Billionaire Single Dad

by Claire Adams

  This was the first day I had completely to myself. Ever since we arrived at the resort, I’d been spending every waking moment with Josie. Even when Dirk was busy with Stan or John, Josie and I were together. I liked it that way. If it were up to me, I would never be away from her, but I knew I had to start putting some distance between us.

  My thesis was calling out to me, but it was more than that. Josie and I would have to go our separate ways soon. We were already halfway through this trip and once it ended, so did my job. Josie didn’t know the real reason I was here, and I never wanted her to find out. Still, the knowledge that I would have to say goodbye to her was almost too much to bear. It was good that we had a day apart, even though it felt anything but.

  As I walked outside to the pool area and found an empty chair, I let my mind drift to thoughts of Dirk. It wasn’t just Josie I’d grown close to. The idea of saying goodbye to him made my stomach clench painfully. He and I were friends now. Sometimes, it felt like we were more.

  That moment in my bedroom had been charged with sexual energy. I felt his body against every inch of mine. As he held me to his side, my entire body ignited with a fire I hadn’t felt in a long time. Dirk did something to me. He filled me with a confusing desire that I didn’t know how to deal with.

  Shaking myself, I set up my books and got to work on my thesis. It was a hot day, but a cool breeze blew across my face every so often, cooling me down and letting me think. I got a lot of work done before I decided it was time for a break. I closed my book and lay back in my chair, pulling my cover-up over my head. I tossed it to the ground and closed my eyes, letting the sun warm my face and clear my head.

  I don’t know how long I lay there, but when I finally opened my eyes, a familiar face caught my eye. Josie was running toward the shallow end of the pool. She was giggling. I smiled and watched as she jumped straight into the water. I’d seen her do this at her swim lessons, but it always made my chest tighten with nerves. When she reappeared, she fixed her eyes on someone standing at the pool’s edge.

  Dirk was standing there, staring down at his daughter. It took me a second to realize it was him. He wore a blue bathing suit and no shirt. His abs were sculpted, and his arms were more muscular than I imagined. I swallowed hard and stared, unable to look away. I always knew Dirk was good looking, but I’d never realized how sexy he was.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered to myself.

  “You aren’t kidding,” a voice said from beside me. I jumped and whipped my head around to see Sammy sitting beside me. He laughed and nodded appreciatively at Dirk. “He’s ripped as hell, isn’t he?”

  “He really is,” I said with a giggle. “When did you get here?”

  “I sat down like five minutes ago,” he said with a laugh. “But, you were too busy admiring your man to even notice me.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I just-”

  “Girl, do not even apologize,” he said. “He is gorgeous. You’re seriously lucky.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I felt my cheeks flush and a giggle fell from my lips without my permission. Sammy just laughed and leaned his head back against his chair. I tried to do the same, but my body felt hot. My skin was on fire, and it had nothing to do with the sun.

  Every few seconds, I chanced a glance over at Dirk. He was sitting by the pool with his feet dangling over the side. His eyes were focused on Josie, but he looked around the pool every so often. I did my best not to stare at him, but it was no use. He looked so damn good that my eyes developed a mind of their own. I couldn’t force myself to look away.

  I admired his abs and chest, then his back and arms. I let myself imagine how it would feel to run to my fingers over his skin, to feel him shiver at my touch. Before long, I was squirming with need, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

  “How long have you two been together?” Sammy asked, snapping me back to reality.

  “A few months,” I answered automatically. It was the amount of time Dirk and I had agreed upon when we came up with our story. “But, sometimes, it feels like we just met.”

  “Like when you see him shirtless?” Sammy laughed.

  “Exactly,” I said. “He can seriously take my breath away.”

  I didn’t know why I was being so honest. Maybe it was just that I was incredibly comfortable with Sammy, or maybe I just couldn’t hold it in any longer. Whatever the reason, I found myself openly gushing over Dirk.

  “He’s such an amazing father,” I said, watching him watch Josie. “He loves that little girl so much. I don’t know that I’ve ever met a single dad with so much devotion.”

  “It really is incredible,” he said. “John isn’t a single dad, but it’s so hard for him to pull himself away from work. I mean, I know he loves Noah, but his mind is always slightly preoccupied, thinking about whatever new deal he’s trying to close.”

  I nodded. “Dirk used to be like that,” I said. “Or, at least, that’s what he tells me. His late wife took care of Josie for the most part. Then, when she died, Dirk promised himself he wouldn’t be an absent father. He always makes sure Josie comes first.”

  “You’re in love with him,” Sammy said with a knowing smile.

  “What?” I blinked.

  “You are,” he said. “I can tell.”

  My instinct was to deny his claim. I wasn’t in love with Dirk. I barely knew him. Sure, I liked him, and I was attracted to him, but love? That wasn’t even a possibility.

  Still, I knew it wasn’t smart to argue with Sammy. Everyone at the resort was supposed to believe Dirk and I were a real couple. If I started denying my feelings, people would get suspicious. Instead, I just cleared my throat and looked away.

  My eyes fell on another familiar face. Stan was sitting across the pool from Sammy and me. Eloise was poised beside him, raising a piña colada to her lips, but Stan’s eyes were fixed on my face. While I watched, they slid down my body and rested on my chest. I shifted uncomfortably and tried to look away, but I could feel his eyes on me.

  When I looked back at him, he was still staring. I lifted my hand to wave, hoping that would deter him from blatantly ogling me. It didn’t. If anything, it just encouraged him. He leered at me and licked his lips, letting his eyes trail lower.

  “He’s disgusting,” I said, more to myself than Sammy.

  “Who?” he asked, looking around. When his eyes fell on Stan, he groaned and rolled his eyes. “God, his wife is sitting right there.”

  “I know,” I said. “I don’t know why Dirk stays friends with someone like him.”

  “Business,” Sammy said with a shrug. “Like I said, it’s the most important thing to men like them.”

  “I guess,” I sighed and leaned my head back.

  It didn’t matter than Stan was openly gawking at me. I came down to the pool to relax and get some work done. He wasn’t going to stand in my way. It wasn’t more than a few seconds later when I heard soft footsteps making their way toward me. With my eyes still closed, I saw a shadow appear above me.

  I opened my eyes to see Dirk standing above me.

  “Hey,” I said with a smile. “Having fun over there?”

  Dirk didn’t say anything. His eyes bored into mine as he leaned forward. He wrapped his hand around the back of my head and lifted me up. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine, and I couldn’t breathe.

  He kissed slowly, holding me up off the chair with his unbelievably strong arms. Of its own free will, my hand slowly lifted up to rest on the back of his neck. I played with the small strands of hair there while our lips worked seamlessly against each other.

  The kiss was hot and fast. My entire body burned, and I felt wetness pool inside my swimsuit. When Dirk finally broke the kiss, I longed for more. I kept my eyes squeezed shut, unable to move or think.

  “Sorry,” he whispered in my ear. He laid me back down on the chair. “Stan has been staring at you for the past ten minutes, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to stake my claim.�
��

  “That’s okay,” I whispered back.

  Dirk kissed my lips softly again and then smiled. He turned and hurried back over to Josie. The two of them jumped into the pool and began to splash around together. I just watched them, dazed.

  “Damn,” Sammy said with a chuckle. “I can feel the heat from here.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I don’t know what that was about.”

  “I do,” Sammy said. “That man wants you.”

  I just giggled and looked away. More than anything, I wanted to believe that was true. I wanted to believe that Dirk’s sudden public display had nothing to do with Stan and everything to do with me.

  Deep down, I knew Dirk couldn’t fake that kind of heat. Our kiss had been hot and intense, something straight out of a damn movie. No one could fake that.

  I turned my head to watch Dirk and Josie play. They were laughing and swimming circles around each other. Dirk’s strong arms cut through the water easily, making me wish they were wrapped around my waist. It took all my strength not to jump out of my chair and run over to him. I longed to jump into the water and take hold of him, to press my lips against his all over again.

  My desires were stronger than my body, though. After that kiss, I could barely think straight, let alone move. My thoughts were jumbled, and my heart was racing in my chest. I leaned my head back and took slow, calming breaths. My chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, but it did nothing to calm my beating heart. Nothing did.

  It wasn’t until the sun began to set that I was finally able to relax. Dirk and Josie made their way over to me. I sat up quickly, smiling brightly at them both — with that kiss still burning at the back of my mind.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Dirk

  “I’ve been in touch with a real-estate agent out there,” Irene said. I pressed the phone harder against my ear. It was hard to hear Irene over Josie’s giggles. “She’s all set to meet you at one o’clock today.”

  “That’s perfect,” I said. “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure, Mr. Mathis,” she said. “Just give me a call if you need anything else.”

  “Will do,” I said.

  I hung up and stared out the bedroom window. The master bedroom was empty while Josie and Marissa played together in the living room. The sound of Josie’s occasional giggle bursting through the air made me smile. She seemed happier here. Back home in New York, she was content and settled. But here, it seemed as if the California air had brought her to life.

  That, more than anything, prompted my desire to find a house out here. I wasn’t sure what I wanted, but the idea of a summer home was more than appealing. If possible, I loved the idea of spending six months out of the year in California and six months in New York. I knew I’d never be able to close my office in the city, but that didn’t matter. At this point, I would take anything I could get.

  When I walked into the living room, Josie and Marissa were huddled together at the little kitchen table in the corner. Over the past few days, Marissa had been creating puzzles for Josie nonstop. They were all focused on the Spanish language. It was amazing how quickly Josie was able to pick up something new.

  “Bogota, Colombia,” Josie whispered to herself. “La capital de Perú es Lima. Lima, Peru.”

  I stood back and watched while Josie struggled to make sense of the puzzle. Marissa stared down at her with a faint smile on her face. She nodded every few seconds and interjected whenever Josie made a mistake.

  “You know what I love the most about you,” I said, drawing Josie’s attention to me.

  “What?” she asked brightly.

  “That you love to learn,” I said. “Even on vacation.”

  “It’s so much fun!” Josie said. “Marissa is a really good teacher.”

  “I know she is.” I smiled at Marissa and watched as her cheeks reddened.

  Our eyes stayed locked on each other for a few seconds, and a familiar knot formed in my stomach. I cleared my throat and looked back at Josie. She was already lost in her puzzle once again.

  Ever since I kissed Marissa by the pool, things between us had become confusing. Our nightly talks on the patio no longer happened. We tried that first night, but neither one of us knew how to behave. The sexual tension was too much to handle. I couldn’t stand to be alone with her for any length of time. All I wanted to do was take her in my arms again, to feel her soft lips pressed against mine.

  While the girls finished the puzzle, I made arrangements with the front desk for a car to pick me up downstairs. I wanted Marissa to come with me, but I wasn’t sure how she would feel about it. Asking my fake girlfriend to help me pick out real estate might have been pushing things too far.

  Instead, I waited until Josie was done with her lesson before I broached the subject.

  “Josie,” I said. “I have to go look at a few houses and offices in the area. Do you want to come with me?”

  “Sure,” she said with a shrug. “What kind of houses?”

  “Well,” I said slowly. “I was thinking that maybe you and I needed somewhere to stay for a while. Somewhere away from the city.”

  “Away from New York?” she asked, her eyes widening.

  “Yup.” I shrugged. “It’s not for sure yet. We can talk about it, but I think it might be nice.”

  “It would be amazing!” Josie said with a giggle. “I want to live here all the time!”

  I laughed and said, “Not all the time. I still have my work in New York, but we can at least spend summers out here.”

  She squealed as she jumped out of her chair. She ran over and wrapped her arms around my waist, squeezing me as tightly as her three-year-old arms would allow.

  “So, you want to come?” I asked.

  “Yes!”

  “Do you mind if I tag along?” Marissa asked with a nervous tone. When I looked at her, she was twirling her long brown hair around her finger. “It would be way more fun than sitting here by myself.”

  “Of course,” I said, trying to keep the enthusiasm out of my voice. “I just thought you might be bored.”

  “No.” She smiled and shook her head. “I’d love to come.”

  I smiled and nodded, not sure of what to say. There were moments when Marissa did things, like cuddle Josie or let her eyes linger on me for a second too long, causing me to wonder if her feelings for me were beginning to grow.

  That kiss was amazing, more amazing than I had ever imagined it would be. It sent bolts of electricity shooting through my body, leaving me trembling and fully erect. I could no longer deny the fact that I wanted her. Marissa did things to me that no woman had in a long time. It was getting harder to deny my attraction to her.

  As we all got ready to leave, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Marissa helped Josie get her sandals buckled and then ran a brush through my daughter’s hair. I watched them, feeling an unfamiliar longing pulling at my chest. It wasn’t just physical with Marissa, but God, she was gorgeous. Every time she moved, her hips swayed and made my stomach burn with need.

  “You ready?” I asked, grabbing my briefcase off the coffee table.

  The girls nodded and followed me out into the hallway.

  ***

  The real estate agent met us at the first address. It was a small, two-story beach house just five miles away from the resort. I was impressed by the ornate architecture, but not much else. Josie loved everything from the staircase to the upstairs deck.

  “Let’s buy it!” she shouted over the sound of the ocean’s waves.

  “Slow down,” I said. “We have more places to look at.”

  “Why?” she asked. “I like this place.”

  “It’s never smart to buy the first house you see,” I said simply.

  Josie just frowned and ran through the house again. There were only two bedrooms, but a sizeable office sat just inside the front door. The place was nice.

  “What do you think?” I asked, turning to face Marissa.

  “Me?” Her eyes wid
ened in surprise. “I don’t know. Um, it’s really nice.”

  “But?”

  “It’s not really my place to have an opinion,” she said.

  “Has that ever stopped you before?”

  Her smile was shy. I grinned at her, and soon, she was laughing. She nodded her head reluctantly and looked around the living room one more time.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said. “There’s no denying that. But, I don’t know, it doesn’t feel homey enough to me. I think a kid needs to live somewhere safe and cozy. This just feels like a vacation house.”

  “We might use it as a vacation house,” I pointed out.

  “Really?” Marissa raised her eyebrows.

  “That was the plan, remember?” I asked. “To stay out here for the summer.”

  “That might be what you told Josie,” she said. “But, you’re thinking something else, aren’t you?”

  My answering smile was just as shy as hers had been. We already knew each other so well, yet neither of us wanted to admit what that meant.

  “You’re right,” I said with a sigh. “I’m wondering what it would be like to split the year. I know I can’t just leave New York. Not for good. But, Josie loves California. She’s completely different here. I want her to have that, you know?”

  “I do,” Marissa nodded. “I think it’s a great idea.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “I suggested it to Amelia once,” I said. It wasn’t until Marissa asked that I remembered having a similar conversation with my wife before she died.

  “She didn’t like the idea?”

  I shook my head. “No. New York was her home. Her entire life was there. She loved to travel, but she always wanted to return to New York. I couldn’t blame her.”

  “Of course not,” Marissa said, thoughtfully. “But…she’s gone now. And you have to do what’s best for you and for Josie.”