out. “I’ll be a minute,” she said, grinning at me through the open door. “Are you coming?”
Yes, I was coming.
I followed her to the front door, looking all around me as she fumbled with a jangle of keys. She pushed the door open with a creak.
“Mum, it’s me, just grabbing some clothes!” she called. She kicked off her heels and dumped the keys on the side.
It was a nice enough place. A worn green carpet along the hallway. A couple of kid’s paintings in frames on the wall. Katie Smith, age 7. Katie Smith, age 9. One that was just a tiny handprint. Katie Smith, age 3. There was also a framed photograph, Mum and Me, the frame said. Katie, smiling in a crocheted cardigan, one of those colourful threaded braids in her hair. Her arm around a woman who looked just like her. I knew the place. I’d been there myself, my only holiday. I recognised the waterslide in the background.
Katie climbed a couple of stairs, shouted up. “Mum, are you there?”
I had the strangest urge to snoop around, track my way upstairs and look at her bedroom. I had another urge, too. The urge to bury my cock in her on her own turf. Make her mine in her own bed. Sleep in her bed, amongst her things, amidst her regular life.
I heard footsteps on the landing. “I was in the shower, won’t be a minute.”
“I’ve got a visitor,” Katie called, and she was smiling.
“A visitor?” the voice called. “Holly? Is that you?”
A little blush on Katie’s cheeks. “No, Mum, it’s not Holly.” She turned to me. “Friend from school,” she whispered.
We waited what felt like an age until the footsteps started up again. I took a breath, prepared the smile.
The woman who came down the stairs was a real stunner, just like her daughter. Her blonde curls were still wet, and she was wearing nothing but a simple t-shirt over jeans. No makeup, but she didn’t need any. Her eyes were blue and her smile was broad. Same freckles.
She held out a hand. “Debbie,” she said. “Katie’s mum.”
“Carl,” I said, and left it at that. I shook her hand firmly.
Katie looked at me, eyes wide and a little unsure. “Carl’s my boss,” she said, and my heart dropped a little. “And a friend.”
Her mum raised an eyebrow at her. “Friend?”
“Friend. Close friend.”
“Your daughter’s doing very well,” I said. “Two leads today, topped the leaderboard.”
That made Debbie Smith smile with her eyes. “Well done, Kate,” she said, and squeezed her tight. “I’m so proud.” She turned her attention back to me. “So, friend-boss Carl. Has Katie offered you a drink?”
“No need,” I said. “I think we’ll be off soon. Quick change of clothes.”
“Samson,” Katie explained.
“How awfully nice of your boss to take time out to go and see your horse on a Friday evening.” Her eyes were suspicious, and there was an edge to her gaze.
“Friend,” Katie said again. “Good friend.”
“I’m glad Katie is doing well at the office,” she said. “I’m glad she has the opportunity.”
“She’s excelling,” I told her. “Working very hard, and it’s paying off.”
“And you’re Katie’s direct boss are you?”
“For the duration of the training programme.”
She was weighing me up, I could feel it. I ignored the niggle in my gut.
“I’ll get changed,” Katie said, and my urge to follow her up came to nothing. I felt rooted to the spot.
Both her mother and I watched her climb the stairs, I heard a door open and then close at the top. And then her mother cast her verdict.
“You’re the special someone,” she said, and it wasn’t a question. “The special someone and her boss. In my experience the two don’t mix, and Katie needs this opportunity. She deserves the opportunity to do well for herself.”
“Katie is doing very well for herself, I have no intention of that changing.”
“All good intentions,” she said, and it was barbed. “Do you have kids? Married? Divorced?”
“No,” I said, and my throat was dry. “And neither.”
She gave me a little nod. “Ok, Carl. That’s good to hear.” Her eyes seared mine. “You know Katie’s Dad?”
“I know David very well.”
“Then I trust you’ll help Katie make the best of the situation. For her sake, not his.”
“I’ll help Katie make the best of whatever situation she finds herself in. In this instance, for David’s sake as well as hers. He cares very much for her.”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m sure he does.” Her smile was back at full radiance by the time