Excerpt of Top Gun Dad by Ann DeFee

“Congratulations, you’ve survived your first horse show.  Are you ready to saddle up and mosey home?”

Absolutely!  Chad Benavides was hot, tired and cranky.

“We’re stopping at the Dairy Queen for a treat.  Do you and the girls want to go with us?” Kelbie asked.

There wasn’t one of Chad’s previous girlfriends who would be caught dead in a Dairy Queen.     

“Can we Daddy, can we?” Hannah pleaded.  He had to give it to the kid; she had supplication down to a fine art.  “I really, really want a Peanut Butter Parfait.”

“Yeah, that’d be cool,” her sister Rachel agreed.

A Butterfinger Blizzard did sound good.  “Sure, why not.”

It had been a while since the Dairy Queen had seen quite such a motley crew.  With their boots, leather chaps and cowboy hats the girls looked like a feminine version of Wyatt Earp’s posse. 

“What can I do for you young ladies?”  The woman behind the counter was wearing a big smile and an impressive poof hairdo.    

In response to her blanket question there was a cacophony of noise until Marge, the barn manager let out a whistle that would make a pro football umpire jealous. 

“One at a time,” she instructed.  “Try to act like young ladies.”

By the time Chad made it to the front of the line he could almost taste the combination of ice cream and candy.  However, before Miss DQ handed him his order she decided to do an impromptu advertisement.

“Ya know, you turn can turn this puppy upside down and it’s so thick it’ll stay right there in that cup.”  To prove her point she flipped the cup over.  Oops - the ice went splat all over Chad’s sneakers.

“I’ll be darned,” she said as she leaned over the counter.  “It’s never done that before.”

Kelbie snorted before she broke into a belly laugh.  “I’m sorry.”  She slapped a hand over her mouth trying to stifle her giggles.  “Really.”  The fact she continued to laugh negated her sincerity.

The kids were in a circle staring at the oozing puddle of ice cream.

“Sorry about that, sir.  What else can I get for you?  It’s on the house.”

Tears were running down Kelbie’s cheeks. 

“Tell you what.  Give me a banana split and two spoons.  The lady and I will share.”  Chad understood the intimacy of sharing a dessert, and considering Kelbie’s deer in the headlights look, so did she.  He wasn’t sure what, if anything, they had going, but the process was certainly entertaining.

This was all her fault.  If she hadn’t laughed at him she wouldn’t be involved in this chocolate version of foreplay.  Didn’t the man know it wasn’t appropriate to share food with a casual acquaintance?

Chad dipped his spoon into the hot fudge, never taking his eyes off her.  Then he licked the spoon, lick by slow lick.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph!  Was it hot in here or was she the only one sweating like a pig? 

“You should try the vanilla.”  He dipped his spoon into one of the mounds of ice cream.  “It’s so creamy and smooth.”  His voice was like an aphrodisiac.  And when he added a wink Kelbie almost melted on the spot.  “And don’t you love the cherry?  Too bad there’s only one.  Would you like a bite?”  Chad took a nibble of the Maraschino cherry and held out the other half. 

Kelbie was tempted to clap her hands over her ears.  Was it possible to have an orgasm by simply watching a guy eat?  With that thought in mind she glanced around.  Thank God the kids were busy doing their own thing.

“No,” she squeaked and then cleared her throat.  “No thanks.”  Kelbie picked up her plastic spoon and attacked the caramel end of the sundae like a Survivor contestant on day thirty.