Booby Trapped and Baby Proofed Read online

  Ethan shook his head. “No.” It came out very clearly.

  “You think you can manage a respectful no, sir or no, Daddy?”

  Ethan splashed water on him.

  Harrison wiped the water from his face with a towel, wondering if Ethan was too young for obedience class. Apparently he had hit the terrible twos hard and was embracing it. From what he had read, most kids eventually grew out of it. Harrison went back to washing Ethan. Once he was sufficiently clean, Harrison wrapped his stubborn son in a big bath towel and brought him back into the room to dress him. “Can you say daddy?”

  “No,” Ethan said again.

  Apparently, no was the new word in his baby vocabulary. Ethan had mastered it along with up, Bunny, and Roy, the name of his little friend at school.

  “Dad-dy,” Harrison said, annunciating the word so Ethan could repeat.

  Ethan just laughed and tried to grab Bunny while Harrison wrestled him into his clothes. After finally getting Ethan’s shoes on him, Harrison combed Ethan’s hair, trying to lay the curls down. It didn’t work. The curls just hung down to his neck. “That hair has got to go. You look like a girl. Calloway males look manly.”

  Ethan stared at him with the same color blue eyes as his. No doubt the little bugger was his.

  “We date beautiful woman and we grunt.” He grunted, inciting a new round of giggles from Ethan. He carried Ethan into his bedroom and let him watch some television while he showered and dressed. He found Ethan exactly where he left him, seated in the middle of the bed, but with Bunny, whom Harrison had intentionally left in Ethan’s room.

  He know knew that Ethan could get in and out of the bigger, higher bed without assistance. He smirked. The military needed shrewd minds like his.

  ****

  Harrison took Ethan to the day care center. He expected to see Angel, but was told by Ethan’s teacher that she had gone off to the educational store and would be back later. He waved goodbye to Ethan who was deep in baby conversation with the equally tall Roy. It might have just been his imagination, but Roy kept touching Ethan’s curls, and Ethan just blushed and let him without a fuss. Nope, those curls definitely had to go before his son grew up and discovered that he didn’t like girls. He’d still love him, but he wouldn’t be taking him to any military balls.

  ****

  Everett and Jeb arrived just before the contractors. While the hired help worked on the roof and the plumbing, he, Everett, and Jeb began painting the walls in the inside of the dojo. The dojo had an administrative office, a shower/locker room, an exercise room, two classrooms, and a big gym for demonstrations. With the three of them using electric sprayers, he figured they could have the entire place done in a couple of days.

  “How’s Trudy?” Harrison asked Jeb.

  “Missing Ethan,” Jeb answered when they had stopped for coffee around eleven.

  “If it’s any consolation, he’s giving me a dog’s life.”

  “What do you mean?” Everett asked.

  “He gets out of his bed and everything else I put him in. He fights me when I try to wash his hair, and he’s trying to put the moves on my girlfriend.”

  “What girlfriend?” Jeb asked.

  “Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you guys. I’m dating the neighbor lady.”

  “Ms. Robbins?” Jeb asked, sampling one of the homemade sugar cookies Trudy had sent over for them to munch on.

  Harrison nodded.

  “I thought you didn’t have time to date?” Everett asked, picking up a cookie.

  “Apparently my libido found time.”

  “Ooh, spill it,” Jeb said. “What’s it like to make it with a black chick?”

  “Nice,” both he and Everett answered.

  Harrison chuckled. Everett had been making it with black chicks since puberty, and he guessed him being black helped. “You should have told me what I was missing. Apparently not all women are frigid.”

  Everett laughed. “Did she sweep you off your feet with her spectacular brain?”

  Harrison continued to chuckle. “No, I think it was that ass and those breasts.”

  “You guys are killing me,” Jeb said. “I have a pregnant white wife at home whose idea of foreplay is lighting a scented candle.”

  Everett nearly spat coffee.“Man, Carrie was frisky when she was pregnant with Tyrone. I had to fight her off most of the time.”

  “I should be so lucky,” Jeb said. “Trudy is receptive enough, but she is shy about a lot of things when it comes to sex.” He turned to Harrison. “So tell us everything in detail. Does she have a nice body?”

  Harrison nodded. “Yes. She’s warm and loving and knows what to do, if you know what I mean? After a couple of hours of servicing her, she had this old man sweating like a hound dog.”

  “A couple of hours?” Jeb asked. “You mean sex is supposed to last longer than a couple of minutes?”

  Harrison didn’t think he and Everett would ever stop laughing at his brother-in-law. “And Ethan appeared and we had to stop.”

  Jeb laughed. “I can relate to that. I do believe he’s walked in on Trudy and me a couple of times.”

  “And he just stood there watching and then demanded that Angel lift his big butt up on the bed, which I discovered this morning that he can get in and out of on his own. She changed his diaper and he looked at her with those big blue eyes.”

  “So your son likes pretty girls.”

  “I thought so until I saw I saw him blush when a little boy stroked his curls.”

  “Doesn’t mean a thing,” Everett said, trying to hold back a laugh. “Maybe he swings both ways.”

  Jeb laughed too. “He is a beautiful boy.”

  “He’s getting a haircut before the week is out and he’ll be playing pee-wee ball by the time he’s five,” Harrison insisted. “If he’s going to date boys, he’s going to do it properly behind my back.”

  “He’s two,” Everett said. “He doesn’t know a penis from a twat.” He sighed. “So is this thing serious between you and Angel?”

  “I think so. We enjoy each other’s company and we’ve both been alone for nearly two years. I didn’t think I’d ever find someone I wanted to spend time with after Olivia.”

  “She’s well liked in the community,” Everett told him. “And I’ve never heard one ill word spoken against her.”

  “And she’s pretty,” Jeb added. “I think she is an excellent choice for you.”

  “And she’s an excellent cook too. You should taste her meatloaf.”

  “She’s cooks for you?” Everett asked.

  Harrison nodded.

  “And she’s good in the sack? I think I’m jealous. Carrie hardly even cooks anymore.”

  “A beautiful woman, great sex, she cooks for you, and Ethan likes her,” Jeb said. “I think we’ll be hearing wedding bells soon.”

  Harrison laughed. “We’ve had one date. Don’t plan a wedding yet. I have to meet her family first. Things might change.”

  “You mean they might not like you because you’re white?” Everett asked.

  “And I have a child.”

  “Things have changed,” Jeb said. “I don’t think you’ll have a problem just as long as you don’t abuse her.”

  Everett nodded in agreement.

  “You guys know about that?”

  Everett nodded again. “It’s a small community, and Henry wasn’t exactly the poster child for good before she married him.”

  “Message well received,” Harrison said. “I never raised a hand to a woman before in my life and I don’t think I’ll start now. I really like Angel and I want this to work between us.”

  “Speaking of work, we better get back to painting,” Everett said. “I can’t wait for you to open this place. I want Tyrone to learn martial arts.”

  Tyrone was just about to turn five and just about the right age for the beginner’s class.

  “He’ll be my first student. I’ll probably have to use him to beat the nursery Casanovas off Ethan.”


  Chapter Four

  “Oh, I think I’m empty,” Harrison said as he slipped off Angel’s warm body. The two of them had gotten together later that evening after the day care center closed and all the workers had left the dojo. Ethan was fast asleep in his bed after spending an hour talking baby talk with Angel during dinner. Angel didn’t get any arguments from him when she washed apple sauce out of his curls. And the little stinker even fell asleep in her arms with his head resting upon her breasts. In a small victory, Ethan hadn’t told him no once, and he had called him Da. He’d take that for now, but he was still getting a haircut because Roy was still following him around like a little lost puppy when he picked him up at the day care. The other child was cute, but he didn’t want him as a son-in-law.

  Angel scooted beneath the covers. “I feel as loose as a goose. I think I’m growing fond of the way you make me come.”

  Once again, he’d taken her from every known position and he felt himself hardening again just from the way she gazed at him with those big brown eyes. She had cornrowed her hair and she looked like a Nubian princess lying against his white pillowcases.

  “I especially like the way you screamed my name,” Harrison teased. “Maybe I should give it another try. Or maybe I should…” Instead of finishing the sentence, he crawled down between her legs and shoved his tongue inside her. Angel was still wet and tasted so good. Moments later, his cock rose again and he mounted her missionary style with her legs wrapped around his waist. He took it slow, kissing her throughout the lovemaking. Angel trembled in his arms and rolled that sexy body, meeting him thrust for thrust. She came calling his name again, and he let go of his load to the word, “daddy.”

  Harrison lifted off Angel. “Did he just say Daddy?”

  Ethan eyed her breasts.

  “I think you better cover those,” Harrison teased. “Or maybe not. He needs to learn the difference between girls and boys.”

  Angel covered herself. “He’s too young for sex education.”

  “Roy is romancing him.”

  “Roy? You mean Roy Jamison?”

  Harrison nodded. “The kid strokes Ethan’s hair and follows him around.”

  Angel laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. They’re two-year-old boys. And they both play with Connie.”

  “Connie?”

  “The little girl he met on the day he visited the nursery. You know, the one with the doll.”

  “Oh, yeah, I had forgotten about her. So which one of them is she dating?” Harrison asked, reaching for his briefs.

  “I think she’s dating both of them. I saw her break her cookie in half and give each of them a piece. Of course Ethan wouldn’t eat it, but he took it just the same.”

  Harrison chuckled. “Let me know the day he does eat it. Then I’ll have something else to worry about.”

  “Ah, would the big old Marine get mad if his gorgeous son turned out to be gay?”

  “No, I wouldn’t be mad. But I would hope he wouldn’t be afraid to come to me and tell me so I can prepare him for this cruel world. “

  “You’re such a nice man,” Angel said. “But that is a long way off. I don’t even think he knows what a penis is.” She reached for Ethan. “He’s dry.”

  “Big boy,” Harrison told the child.

  Ethan cuddled against Angel and cooed.

  “Those are mine,” he told Ethan. “If you want to cuddle against breasts, you have to get yourself a girlfriend.”

  Angel chuckled. “His teacher said he’s starting to play with other kids.”

  “That’s good. I want him to enjoy his childhood. I can’t wait to take him to the beach.”

  “Make sure you get him some waders.”

  “They’re already on my list. Along with kisses for the prettiest woman in Daytona Beach.”

  “Silver-toned devil,” she said, hugging Ethan. “I’ll pack us a picnic lunch.”

  Harrison smiled. Why did he have the urge to kiss her again?

  ****

  He’d only been teasing about the red bikini, but when Angel took off her terrycloth cover-up his eyes nearly fell out their sockets.

  Harrison sat down on the beach lounger, watching the water sports while Ethan played in the sand next to him. Angel had gone to play in the surf a little while, turning heads as she strolled toward the water. “Maybe Daddy should watch what he says,” Harrison said to the curly-haired toddler. The trip to the barber had turned out disastrous. Ethan had cried, kicked, and wouldn’t allow any barber near him. Harrison smirked. He planned another attempt next week when Ethan fell asleep.

  Ethan tossed some sand on him and giggled.

  Harrison looked down at his lap. “I’m going to wash your hair if you get sand in it,” he threatened.

  The day turned out perfect with low humidity and a breeze coming off the Atlantic Ocean. The forecast called for rain later, but he planned to be home snuggling with Angel by then.

  After about thirty minutes, Angel emerged from the ocean shaking the water from her braids. Harrison watched as she walked toward him, enjoying the way her hips swayed, her breasts bounced, and those spectacular legs as she stepped through the wet sand. The wickedest thoughts entered his head.

  “Mama,” Ethan said.

  Harrison looked down at him. “Whoa, partner. I think you’re fantasizing more than me. And why do you say that word so well?”

  Ethan went back to digging in the sand, ignoring him.

  Angel sat down on a lounger on the other side of Ethan. “You need to try the water,” she said, drying herself off with a beach towel. “It feels great.”

  “Not as great as the sight of you coming out of the water just now. I bet every guy on this beach has a hard-on right now.”

  Angel just smirked and continued to dry off. “I’m so glad Ethan doesn’t understand what his naughty daddy just said.” She reached down and ruffled his curls. “Are you enjoying the sand, young man?”

  Ethan smiled at her.

  “I wish the lord blesses me with someone as precious as you one day.”

  Harrison took his eyes off the delightful sight and looked out at the water. She did deserve to experience motherhood just once. “I think you will make a great mother.”

  “You think so?” she asked.

  He turned and found Ethan on Angel’s lap cuddling. “Yeah, I think so.”

  ****

  Angel watched Ethan while Harrison swam in the water. They had tried to put Ethan in, but he had a fit as soon as the water touched his feet. Maybe she should recommend a beginner’s swimming class to Harrison, because now was the best time to break Ethan’s fear of water. Well, she didn’t think it was a fear of water…more a fear of getting his hair wet. He was the first vain two-year-old she’d ever encountered and he was ever bit his father’s son. Even now she saw the strong resemblance. They shared the same golden blond hair, big blue eyes, and infectious smile. They even had the same wit. She liked when Harrison told Ethan something sarcastic and the child just smiled at him like, oh yeah right, or simply ignored him. Yet to hear Harrison speak, one would think Ethan was an alien sent to earth to torture him. Of course she knew that Harrison loved the child and he was doing everything he could to give Ethan a happy life. The problem was he expected everything to go perfect immediately when kids had their own way of progressing into adulthood.

  Like this thing with Ethan’s hair. Personally, she liked the curls, but she was not his mother so she didn’t pass an opinion. So what if Roy liked to touch Ethan’s curls? A child’s sexuality was determined at birth and there wasn’t anything Harrison could do about it.

  Harrison finally came out of the water.

  Angel gulped. Huh? And he thought she looked sexy. Apparently, he hadn’t looked at himself in the mirror lately, or noticed the way the young women were watching him at this very moment. He was forty, muscular, and blond. In her book, that spelled hot. His wet trunks rode low on his slim hips. She allowed her eyes to go a little further. Damn, she could
make out the outline of his cock through the fabric as he neared.

  “You’re right, the water is great,” he said, flopping down on the beach lounger. “You better lie him down before you spoil him.”

  Angel looked down. Ethan had fallen asleep in her arms with his head pressed against her chest and she hadn’t noticed.

  “For someone who doesn’t like to be touched, he has no problem cuddling with you. It must be the jugs.”

  Angel rose and then stooped and laid Ethan on the blanket under the umbrella to shade him from the direct sunlight. “It’s the heartbeat.”

  “What?” Harrison asked, pulling her onto his lap.

  “He likes the sound of my heartbeat. It has something to do with lying in the womb for nine months. I think I read somewhere that a child can hear its mother’s heartbeat and it’s soothing.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” he said. “Let me see.” He put his head against her breast. “You’re right. It is soothing. Remind me to go to sleep just like this tonight.”

  “Is this your way of inviting me to spend the night?” Angel asked.

  Harrison lifted his head. “Yes. We’re dropping Ethan off by my sister-in-law after we leave here. She’s been missing him and wants him to spend the night.”

  “Which means you’ll have the entire house to yourself.”

  “Ah ha,” Harrison said, kissing her neck. “And we can have a little naked adult fun without a little head popping up at the end of the bed trying to see what we’re doing.”

  Every muscle in her stomach tightened at the thought of being alone with Harrison. “That means you can scream and get freaky,” she teased.

  “And I can explore every inch of your body from head to toe.”

  Angel giggled. “I can do the same thing to you. Do you know I can suck your fingers and turn you on?”

  His dick hardened beneath her stomach. “I’ve never had my fingers sucked before.”