“Those are my club dresses.” Cassie put her hands out. “I like to dress sexy and I like to dance and know the guys are looking.”
“You like to tease.”
“Nah, I put out.” She winked, then rolled her eyes at the look on his face. “I like to have fun, dad. I’m not hurting anyone and I’m being careful. I always tell my friends where I’m going and who I’m with and you saw the condoms.” She waved her finger back and forth. “No bareback for this girl, promise.”
Darren took a breath and didn’t bite on the comment. This was not getting anywhere and she was right. He betrayed her trust and for no real good reason. He thought about the lingerie, but had dug himself into enough of a hole. Maybe she brought it with her for after the club the way she was talking.
“So the nights you said you were with friends you were with… new friends?” Darren asked. “You lied repeatedly.”
“Because you’d get pissed.” Cassie pointed out. “Dad, you said it best. It’s just sex. If I get to where there’s a guy who I’m into enough he’s worth me being just with him I will be. But for now? I’m eighteen, I’m pretty, I’m sexy and I want to enjoy it.”
“Well then, little full of yourself aren’t we?” He teased.
“You don’t think I’m pretty?”
“I think you’re beautiful.” One of the few honest things he’d said during their conversation.
“Aww, thanks, daddy.” She gave him one of the few honest smiles of the night. “You think I’m sexy?”
“I think a daughter doesn’t ask her father that.” He replied warily.
“But you’re a man too.” Cassie reached out and ran her hand down his arm. “I told you that you were good looking earlier.”
Darren did his best to ignore the electric sensation that went through him at the feel of her nails trailing along his arm.
“And you shouldn’t say that either.”
“Come on, dad, you know you are.” She rested her hand on his shoulder. “Look at you. You’re in good shape, you have those deep blue eyes and that salt and pepper look going. A lot of young girls like that, you know.”
“You can stop trying to get out of being grounded now.” He wanted to ease her hand from his arm, but thought that might look like her touch bothered him so let it stay on his arm trying to ignore the effect it was having on him.
“Bet that girl said you were good looking.” Cassie continued to play it up.
“Of course she did, I paid her.” He rolled his eyes, disgusted his daughter had discovered his habit. At least she didn’t know the real damning details.
“Trust me, dad, she meant it. You think all the guys that hire a girl are good looking like you? A lot of them are out of shape and not attractive and even flat out gross. You’re a treat for an escort.”
“Never thought of it like that.” He stroked his chin. “Guess maybe you’re right.”
“Good thing for them is they don’t have to do a lot of work. Those guys last about two minutes and can’t get it up again.”
“Then Its easy money then.” Darren replied, his eyes on her hand on his arm. Her long slender fingers tipped in blue looked good on him. Her legs looked good stretched out as well. Everything about her looked good, too damn good.
“But I bet you made that little tramp earn hers.” Cassie squeezed his arm. “Bet you gave it to her good.”
“Cassie you need to learn when to stop.” He eased her hand from his arm. “You’re right, you’re a young woman, not a child and I have to deal with the fact you’re sexually active and a lot more active than I’d like you to be, but I’m not going to listen to you keep talking about it.”
“Fair enough.” Cassie looked at her hand as if he’d offended her by moving it, but didn’t say anything. “You never answered me though.”
“About what?”
“You said I’m beautiful.”
“You are.” Feeling bad he’d pushed her hand away he reached out and brushed the back of his hand along her face.
“But do you think I’m sexy?”
“If I thought of you as sexy there would be something wrong with me.” There was, but she didn’t need to know that.
“As a dad, but what about as a guy?” She pressed. “I can see you’re a sexy older guy.”
“Thanks for putting older in.” Darren tried to keep it light even though her words were driving him crazy. She kept saying she liked how he looked. Did she? Was she talking like this because maybe she… oh, for fucks sake, stop it.
“Guess no answer means no.”
“You shouldn’t need me to tell you that. Seems like a lot of guys your age think you are. I wouldn’t think you’d need reassurance.”
“Maybe I just like to hear what you think because you’re always honest.”
Yeah, he was really honest these days. He mocked himself. He didn’t reply right away, just sat and stared down at the floor between his bare feet. He thought about this entire surreal night, replaying it in his mind.
He lifted his head as he now remembered Lindsay saying something to Cassie that had wiped the smile off her face.
“Cassie, what did Lindsay say to you?”
“Why do you care?”
“Because you looked upset.”
“Deal time, Mr. Lawyer.” The smirk was back. I’ll answer you if you’ll answer me.”
“Oh, come on!”
“I’ll make it easier. If I wasn’t your daughter and you were sitting somewhere and saw me in the dress I came home in would you think I was hot?”
“There’s no way to answer this properly.”
“You can tell me I’m beautiful, what’s the difference?”
“Because beautiful isn’t a sexual term. Sexy is. You want to know if I’d check you out.”
She tilted her head and sighed. “Guess I just want to know if an older man would find me sexy. Guys my age think breathing is sexy.”
Darren took a deep breath, then answered quickly. “If you weren’t my daughter I would think wow, she’s hot.”
“Really?” Cassie beamed and sitting up surprised him with a hug. “Thanks, dad!”
“Um, yeah.” He turned and awkwardly returned the embrace. “But let’s be clear I don’t think of you that way.”
“Course not.” She sat back and gave him a funny look. “Why would I think you did?”
“Don’t know. Just felt the need to clarify this bizarro world talk.” He reached out and tapped her knee. “Now what did she say that wiped that smirk off your face?”
“Oh.” Cassie shook her head. “I can’t answer.”
“Bullshit, we made a deal.” He reminded her.
“But you said to stop talking dirty.”
“Fine, I’ll give you a pass. What did she say?”
“She told me my daddy was a damn good fuck and she was coming back to get more of your big cock.”
Darren felt his face heating up. “Oh, well, you know she was just busting you up.”
“I don’t know, you fill out those jeans pretty well.” Cassie told him. “But that’s why I looked, to see if she was being honest or not.”
“And on that note, I’ll say good night.” Darren rose and hoped to hell his crotch wasn’t filling his jeans at the moment.
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Good night, Cass, I love you.”