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“Sure,” I lied.

“Really?”

“Uh, yeah. Why wouldn't she?”

Caitlin turned on her side to face me. Her one breast was nearly out of her top. She may not have noticed, but I did. “She's nuts about you, you know.”

“Me?”

“Oh yeah. She talks about you every time she comes home from your place. Melody thinks you're a total hunk. I'm surprised she didn't flirt with you.”

“They all flirt. That's what young girls do, isn't it?” I tried to sound innocent.

“I guess. I did when I was her age. There was a neighbor man – I would have done anything for him. He acted like he didn't notice, but I wanted him so bad to be my first.”

I was starting to perspire, not from the heat of the sun. Did she know something? Impossible. I hope.

“Tell me, Bill. Is it hard for you, living with a beautiful young woman?”

“What do you mean?” Inside, I was thinking how “hard” Jamie makes me, but I summoned all my will to look angelic.

“Doesn't she have young wolves sniffing around the door all the time?”

“Not really. She's had dates, but nothing serious.”

Caitlin said, “Same thing with the others. When I was their age, I had boys swarming all around me. I didn't have big boobs like Kiersten or Jamie's swimsuit model figure. I was a little Tinkerbell character, like Melody. But I had guys who would have happily bedded me. Boys don't seem to care about them.”

“I've heard the girls talk. High school boys were too immature. Jamie said those guys want one thing, and she isn't interested in being a one-night conquest.”

“Melody tells me the same thing. Says she wants an older man for her first. Probably some kind of Daddy thing, since she knows Doug took my virginity, and he's ten years older than me. That's why she was so excited about spending the night at your place.”

“What?” I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the answer.

“She was excited about sleeping in a man's house, a man she thinks is really cute. Did she come on to you?”

“No! Besides, the other girls were there.”

“I hoped she wouldn't do or say anything foolish with her friends right there. But, be honest. Do you think Melody is attractive?”

“Of course. She should be. She looks a lot like you.”

“Thank you. Maybe I should re-phrase my question. If my daughter offered herself to you, what would you do?”

“I don't understand.”

“Of course you do. If my daughter asked you to take her to bed, would you?”

“Caitlin! No!”

“Why not? She's cute, she's of age, she's on birth control, she's not attached, and I bet she's willing.”

“I feel really awkward with this conversation.”

“Good answer,” she giggled. “That tells me that you think she's pretty and sexy, but you're too much of a gentleman to do anything.”

“Well, yeah, she's awfully young, and she's my daughter's friend, and she's YOUR k**! You and Doug would kill me.”

“He would if he noticed. Doug still thinks she's a little girl. He probably doesn't even know she thinks about sex. He sure as hell doesn't think about it much.”