CHAPTER 2
Missy shook her head, her mind racing. Matt was a good guy, she thought, and he looked at me like a daughter. Of course he wouldn’t have ever looked at me that way. Damn, she thought, feeling as though she was missing out on something truly wonderful.
Matt noticed his daughter’s dark expression and was overcome with concern.
“Is everything okay, Missy?” he asked walking into the foyer. He set his black leather briefcase down on the small table by the wall and came closer, reaching his hands out and clasping Missy’s small fingers into his own.
“Missy?”
“Oh, yeah, everything’s just fine,” Missy replied anxious to direct his attention elsewhere. She didn’t want him seeing her looking at him that way, but she couldn’t help but think about him with Alicia. Perhaps she was making far more out of it than it actually was. She sucked in her breath, angry at herself for becoming her Mother. She wanted to be anything but her.
“Did you have a good meeting?” Missy asked, daring to look up at Matt who was still standing in front her, holding her hands tightly.
He squeezed her fingers and shook her gently. “Are you sure everything is okay?” he asked, wanting to make sure his step-daughter was all right.
“Did you have a fight with your Mother again?”
“Oh, no it’s nothing like that”, Missy replied, letting go of Matt’s hands and turning her back to him as he followed her into the den.
“You had some mail in the front box,” Missy replied, changing the subject. “I put it on your desk.” She picked up the envelopes and handed them to Matt.
“Oh, okay, thanks,” he replied, still looking at her intently, trying to read her mind.
Missy ignored him, breezing by him on her way to her bedroom. “I’m going to go take a nap.” She smiled at Matt, as she slowly closed the door to her bedroom. She flopped down on her thick, duck down mattress and rolled over onto her back.
Damn it, she thought. What has gotten into me? She groaned as she pulled the pillow over her face. She smelled the sweet scent of lavender floating through the air, and she remembered that she had clothes in the dryer.
She got up from her bed, and walked towards the laundry room. As she turned the corner toward the small room, she heard Matt on the phone, his whispered voice catching her attention.
“I’d love to see you tonight,” he whispered, the phone shoved tightly against his chin. “I’ll see you at 7.” He grinned, his eyes floating up the ceiling. He chuckled. “Mmm, yeah, wear that pink dress again.”
He muttered a quick goodbye before hanging up. Missy stood frozen in place, remaining as quiet as she could. Matt placed the phone back on the receiver and walked into his den, closing the door behind him.
Missy’s mind raced. Maybe her Mother was right and Matt had been having an affair at work, after all she thought, walking into the laundry room and carefully pulling her clothes from the hot dryer. She pulled the soft material of a towel up to her face and breathed it in.
Whoever she is, she’s one lucky bitch, she thought grabbing the stack of towels and placing them into the cupboard behind the door.
Missy walked into the front room and flicked the television on, laying back on the coolness of the black leather sofa. Matt appeared in the doorway moments later, with two cold drinks in his hand.
“Thirsty?” he asked, sitting down next to her on the sofa. Missy drew in her legs, making room for Matt to stretch out.
“Thanks,” she replied, looking away from Matt and back to the television. She suddenly felt different around him, her skin tingling with heat and she squeezed her legs together to numb the burning sensation she felt between her legs.
Matt looked at his beautiful stepdaughter as she tried hard to avoid his gaze. Sensing something was wrong, he tapped her lightly on the arm, his fingers grazing her skin. Missy trembled under his touch.
“Missy, is everything okay? He asked, wanting to get to the bottom of what was really going on with his daughter.
Missy felt a sudden flurry of emotions rush through her body and she winced, not wanting Matt to see just how attracted she was to him. With a surge of unknown confidence, she turned to him and looked him square in the eyes.
“How do you know Alicia?” She asked, anxious for Matt to explain away her jealousy. She hoped that Alicia was the daughter of a colleague, or perhaps she was just someone he knew from the building.
Matt’s expression suddenly changed, confusion spreading over his face and Missy instantly knew that there was definitely something between them.
Matt coughed, shifting awkwardly on the sofa, his drink clutched tightly in his hand.
“Umm, Alicia?” he asked, doing everything he could to stall. His mind raced for an answer, trying to piece together how Missy even knew of Alicia.
Missy nodded, her suspicions confirmed. “Is she your girlfriend?” Missy asked.
Matt hesitated to respond, his eyes darting around the room. He finally rested his eyes on Missy, shifting his head slightly to the side.
“I wouldn’t say she’s my girlfriend,” he replied. He brought his hand to his chin and rubbed it roughly, squeezing his face in his hands.
Missy sat, bewildered. “What do you mean?” she asked, confused as to how Matt knew Alicia, and frustrated that he wasn’t telling her more.
Matt grinned softly, his mouth curled up slightly. He looked deep into Missy’s eyes, pleading with her for help in understanding, so he didn’t have to explain it.
Missy refused to let him off the hook. Besides, she still didn’t understand what he meant.
“I met her in the elevator this morning,” she explained, feeling obligated to explain how she knew Alicia. “She told me that she knew you but she didn’t say how. I just got the feeling that there was more to it, that’s all.”
Matt nodded slowly, piecing it together. “Ahh,” he replied, looking down at the coffee table in front of him. He placed his drink on a coaster and leaned over to Missy.
“Missy, Alicia and I aren’t dating in the way most people date,” he began, trying to make her understand but unsure of just how much his step- daughter knew about grown up relationships like his and Alicia’s. He spoke slowly and softly.
“Alicia provides a service for men who just don’t have the time or desire for commitment.”
Matt searched Missy’s face for a sign that she understood. She did.
‘So, Alicia is like a hooker?” Missy asked, gasping.
Why would Matt have to hire a prostitute when he could have just about any woman he desired? She was confused, biting her bottom lip gently, waiting for him to explain.
“No, ” Matt chuckled, picking up his drink and swallowing down a mouthful. “She’s an escort, and believe it or not, a really nice girl.”
“An escort?” Missi replied, her voice filled with confusion. “Why would you have to hire an escort?”
Matt smiled, nodding in agreement. He wasn’t exactly a bad looking guy and he knew it.
“Missy, some people prefer to hire escorts just for the convenience. I honestly don’t have any interest in dating, or in a long-term relationship right now. With Alicia, she knows what I want and I don’t have to worry
about mind games, or leading her on. Do you understand?” Matt hoped she did.
Missy nodded, shrugging her shoulders. “I guess,” she said with uncertainty. She couldn’t believe what Matt was telling her, but she tried to make sense of it all.
“Is that why you and my Mother split up? You were hiring escorts?”
“Oh god, no,” Matt replied quickly. “I only started seeing Alicia recently. I never cheated on your Mother.”
Missy wasn’t so sure, but she nodded in understanding. She thought of Matt and Alicia together, and she felt the tingle return to her most private places. She squeezed her shoulders together, hugging herself tightly. She looked away from Matt, sucking in her breath and wishing she could calm down but the thought of the two of them together both angered and excited her.
She turned to Matt, who was waiting for a sign that Missy wasn’t angry, and that she believed him. Missy nodded, her tiny hands making small circles on her knees. She rubbed the bare skin as her mind raced. She looked over to Matt who felt suddenly closer than before.
“I want to be your escort,” she whispered, surprised at her own statement. She blushed, looking away from Matt, wishing she could take it back. Surely he was appalled at her.
Matt sat silent, before sliding over so he was just inches away from Missy.
“What did you say?” he asked in a quiet voice.
Missy paused, unsure whether or not she should pretend she never said it, but having him just inches away from her hot body was too much to bear. She ached to feel him touching her. She looked at him, her lips forming a small pout.
“I want to be your escort.”
Matt’s face was blank as his eyes searched her face.
“Missy,” he finally replied in a voice barely above a whisper. “You’re
like a daughter to me.”
Missy jumped up, anger coursing through her veins.
“But I’m not your daughter!” she replied, her voice shrill and edgy. “You just don’t think I’m as pretty as Alicia is!” she whined. She felt angry and rejected.
“That’s not true at all,” Matt replied softly. “You’re absolutely beautiful. But we just can’t.”
“And why not?” Missy shouted, her voice storming with anger.
“Because…” Matt replied, not sure of what to say. He was certainly attracted to the small girl, but the good guy inside of him kept harassing his emotions, reminding him that he needed to be a father figure to a girl who had none.
“I don’t think of you as my father in that way,” Missy replied as if reading his mind. She walked up to him and touched his arm gently, afraid of the fire that burned inside of her, desperate for him to return the touch.