Page 17 of Sugar Walls (Sweet Treats 5)

My dad sighs and looks at the table again. His soup is still uneaten, and it’s starting to get cold.

“Nats, what do you want me to do?” he asks helplessly. “I feel torn. I know that Violet would be incensed if she knew that you were angling to join Dads and Daughters. How do I honor the memory of my dead wife while also doing what’s best for my daughter?”

I shake my head.

“But Dad, that’s the thing. You don’t know that Violet would judge you for being in Dads and Daughters. She never saw what a bad state you were in before you joined. Don’t you think she would want you to find love again? Don’t you think she would want me to explore my boundaries?”

My dad shakes his head and looks at his hands. He looks tired and defeated, and my heart goes out to him.

“Listen, Daddy. Why don’t we take it one step at a time? I won’t join Dads and Daughters straight off the bat. But can we go there one more time, just to see? I’d like to learn more about the history of the club, and how it came to be. I’d like to meet more people, and maybe it won’t go well. Maybe I’ll be turned off by all the debauchery going on.”

My dad rubs his eyes and then scrubs his face with both hands. Finally, he lets out a huge sigh.

“Okay,” he says in a low voice. “One more time at Dads and Daughters, and then we’ll reassess. But Natalie, I’m so ashamed for introducing you to the club. It was a huge mistake on my part, and I wish I could do it all over again.”

My heart breaks for my father and I stand up to throw my arms around his broad shoulders.

“It’s okay, Daddy. I know you’re just looking out for me. We’ll go to the club one more time, and then we’ll decide okay?”

My dad nods and we both turn to our bowls. The silence in the air is thick, but inside, I’m dancing with joy because I’m going back to the club soon. I can’t wait to get to the Lodge and to witness more depravity. Even more, I can’t wait to meet my anonymous lovers again because I promised them my sugar walls. I’ll let the men touch and stretch them to the right size. But how do I find the two alpha males with the distinctive tattoos? I’m not sure yet, but I’m determined to make it happen.

8

Natalie

“Hey girl,” Layla coos while pulling me into a hug. “It’s so good to see you. I haven’t seen you in ages!”

I pull back and smile at the beautiful woman while my dad disappears with a wave.

“I know!” I say excitedly. “I’m so excited to be back at the Lodge, and thanks for taking me around. My dad contacted you, right? I thought you and Tyler were on vacation, but I’m so glad you’re back in town.”

Layla smiles, her face lighting up.

“Yeah, Tyler and I decided to get away last weekend. We went to Barbados and it was absolutely heavenly. Don’t tell anyone, but it was a babymoon.”

I cock my head at her.

“A babymoon? What’s that?”

Layla giggles and pats her stomach gently. Now that I focus on it, I can see that there’s a slight curve that didn’t used to be there.

“Oh my god, you’re pregnant!” I breathe. “So Tyler took you to Barbados to celebrate.”

The older girl nods happily.

“Yeah, totally. After the baby’s born, it’ll be a lot harder to travel, so we wanted to get some vacations in before he or she comes.”

I smile at her as she leads me to an open seating area on the left. We take a seat on a green plaid sofa with a couple of homey, chenille pillows on it.

“Here, take one for your back,” I say, handing her a pillow.

Layla takes it gratefully, tucking it behind her lower back.

“I’m only about two months along, but it feels like I’m already toting around an extra forty pounds,” she says ruefully. “I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like in my third trimester.”

“But I’m so excited for you!” I exclaim. “Wait a minute. Did you know that Sienna’s pregnant too?”

Layla laughs, her expression joyful.

“Oh yeah. It’s a lot to throw at our men, that’s for sure. Basically, Tyler, Jock, and Jack are going to become dads and grandfathers at the same time. They’re going to be populating the second and third generations of their lines simultaneously.”

I giggle myself.

“Yeah, but my dad’s really excited to be having a baby. He says he’s giving me that sibling I asked for at long last.”

“Better late than never, right?” Layla asks companionably.

“Oh definitely,” I nod. “I can’t wait to be a big sister too.”

Layla turns to me with a happy smile, and I’m struck again at how beautiful she is. She’s practically glowing from the inside, and her curly hair waves about her shoulders like a goddess. Funny. I wonder if this happens to all pregnant women. Sienna looked absolutely gorgeous pregnant too. Then again, being with the right man and having his baby will do that for you.

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