Next Door Daddy

by Ford, Mia

  I laugh. I can’t imagine wanting dessert after this meal.

  Between the two of us, we manage to piece together an order, and we place it. The waitress pours us two glasses of wine from the bottle that Seth bought, and Seth raises his glass with a smile.

  “To us,” he says.

  “To us,” I agree with a smile, raising my glass too.

  “And…” Seth meets my eyes, his gaze intent. “To new beginnings.”

  He sips his wine, his gaze never leaving me. I feel a strange fissure go down my spine at his words.

  “I thought we did the whole ‘new beginnings’ thing three years ago,” I manage to joke.

  “There are lots of different beginnings,” Seth says with a smile, slowly standing.

  And then, before my stunned eyes, he drops to one knee, slowly pulling a small, black box out of his pocket. The tables around us hush, but I barely notice all the eyes on us, barely breathing as I watch him.

  “Zoe,” Seth says, and I swallow the lump in my throat. “Three years ago…we made a real mess of things. Or, I made a mess of things. I was so scared of how much you meant to me, and how deeply you wormed your way in my heart. I was even scared of losing the memory of Rose. Sometimes I look back on that and I still wonder how everything managed to work out. It’s funny that I did everything I did to protect myself and Alicia, yet it was her who eventually forced us back together.”

  I smile at that, tears gathering in my eyes.

  “But I don’t regret the choice that I eventually made,” Seth continues quietly. “I’ve never once regretted opening my heart to you. You made me whole again, something I didn’t think would ever happen after Rose died. You were there for me and my daughter when we needed you the most, and every day since has been one adventure after another. I love you so much, and now I want to go on a new journey with you.”

  He snaps the box open. The ring within is dainty and silver, and the diamonds on it sparkle in the light overhead. It’s beautiful.

  “Zoe Jones,” Seth says. “Will you marry me?”

  There’s only one answer I can give.

  “Yes,” I say, and tears spill down my cheeks. My face feels like it’s splitting because of how wide my smile is. “Yes, of course!”

  I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. That’s when I realize that we have an audience as the restaurant breaks into applause, and Seth laughs as I pull back.

  “I love you,” he says, pulling the ring out of the box.

  I hold out my hand and he slides it on my finger. I laugh at a sudden memory.

  “You jerk,” I say. “That’s why you were measuring all my fingers two months ago!”

  “Well, I couldn’t come out and measure just your ring finger,” Seth reasons. “That would definitely have given it away!” He smiles. “Are you surprised?”

  “Very,” I tell him. “I didn’t think you’d want to get married again. And that was fine with me; I was perfectly happy to be with you, no matter what.” I look down at the ring and smile giddily. “But this makes me really happy. I love you so much.”

  He kisses me again and stands so he can slide back onto his seat. He grins at me, his eyes sparkling with joy.

  “I can’t believe Alicia managed to keep this a secret,” Seth chuckles. “She found the ring two nights ago, and demanded to know if I was going to ask you.”

  “That’s why she’s so excited,” I realize. I laugh. “Since she knows, I’m more surprised that she hasn’t called to see if you’d asked yet.”

  “That’s why I figured I’d ask before the meal,” Seth confesses. “It would all be for nothing if she calls while we’re eating and gives the game away because she’s impatient.”

  We both laugh. Life with Alicia is definitely anything but boring.

  “Sir, ma’am?” It’s the waitress again, and she has two glasses of sparkling champagne. “Please, take this, on the house. Congratulations on your engagement.”

  “Thank you,” I say.

  “Your food will be ready soon,” she adds, beaming at us.

  Then she hurries away, clutching her menus. I have a feeling we have just made her night, and I exchange a soft smile with Seth.

  “Looks like we’re going to have to plan,” I say. “But I guess that can wait.”

  “No way,” Seth says instantly. He smiles at my surprise. “I want you to be my wife. I say we start planning right away. We can aim for a wedding next year. A small one.”

  “The newspapers won’t like that,” I warn. “All the media is going to want to be there.”

  “It’s my wedding, I can do what I want,” Seth sniffs. “I gave them a public proposal, what more do they want?”

  “To be here,” I joke.

  “I’m sure someone got a picture,” Seth says dismissively.

  We look at each other. Then we burst out laughing. Seth doesn’t really like the media, especially after a magazine speculated that I was only with him for his money last year. He got the last laugh when he sued for slander, though.

  “A quiet wedding sounds good to me,” I say, already imagining it. “Alicia is going to want to choose my dress, though.”

  “Will you let her?” Seth asks. “I know she chose what you’re wearing tonight.”

  “Not my wedding dress,” I say with a wink. “That one’s mine.”

  “Good luck,” Seth says, raising his glass.

  We both laugh again. I’m so giddy with happiness right now. I have Alicia and I have Seth, and I have a life that I can enjoy, even with all its ups and downs. To think we would get here after everything that happened three years ago.

  Just like Seth, though, I don’t regret any of it. After all, I wouldn’t be where I am now without it.

  I hope you enjoyed your time with Seth and Zoe! If you love a steamy romance that just happens by chance, then keep reading for an excerpt from my Best Seller, ACCIDENTAL MEETING.

  Excerpt

  I wanted her the first time I laid my eyes on her.

  I don’t know what it is about her, but I need her to be mine.

  She’s in trouble and needs my help.

  But I don’t do commitments,

  And I don’t help for free.

  She’ll have to give something in return.

  It was just supposed to be a one night stand,

  Until things quickly changed in the bedroom.

  Actually, everything changes.

  And now, I want to give up my playboy lifestyle…only for this girl.

  I need her to be mine forever.

  But life isn’t that simple, is it?

  She’s got questions that are difficult to answer.

  Could our Accidental Meeting lead to our future together?

  Chapter 1

  Tia

  “No, no, no!” the director yells. He’s getting angrier by the second, I can tell by the redness of his cheeks and that angry vein popping out of his forehead. “You can’t say it like that, it needs to have emotion.”

  Humiliation and shame rushes through me. A heat creeps up from my toes and a coolness trickles down my back. It feels like all eyes are upon me and everyone in this room hates me for making yet another mistake. The funny thing is this isn’t aimed at me. I’m not the star here, just another extra in the background, but it’s the first real scene that I’ve ever been involved in and I hate the fact that it isn’t going right. Yes, I’ve done other acting jobs back in my home town, that’s how I know that I do have a bit of talent, but since moving to Los Angeles, Hollywood to be exact, this is my first job. A small, teeny tiny stepping stone, to what I hope will be bigger things. I need it to make it to bigger things. This has to work for me, I honestly don’t know what I’ll do if it doesn’t.

  “I am putting emotion into it,” the main star, the semi famous but a complete diva, Olivia, whines.

  “No, you aren’t.” The director remains firm. “Don’t bullshit me. I can see right through you here.”


  “Well then I just don’t understand what I’m doing wrong.” Olivia throws her hands up in dismay.

  I do. I could easily tell her what she’s doing wrong, she isn’t becoming the character. She’s bored, distracted, probably having personal problems. It’s so obvious. But I can’t risk alienating the sort of person who I eventually want to become my equal now, can I? Actually, the dream is to overtake her. I’m not fame hungry, wanting the paparazzi following my every move, but the idea of being that successful really speaks to me.

  I want to leave my mark on the world, and this is the only way I can do it.

  “Stupid bitch,” the hard faced woman next to me comments in a much too loud whisper. She grabs everyone’s attention and I feel that shame washing over me again. I feel guilty, even though I didn’t say it, so I probably look like I’ve done something wrong too. If only I could defend myself, but that will probably only make it worse.

  “You!” The director points right at me. “The blonde one. Come here.”

  Shit, shit, shit. My eyes flicker down and hit the ground. I need to find a way to explain that wasn’t me without making things even worse. I don’t want to anger the other extra either. We might come across each other again.

  “Ye… yes,” I stammer. Now all eyes are definitely on me. “Is… is everything okay?”

  “I need you to shove into Chloe…” It takes me a millisecond to realize he means Olivia in her character. “And mumble something sarcastic at her. Rile her up a bit which might make her drag some emotion out.”

  “Just… now?” I stare at Olivia who is giving me daggers. Great.

  “No, when the cameras are rolling. We might as well film it. It might even make the cut.”

  The cut? Oh my God, I might actually become part of this movie. How wild would that be? As nervous as I am, I really need to nail this. It might actually be a bigger stepping stone than I originally anticipated. I don’t know why the hell this has happened, what made him pick me, but this is good. Really good as long as I don’t blow it. I just need to stop my vision from blurring quite as violently as it is so I can turn this opportunity into something positive. I nod and try to hold myself together piece by piece while I focus. All the acting training that I have ever had in my life flies violently out of the window but I’m still going to do it.

  “Stand here.” The director rests his hands on my shoulders and angles me. I’m staring at Olivia who is looking at me like she despises me. Like I’m a piece of dirt under her shoe. And I have to think of something snarky to say to her. I haven’t even been given directions. This is going to kill me, how the hell can I make it happen?

  I suck in a couple of deep breaths and try to calm the ice cold anxiety darting around in my stomach. It’s churning, sickening, but deep down in there I feel anticipation too. This could be something incredible.

  “Okay and… action.”

  I dart my eyes towards the director, checking that he really means me and he nods firmly. There’s a determination under his gaze, I feel like he wants me to nail this so that’s what I need to do. For some reason out of all the extras, he has chosen to give me a chance and I need to make him proud.

  The next time I look towards Olivia I see right through her so her nasty gaze can’t affect me. I suck in deep and I walk with solid, purposeful steps. The pressure weighs heavily on my shoulders, it sinks into me, my heart pounds so heavily I’m afraid it might burst from my chest, I can barely breathe because I can’t seem to get enough air into my lungs, it almost crushes me, but I keep on going all the way until I bang into the ice queen’s shoulder.

  “Watch it, you idiot,” I mutter, glaring at her. She wants to make me wither but I won’t. I turn my head away and continue on walking. She starts yelling, actually showing some emotion and I shake my head.

  “Cut!” the director yells, destroying any confidence I just had. “Extra, you were great, but Olivia, I need more.” Relief floods me, at least it wasn’t my fault, but that does still mean that I need to do it again. “Once more.”

  I have a feeling that this is about to turn into a very long day…

  * * *

  I sigh loudly and slump at the bar nearest to my apartment. I was right, it was a really long day. Who would have thought that smacking into someone over and over again would be so tiring? But it was. And now Olivia really hates me. It didn’t help that I kept getting compliments and she was getting a hard time. I could tell that she didn’t like it by the way that she kept barging into me over and over again, getting harder each time.

  “What can I get ya?” the sweet looking barmaid asks me with a Southern twang.

  “White wine please.” She asks me which and I shrug. “Any, thank you. It’s been a long day.”

  “Yeah?” She pops some gum. “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “No thanks. Maybe not yet. I might after a couple of drinks.”

  “Okay, well let’s sort you out then.”

  I take the drink from her and sip it down rapidly before asking for another. I don’t want to get wasted but I do need to block the day out. I’m not needed on the sets tomorrow but the director asked me to be around over the next week in case they want me back. Yes, that was a really good sign but I’m dreading it too. Mostly, seeing her.

  Once I have sunk two wines, I glance around the room to see how busy it is. This bar always looks like it’s busy, I have seen it a few times from my apartment window, but this is the first time that I have been inside and it’s crazy. There are bodies absolutely everywhere, as far as the eye can see. I actually feel a little silly sitting here alone while everyone else talks and laughs and has fun, it makes me shift awkwardly on my seat, but it isn’t enough for me to leave. I might be alone here, but at home I am truly by myself.

  I think about home for a moment, about everything that I left behind. I really don’t think people understand why I had to leave, especially not my tight knit group of friends. Holly, Paula, and I were the three musketeers of friends, always together, through high school and afterwards, and I think they blame me for going. We still talk but it isn’t quite the same anymore. I thought I was doing the right thing but now… and I still do, but I miss them. The easy thing would be to go back and to be content waitressing between small time jobs and keeping my friends. As I sit here without anyone in the world, knowing that I have chosen a dog eat dog world where people don’t make friends easily, I kinda want that. Just a little bit.

  “Is anyone sitting here?” A chocolatey smooth voice drags me from my sad fog.

  “Er…” I turn to see a man in a lime green tie standing beside me, clutching onto the bar stool because he’s so desperate to sit there. I nod because I can’t quite find the words to say that I’m alone. This isn’t just any man; this is the best looking guy that I have ever been in front of in my life. I don’t know what it is about him, but he’s magnetic. He has this powerful aura around him that sucks me in and keeps me in place.

  His cropped dark hair, those piercing blue eyes, his thick, muscular body… they are incredible. Not to mention his strong jawline and cheek bones that are to die for. He looks like a God. I melt into a puddle.

  “Would you like another one?” the barmaid asks, shaking him from my thoughts.

  I down the rest of my drink. “Yes please,” I gasp desperately.

  I can’t stop thinking about him though. I keep darting my eyes towards him and soaking that little bit more of him in. He’s warming me up in a deep sunshine, he’s like a drug, and I need another hit. I have never been a one-night stand type of girl, I move much slower and always hope for love, but if I was ever going to jump into bed with a man that I have only just met, it would be him.

  “Hi.” He seems to notice me staring at him and he offers me his hand to break the weird tension. “Shane Valentine.”

  “Valentine? Like, the day?” Urgh, why the hell did I just say that?

  He laughs, as if he hasn’t heard that a million times which I’m sure
he has. “Yes, I guess so. I don’t know if I’m quite as romantic as the day though.”

  Hmm, no I imagine not. He seems more like a rough and ready kinda guy to me. The sort who would throw you around the bedroom and drive you wild, but then never call again. I don’t have to go that far with him but I don’t see why conversation can’t be had. It’ll be nice to have some small talk with another person. A nice end to a crazy day.

  “Tia Cooke.” I take his hand and immediately shudder under the power of the electricity that he has been bolting through me. “Nice to meet you.”

  He turns away for a second and I don’t know what the hell makes me do it but I sneak out my cell phone and snap a sneaky picture of his profile. I half consider sending the picture to Holly and Paula just to show them that I’m having a good time with a handsome man in LA, that this is all good, but instead I slide my phone away. I don’t know if that’s a good idea after all, I don’t know if they will want to see that.

  I’m not really close enough to anyone to share this with anymore. This will have to be a moment just for me.

  Chapter 2

  Shane

  “Tia Cooke, huh?” I smirk at the sweet young thing sitting next to me. She appears to be about twenty-three years old, a decade younger than me, and she’s very pretty for it. Blonde hair styled in a pixie cut, a petite curvy body, swollen chest, a heart-shaped face, and lovely green eyes. Sweet… too sweet for me. “Nice name.”

  I avert my eyes around the room looking for someone a little sultrier, experienced, kinky. This girl isn’t the one who’s coming home with me tonight, I would eat her alive. She needs a nice preppy boy, the sort who would treat her like a princess, who would be a gentleman for her. That isn’t me. I’m not tame, I don’t treat women well, I’m not there to be someone’s boyfriend. Just for a hot night of fun.