Bundle of Joy

“Quite a few,” he finally admits. “But I know that the right person will —”

“Why did they all leave?” she asks, without letting him finish his sentence.

“Charlie’s had some, um, behavioral problems as of late,” he says. “I know it’s only temporary though, and only because I’m working so much, and I’ve not been around enough for him…”

“Told ya,” Michelle says, elbowing me. “Next you’ll find out that he cheated on his wife and she hightailed it out of there.”

“What do you say?” Daniel asks me, looking right at me as though trying to avoid having to talk to Michelle, a decision I can’t exactly blame him for. “At least think it over?”

“Okay,” I say, looking at the clock and realizing my shift is over.

He sighs in relief, but I’m quick to clarify.

“I’ll think it over, later,” I tell him. “I have to go now, though.”

“What? Really?” he asks, looking as if no one has ever turned him down.

And that’s because they probably haven’t, I think, noting his handsome face and tall physique again.

“At least let me give you my number,” he says.

“Maybe,” I say, as he takes a card out of his wallet and extends it to me.

A hundred dollars an hour is a lot to turn down without properly ensuring that I had had his contact information, but sometimes I like to take a walk on the wild side like that. I’m not even sure I should do it, and perhaps this potential roadblock will help fate decide for me.

I finally decide to grab the card out of his hand and then I look down at his little boy.

“Goodbye, Charlie,” I tell him, as I head towards the exit so I can collect my skis and go home. “Happy birthday.”

To my surprise, he runs over and hugs my leg, tight.

“Bye, bye, nice lady,” he whispers, loudly enough for me, and Daniel, to hear it. “Thanks for the juice!”

Now it’s Daniel’s turn to let his mouth hang open.

And that’s how I leave him as I head out into the billowing snow.

Chapter 3

Daniel

“Are you listening, Mr. Roberts?” one of my interns ask me.

Nodding my head, I say, “Oh, yes, of course,” even though it’s an obvious lie.

I feel bad; the interns are demonstrating software development projects I had asked them to prepare, and they are doing a decent job at it, for being complete newbies, but my mind has obviously been somewhere else.

It’s still up on the mountain, with Catharine. And I’m still wishing that my cock could be buried in her.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her, even though I tell myself to knock it the fuck off.

I don’t do relationships, and not just because I want to protect Charlie from a revolving door of women who might not work out, although that’s definitely part of the reason. But also because I find it easier with my busy schedule to just do quick hook-ups and not have to worry about the emotional stuff. Plus, it’s usually more exciting that way, too.

But Catharine has really gotten into my head and I can’t fucking get her out. Maybe it’s just because she gives me a chase – I can never resist a challenge. But I have a feeling her gorgeous curves and sassy attitude and pretty eyes all have something to do with the fact that she makes me feel dazed and confused about my intense focus on her, too.

After trying yet again to listen to the interns’ presentation and failing miserably, I tell them it’s time for a break.

“Let’s take five, guys and gals,” I tell them. “Actually, let’s make it an hour-long break, and you can go grab Starbucks on the company tab if you want.”

They act as if I’m Boss of the Year as they get up, slapping me five on their way out. But really, it’s not that I have an altruistic desire to make them happy. Rather, I called the break from the meeting because I need to do something about the fact that Catharine is in my head so much.

Perhaps physical release will help me release this mental obsession. I lock my office door and strip down to my underwear. Then I go to my private gym that’s inside my large office, and I run hard and fast on the treadmill.

It’s not hard and fast enough. I can still hear her feisty voice over the pounding of my footsteps on the machine. I can still see her gorgeous eyes and her perfectly hourglass shape even though there’s a TV screen playing the news in front of me.

I remember how when we were having cake, she had taken her ski coat off and she had a fleece underneath but it was thin and I could see the shape of her nipple poking out from underneath it. I imagine squeezing her nipple between my fingers and then sucking on it with my mouth.