I watch as Scott flirts with a table of four women for a little too long. He’s not rushing to take the order into the kitchen and I can’t handle this smell any longer so I scream over to him, “Scott.”
I can see the annoyance on his features as he excuses himself from the group of horny, enthralled women and he heads towards me and then his eyes widen and he gasps. “What the fuck is that smell and why do you have a baby in your arms. Whose is it?”
“Yours apparently.”
It’s a good job I didn’t hand him the baby because he’d have dropped it.
“You’re hilarious, Suki. Were you jealous I was giving those women all of my attention? Now seriously, go change its stinking nappy or give it back to mummy because I’m going to be sick.”
Oh dear. He’s not getting it. I stand staring at him waiting for him to understand.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? Stop staring at me. We don’t do this. You give me shit. I give you shit. That’s how this goes. You don’t stand there silently staring.”
I hold out the baby. “That is what I’m doing. I’m giving you shit. It’s in your baby’s nappy. Now take it. I don’t see why I should have my arms falling off holding it and have to smell that.”
“Suki, I’m starting to worry for your mental health. That. Is. Not. My. Baby.”
“Scott.” I talk to him slowly so he can begin to understand. “A woman just came in. She handed me this baby. Said to give it to you and then she ran out of the restaurant.”
He doesn’t look as haughty anymore. Now he’s looking at me like I’m stupid which really gets my back up.
“A woman gave you a baby and ran out of the restaurant and you didn’t call the police or anything?”
“No because she said it was yours. I’m not going to call the police and say ‘oh, officer, a mum has run off and left her baby with its father’. That’s most mothers at six pm in an evening, mate.”
I hold the baby out now in a way that he has to get hold of it. “Here you go, Daddy.”
“It’s not my baby, Suki. I don’t know whose it is, but we need to do something.”
I put my hands on my hips. “We don’t need to do something. You need to do something. Starting with changing its nappy.”
Panic begins to soak through Scott’s features and he looks at the bundle in his hands. The smell isn’t getting any better though the baby has now opened its eyes.
“Aww, you’re a cutie, apart from your smelly bum.” I tell it.
“What do I do?”
Scott’s desperation in his question has me on alert. Mr Cool, Calm, and Collected is becoming ruffled.
“I don’t know how to change a nappy and I don’t know what to do about this baby. How do I know it’s mine and how do I deal with its mother having dumped it if it is?”
Then I see a calmness settle on him as he exhales. “Oh God, I get it now.”
“You do?”
“Mummy’s gone to buy some nappies. She obviously forgot the changing bag, passed the baby to you and she’ll be back soon. She’ll have not said to give the baby to me at all. She’ll have said give my love to Scott or something.”
“Now you’re the one with mental problems. You’re delusional, because that’s not what she said.”
He flinches at my words, then recovers himself, but now his voice is like steel. “Oh look, Jenson’s there.”
We walk towards our boss.
“Whose baby is it? I’ve been watching you two and it’s cute, but you need to be working, we’re busy.”
I say it’s Scott’s at the same time Scott says it’s a customer’s.
“My office, now.” Jenson demands.
Once we’re inside and sat on the two seats opposite his desk, Jenson leans forward. “Suki, explain why you think this is Scott’s baby.”
I go through the last half an hour of my shift.
Jenson begins to look concerned. “I’ll look at the CCTV footage and then Scott, you can tell us if you know the woman.”
“I’m not being funny, Jenson, but he’s shagged that many women it probably won’t ring a bell.” I add.
“It’s a start. Suki, would you mind popping to the supermarket and getting some things for cleaning this baby up. I’ll write you a list and give you some money.”
“I know what to get. I looked after babies a lot when I was younger.” I stand up and Jenson goes in the drawer to get me some money. I hold my hand up. “It’s fine. I’ll put it on my credit card and Scott can pay me back when the bill comes in if the baby’s his.”
The baby starts wailing. “The sooner we get that nappy changed the better. I’ll be back.” I leave and head towards the supermarket.
I buy the items the baby might need if mum doesn’t reappear anytime soon. I actually quite enjoy adding the cute little sleeveless vests, bibs, and other paraphernalia. I get colic treatment, Sudocrem and baby wipes, along with nappies, a changing mat, and some bath stuff. I add a couple of ready-made milk drinks to my pile and smart a little at the total at the checkout. My arms drag as I carry everything back.
“Trust a woman to get carried away shopping,” Scott says like the true dick he is. Even Jenson looks at him exasperated.
“Scott, that’s a fraction of what you’ll need if this baby is yours. You need to thank Suki for going and getting all this for you.”
That shuts him up.
“Right, Suki, are you okay changing and cleaning the baby up while I get up the CCTV or do you want me to do it as I’m more than used to it?” Jenson asks.
“I’ll do it and Scott can help. He’ll need to know what to do.”
Scott pfffts. “It’s not mine and so I don’t need to be involved. At all.”
Ignoring him, I set up everything on Jenson’s desk. Then I take the baby out of his arms and place it on the table.
“I’m going to take my laptop over to the bar outside.” Jenson declares, leaving us to it.
I strip baby out of its clothing, wipes and nappies etc at the ready, and then I pull off the nappy.
Scott takes one look at the baby poop and as the smell hits his nostrils he heaves, actual full on gips as he holds his nose.
I look at the baby’s bottom area.
“Congrats, Daddy.” I tell him. “It’s a girl.”
Chapter Three
Scott
This is a joke, right? It’s Suki’s idea to get me to freak the fuck out about all the women I’ve slept with. Well, let me tell you right this fucking second that this shit isn’t funny. And the smell coming from this baby’s rear end is even less amusing. There’s no way I could have had a hand in making something that smells so fucking bad.
My stomach turns when I get a look at the mess that’s making the smell.
Wait a minute… is that chicken fucking korma?
I lean in a little to make sure the baby is real, and this isn’t a practical joke gone very, very wrong but nope, just like I feared, that is one real life living baby.
Suki says something but with the amount of blood rushing past my ears, I don’t hear a single word of it.
My eyes zero in on what’s she’s doing. She makes quick work of wiping the baby clean before pulling the rotten nappy away and replacing it with a clean one. The amount of poppers on the front of the thing it’s wearing damn near blows my mind, but Suki makes it look easy as she does it up before tickling the babies tummy, making it coo with delight.
Something happens when the noise hits my ears. My heart clenches like I never felt before, making breathing a fucking challenge.
“Are you okay?” Suki asks, looking genuinely concerned for the first time since I met her. It’s not an expression I’m all that overly keen on seeing. I much prefer her ‘what the fuck?’ face.
“I…” I stare at the baby before me now wiggling about on top of Jenson’s desk. I really look for the first time since Suki handed it over. I stare into a pair of dark brown eyes and it feels like I’m looking in a mirror.
> Realisation hits like a fucking articulated lorry. This kid is fucking mine.
My heart races, my chest heaves, but I’m not able to drag in the air I need and the room spins around me.
I vaguely hear Suki’s voice again but nothing registers, only her light touch on my arm as she guides me back down onto the chair I was previously sitting on before getting a very quick and smelly lesson in nappy changing.
Fuck. What the actual fuck?
“I… I can’t do this. I can’t look after a baby. I can barely look after myself.”
“Good to know we agree on something.” The sarcasm in Suki’s voice is what has me looking up, but when I find her face, she’s anything but amused.
“Suki, I can’t… I…” Fuck. Slumping down in the chair, I drop my head into my hands. I hear movement when the baby starts complaining but I don’t look up. I’m too lost in my own panic. I can’t look after a baby. I don’t have the slightest idea how to even start.
“Scott,” her voice sounds alien to the one I’m used to, and it has me lifting my head. “I know you’re scared. I know this is huge, but your daughter needs you to try to hold it together right now.”
My daughter. My daughter?
“It’s a girl?”
Suki rolls her eyes and my frustration grows. “You did just watch me change her nappy right? Where I said it’s a girl?”
“I guess I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Well, you’d better start paying attention, Daddy.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why? This little girl here is most definitely yours. You’ve looked at her right?”
“I have,” I admit. I’m not sure I like the fact the similarities between us are that noticeable.
The door opens and Jenson reappears. “Suki, get that stinky nappy out of here.”
She hesitantly hands the baby over and once she’s happy that I’ve got her securely in my arms, she picks up the bag full of shit and leaves us to it.
“Here.” Jenson places his laptop down on the desk in front of me and hits play from a little earlier this morning.
I stare at the slightly fuzzy footage as a woman holding a baby walks in. I’ve no idea if I’m horrified or relieved that I recognise her instantly. Suki would normally be right about not recognising my conquests but there was something about this one, probably the fact that I fucked her in a dark back alley after spending all night dancing with her. It was her birthday. I remember telling her that I’d give her an extra special present. Turns out I gave her more than either of us was bargaining for. I might be adventurous when it comes to sex but that was my first time in an alley and I like to remember my firsts at least. Doesn’t mean I remember her name though, if she even gave it to me.
“Jesus,” I mutter, looking down to the little wriggling bundle in my arms.
“You recognise her?”
“Yep, I fu—” I cut myself off when I remember that I am actually talking to my boss right now. “I had a moment with her about…”
“Eleven months ago?” he asks, his smirk firmly in place.
“About that, yeah. Fuck.”
“Everything’s going to be fine. This might be the best thing that’s ever happened to you,” he says, his eyes softening, probably as he thinks about his own kids. “I did it on my own for years, I’ve no doubt that you’re more than capable.”
“I’m not so sure I share your confidence.” And as if she’s agreeing, the baby starts wailing in my arms.
“She probably needs feeding.”
“I’ll grab something from the kitchen in a minute.”
He laughs and my brows draw together. “She needs milk, Scott. Suki bought some.” He rummages around in the bags she dropped to the floor not so long ago and pulls out a carton and a bottle. “I’ll go and sterilise it and warm it for her. You sit tight.” And then he’s gone, leaving me alone for the first time ever with a baby. My baby.
Her cries continue and I sit staring at her not having a single fucking clue how to make this any better. I was going to feed the kid some dauphinoise potatoes or whatever I could find in the kitchen. I am so not equipped to be responsible for such a small person.
Her cries get louder, her little face turning beetroot red. Fuck knows how she’s gone from quiet and contented to wanting to blow the fucking roof off the place in about thirty seconds flat but hey ho. I guess I do get a little hangry at times too.
“Shhh,” I soothe, but it does very little, I swear all she does is frown at me. “It’s okay, Jenson will be back with food soon.” Still she cries and I sigh. “I should probably apologise before this day gets any crazier. I’m sorry you’re stuck with me as a daddy. But I promise to try my best. What good that might do I’m not sure, but just give me a break, yeah?”
Silence surrounds us as she blinks up at me. I swear I see a smile or something twitch at the corner of her lips. My chest constricts as we continue staring at each other. It’s like we already know each other yet can’t believe we’re actually together. It’s a weird as fuck feeling and totally unsettling.
“See, all she needed was to hear your voice until it was ready,” Jenson says walking into the room.
“You were listening?” I’m not sure if I’m embarrassed or just downright mortified.
“It was sweet. I always knew you had a softer side. This should be a walk in the park for you; you sweet talk women every minute of the day.” He winks and I groan.
“I’m not sure this is the same thing.”
“No, maybe not. This one will still be next to you in the morning.”
The thought of taking her home terrifies me.
“Hold out your wrist.” I look up at Jenson, confused as fuck as he squirts a little of the milk onto my exposed wrist when I do as I’m told. “You feel how warm that is?”
“Uh… I guess.”
“That’s what it should be like.” I nod, completely bewildered by all of this. He places the bottle in my hand, and I move it towards her mouth. Her lips part immediately and she sucks the teat into her mouth.
“Wow, she’s got some power.” I don’t mean it to sound suggestive but when Jenson barks out a laugh, I realise exactly how it sounded. “Shit, I didn’t... fuck.”
“You’re a natural. She’s so relaxed with you.”
“I’m glad one of us is.”
“You’ll soon get used to it. It’s a tough learning curve being a parent but we all just figure it out as we go.”
“At least you had nine months to get used to the idea. I didn’t even get nine minutes.”
“True. I’ve got every confidence in you.” I appreciate his sentiment, but I can’t say I’m feeling even an ounce of his optimism. “Give her a break and lift her over your shoulder. You need to gently tap her back until she burps.”
“Burps?”
“Yeah. Drinking that fast will give her wind. You need to help her bring it up.”
“Right.” I somehow manage to manoeuvre her without dropping her onto the floor beneath her and after only thirty seconds of tapping her back, she lets out the most impressive burp. “So maybe she is mine,” I say with a laugh.
I return to feeding her and Jenson watching, I feel his stare burning into me despite the fact I don’t take my eyes away from my daughter. My daughter… there are two words I never thought I’d say.
“Okay, I’m giving you the week off. I’d love to give you more but at such short notice it might be an issue. I’ll do everything I can. I suggest you get out of here and try to get sorted.”
“What am I meant to do? Just take her home and what? Let her sleep in the bottom drawer?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that. Go to your aunts, take a bit of time to get your head together. I’ll phone Leah and we’ll make sure you’ve got everything you need. Call us when you’re headed home and we’ll meet you there.”
“I can’t ask you to—”
“You didn’t. I’m offering. Now get the hell out of here. I’ve got
a restaurant to run, not a creche.
With a sleeping baby in one arm and the bags Suki appeared with in the other, I make my way out of Jenson’s office. It’s the most surreal moment of my life. I arrived at work this morning like it was a normal day and I’m leaving… a father. This is some seriously fucked up shit.
I’m almost at the main doors when Suki spots me. She’s busy shaking a cocktail and has a huddle of customers around her bar, so I don’t stop to chat. Instead I give her a friendly nod, thanking for her what she’s done for the little lady in my arms and step from the restaurant.
It’s still freezing cold but thanks to the all-in-one polar bear looking suit Suki bought at least I don’t need to worry that she’s cold.
I carefully climb into the back of the Uber that’s idling waiting for me and get an inquisitive look off the driver when I strap myself into the seat and hold the baby close to me.
“No car seat?”
“Wasn’t planned, but I’ll get it sorted for future.”
He nods and pulls away. He must see all sorts doing this job. I can’t imagine this is the weirdest situation he’s been in.
I don’t warn my aunt I’m coming. I wouldn’t know what to say even if I did. “Hey, I’m just popping around so you can meet my daughter.” I can only imagine how well that would have gone down. Not that turning up on her doorstep clutching a baby to my chest is going to be any less of a shock.
Chapter Four
Suki
I didn’t want to leave the office when Jenson told me to go back to the bar. I wanted to care for the baby. For the rest of my shift I’m like an Oscar-winning movie actress because the smile on my face to customers is completely false. My brain whirrs with everything that happened. It stirs up memories of my own past. I need Carl. I send him a text and ask if I can go to his place for dinner and a drink. Fuck, it’s Saturday night. I bet he has plans.
Hot Daddy Package: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 2
