Lionel grins.
“I won’t, sweetheart. I love your appetite, princess, because it’s a fucking turn on. Besides, you got quite the work-out last night, so you need the calories to keep those curves luscious.”
“Yes – by eating breakfast,” I emphasize mischievously as Lionel plates the eggs and slides them over to me. He winks, looking devilishly handsome while plating his own meal.
“You say to-MAY-to, I say to-MAH-to,” he growls before whipping off the apron and taking a seat next to me. “Enjoy, honey. With compliments from the chef.”
Giggling, I take a sip of orange juice and then dig in. The flavors of salsa, eggs, and cheese burst on my tongue, so delicious that my lashes fall shut as I let out a heavenly sigh.
“Mmmm,” is my delirious moan after the first bite. My eyes fly open as I smile at Lionel. “Daddy, have you thought about a second career as a chef? I swear, you would do so well.”
Lionel grins while shoveling a huge forkful of eggs into his mouth. Wow, he eats like a starving man, each bite larger than the first, but I suppose that’s what happens when you’re six three with the build of a god. My stepfather has to work hard to maintain his physique, and eating is a part of that.
“I could quit my job to try out the culinary field,” he acknowledges with a grin. “I wouldn’t mind doing something new. God knows, I’ve been at Kenneally Investments long enough.”
“That’s because you own Kenneally Investments!” I giggle. “Daddy, you are Lionel Kenneally. You founded the company. What would they do without you?”
Lionel shrugs, his blue eyes unperturbed as he smiles again.
“I’ve been in the business a long time, sweetheart, and have a team of good people working for me. They know what to do when I’m not around. They can sail the ship without me.”
I stop, mid-bite, eyes wide.
“They can?”
He nods, still eating away.
“Yeah, definitely. I’ve thought about stepping down for a while now because I’ve been CEO for twenty years. Since the beginning,” he remarks. “It’s time for a change.”
I stare at him.
“But what are you going to do, if you’re not working? Sail around the world in a yacht?”
He shrugs those broad shoulders.
“That’s an idea. Do you want to come with, honey? We could fuck in the high seas, with the waves crashing against the windows. It could make for an incredible orgasm if our lives are in danger,” he winks.
I pause, my heart pounding in my chest.
“But Daddy, I’m not done with high school yet,” I murmur, scandalized. “Although it is an idea. No one will know that you’re my stepfather if we’re traveling. Here in St. George, everyone knows everyone else’s business,” I add in a rueful tone, wrinkling my nose. “If we set sail, we won’t have to be so secretive about our relationship anymore.”
Lionel nods, his blue gaze thoughtful.
“Yeah, I thought of that,” he remarks. “Although I’m not sure how much I care what other people think, to be honest. We’ve been exercising discretion about our relationship because, sweetheart, like you said, you’re still in high school. You’re a young woman who faces the characters in Gossip Girl, The O.C., and Beverly Hills 90210 every day of your life. That sounds like a fucking nightmare, and they’d tear any woman to shreds for stepping out of bounds.”
“My friends aren’t like that!” I giggle. “The kids at school are pretty nice too. God knows, everyone’s just focused on finishing senior year. No one wants to stay in St. George after graduation because it’s so boring,” I moan.
“Does that include your friend Rose?” Lionel asks in a smooth tone. “Will she be staying here after graduation?”
Why is my stepfather asking about Rose? Is something going on there? Or is he merely tantalized by the menage that I suggested last night? But I shrug because as far as I know, Rose has no plans.
“She doesn’t know where she’s headed. She’s clueless too, like most of us. But I’m sure something will work out because Rosie’s a smart girl, and she’ll find something.”
“She is smart,” Lionel agrees in a deep voice, his expression bland. “Very talented.” Then he changes the subject before I can probe further. “So what do you say we go shopping this afternoon?” he growls, eyes flashing. “That could be fun, don’t you think?”
I giggle and roll my eyes.
“Daddy, I have so many clothes already! You buy me everything I could ever need, for every occasion imaginable. I don’t need more clothing.”
