His Curvy Beauty by Lana Love

Chapter 2

Jarvis

Being a dad is the last thing I thought I’d ever be. It’s not that I haven’t wanted a kid, but that I never thought I’d find a woman I’d want to call Wife.

Janice and I had an on-off relationship several years ago, and then she drove off into the sunset. I never heard from her again. When Janice’s parents appeared on my doorstep, little Frannie hiding behind their legs? There isn’t language to describe the mess of emotions that raged in me. Fury at Janice for keeping Frannie from me. A sense of sorrow to hear she’d died in a racing accident. A staggering sense of life-or-death responsibility as I started to comprehend that a small person’s life and wellbeing were now in my hands.

And then, a rush of love as I took a good look at Frannie. She has her mother’s face, but the set of her eyes and her attitude are pure me. There was never a doubt that I’d protect her and step up as her father. Saying no was never a fucking option. A man takes care of his own.

“We’re too old to raise another child,” Janice’s dad said. “A child needs her father, anyway. We’re sorry for the circumstances. Janice should have told you.”

Today, opening the door to see Sarabeth standing there, my world screeched to a halt. Looking at her was like the greatest gift. Standing there in her buttoned-up cotton blouse and blue skirt, her glasses sliding down her nose, my cock roared to attention as I looked at the most gorgeous woman on the planet.

It wasn’t just that Sarabeth is gorgeous, but there was something else in the air around her. Despite her clearly being nervous, I looked at her and knew that my little Frannie would take to her.

I’ve always been wary of commitment with another woman, even though a family is what I’ve always wanted. There’s never been another woman I felt like I could trust with my life, let alone the life of Frannie. One glance at Sarabeth and I knew she was everything I ever dreamed of and need in a woman – and more.

Sarabeth will be mine.

“Frannie.”Even though she hears my warning voice, she just crosses her arms over her chest and sticks out her chin in defiance.

“No. I want cartoons.”

“No. You have homework.” I’ve powered through life on brute force and physical strength – neither of which work with a seven-year-old girl. I take a deep breath. “How about I read with you?”

Frannie’s eyes are fierce as she looks at me, then shakes her pretty head. “I want…”

“Sarabeth?”

“Yes! I want to read about dragons! She promised dragons!”

“You can have dragons when we’ve finished this book.”

It’s hard, learning how to deal with a little girl. She’s strong-willed. Not snapping at her is sometimes harder than I want to admit. But she doesn’t know better and I know it’s on me to set the example.

“Dad,” she says, somehow making three letters sound like a loud battle cry.

“Frannie.” I let a warning creep into my voice. Not snapping at her doesn’t mean coddling her and I’m sure as hell not going to raise a spoiled child. “Go to your room. Sarabeth will be here soon, but if you’re still misbehaving, there will be no dragons. Do I make myself clear?”

I stand and point toward her room, forcing myself to not vocalize the frustration that Frannie is stirring in me. I’ve spent a long time not letting anyone get under my skin…and then a seven-year-old girl changes all that. All she has to do is stick out her lip and narrow her eyes at me, and all my buttons are pushed.

“Fine!”

I watch Frannie stomp to her bedroom, thankful that she’s not fighting me on this. It’s an unusual feeling for me to be looking forward to seeing a woman, but meeting Sarabeth revved me in a way that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

Sarabeth is a world apart from the people I know – and it’s refreshing. She has an air about her that I instinctively trust. There was no indication that she has a deceptive or manipulative bone in her body, nor would she harm anyone. She’s demure and smart, not to mention sinfully sexy. Her curves aren’t the kind you take fast, but the kind you take slow and repeatedly. The more I replay our first meeting, the more I’m unable to find a fault with her. She might just be the perfect woman.

The moment I hear the faint ding of the elevator, I launch myself off the couch and wait by the front door. Damn, man. This feels like being a teenager.

“Hey man. What’s shakin’?”

“Good to hear from you, Chico. What’s up?” Sarabeth glances at me as I walk past her, so I can take this call in private. She smiles at me, her arm around Frannie’s shoulders as Frannie slowly reads aloud. This woman is a motherfucking miracle. In just two brief visits, she has Frannie working to impress her and eager to read.

“You down for a race? Been way too long since you were on the streets with us.” A roar of engines comes through the phone and the longing that builds in me is fast and furious. Not racing recently is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Well, hardest after working on learning how to care for Frannie and how to be a good Dad.

“Man…” I turn and look back at Sarabeth and Frannie. I’ve only left Frannie with one of my neighbors once, a grandmother type, and it nearly tore the heart out of my chest. After not having her in my life for so long, it’s surprisingly difficult to tear myself away from her for even a few hours. “I’d love to go…but…Frannie.”

“Jarvis, dude. That’s what babysitters are for.”

I sigh, nodding my head. I know I need to drive and feel the rush of freedom as my car roars beneath me, power vibrating through the air as my car hurtles through the city streets. In the time it takes me to drive a mile, I’m free and invincible. There’s nothing I can’t do when I’m behind the wheel of a car.

And I miss it. God how I miss driving and racing. But with Frannie in my life, she comes first. She’s given me a new kind of purpose. For the first time, I worry about getting hurt, because Frannie needs her father. She also needs a mother.

Sarabeth waves and catches my eye.

“Hold on a sec, Chico.”

“What’s up?” I ask, my voice low. I don’t want to interrupt Frannie when she’s doing so well.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help but overhear a little. If you want, I can watch her while you go out. Frannie’s adorable. I’d love to spend more time with her.”

I open my mouth to say no, then realize I do trust her. Closing my mouth, I marvel at how a woman I barely know has me trusting her. It’s been years since I’ve let someone into the circle of people I trust, especially a woman. There’s just…something about Sarabeth that I recognize as good.

“Actually,” I say, a new idea rushing into my head. “I have another idea. I want you to come with me. My neighbor Mildred can watch Frannie.” Leaving Frannie with the grandmotherly lady down the hall, and with whom Frannie has a growing friendship, is something I can do for a few hours. I’m not crazy about leaving Frannie, but I know she’s safe with Mildred. I’m crazy about Sarabeth and I need to make her mine.

But first, I need to show her my world.