Read Online Confessions of an Alli Cat by Courtney Cole - Free Book Online Page A

inside the doorway.  She probably just can’t hear me because she’s got her ear-buds in again.  I might as well pay to have them surgically implanted in her head.  It would make her life a lot easier, I ‘m sure. 
    I kick off my heels, sort through the mail and answer one quick e-mail on my phone before I hear laughter coming from the backyard through the French patio doors.  And a male voice. My head snaps up.  What the hell?  Sophie knows the rules.  No male friends over when I’m not home.  I stomp to the patio, ready to ground her. 
    I throw open the doors and storm outside. 
    And stop dead in my tracks with my mouth hanging wide open. 
    Shade is in the pool with Sophie. 
    My daughter is with the gigolo that I had sex with. 
    Right now.
    In my pool.
    I am stunned.  Appalled. Frozen in place.
    He’s not touching her.  He’s next to her in the water, motioning with his arms.  He’s obviously wearing swim-trunks.  And he’s obviously beautiful.  And wet.  And next to my freaking daughter.
    Sophie looks up and sees me, waving. 
    “Hey, mom!” she calls, smiling. 
    Shade turns to greet me and his expression freezes. 
    He didn’t know whose daughter he was with.  That much is apparent.  
    But that doesn’t change the fact that he is still here. With my daughter.
    Did I mention with my daughter??
    Obviously, I do the only thing that any healthy red-blooded female can do. 
    I freak out. 
    Big time.

Chapter Seven
     
    (Or: I’m going to hell in a hand-basket)
     
    “What the hell is going on?” I demand, practically breaking my neck to get to the water’s edge.  I reach in and haul Sophie out of the pool by her swimsuit straps, ignoring the fact that the chlorinated water is ruining my $250 silk blouse.
    Sophie stares at me in shock, as does Shade.
    And I have to admit.  My high-pitched screech does sound a bit unbalanced. 
    But to be fair, I did just find my gigolo in my pool with my fifteen-year old daughter.
    Have I mentioned that already?
    “Mom,” Sophie hisses.  “Stop!  You’re embarrassing me!”  This is whisper-yelled into my ear, as though Shade won’t hear it when he is only three feet away. I glare down at her.
    “Embarrassing you?   You’re in the pool, breaking my rules, with someone much older than you are!”
    And someone who is much younger than me.  But that little fact didn’t stop me from screwing his brains out, now did it? 
    I ignore my inner voice because it is annoyingly correct.
    Sophie stares at me silently.  I raise an eyebrow as I feel my pulse beat in my temple. 
    “Well??”
    “Um.  Should I say something now?” Shade pipes up from behind Sophie. 
    He has emerged from the pool and I fight not to look at him.  I’m sure he’s devastatingly sexy in his wet swim-trunks.  I don’t need to see that right now.  I need to stay pissed. And that’s easy to do with Shade’s next shocking words.
    “Sophie told me that this was all approved by you.  Her father has already paid in full, so everything is taken care of.”
    “Paid in full???   Her father paid you in full??” 
    I am screeching now, so loudly that my neighbors probably hear me.  In fact, from the tone of my voice, they’ve probably inferred that I need 9-1-1 called because this is an emergency.  And it is. 
    I calm myself just a bit, swallowing hard as I stare into Shade’s deep blue, blue eyes. 
    “My ex-husband hired you for my daughter?”
    Shade’s cheek twitches a little and it appears that he fights back a grin.  He towels off as he walks closer and I don’t even glance at his practically naked body. 
    I really am Superwoman. And I have amazing fucking fortitude.
    “Yes, he did,” Shade confirms.  “To be Sophie’s swim coach.  My name is Colby, Ms. Lancaster. I hope being here is alright.”
    “Swim coach,” I repeat, feeling numb as realization slowly dawns on me.  I had forgotten all about it. 
    “Yes, swim coach,” Sophie snaps, her