Babes Stripping For Love

The next day Bree called Cassidy, she was lonely, Gage was working and Hazel was taking her nap.

“How old is Gage anyway?”

“What? What happened? Tell me? Why are you interested in his age?” Cassidy bombarded Bree with her questions. “And when are you going back to the club?”

“Cass…”

“Alright… he’s thirty-seven. Now, tell me.”

“Gage told me to take a couple of days off, I’m sure you heard about the incident. And Hazel is still recuperating from her sickness, so I guess I’ll wait for further instruction from the boss.” Bree tried not to lie, instead, she hid some information from the struggling med student.

“Uh-huh,” and just as she expected Cassidy was not buying into her bullshit, but she didn’t ask further instead she continued talking about Rocco and Dee on how the couple was being sickeningly sweet to each other, then fill her in on how the last bachelor party went rogue at Babes.

Bree ended the call when Hazel woke up from her nap. She ushered the toddler to the sofa to play with her dolls while she went to the kitchen to fix some snacks.

At a time like this, she let herself relax, but it didn’t take long as her phone reminded her of the due payment of her credit card bill, that she needs to pay. The single mom was playing with Hazel, but her mind was miles away when finally Gage was back from wherever he was. Bree didn’t even know if Gage has an office aside from Babes.

“Hey, chunky nugget,”

“Mommeee…” Hazel whined but clearly loved Gage’s teasing manner with all the cute nicknames for her.

“Look, baby broccoli, I’m going to keep on trying every sweet name I can think of until I find the perfect one for you.” He sat to her side on the sofa, took her shoulder under his arm, and tickle her until she screams her lungs out.

Bree smiled brightly when she saw them, and for a couple of seconds, all the worry fades away. Only for a couple of seconds, Gage notice her expression when he leaves Hazel to continue playing with her dolls and then joins the beautiful woman in the kitchen.

“Let’s go shopping for some pool floats then take a quick afternoon dip before it gets too cold?”

“Okay.” Bree smiled at him, she knows Hazel has been waiting for the time to go. Bree didn’t think Gage would have the time to go in between his busy schedule, she didn’t even think that he’d remember. But the man did and her walls started to crack, she realized that Gage was exactly the opposite of Everett. Deep down the realization made her worry that she’d fall for the man.

She watched Gage slip away from her after a quick peck on her temple, then moments later Bree heard her little girl shriek excitedly.

“Come on mommy!”

“Let’s get changed then we can go.” Bree smiled and took Hazel to her room.

Ten minutes later, after a quick change they all get into his car, Gage surprised her with Hazel’s car seat already strapped in his car since Bree’s car was still in the shop. The mechanic told her that it’ll be a while for them to get their hands on the window of her ten-year-old car.

“Elvis got Hazel’s seat from the shop, the guy told him that they will have the new window in a couple of more days,” Gage said as he grabbed Hazel and lift her to her seat then secure her expertly. Bree watched and she knew he’d done it fast and in a correct manner. Her looks made him chuckle and that made her raise her eyebrow.

“It’s just a seatbelt, but to ease your mind. I’m a great uncle to my sister’s kids.”

“Oh.” That was all she managed to say, though in reality she never imagined Gage to come from a family unit. She never asked and he didn’t mention them until now, which then made her feel uneasy.

“My parents live a couple of hours from here, my sister and her husband have two girls, an eight and a ten-year-old. My brother is a single self-pledge bachelor for life.” He said in a way she viewed his love for them and envied at the same time. Bree was an only child, her parents passed away with no close relatives that lived within the area.

Gage noticed her looks and he took her hand and kissed her knuckles. He ushered her to the car and was determined to make her happy in any way he can.

They spent the afternoon with a lot of laughter playing with the new pool floats until it was close to dinner time. Gage treated little Hazel with a non-veggie pizza which made the little girl adore him so much more.

But in between their laughter, Gage could see that something was bothering Bree’s mind. And after trying his best to leave her with her thoughts he finally caved.

Bree was making coffee and pouring another cup for Gage when he asked. “Tell me, what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing, I just need to work.” She took a break from his intense gaze by taking the mug and sipping her coffee slowly.

“Bree, we talked about this.”

“I need to work, Gage, I need to pay my bills, my credit card. I was unemployed for a while and I had to pay for everything, the alimony barely covers our shitty apartment and meals.” She didn’t mention that she had traded down her car and sold everything she owned and traded it with second-hand stuff just to get by. Bree was tired, she feels useless each time she kept on drowning in debt. She would’ve given up a long time ago if it wasn’t for Hazel.

Her voice cracked and she took a deep breath before she wiped her tear and clear her throat. “I need to go to the bathroom.” Bree hated that she looked vulnerable, she didn’t want Gage to see that side of her.

The man let her go, he knew that she was truly upset. He felt bad for not thinking about her bills. He thought by taking her in, all her problems were solved. He forgot to consider if she had any debt such as a credit card bill. He took a mental note to have his lawyer take a look at her case and see how her lawyer is progressing with her case.

He looked and made sure Hazel was engrossed in her playtime when he followed Bree to her room. He left the bedroom door open needing to be in hearing distance, in case Hazel call-out for him or Bree.

Gage knocked on the adjoining bathroom door and waited.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin our perfect evening.” Bree came out of the bathroom, her eyes were a bit red. He didn’t say anything he just pulled her into his arms and sighed when she relaxed in his embrace.

“Let me help you.”

“Gage, you’ve done too much.”

“I’ve got the means, you can pay me back anytime. Hazel would’ve wanted you to be happy. Let me take your mind off, trust me?” he cupped the side of her neck and looked into her eyes.

“I don’t know…”

“Just say yes?” he laid his lips on top of hers, it was a chaste kiss. Nothing intimate about it, Gage just wanted to make sure that he was there for her. In every way.

“Yes,” she breathed and kiss him back, resting the palm of her hand on his chest.

“Good, now, let’s get back to your little pie and tucked her into bed. Then it’ll be time for us to talk.”

Bree nodded and followed him outside, her hand was on his as they both joined Hazel in the living room.

“Hey, peanut, how about your mommy getting you ready for bed and tucking you in, then I read you a bedtime story?”

“One of my princess books?”

“Yup, complete with all the girly voice.” He assured her, making the little girl giggle as she took Bree’s hand guiding her to her bedroom. Gage followed them, he was liking their night routine. It was something he could easily see for years to come. Never in his past, he’d see himself building a new love life, and now he might just get himself his own little family.

Gage dated Jade sometime ago, but he didn’t feel the closeness. He had met her son, Chase, but he didn’t envision himself building a family with them. He thought he could, but the feeling was not there. Gage thought he was doomed, he thought he’d be spending the rest of his life alone and he’d be fine with that.

But Bree made him want more, she made him want to be part of her little family. He was desperate to be involved in her world, the feelings had grown so fast that he wondered if it was just lust at first sight. But the more time they spent together, the more he wanted their closeness. He was greedy, and couldn’t get enough of her, never in his life he’d been so careless and needy at the same time.