Sugar Daddy Wanted: Now Accepting Applications (8 page)

Kerry chose not to answer and studied the house in front of her. No reason to let on she’d thought the same thing.

Large bay windows offered a peek into the house. Grayson held the heavy door open for her to pass through. They toed off their shoes in the foyer and hung their jackets in one of the closets that lined either side of the entryway.

Stepping further into the house, Kerry bit her lips together to keep from gasping in shock. The splendor on the outside did not do justice to the interior. Hardwood floors and a mahogany staircase. She couldn’t imagine living in, never mind the upkeep, of a house this size. Her home probably fit inside his with ease. Directly ahead a wide staircase led up to a second floor landing. A glance to her left showcased a spacious open concept living room complete with leather couches and settee, a large area rug spread over the hardwood floor. Large pieces of landscape artwork adorned each wall, and a fireplace graced one wall. A short hall led to an open dining room with beautiful cherry wood table to the right, and when she peered into the room, she saw the kitchen off of it.

“Let me show you to your rooms upstairs,” Grayson offered. “You can all settle in and then I’ll take you to see the home theatre and pools.”

“Sounds good,” she responded, her voice wobbling in awe.

Grayson put a hand on the small of her back to usher her toward the staircase. Heat flashed in her abdomen at his touch. Her overactive libido needed to take a break.

At the bottom of the stairs, he stopped and gestured for the boys to follow their mother. Once at the top of the plush, carpeted staircase, Grayson led them down a hall to the right.

Cohen shouted his incredulity at the humungous room with large windows, natural light flooding in. The walls were a light cream color, and the two queen-sized beds each had a comforter—one deep red, the other navy blue. Dark wood dressers and wall-to-carpet mirrors on closet doors made for a spectacular space.

A brotherly round of wrestling ensued, the boys fighting to claim a bed.

Grayson chuckled. “This room isn’t really lived in. Kind of stale.”

“Boys!” Kerry called trying in vain to maintain some semblance of good manners. Neither acknowledged her. “Sorry, but I don’t think they care. This is wonderful.”

“I’m glad they’re happy to be here for the weekend. Come on—let me show you to your room while they get used to their surroundings.” Grayson nodded for her to follow him, and he led her across the hall.

“Wow.” Kerry dropped her bag where she stood and stepped into paradise. Fresh-cut flowers in vases were on the dresser and night stands, the scent welcoming, complimenting the robin’s egg blue color on the walls, and the light rose bedding. A window seat perched below the large window looking out into a backyard seeming without end. The water of the outdoor pool glimmered in the evening light. Trees, shrubs and flower gardens were spread out on the grounds giving it a park-like effect.

Kerry turned toward Grayson. “It’s quite a place you have here.”

He gave a nonchalant shrug. “Its home. And a lot of space for one person. Comes in handy when entertaining clients, business dinner parties, but otherwise, it echoes quite empty.”

Is he already trying to sell me on making my stay permanent?
Glancing around the room, Kerry admitted the possibility of getting used to surroundings like these.

“I’m sure you’ve worked hard to be where you are in life,” Kerry commented.

Grayson nodded. “I have. But lately, I’ve been wondering if it’s all worth anything when you have no one to share it with.”

“You must have friends.”

Grayson shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ve got plenty of those, but when you come home night after night to an empty house of this size—I often feel alone. Never used to. I wonder if I’m feeling my age.”

“Your age?” Kerry scoffed. “Try having your fortieth birthday looming. You know, maybe you need to downsize,” she suggested, a playful smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Not add more people to it. Use the sale of this place to increase your sizable fortune and do something else with your money.”

He cocked his head in acknowledgement. “I suppose that’s another way to look at it. But I do like this place. Perhaps I’ve always wanted to find someone who would appreciate it.”

“Any woman would appreciate it.” She held his gaze.

“Not
any woman
will do.” His eyes flashed in challenge, a grin spreading across his face.

The smile started her heart fluttering. The combination of his smile and smooth face had heat spreading from her abdomen out to her extremities. She fanned her face with a hand.

“Something wrong?” Concern marred his features.

“No.” She shook her head, patting her cheeks to cool them off. “Well…no.”

Grayson snapped his fingers.  “Damn. Here I thought I’d found a woman unaffected by my looks.”

“Oh please.” She snorted in derision. “Any woman with a pulse would be affected by you. But just because you have a pretty face, doesn’t mean you don’t have to prove to me you’re equally handsome on the inside.”

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Challenge accepted.”

At the contact of his lips on her skin, a jolt hit her core. Their eyes locked, passionate energy passed between them.

“You never did tell me what you thought of the kiss,” Grayson murmured.

“Well…I,” Kerry stammered, pausing to clear her throat. “Preliminary results reveal that sex most likely wouldn’t suck between us, however, I think we should re-test to be on the safe side. After all, you didn’t try again after dinner the other night.”

“I didn’t,” he agreed. “We had such a nice time; I didn’t want to push the issue.”

“Kind of you.” Her breath caught and she stared straight into his eyes, lost in the dark pools.

“Shall we test the theory again?” Grayson lowered his lips toward hers.

The boys burst into the room, interrupting the moment. Grayson dropped her hand, stepped back, and mumbled a promise, “Later.”

“Can we go swimming now?” Cohen asked, oblivious to what he’d interrupted.

Duncan, not so oblivious, shoved his hands in his pockets, eyes narrowed at them in an attempt to regain some semblance of nonchalance. Nevertheless, eager enthusiasm lit up his face at the mention of the pool. “Is it heated?”

“Both pools are heated,” Grayson answered. “Dinner is ready, though. Why don’t we have a bite to eat and then I’ll take you down?”

“Okay!” Cohen whooped for joy, then hunched over holding his stomach. “Ow,” he complained.

Worried, Kerry asked, “What is it, honey?”

Cohen straightened and shrugged the pain away. “Nothing. It’s gone.”

Grayson clapped his hands and rubbed his palms together. “All right—let’s head down to the dining room.”

Kerry followed the three males out of the room and down the stairs. Dinner was a lively affair, setting her mind at ease. Both kids ate a healthy amount of pork tenderloin, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. Grayson asked the boys questions about school, their friends, sports, television shows—anything and everything a young man might be interested in. She participated in the conversation, but for the most part, marveled at how easy the three of them got along.

A twinge of hurt pinched her heart. The scenario reminded her of how Isaac used to relate to them. He had been good for all of them, giving her a decent relationship for once in her life, and providing the boys with a positive male role model.

Until he up and left.
The reminder stung. She wondered if that’s why she hadn’t really given any man a chance. If she didn’t put herself out there, she didn’t have to risk getting hurt.

What do I do about Grayson?
Did it matter if love and romance didn’t fit into the equation? Friendship offered a different type of love. That wouldn’t be bad, would it?

“Something on your mind?”

Grayson’s voice startled her out of her musings. Kerry noticed how quiet the dining room had become, and glanced around. “Sorry. Lost in thought. Where are the boys?”

“They went to change into their swimsuits. I was thinking of joining them. Interested in an after dinner swim?”

“Not really. But I’ll watch.” Kerry pushed back her chair and smiled. “Why don’t you get ready, and I’ll clear up the dinner dishes for you since you went to all the trouble of cooking for us.”

Grayson hung his head. “Ah. I suppose a woman likes a man who can cook.”

Her grin widened. “You didn’t let us starve. It’s the thought that counts.”

He chuckled. “I ordered in from one of my favorite restaurants. It appears I made a good meal choice. Not much left.”

“My guys do have healthy appetites. If you were expecting leftovers, you’re sure to be disappointed.” She waved him away. “Go on—I’ll tidy up and you can give me a reprieve.”

“Deal.” Grayson stood and gave her shoulder a squeeze before striding from the dining room. He paused in the doorway. “I think I’m getting the better end of the bargain. You have to clean up after them on a regular basis.”

“Said a man who doesn’t raise children,” she quipped. “Sometimes a mother’s solace can be found in a quiet kitchen. No one bothers you.”

“Duly noted. Should you move in—kitchen duties are yours.”

Her jaw dropped opened to retort, but before she could, he winked and jogged out of the room.

Grinning like a fool, Kerry shook her head, and began clearing the dirty dishes from the table. As she stacked the soiled plates in the dishwasher and put containers of food in the fridge, she took a moment to take in the stainless steel appliances and oak cabinetry. An island in the centre of the kitchen was perfect for food preparation and large enough to eat around as indicated by a couple of bar stools. What would it be like to cook in this kitchen on a regular basis?

Wetting a dish rag at the sink, she squeezed out the excess water, and released a sigh. 

Excited laughter and shouts echoed to her while she wiped down the dining room table and counter surfaces in the kitchen. Done with clean up, she hung the dirty cloth on the hook by the sink, and headed out the door off the kitchen that led to outside.

Closing the door behind her, she stepped onto the stone patio, taking in the sight before her. Grayson and her sons dove and splashed around each other like crazy. A stranger might mistake them for a family unit. Even Duncan appeared to genuinely enjoy himself, and he hadn’t been keen on coming in the first place.

Kerry plopped down onto one of the deck chairs, her heart beating a happy rhythm in her chest, delighted her sons were having fun in such a carefree way. Her mind couldn’t help but wonder if they could indeed get used to this. What child didn’t deserve to grow up in better circumstances? All she had to do was say ‘yes’ to moving in with Grayson in exchange for friendship. She’d be able to save money, they could live here, and it would give her a chance to provide a better education, and thus a future, to her kids.

A familiar string plucked at her heart, and she nibbled her lower lip in worry. Observing Grayson interact with her sons was the ultimate aphrodisiac. Friendship wouldn’t be difficult with him. He’d proven to have a sharp mind, he was easy on the eyes, and he’d won the boys over.
So far.
They’d both admitted to being tired of conventional dating. The leap from friendship to lovers could come in time.

Whoa. Slow down here. A decision like this can’t be rushed.

Grayson caught her eye and flashed a smile. The heat pooled in her belly, streaking lower to the juncture between her thighs, proving the leap to lovers would be a short jump indeed.

Damn it.
She struggled to remember the last time she’d had sex. Her battery operated boyfriends had replaced most of her sex life. She had a frequent buyer’s card at the adult toy store, for God’s sake.

Grayson jumped up to catch a ball thrown by Duncan. Water cascaded down the muscles rippling in his back.
Obviously, he’s no slouch with working out.
Sitting up straighter, she sucked in her stomach. She tried to keep in shape with dance videos and Pilates, but observing a fine specimen such as the man swimming strong strokes across the expanse of the pool urged her to step up her game.

Cohen heaved himself onto the side of the pool. Her brow furrowed in concern as she watched him breathe heavy for a moment before struggling to a stand.

“Everything okay, my man?” she asked, handing him a towel from the table beside her.

“I don’t feel good,” he mumbled, using the towel to wipe water from his face. “Is it okay if I lay down in my room for a bit? Mr. Nichols said we’d watch a movie in about an hour.”

“If you need to.” She pressed the back of her hand to his forehead. “You sure you don’t want to go home?”

His eyes widened in horror. “Why would I want to go home?”

“Well, your own bed is always more comfortable when you don’t feel well.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Have you tried out your bed yet? The one upstairs here is waaay better than at home. I’ll survive. Besides, I’m not missing a chance to watch a movie in his home theatre. This place is better than a hotel.” He bent and kissed her cheek, wincing as he did. “Come and get me later.”

“You sure, you’re okay?” she questioned again.

He stifled a groan as he straightened up. “I’m good. Stop worrying.”

Kerry’s forehead puckered in a frown, watching her youngest child shuffle off into the house.

Cold water droplets rained down on her, causing her to squeal in surprise. She held up her hands to shield Grayson’s attempt to get her wet by shaking the water from his hair. Snatching up a towel, she managed to chuck it into his face.

“Is it okay if I use the hot tub?” Duncan called out.

“Absolutely,” Grayson answered.

“Thanks!” Duncan swam over to the ladder and hopped out of the pool.

Kerry watched her oldest disappear into the building which housed the hot tub and lap pool. “You’ve made quite an impression on them.”

“And what about with you?” he asked.

“Right now, I find you annoying,” she retorted, brushing water droplets from her clothes. “Besides if you’re trying to impress me by being nice to them—save it. I’d rather see the real you.”