Pretty Baby

Chapter 7

The dim lighting of the hotel lobby bar casts an almost ethereal glow as I make my way inside, my eyes automatically scanning for Taylor. It's just after 10 pm, well past the usual dinner crowd, leaving just a smattering of guests nursing drinks and conversing in hushed tones.

"Over here, Zac."

Her voice rings out, low and smoky, and I turn to find Taylor lounging on one of the plush sofas tucked in a corner. She's draped across the cushions, every line and curve of her body on display.

A sheer black dress hangs open to reveal tanned, toned legs peeking out that leaves little to the imagination. Her blonde hair tumbles in artful disarray over one shoulder, partially obscuring her face until she sweeps it back with one single motion.

"You're late," she murmurs as I approach, her blue eyes looking me over with appreciation. "I was beginning to think you'd stood me up."

"And miss out on an opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with Nashville's most intriguing reporter?" I arch an eyebrow, sinking into the sofa across from her. I make a show of looking her over slowly, letting my gaze linger on the swell of her breasts.

Taylor laughs, low and throaty, clearly not put off by my bold appraisal. If anything, she seems to enjoy my stare, crossing her legs in a way that draws my eye straight to her lap.

"I have to say, Zac. You're not quite what I was expecting," she smiles, "The music. It's all so deliciously brooding and melancholy. Like the work of a true, tortured artist."

"And what were you expecting instead?" I challenge, leaning back and letting my gaze roam over her with shameless appreciation. "Some moping, sad-sack pining away in a dimly lit apartment?"

"Something like that," she smirks. "Maybe with some depressing classical music playing in the background, a few empty liquor bottles scattered around for ambiance."

I laugh at her playful jab. There's no denying the flirtation of feminine power and masculine interest crackling in the air like static electricity.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I save the full-on brooding artiste routine for my public persona these days," I say. "In my private life, I try to keep things a little more… lighthearted."

Taylor dangles her black spiked heels in front of me, her white toenail polish shines in the low light. "Is that so? Well, in that case, maybe you'd be willing to let me in on a few of your more salacious, private indulgences, Zac. You know, for the sake of my story."

The blatant suggestion in her tone sends a jolt of pure masculine interest through me. Literally less than twenty four hours ago, my tongue was down Jade’s throat, and now I’m here with Taylor.There's no mistaking her intentions now. Taylor wants me, plain and simple. And she's making it abundantly clear that she's willing to use every tool in her feminine arsenal to get what she wants.

Part of me knows I should shut this down before it goes any further. I'm a father, now with responsibilities and a new lease on life that should preclude me from indulging in the kind of sexual fun that used to be my stock in trade.

But another part of me, a deeper and more primal part, can't resist rising to the flirtatious challenge she's presenting. Can't deny the electric charge pumping through my veins at the prospect of getting tangled up with someone like Taylor, all sleek curves and unbridled sensuality.

Taylor. She's the epitome of a temptress, sent to lure me straight into bed with her bold sexuality and refusal to be intimidated.

"You know what?" I say, letting my voice drop to a lower register as I lean in conspiratorially. "Why don't we go ahead and get started on that interview? Then, we can see where the night takes us from there."

Taylor's eyes spark with satisfaction at my words, at the suggestion lying beneath them. "Mmm…, now, that's more like it," she practically purrs, reaching for a sleek digital recorder on the low table in front of us. "I do so love getting the full, uncensored story out of my… subjects."

With a flick of her wrist, she sets the recorder between us and leans back, making a show of getting comfortable. The tight dress she's wearing rides dangerously high on her thighs, and I can't resist letting my gaze linger on the toned, tanned leg on display.

"Shall we start with the obvious?" Taylor prompts after a beat, her voice taking on a lower, huskier timbre. "You're a newly single father under… unique circumstances, from what I gather. Why don't you tell me a little bit about how that all came to be?"

I tear my eyes away from the tantalizing view she's offering with a supreme force of will, forcing myself to focus on the matter at hand. "You mean how I ended up with a newborn daughter getting dropped on my doorstep by her mother without any warning?"

Taylor's eyes widen with undisguised interest. "Is that what happened? My, my… that certainly sounds like the makings of a deliciously sordid tale. Do tell, Zac."

So I do. I recount the whole sordid saga of Chloe abandoning Penny and disappearing without a trace, leaving me to navigate the uncharted waters of single parenthood alone. As I speak, weaving the tale in vivid detail, I can't help but notice the way Taylor's eyes seem to heat and smolder the more I lay myself bare.

It's like she's drinking in my vulnerability, savoring each anguished revelation as it passes my lips. And there's an undeniable eroticism to it, to stripping myself down to the bone in front of this beautiful, self-assured woman; allowing her to bear witness to my most profound heartbreak.

"That's just… wow," Taylor breathes out once I've finished, her chest rising and falling rapidly beneath the sheer negligee. "I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like for you, Zac. To have your life so completely upended like that, with no warning or chance to prepare."

"It was a mind-fuck, that's for sure," I admit, oddly enjoying her attention. "One minute, I was just the same reckless, self-destructive bachelor I'd always been. The next, I had this precious new life dropped into my arms with the expectation that I'd somehow rise to the occasion."

Taylor nods slowly, her tongue darting out to wet her full lower lip. "And did you? Rise to the occasion, I mean?"

The weighted suggestion in her tone is unmistakable, the heated undercurrent between us thickening until it's nearly palpable. I lean in a few inches, "I'd like to think so, yeah," I say, letting my voice drop to a lower register. "It hasn't been easy, and there have been more than a few stumbles and missteps along the way. But I'm finally starting to find my footing as a dad, to embrace this wild new role I've been thrust into."

"Mmm…, I'll bet you have," Taylor purrs, her eyes dropping briefly to my mouth before moving back up to meet my stare. "And what about the other areas of your life, Zac? Have you had to put certain… indulgences on hold while you get acclimated to fatherhood? Or have you managed to carve out time for your more salacious creative pursuits, too?"

The way she says the word ‘salacious’, letting it drip from her tongue like warm honey, sends a shiver of pure, undisguised masculine interest down my spine. Because there's no mistaking her meaning now. She's not just referring to my writing or music.

No, Taylor is putting everything on the table here, making it abundantly clear that she's interested in far more than just the story I have to offer. She wants me, plain and simple. Wants to get tangled up in the kind of hedonistic thrills and sexual delights that have been my stock in trade for so long.

And damned if that doesn't awaken a long dormant part of me, the insatiable man who used to chase those same women with reckless abandon.

"You know…," I begin slowly, holding Taylor's heated stare. "I'd be lying if I said I haven't missed indulging in my more… salacious creative outlets from time to time. A man has needs, after all. Intellectual and physical ones."

Her lips curve into a slow, satisfied smile at my words, at the undisguised suggestion lying beneath them. "Is that so? Well, far be it for me to stand in the way of a man tending to his… needs, Zac."

With a practiced motion, she reaches for the sash of her dress and tugs it open further, allowing the sheer fabric to part and reveal the lacy tease of lingerie barely covering her from my hungry stare.

"In fact…," Taylor continues in a heated murmur, her eyes positively smoldering now. "I'd be more than happy to lend a hand in that particular arena, if you're amenable. Consider it… research for my story on the deliciously complicated man behind the music."

I can feel the air leaving my lungs in a harsh exhalation at her bold proposition, at the sheer, unapologetic eroticism she's exuding. Because there's no mistaking her intentions now. Taylor isn't just flirting or dropping enticing hints.

No, she's outright offering herself up to me, dangling the intoxicating promise of uninhibited pleasure and hedonistic delights as a lure. She wants to get tangled up in the kind of no strings thrills that have been my stock in trade for so long, and she's not even trying to be coy about it.

Part of me knows I should shut this down immediately, to extricate myself from the heated situation before it goes any further. I'm a father with responsibilities and Jade at home.

But another part of me, a deeper and more primal part, can't resist rising to the challenge Taylor is presenting. Can't deny the electric charge pumping through my veins at the prospect of getting tangled up with someone like her, all sleek curves, unbridled sensuality, and the easy confidence of an older woman who goes after what she wants without apology.

It's been so long since I've allowed myself to indulge in the simple pleasures of the chase, of getting caught up in the hunt.

"You're a dangerous woman, you know that?" I say, my voice sounding rougher than I intended. "Propositioning men you barely know, trying to seduce them into… compromising positions for your own gratification."

Taylor laughs, low and throaty, clearly not put off by my mild rebuke. If anything, she seems to preen a little under the weight of my stare, crossing her legs in a way that draws my eye straight to her lap.

"Who says it's just for my gratification, Zac?" she challenges, arching an eyebrow. "From what I can tell, you seem to be a man who enjoys… indulging his more primal urges from time to time. I'm simply offering you the chance to scratch that particular itch with a willing and very able partner. No risk of a baby here, once I hit fifty, I gave up all hope on that."

She pauses, letting her words hang between us for a beat before continuing. "But if that's not your style anymore, if you've decided to take a more… boring approach to your intimate pursuits these days, I completely understand."

The undisguised challenge in her tone sends a fresh jolt of pure interest ricocheting through me. Because that's exactly what this is, Taylor issuing a bold, erotic challenge and daring me to rise to the occasion and meet her head-on.

The reckless, self-indulgent side of my nature that's been lying dormant ever since my life was upended by Penny's arrival has left me questioning every move I make.

The thought should horrify me, should fill me with a sense of revulsion at the mere idea of backsliding into my former patterns of selfish self-gratification. I have a new ethical compass that should preclude me from even entertaining Taylor's brazen proposition. I’m a father. I keep saying that like it will ground me.

But as I drink in her unapologetic sensuality, feel the heated charge still crackling between us… I can't quite muster the appropriate sense of rejection. If anything, I feel a strange sense of exhilaration starting to form in my core, quickly removing any lingering sense of propriety.

Because the simple truth is… I miss this. I miss the thrill of the chase, the rush. I miss indulging in the kind of, no strings thrills that used to be my bread and butter before my life was upended.

And Taylor… She's the epitome of that kind of tantalizing temptation. A sleek, unbridled force of feminine sexuality and the promise of deliciously illicit delights with no strings attached. She's the embodiment of everything I used to crave, everything I've been trying to deny myself in the name of responsibility and personal growth.

So, do I take the high road here, turn her down and reaffirm my new role as a dedicated father? Or do I allow myself to get lured straight onto the rocks by this siren's call, to finally unleash the reckless id-monster I've been keeping on a tight leash for far too long?

The decision should be simple, a no-brainer. But as Taylor watches me with heated, hooded eyes, her tongue darting out to wet her full lower lip, I can feel the tide of temptation starting to rise within me. Because she's right. I am a man with needs.

"You know what?" I say after a heavy beat, holding Taylor's heated stare steadily. "As enticing as your… research proposal sounds, I'm gonna have to pass."

Her brows lift slightly at my words, but she doesn't look surprised or put off. If anything, her lips curve into a slow, knowing smile.

"Is that so?" she purrs, clearly not believing my refusal for a second. "Well, that's a shame. I was rather looking forward to getting to know your… artistic talents up close and personal."

I can't repress the laugh that rumbles up from my chest at her words, at the undisguised suggestion dripping from every syllable. "Oh, I have no doubt you were. But like I said. That particular brand of indulgence is a chapter of my life on pause right now."

"You'll slip eventually," she murmurs, "And when you do… I'll be waiting to catch you with open arms.”

~ ~ ~

"Another round?" Taylor, signals the bartender for a refill on our drinks. Her bright eyes glitter with challenge as she turns that heated stare on me. "Or are you starting to feel a little… nervous, Zac?"

I laugh at the teasing, leaning back against the leather booth of the hotel bar. "Please, you're going to have to try harder than that if you want to get me tipsy enough for your… extracurricular activities,” I tell her.

She laughs, "Is that so? Well, in that case..." Taylor leans in as the fabric of her dress parts to offer a tantalizing glimpse of toned cleavage. "Maybe I should skip the drinks altogether and simply extend a more… direct invitation back to my room."

The words are out before I can stop them, my mouth running ahead of my brain as usual. "Believe me, you have no idea how tempting that sounds right about now."

Taylor's lips curve into a satisfied smile as the bartender places fresh cocktails in front of us. "Then what's stopping you, Zac? I'm a single woman, you're… well, let's just say your relationship status is murky at best, from where I'm sitting."

She pauses, letting her heated gaze roam over me slowly as she takes a sip of her drink. "Unless you've got some sweet thing waiting for you back home that I don't know about? Some pretty little girlfriend keeping your bed warm at night?"

I nearly choke on my bourbon at her brazen insinuation, struggling not to devolve into a coughing fit. Because while Taylor's assumption isn't entirely off-base, the reality is so much more complicated than she could possibly realize.

"You could say that, yeah," I finally manage once I've recovered my breath. I can't resist holding her stare, letting my gaze roam over her sleek curves and tousled blonde waves. "There's definitely… someone special waiting for me back home. Though, I don't know if I'd call her a girlfriend, per se."

Taylor's eyes widen with undisguised interest at my admission. "Is that so? Well, aren't you just full of surprises tonight, Zac." She leans in with that ever-present spark of challenge glittering in her pale eyes. "Do tell, handsome. Who is this mysterious woman in your life? And more importantly, what's she doing waiting up for you at this hour?"

I have to fight back a chuckle at her brazen nosiness she's showing in my personal affairs. Most women would have cut their losses by now, once they realized I was seemingly off the market. But not Taylor. She's nothing if not tenacious when she scents blood in the water.

Part of me wants to deflect, to shut down this line of conversation before it can veer into territory that's none of her business. But another part of me, a deeper and more primal part, can't resist rising to the flirtatious challenge she's presenting.

So, I take a long sip of my drink, savoring the smoky burn as it slides down my throat. When I finally meet her stare again, my expression is one of resolute nonchalance.

"Well, if you must know, the woman in question is my daughter, Penny. She's probably tucked in and sleeping like an angel by now, but you know how it is with kids. They always seem to know when you've stayed out past your bedtime."

Taylor blinks once, twice, clearly thrown by the direction the conversation has taken. "Your… daughter?" she echoes, as if testing out the unfamiliar word on her tongue. "I forgot that you have a child waiting up for you at home"

"It’s fine," I tell her with a casual shrug, taking another sip of my drink.

"I bet she’s already a total daddy's girl. Can't say I blame her though. Her daddy is pretty irresistible."

I wink at Taylor, unable to resist cutting through the tension with a dash of my trademark smirk. She continues to stare at me, seemingly at a loss for words at what I just said.

"I… wow, Zac," she finally manages, shaking her head slowly. "I have to admit, that's the last thing I was expecting you to say just now. You're just so… well, you don't exactly give off'caring father' vibes, you know?"

I laugh. Can’t help but feeling a little insulted. "Yeah, well, fatherhood wasn't exactly a chapter of my life I saw coming either. But Penny sort of got dropped into my lap a few months back, and I've been doing my best to rise to the occasion ever since."

Taylor looks at me for a little while. "So let me get this straight. You're a single dad now, to a little baby? Forgive me for being blunt, but… where exactly does the mother fit into this equation?"

The question sends a ripple of bitterness rushing through me, summoning the ache of Chloe's abandonment all over again. I down the last of my drink, letting the whiskey burn dull the sting before I finally answer.

"The mother...well, let's just say she decided the whole parenthood gig wasn't really her scene after all. She took off a few weeks after Penny was born, left her on my doorstep with nothing but a vague apology note."

Taylor's eyes widen with a mixture of shock and pity. "Oh, Zac...I'm so sorry, I had no idea. That's just...unforgivable, what a monstrous thing for a mother to do."

"Yeah, well...Chloe always did have a funny way of keeping things interesting," I say.

"Anyway. That's the long and short of my wildly unexpected situation these days. A few months ago, I was a selfish, reckless bachelor just like any other famous rockstar. Now I'm a full-time single dad, trying my best not to completely traumatize an innocent little girl in the process."

To her credit, Taylor doesn't respond with the pity or awkwardness that I've come to expect from people regarding my circumstances. Instead, her expression softens into something like… tenderness? Understanding, even?

"Look at you, Zac," she says, "The brooding, troubled artist I've admired for so long turning into a total badass in the blink of an eye. Stepping up and rising to the challenge of single fatherhood, even when you had every excuse to crumble or run away. I have to admit, as much as the reckless, self-destructive persona appeals to me on one level, there's something even sexier about a man who embraces his responsibilities, who doesn't let life's curveballs knock him down for long,” she smiles.

"You know…," I say after a pause, covering her hand with my own and holding her stare. "As much as I enjoy our little game of flirtatious cat-and-mouse, Taylor, I think it's time we established some boundaries, for both our sakes."

She just stares at me. "Is that so? And what sort of boundaries did you have in mind, Zac?"

"The truth is, as… tempting as you are, I'm just not in a place right now where I can indulge in the kind of the no strings attached you seem to be offering." I pause, letting the weight of my words sink in. "Don't get me wrong. That's been my modus operandi for longer than I care to admit. But things are different now. I've got a little girl depending on me to get my shit together."

Taylor watches me intently, her expression unreadable as I lay everything on the table. To her credit, she doesn't look disappointed or put off by my gentle rejection. If anything, her lips start to form the faintest of smiles, as if she expected nothing less.

"You're right, Zac," she says. "As much as I've enjoyed our little game of seduction and deflection… you're not just some reckless bachelor anymore. You're a father now, with responsibilities that have to take priority over everything else." She squeezes my hand once more before pulling away, "And you know what? I respect the hell out of you for being man enough to recognize that. Not every guy would have the self-awareness or strength of character to turn me down, which, I would like to add, has never happened before.”

"Well, when you put it like that… I have to admit, it doesn't sound quite as noble as you're making it out to be. More like a matter of self-preservation than anything else."

"Maybe so," Taylor says with a wink. "But I still stand by what I said. You're full of surprises, Zac Fulton. In all the best ways."

She downs the last of her drink and pushes back from the table already slinging her purse over one toned shoulder. "I should get going, let you get back to that gorgeous little girl waiting up for her daddy. But for what it's worth?" she pauses, holding my hand, "I have a feeling this won't be the last time our paths cross, lover. You've still got plenty of… artistic talents left for me to explore."

With one final, searing look, she turns and walks away, leaving me to stare after her in a daze. Part of me feels almost giddy, like a teenager again, high off the thrill of the chase and the ego stroking rush of being desired by someone like Taylor Shea.

After I signal the bartender to settle my tab, I make my way back out into the warm Nashville night. As I pull up to the driveway, I can't resist glancing at the dimly lit windows of my house, picturing Penny sleeping peacefully in her crib and wondering if Jade stayed up to see what time I get home.

As I make my way inside and up the stairs, I feel a strange sense of peace settle over me. There’s no sign of Jade on the couch waiting to see me. I peek into Penny’s room to see her sleeping. The sight of this perfect angel blissfully sleeping reminds me that, for the first time in forever, I'm all in. No reservations, no lingering doubts about whether this life of responsibility and purpose is truly for me after all.