Emma’s Choice: A Dad’s Best Friend Story

Excerpt:

So, imagine my shock when the door to the cafe swings open and I follow everyone’s eyes to the tall, muscular, tattooed, dark stranger who came in on a motorcycle. Only it isn’t a stranger.

It’s my dad’s best friend Carter. They’ve known each other since grade school. After high school my dad’s parents sent him to an Ivy League college but Carter joined the Army, where he later became a Ranger and is a decorated war veteran who is now a business owning private investigator.

As he strides confidently toward me, I put my hands on my hips and glare at him. “Why am I not surprised?” I grumble.

“Get your things, you’re coming home.”

“No.” I’m mad because not only has my dad sent Carter to find me and bring me home, I’m forced to act like a child. I should have thrown in a foot stomp while I’m at it.

Carter shakes his head and rubs his hand over his closely cropped hair cut which I notice is starting to gray a little. “Look Emma, I’m in no mood to argue with you. Your dad asked me to find you, and bring you home, and that’s what I’m going to do. Just tell me where you’re staying so I can have your things packed up and get you home.”

Thankfully I manage to remember that I am actually an adult. “Carter, I can appreciate that you have a job to do for my dad but I’m a grown woman. I’m 19 now and I can do as I please. I’ve got a job and I’m paying my own rent. I don’t have to go anywhere or do anything with you just because my dad says so.”

“C’mon Emma, you know how Jack is. And you know the sooner I get you home the easier it will be for both of us. He’s worried about you and he just wants what’s best for you,” he explains.

My cheeks flush when I realize the entire cafe is staring at us and listening to every word we’re saying. I haven’t told anyone here who I really am or where I’m from.

No one here seems to know who the New York Buffingtons are, or they just don’ t care. I think they’re too busy trying to keep up with every single thing their neighbors are doing, and New York is like some fantasy land from far away.

But they obviously care now, that’s for sure. Carter is a big guy.

And he looks like a classic bad boy straight out of the movies. He’s got muscles for days and he’s hot.
I’ve never told anyone this of course but I have always had an insane crush on my dad’s best friend. Always. And when he first walked in the cafe my breath caught in my throat.