Safe and Warm

I recalled recent conversations with both my mom and sisters, all clamoring to meet Kris and her family. I decided to send out a feeler, "My family really wants to meet you. Would you mind if I had them over at some point while you're here?"

"No! I really want to meet them too!"

"Ok, I'll plan something." I typed. Tingling with uncertainty, I added, "Your family is welcome too. So we can all get to know one another." A huge part of me hoped to take baby steps, but the larger side just wanted to rip the band aide off and move forward. The time seemed right for the ripping.

"They would love that!"

Taking a deep breath, I sent, "I know its late notice, but having them join us would be great."

"I'll ask but I'm sure they will. I think my mom has been anxious to see you again."

While I had no doubt Krissy's words were innocent, they still made me quiver. God, I felt like a pathetic freshman, pining again for the hot girl in class.

We exchanged a few more texts, before Kris asked, "What should I call your parents?"

"Their names are Ted and Belinda."

"No I mean what do I call them?"

At first, I was puzzled by the question, but the reason for the inquiry finally dawned on me. She was my daughter, and as such, should address my parents like her cousins. "My nieces and nephew call them Nanny and Pa."

I sat staring at the screen, waiting for an indication she was replying, but nothing. I tentatively typed, "Still there sweetie?"

"Yes."

I knew something was up, but wasn't exactly sure how to respond. Thankfully, Kristin finally filled the void.

"I'm sooo happy Daddy! I always had my mom and Nana and Grampa. Now I have a Nanny and Pa and aunts and uncles and cousins too!"

I viewed the screen through misty eyes. I was thrilled Kris wanted to meet my family, knowing they longed to meet her too.

Before I could formulate a response, Krissy typed, "But more than anything I can't wait to spend more time with you."

My chest pounded with every beat of my heart. Thump, thump, thump. How had I gotten to this point in life without Kristin? I found myself somehow both oddly content but extraordinarily anxious at the same moment.

Visions of sharing my bed with Kris had replayed in my head nearly nonstop for days. As enthralling as they all seemed, I needed to draw a line in the sand. My new Dad side kicked in. "So I was thinking we could redo my guestroom for you."

"Ok," she shared plainly.

"We could paint and decorate it any way you choose." I replied. "That way you'd always have a comfortable place to crash while you're here."

After a long pause, Kris asked, "Is that your way of blowing me off?"

I wished we were speaking face to face so I could determine if she was simply being sarcastic. "What do you mean? Of course not."

"I love sharing your bed. Can't we just sleep together like before? It always makes me feel safe and warm."

My eyes were drawn intently to the words, "sleep together." Holy fuck. I stared at the display for what seemed like ages. As much as I loved cuddling Krissy, I needed to establish boundaries. Perhaps more for me than for her, given my illicit thoughts.

Desperate to escape the inquiry, yet oddly reluctant to part, I finally offered, "I can barely keep my eyes open, sweetie. Can we talk about this another time?"

"Of course. Love you Daddy!"

"Love you too princess!"

As the glow from the small screen faded to black, my mind reeled. Even though Kris was my daughter, we appeared headed in a dangerous direction. A fork in the road loomed large ahead, and both paths seemed perilous.

The following week was a blur, with Krissy and I sharing numerous calls and texts. We each played middleman between our sides of the family, until agreement was reached on a barbeque at my home, scheduled for late Saturday afternoon.

I anxiously awaited Kristin's arrival early Friday evening. Seeing my daughter always excited me, but knowing I would soon be meeting Heather again had me on edge. And I was a bit nervous about how Heather's parents would greet me, particularly her dad.

Kristin showed up looking as gorgeous as ever. Before I had barely opened the front door, she launched herself into my arms, just as she had on her very first visit. Thrilled beyond measure, I greedily pulled her into a warm embrace.

After parting, she gave me a soft, chaste kiss. Although brief, I loved the feeling of her moist lips against my own.

We sat across from one another at my kitchen table, and together formulated a plan of attack for the party. The decision was made to first grocery shop, then return home to begin prepping the meal. Cleaning the house would be left for the morning, since our guests were not scheduled to arrive until about 3:00pm.

Typically, I loathed shopping, but found wandering the aisles with my daughter remarkably enjoyable. She had an infectious enthusiasm which pulled me in, like a moth to a flame. It didn't hurt that her tanned legs appeared miles long protruding from her light khaki shorts, and her eyes seemed to sparkle every time she looked my way.

We had decided on a main course of kebabs, both steak and chicken, with loads of fresh veggies. Kris would also be making her "world famous" pasta salad. We had each instructed our families not to bring anything, but kept the menu light since we understood they likely would ignore our request.

As we slowly made our way up the beverage aisle, I was suddenly filled with dread. Staring at me fixedly while she walked towards us was none other than Carrie, my recent one-night stand.

Carrie peered at Kris with distain, then turned her steely gaze my way. Stopping directly in front of our cart, she announced with false sincerity, "Ben, it's so good to see you again. It seems like ages. How are you?"

"Hey, umm...hi," I stammered awkwardly. Knowing Kristin was watching, I quickly recovered, "Good...umm, great actually."

"Great...that's sooo great," Carrie replied sarcastically.

Afraid she might interject something inappropriate about our hookup, or potentially cause a scene, I quickly added, "Carrie, this is my daughter, Kristin."

Carrie's eyes went wide as she rapidly glanced back and forth between us. She finally broke into a slight smile, and offered almost evilly, "Why Ben, I didn't know you were a daddy."

The last time I heard Carrie utter the word "Daddy" was highly arousing. Yet given the situation, I suddenly found it decidedly disturbing. In my mind, her use of it had to be intentional. I could only wonder what she was thinking.

"It's...kind of a long story," I replied, as coolly as possible.

"Well, I'd love to hear it sometime," Carrie grinned. She then extended her hand towards my daughter, "Nice to meet you, Kristin."

A confused expression was etched all over Krissy's face, as if she had no idea what to make of the woman standing so closely before her. She then forced a smile and replied, "You too."

Acting quickly, I pulled Carrie into an awkward hug, then stated, "Sorry, hate to run, but we're getting ready for a big family party tomorrow." As I turned away, I added, "Call you soon."

"Looking forward to it," I heard from over my shoulder, as I ushered Kristin forward.

Safely a few yards away, Kris grasped my wrist and whispered, "What the hell was that all about, Dad?"

Of course, I wasn't going to divulge the total truth, but hoped to subtly color just enough around the edges in the hope I didn't need to paint the entire picture. "Nothing really. I met her...at a work function a while back."

"And?" Kris inquired.

"And we, umm...just chatted over a couple drinks."

Kristin squinted as if questioning my sincerity, then again asked more expectantly, "And?"

This side of Krissy was new to me, and I was highly uncomfortable under her interrogation. "And, well...she seemed, I don't know...maybe kinda into me."

Kristin stared, then chuckled dismissively, "Kinda into you?"

I felt myself blushing. "Ok, maybe more than kind of."

"So, then what happened?" she asked keenly.

I shifted uneasily, but replied, "Well...she had a bit too much to drink, so I sent her home in a cab." Although technically true, my answer intentionally obscured many otherwise important details between the initial drinks and her cab ride home.

"And that's it?"

"Well, we exchanged numbers at the...event, but I never had a chance to call." Knowing Kris might think I was a heel for not contacting Carrie, I fibbed, "I met her about the time you and I first spoke, so...I've had lots of other things on my mind." Kristin looked at me quizzically, so I smiled and added, "Good things."

That seemed to placate her momentarily, but after adding soft drinks to our cart, Kris asked, "So, how old is she anyway?"

With my best poker face, I replied, "You know, I'm not really sure. Early thirties, maybe?"

"Oh, please, Daddy," she spat. "She can't be more than two or three years older than me."

Nervously, I responded, "No idea, honey. I never asked."

I was floored when she inquired, "Do you like younger women?"

My head spun as I contemplated an appropriate answer. My tongue nearly caught in my throat as I lamely offered, "No, well...umm, I ahh, guess I like all women."

Kris looked at me dubiously, but said nothing.

Thankfully, we made our way through checkout without delay, then loaded up the car. Other than a quick stop to pick up a takeout order of Thai food we had placed earlier; the ride home was disturbingly quiet. Not since our very first meeting in the diner had there been awkward silence between us, and I found it unnerving. I couldn't help but wonder if Krissy's feelings about me had changed.

After putting away the groceries, we again took our places at the kitchen table. Conversation seemed labored as we ate, almost as if Carrie was a ghost haunting the room.

Shortly after finishing our meal, we worked together to clear the table. With a nod towards the refrigerator, we then decided the time was right to begin party preparations in earnest.

Soon we were standing side by side in front of the sink. After I thoroughly washed all the veggies, Kris chopped and diced them as needed. As we labored, the tension slowly dissipated. Before long, things appeared back to normal, with thoughts of Carrie seemingly left far behind.

After prepping all the food, we looked towards one another and let out long sighs. I was truly spent, and assumed Kris was too. In hopeful anticipation of a good night's sleep, I suggested hot showers were in order, and she agreed. While I bathed in the master bath, Krissy showered in my guest bathroom.

Freshly scrubbed, climbing between clean sheets should have been relaxing, yet I was anxious. We hadn't spoken about sleeping arraignments, so I wondered if Krissy would be joining me again. After my talk of redecorating the guestroom, and the unfortunate Carrie incident, I doubted it.

Much like during her prior visit, I saw shadows flicker, pulling my eyes towards the hallway. Stealthily approaching on the soft carpet, I soon found a lithe, stunning figure standing at my open door. Even in the half light, I could see Kris was once again clad in the faded orange tee shirt I had left out. Unsurprisingly, she looked gorgeous.

After a brief hesitation, Kristin slowly sauntered my way. Without a word, she pulled back the covers, and slid in beside me. With a wiggle of her hips, she eased herself against me with a soft sigh, "Hmm."

My arms willingly engulfed her. As her head landed on my chest, I leaned in and buried my nose in her hair. A refreshing, tropical scent filled my nostrils, with a sensual hint of coconut. With a slight shake of her head, she announced, "Sorry, but I used the last of the shampoo."

"No worries, I'll get more."

Kristin hugged me tightly, then twisted her face up towards mine. "So, are you excited about the cookout?"

"Yeah," I answered flatly.

"Wow, that doesn't sound very enthusiastic."

I paused for a moment to fully contemplate her statement. "I'm just...well, mostly excited."

"Mostly?"

I immediately regretted my answer. As a father, I needed to be more positive, regardless of the situation.

Before I could even offer a more optimistic spin, Kris asked innocently, "Are you nervous about seeing my mom again?"

With other women in the past, I may have just spewed a cocky, bullshit answer. Perhaps I was finally growing up. Being a dad can do that, from what I heard. Instead, I went with the truth, "A bit."

"Don't be. I know she'll love to...see you again."

Her answer did not ease my tension. If anything, it only exacerbated my anxiety. Given my whirlwind of emotions, hearing the word "love" as it related to Heather and me only complicated things.

Very possibly the two most beautiful women I had ever known would be sharing my deck for a barbeque within hours. One, my child. The other, the mother of my child. Both amazingly desirable. Neither of whom I knew well. How could I not be at least slightly agitated?

After taking a deep breath, I replied uneasily, "I've been looking forward to seeing her too."

Little was said for a few minutes, before Kris meekly asked, "Do you think...your family will like me?"

In spite of her typically upbeat, confident demeanor, I understood Krissy was anxious about the party too. Flexing my dad muscles, I felt the need to pump her tires. After placing a soft kiss upon her forehead, I shared, "Trust me, they'll be smitten with you. Just like I am."

"Oh, Daddy," Kris whined aloud, then buried her face in the crook of my neck again.

Conversation ceased, as we basked in the warmth between us. Eventually, we both drifted off to sleep.

Thin rays of sunshine leaked through the blinds when I awoke in the morning, alighting the room with a soft glow. Sadly, I found myself alone. I ran my hand over the cool vacant sheets beside me, recalling the beautiful creature with whom I had recently shared the bed.

Moments later, the smell of coffee permeated the air, followed closely thereafter by the unmistakable scent of frying bacon. Understanding the likely source, I shook the cobwebs from my head and eagerly made my way downstairs.

Just a half-step into the kitchen, I had to pause. Although still early on a sleepy Saturday morning, my heartrate instantly accelerated. Standing before the stove, with her back towards me, was Kristin -- clad in only what appeared one of my crisply pressed white dress shirts.

Soft music filled the air as Kris tended the skillet. Her hips swaying side to side as she danced to the beat, oblivious to my presence. I was mesmerized.

My eyes wandered uncontrollably up from her tapping feet, to her taut, tanned calves. I marveled at her lightly bronzed thighs, topped teasingly by the glowing tail of my bright dress shirt, denying me a view of what I assumed was a flawless ass.

Krissy finally turned, and found me leering from the doorway. "Oh, good morning!" she barked enthusiastically. "Coffee's ready, and breakfast will be soon."

I remained frozen in place, lost in the vision before me.

Kristin peered over her shoulder again, and instructed, "Take a seat. I'll serve you in a minute."

Somehow, I made my way to the table, and took my usual spot. Seconds later, Krissy appeared with mug in hand, then poured a steaming cup of coffee. Before I could thank her, she added a drop of milk, and coyly asked, "Just the way you like it, right?"

At first my mind didn't even register the question. As Krissy leaned over to pour, I couldn't help but notice that the topmost buttons of the dress shirt were conspicuously left open. It was immediately apparent Kris wasn't wearing a bra, the pale skin between her boobs inviting my gaze. I fought to look away. "Yeah, umm, yes...exactly."

Kris gave me a knowing smile, and kissed my forehead lovingly. Without a word, she then returned to the stove to tend to her task.

As I sipped my coffee, my eyes invariably wandered her figure once more. I was left wondering what, if anything, Krissy wore underneath my shirt. When she extended her arms upwards to grasp a plate from a shelf, I glimpsed the answer. Although fleeting, the view was amazing. Little lacy white panties shone against her darker skin, perfectly bisecting her lovely cheeks.

Afraid of again being caught perving, I quickly dropped my head to vigorously stir my coffee.

Moments later, Kristin placed a hearty breakfast before me. A veggie scramble, with bacon and hash browns nearly overflowing the plate.

Glancing upwards, I found Kristin gazing at me happily, obviously proud of herself. As she should have been. "My goodness, sweetie, this looks amazing!"

Her face glowed. "I used the leftover vegetables from last night." Kris quickly recoiled, making me momentarily fear something wrong. "Sorry, Daddy - I forgot the pepper and hot sauce. I know you like things spicy."

Soon, the pepper mill and hot sauce were set before me. With a wide grin, Kristin instructed, "Go on, dig in."

My mouth had been watering from the moment I stepped in the kitchen. The scents were astounding, yet the sights were even better. But if given the choice to only eat one thing in the room, I would have honestly picked Krissy, 100 times out of 100.

Kris helped herself to a small plate, then padded back to the table. After demurely taking her seat, she said, "Eat, before it gets cold."

Lifting the fork to my mouth, I first tasted her cheesy veggie scramble. Amazing! The homemade maple bacon hash browns proved equally sumptuous. I noticed Kris was barely eating, instead watching me nervously. Unable to help myself, I finally grunted, "Oh my god, sweetie. This is...so freaking good!"

"There's more," Kristin exclaimed, rising from the table.

"Stay!" I barked loudly.

My tone seemed to alarm her, and she rapidly complied.

More calmly, I shared, "I'm sorry, baby. Please stay and finish your breakfast."

Nibbling a piece of wheat toast like a mouse, Kris smirked as she watched me eat.

I felt a bit self-conscious having an audience, but knew she was pleased with my reaction. Setting my fork down dramatically, I said, "This is...without a doubt...the best breakfast I've ever eaten. Ever."

Kris could barely contain herself. "Ohh...I was afraid I added too much garlic and too many veggies. And the maple syrup..." she began almost breathlessly.

I slowly raised my palm. "Please stop."

Her eyes were trained on me, as if hanging on my every word. Not for the first time around Kristin, I was amazed that someone so beautiful, intelligent and otherwise confident could appear so vulnerable. Smiling widely, I said, "Well, I hope you remember the recipe, because I could happily eat this every day for the rest of my life."

"Oh, Daddy," she sighed, blushing profusely.

After polishing off breakfast, I asked Kris to remain seated while I cleared the table. Standing slightly behind her as I scooped up her plate, I was afforded another tantalizing view down her plunging neckline. Hints of pale white skin hidden just beyond tanned flesh held my gaze, reminiscent of snowcapped peaks crowning darker mountainsides.

With the kitchen slightly neatened, Kris stood and drew me into a hug. Our faces just millimeters apart, she asked, "Were you being honest...about my cooking?"

Krissy appeared defenseless, like a young fawn ready to take her first steps. I lowered my lips to her forehead, and gave her an encouraging kiss. Basking in her embrace, my face twisted into a huge grin. "Breakfast was amazing. You...you are amazing."

"Oh, Daddy," she gushed.

Even after her referring to me that way for weeks, the word still sent shivers down my spine. Yes, I was her father - but being called Daddy seemed much deeper. More intimate. It was easy to be a father. It was much harder to be a daddy.