. “I miss it. I guess I didn’t realize how much until I started playing again.”

“So… do you miss the old you too? Because I gotta tell ya, Ryker, I didn’t care for that guy much. I certainly didn’t go into business with him. And I know I brought up your friend in the band, but I was just showing off for Amherst. You know how I feel about old you.”

“No,” I say. “I swear. It’s nothing like that. I just miss the energy, ya know? The music, the—“

“The lifestyle,” he interrupts. “Is that why you’re dating this younger girl? You’ve clawed your way to the top of the food chain and now you’re missing all the things you left behind?”