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Madrid With Dad's Best Friend: An Instalove Possessive Age Gap Romance

Page 8

by Flora Ferrari


  “Hola, Lilita, Robertita,” I say, coming over and taking Roberta out of Lily’s arms and into my own. “How was your day today?”

  “Good,” Lily says, tasting a drop of sauce from her spoon before nodding in satisfaction and turning off the stove. “I managed to catch up on all my emails while Roberta was having her nap.”

  I smile knowingly. Ever since she went on maternity leave to have our baby, my wife has been itching to get back to it. She likes her work, wants to be useful again. But there’s only one problem, the fact that she also doesn’t want to leave our daughter just yet. So she’s been hopping back and forth between the two, alternating between looking after our daughter and trying to get back on track with work.

  I lean over to kiss her on the forehead, then walk over to our dining table to get Roberta seated in her high chair. “Did you hear back from the builders?”

  “Yes, they’re coming next week,” Lily turns and I can see how pleased she is, her smile wide. Here, at least, is something she’s been able to work on. Since we moved in together and got married, the house has been her own as well as mine, and she’s been leaving her mark. The next thing is a guest house in the garden, a small structure for the kids to play in as they grow up. When we have teenagers, they’ll use it as a den, a games room. And when we have young adults on our hands, maybe they’ll end up sleeping over there, converting it into a little slice of independence.

  Of course, I’m getting ahead of myself when I say ‘kids’, since we only have the one for now.

  “Do you need any help?” I ask.

  “No, they seem to understand everything quite well,” Lily says, distractedly spooning our dinner onto our plates.

  “I meant with the food,” I chuckle.

  Lily laughs, rolling her eyes at herself. “Oh. No, I’ve got it. You sit down.”

  I do as I’m told, which I’ve learned is the best approach. I reach out for Roberta and let her hold onto my finger, waving her hand around excitedly and jerking me from side to side. It’s only a moment before Lily returns with our plates, setting down first her own and a bowl of mush for Roberta before going back for mine. I wonder why she didn’t bring them both at once until she brings it and lays it in front of me.

  I stare down at my plate, in wonder.

  “This is dinner?” I manage to ask, finding my sense of humor.

  Because, instead of a plate of food like the others, Lily has laid something else in front of me. A plate bearing a single thing.

  A positive pregnancy test.

  “It’s the fruit of our labors, so perhaps you could say that,” Lily teases, but before she can even finish her joke, I’m surging from my chair and lifting her into the air, my arms wrapped around her waist. She screams happily and Roberta starts laughing, unable to fully understand what’s going on but knowing at least that her parents are happy.

  “Another baby,” I say, kissing Lily all over her face, her cheeks, her jaw, her chin, her temples. “You’re giving me another child.”

  And I know that what I thought before now was wrong, that I had everything I could ever want. I wasn’t quite there yet. There was still one more ingredient to add and now it’s coming before I even knew that it was missing.

  And I must be the happiest man in Madrid – in Spain – on the planet Earth.

  EXTENDED EPILOGUE

  Lily

  “Stop it,” I tell Roberta, reaching for her hand to stop her pulling out her hair, which I spent a long time this morning breading neatly. Our daughter is one for getting into trouble, and now that she’s five years old and mixing with other children at school, she seems to despise neatness. But if she can just hold it together for the next couple of hours, I’ll be happy.

  “Goodness, is someone playing with their hair?” My dad asks, leaning forward to pick up his granddaughter and swing her into his arms. “Mommy doesn’t like that very much, does she?”

  Roberta only giggles. She has a real mischievous streak, something which I blame her father for.

  I turn my attention forward as we start to move again, following the waiter to our table. We find our seats, me sitting beside Roberta with her beloved namesake Grandpa on the other side, my mother next to him, then Enrique, and finally our youngest, Eduardo. Since he’s only three years old, he needs the most supervision, and Enrique is only too happy to dote on him as much as he does Roberta.

  “What are you going to eat, Roberta?” Dad asks, picking up the children’s menu.

  “Pizza!” Roberta shouts, opening her mouth wide to show her missing tooth, and grinning happily. She knows where we are, of course. We come to this restaurant often, not least because it was one of the scenes of our earliest dinners together. It also has a great menu with lots of things the kids like, and that makes it ideal for a family dinner as well.

  “Well, I guess she’s already decided,” my mother laughs. “What about you, Lily? What do you get here?”

  We talk about the menu and the food and finally settle on our orders, and give them one by one when the waiter appears as if on cue.

  I look around the table as he takes down his notes, looking at my family. All of the people that I love the most, arranged in one place. These are always my favorite days. The days when I remember just how blessed I am to have been given everything I ever wanted, without ever having to even so much as search for it.

  “How is work going, honey?” Dad asks me, over the top of Roberta’s head as she dives into the coloring page and crayons brought by the waiter.

  “Oh, good at the moment,” I tell him. I glance at Enrique since this part of the conversation involves him just as much as it does me. “We’re trialing a new loyalty app for our regular customers. Over time, it allows them to earn points they can use for free food in the restaurant, unlimited WiFi, or even a free room.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Mom nods. “How did you come up with that?”

  “It was all Lily’s idea,” Enrique says seriously. “The best thing I ever did, bringing her onto the management team. Everyone agrees she’s the smartest one in the room.”

  “Oh, stop,” I blush, shaking my head. “Just so long as they don’t think I’m only there because I’m married to the boss, I don’t need flattery.”

  “It’s not flattery. Seriously,” Enrique says, getting a look in his eyes that I recognize. “We had this older customer, a gentleman who always traveled alone, always at the same time of year…”

  I shake my head, knowing exactly which story he’s telling. I don’t need to listen too closely I’ve heard it a hundred times. I check that Eduardo is drawing on the coloring page and not the tablecloth, and wipe a little dirt I notice from his little hand. They grow up so fast. I’m so grateful that Enrique and I have found a way to share childcare duties with Eduardo sitting in our shared office all day with us, and Roberta already in school, allowing me to pick her up each day and get home to prepare dinner just in time for their Daddy’s return.

  “Oh, that’s a wonderful story!” Mom exclaims, bringing me back to the present. “Lily, you’ve always been so perceptive of the needs of others.”

  “It was nothing,” I say modestly, shaking my head.

  Laughter and conversation, good food and good company, the day flows on, hours spent around the table as we move through three courses and finally onto coffee, all of us reluctant to leave and break the spell that hangs over this table. A spell of togetherness, love, family, binding us all together in the best of times.

  “We’d better get the kids to bed,” Enrique says, as the conversation comes to a lull.

  “You’re right,” I say, putting a hand to smooth down Roberta’s hair, she looks sleepy, which means she’s about half an hour away from being grumpy. “Mom, would you help me carry these sleepyheads? We can leave the boys to sort out the bill.”

  “Excellent idea, darling,” Mom says, coming over and starting to lift Eduardo out of his chair.

  I’m so happy they’re coming
back with us, to stay the week in our family home, filling the halls with more laughter and joy, until they fly back again. It won’t get in the way of our responsibilities, because this week is our week. The same week that, every spring, we take off work, to spend together like we did that first time.

  I lean over and kiss my husband. “I’ll see you in the car,” I say, and turn to go. Just before we reach the doors, I look back at all of my family, my Mom, and Dad, my kids, my love. I was handed everything I ever wanted six years ago, and every day has been a blessing of the kind I never thought imaginable.

  But, I wonder, couldn’t we add just one more pair of little feet…?

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  A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS

  Book 1: Baby Lust

  Book 2: Veteran

  Book 3: Built

  Book 4: Bambino

  Book 5: Rescued

  Book 6: Leader

  Book 7: Professor

  Book 8: Burned

  Book 9: Worldly

  Book 10: Pistol

  Book 11: Policed

  Book 12: Driven

  Book 13: Lucky 13

  Book 14: Lumberjacked

  Book 15: Protector

  Book 16: Carpenter

  Book 17: Italian Stallion

  Book 18: Gardener

  Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin

  Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter

  Book 21: Cocky CFO

  Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th

  Book 23: Mechanic

  Book 24: SEAL’s Secret

  Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch

  Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée

  Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina

  Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter

  Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy

  Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol

  Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess

  Book 32: Statham

  Book 33: Bodyguard

  Book 34: Greek God

  Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter

  Book 36: Mountain Man

  Book 37: SEAL’s Justice

  Book 38: Royal Romance

  Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery

  Book 40: Crocodile Dan D

  Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby

  Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby

  Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter

  Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door

  Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace

  Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée

  Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny

  Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter

  Book 49: Steamy

  Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend

  Book 51: Possessive Professor

  Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter

  Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby

  Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day

  Book 55: Doctor Next Door

  Book 56: Possessive Policeman

  Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter

  Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter

  Book 59: Virgin in New York

  Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby

  Book 61: Possessive Protector

  Book 62: Possessive Australian

  Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother

  Book 64: Possessive Cowboy

  Book 65: Summer Romanced

  Book 66: Possessive Prince

  Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy

  Book 68: Cop’s Best Friend

  Book 69: Possessive Firefighter

  Book 70: Football Next Door

  Book 71: Doctor December

  Book 72: Possessive Canadian

  Book 73: Blue Collar Billionaire

  Book 74: Possessive K-9 Cop

  Book 75: Possessive Brazilian

  Book 76: Hockey Obsession

  Book 77: Possessive Boston Irish American MMA Fighter

  Book 78: Halloween Next Door

  Book 79: Possessive Russian

  Book 80: Baseball Mine

  Book 81: Cop’s Caribbean Captive

  Book 82: Instalove Island

  Book 83: Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 84: Thanksgiving with Dad’s Boss

  Book 85: Possessive Italian Neighbor

  Book 86: Possessive Portuguese

  Book 87: Possessive Christmas Cop

  Book 88: Russian’s Obsession

  Book 89: Possessive Doctor’s Christmas

  Book 90: Possessive Parisian Pilot

  Book 91: U.K. Boxing Day

  Book 92: Jealous Russian Stalker

  Book 93: Italian Mountain Man

  Book 94: Aggressive Russian

  Book 95: Possessive Valentine

  Book 96: Possessive Hunter

  Book 97: Dad’s Russian Mafia Friend

  Book 98: Russian Teacher

  Book 99: Australian Obsession

  Book 100: Russian Next Door

  Book 101: Dad’s Irish Friend

  Book 102: Nanny for the Russian Mafia

  Book 103: Best Friend’s Dad

  Book 104: Basketball Babymaker

  Book 105: Possessive Veterinarian

  Book 106: Brother’s Fireman Friend

  Book 107: Brother’s Canadian Cowboy Friend

  Book 108: Summer Vacation with Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 109: Dad’s Italian Mafia Friend

  Book 110: Dad’s Irish Mafia Friend

  Book 111: Dad’s Football Friend

  Book 112: Possessing His Dancing Queen

  Book 113: Brother’s Cop Friend

  Book 114: Halloween With Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 115: Claimed By Her Boss

  Book 116: Possessive Rider

  Book 117: Dad’s Ex-Biker Buddy

  Book 118: Possessive Undercover Cop

  Book 119: Falling For Her Boss

  Book 120: Claiming His Fashionista

  Book 121: More Than Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 122: Thanksgiving With Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 123: Bossy Italian

  Book 124: Christmas With Dad’s Mafia Friend

  Book 125: Maid For The Italian Mafia

  Book 126: Nutcracker

  Book 127: Cowboy Cerrone

  Book 128: Chef’s Kiss

  Book 129: Claimed By The Russian

  Book 130: Bought By The Italian Mafia

  Book 131: Hot Nerd

  Book 132: Dad’s Italian Mafia Boss

  Book 133: Mine

  Book 134: Taken By The Thief

  Book 135: Curves Ahead

  Book 136: Her Mafia Valentine

  Book 137: Doctor Valentine

  Book 138: Maid For The Irish Mafia

  Book 139: Winning Her Curves

  Book 140: Dad’s Cartel Best Friend

  Book 141: Dad’s Greek Mafia Friend

  Book 142: Lawyer’s Obsession

  Book 143: Attending Her Curves

  Book 144: Maid for the Russian Mafia

  Book 145: Priest

  Book 146: Claimed By Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 147: His Curvy Office Obsession

  Book 148: Easter with Dad's Best Friend

  Book 149: Veterinarian's Obsession

  Book 150: Curves For Her Older Boss

  Book 151: Mob Lawyer's Curves

  Book 152: Maid For The Doctor Next Door

  Book 153: Possessive Forest Ranger

  Book 154: Nurse For The Russian Mafia

  Book 155: Dad’s Fireman Friend

  Book 156: Russian Mountain Man

  Book 157: Possessive Italian Doctor

  Book 158: Dad's EMT Best Friend

  Book 159: Claimed By The Publisher

  Book 160: Mr. CEO

  Book 161: His Curvy Castaway Obsession

  Book 162: Claiming His Reunion Obsession

 
; Book 163: Claimed By Dad’s College Friend

  Book 164: Dad’s Detective Best Friend

  Book 165: Attending The Russian Mafia

  Book 166: Dad's Biker Best Friend

  Book 167: My Dad's Russian Mafia Friend

  Book 168: Possessive Landlord

  Book 169: Gardener For The Mafia

  Book 170: Possessive Fighter

  Book 171: Claiming Her Sweet Curves

  Bool 172: Possessive Camp Counselor

  Book 173: Claimed By Dad's Italian Best Friend

  Book 174: Possessive Neighbor

  Book 175: 4th of July With Dad's Best Friend

  Book 176: Claimed By Her Enemy

  Book 177: Bodyguard’s Obsession

  Book 178: Falling For The Player

  Book 179: Possessive Alpha Cop

  Book 180: Her CEO

  Book 181: Falling For Her Dad’s Boss

  Book 182: MMA Fighter’s Obsession

  Book 183: Possessive Lawyer

  Book 184: Claimed by the British Rockstar

  Book 185: Summer Obsession

  Book 186: Paris with Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 187: Claimed by the Possessive Fireman

  Book 188: Possessive Trucker

  Book 189: Falling for Dad's Enemy

  Book 190: His Undercover Maid

  Book 191: Her Innocent CEO

  Book 192: Bratva Boss’s Babysitter

  Book 193: Sold to the Bratva Boss

  Book 194: My Dad's Best Friend

  Book 195: His Cabin Obsession

  Book 196: Driver's Obsession

  Book 197: His Unexpected Love

  Book 198: London with Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 199: Hot Neighbor

  Book 200: Maid for the Hollywood Heartthrob

  Book 201: The CEO and the Wedding Planner

  Book 202: Claimed by the Italian

  Book 203: Dad’s CEO Boss

  Book 204: The Mob and His Messenger

  Book 205: Rome with Dad’s Best Friend

  Book 206: Haunted by Her Curves

  Book 207: Her Vampire

  Book 208: Bidding for Her Curves

  Book 208: Claiming His Student

  Book 210: CEO's Dog Trainer Obsession

  Book 211: Pool Girl

  Book 212: Possessive Writer

  Book 213: Maid for the Mafia Informant

  Book 214: Thankful for Him

  Book 215: Madrid with Dad’s Best Friend

  BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS

 

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