Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Rosie Chapter 2 – Rosie
Chapter 3 – Lucas
Chapter 4 – Rosie
Chapter 5 – Lucas
Chapter 6 – Rosie
Chapter 7 – Lucas
Chapter 8 – Rosie
Chapter 9 – Lucas
Chapter 10 – Rosie
Chapter 11 – Lucas
Chapter 12 – Rosie
Chapter 13 – Lucas
Chapter 14 – Rosie
Chapter 15 – Lucas
Chapter 16 – Rosie
Chapter 17 – Lucas
Chapter 18 – Rosie
Chapter 19 – Lucas
Chapter 20 – Rosie
Chapter 21 – Lucas
Chapter 22 – Rosie
Chapter 23 – Lucas
Chapter 24 – Rosie
Chapter 25 – Lucas
Chapter 26 – Rosie
Chapter 27 – Lucas
Chapter 28 – Rosie
Chapter 29 – Lucas
Chapter 30 – Rosie
Chapter 31 – Lucas
Chapter 32 – Rosie
Chapter 33 – Lucas
Chapter 34 – Rosie
Chapter 35 – Lucas
Chapter 36 – Rosie
Chapter 37 – Lucas
Chapter 38 – Rosie
Chapter 39 – Lucas
Chapter 40 – Rosie
Chapter 41 – Lucas
Chapter 42 – Rosie
Chapter 43 – Lucas
Chapter 44 – Rosie
Chapter 45 – Lucas
Chapter 46 – Rosie
Chapter 47 – Lucas
Chapter 48 – Rosie
Chapter 49 – Lucas
Chapter 50 – Rosie
Epilogue – Rosie
Chapter 1 – Harper
Chapter 2 – Zach
Chapter 3 – Harper
Chapter 4 – Zach
Chapter 5 – Harper
Chapter 1 – Valerie
Chapter 2 – Clay
Chapter 3 – Valerie
Chapter 4 – Clay
Chapter 5 – Valerie
Chapter 6 – Clay
Chapter 7 – Valerie
Chapter 8 – Clay
Chapter 9 – Valerie
Chapter 10 – Clay
Chapter 11 – Valerie
Chapter 12 – Clay
Chapter 13 – Valerie
Chapter 14 – Clay
Chapter 15 – Valerie
Chapter 16 – Clay
Chapter 17 – Valerie
Chapter 18 – Clay
Chapter 19 – Valerie
Chapter 20 – Clay
Chapter 21 – Valerie
Chapter 22 – Clay
Chapter 23 – Valerie
Chapter 24 – Clay
Chapter 25 – Valerie
Chapter 26 – Clay
Chapter 27 – Valerie
Chapter 28 – Clay
Chapter 29 – Valerie
Chapter 30 – Clay
Chapter 31 – Valerie
Chapter 32 – Clay
Chapter 33 – Valerie
Chapter 34 – Clay
Chapter 35 – Valerie
Chapter 36 – Clay
Chapter 37 – Valerie
Chapter 38 – Clay
Chapter 39 – Valerie
Chapter 40 – Clay
Chapter 41 – Valerie
Chapter 42 – Clay
Chapter 43 – Valerie
Chapter 44 – Clay
Chapter 45 – Valerie
Chapter 46 – Clay
Chapter 47 – Valerie
Chapter 48 – Clay
Chapter 49 – Valerie
Chapter 50 – Clay
Epilogue – Valerie
Knocked Up Series: Book II
Knocked Up by the Single Dad:
A Secret Baby Office Romance
Lilian Monroe
www.lilianmonroe.com
Twitter: @Lily_Author
Facebook: @MonroeRomance
Instagram: @lilianmonroe.author
Table of Contents
Description
Chapter 1 – Rosie
Chapter 2 – Rosie
Chapter 3 – Lucas
Chapter 4 – Rosie
Chapter 5 – Lucas
Chapter 6 – Rosie
Chapter 7 – Lucas
Chapter 8 – Rosie
Chapter 9 – Lucas
Chapter 10 – Rosie
Chapter 11 – Lucas
Chapter 12 – Rosie
Chapter 13 – Lucas
Chapter 14 – Rosie
Chapter 15 – Lucas
Chapter 16 – Rosie
Chapter 17 – Lucas
Chapter 18 – Rosie
Chapter 19 – Lucas
Chapter 20 – Rosie
Chapter 21 – Lucas
Chapter 22 – Rosie
Chapter 23 – Lucas
Chapter 24 – Rosie
Chapter 25 – Lucas
Chapter 26 – Rosie
Chapter 27 – Lucas
Chapter 28 – Rosie
Chapter 29 – Lucas
Chapter 30 – Rosie
Chapter 31 – Lucas
Chapter 32 – Rosie
Chapter 33 – Lucas
Chapter 34 – Rosie
Chapter 35 – Lucas
Chapter 36 – Rosie
Chapter 37 – Lucas
Chapter 38 – Rosie
Chapter 39 – Lucas
Chapter 40 – Rosie
Chapter 41 – Lucas
Chapter 42 – Rosie
Chapter 43 – Lucas
Chapter 44 – Rosie
Chapter 45 – Lucas
Chapter 46 – Rosie
Chapter 47 – Lucas
Chapter 48 – Rosie
Chapter 49 – Lucas
Chapter 50 – Rosie
Epilogue – Rosie
Copyright â’¸ 2017 All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author except for short quotations used for the purpose of reviews.
Description
Rosie
He comes out of nowhere and steals the breath out of my lungs.
Everything in my head is screaming no, no, no!
Everything in my body is screaming yes, yes, yes!
My past has haunted me for far too long. Could he be the one to make it all better? My fairytale fantasies seem like they’re coming true until eight little letters change my life forever:
PREGNANT.
Lucas
This business trip just took a turn for the better. The instant I see that red hair and those picture-perfect curves, I know I need to make her mine.
Oh yeah, she’s mine.
Pretty soon she’s carrying something else of mine, too. I don’t care how many times she tries to shut me out, I’m not letting her do this on her own.
Knocked Up by the Single Dad is a steamy standalone secret baby romance which includes exclusive bonus content. All of Lilian Monroe’s books have absolutely no cheating and a guaranteed happily ever after!
Chapter 1 – Rosie
“Come on, Harper, stay!â€� I plead, holding out my hands in front of me. Harper’s jacket is almost on. Sheâ�
��™s got one arm through the sleeve and is reaching for the other one. “The babysitter can stay a little bit longer tonight. It’s my birthday!â€� “Yeah, Harper, stay!â€� Jess says, standing next to me and staring at Harper. Both of us are a good six inches taller than her but she doesn’t seem phased. Harper sighs and purses her lips at me, but I can see the smile in her eyes. She puts her hand up, pointing her finger at me. “Fine. One more drink. But only because you’re my best friend and my daughter’s godmother.â€� “Yay!â€� I exclaim, wrapping my arms around my best friend. Ever since she had a kid she always smells like babies. It’s a comforting smell, sort of fresh and homely at the same time. “So, Rosie,â€� Jess says as she waves the bartender over. “How does it feel to be another year older.â€� “Feels like I was stabbed about six times,â€� I respond. They laugh, and then Harper looks at me with pain in her eyes. I know she still blames herself for what happened to me, but she shouldn’t. A year ago, our ex-coworker kidnapped Harper and came after me. He held her hostage and came to my house and stabbed me in the chest and stomach six times. He was delusional and obsessed with Harper and thought I was trying to keep them apart. I was, in a way, but only as much as a someone trying to protect their best friend. He’s locked up in a mental institution now, but it’s still fresh in everyone’s memory. “At least you got some wicked scars,â€� Jess says with a grin. I brush my hands over my rib, where the biggest jagged scar cuts across my body. “They’re fading now. You can hardly tell they’re there!â€� I say, glancing at Harper. Her face relaxes and she smiles back. It’s a lie, of course. When I was getting dressed this morning I saw the same six angry red scars all over my chest and stomach. The mar my skin as a constant reminder of how close I came to death. I tug at the neckline of my shirt, pulling it up to make sure the scar above my heart is still concealed. It’s become almost an unconscious movement now. I smile at my best friend and she squeezes my arm in thanks. I know Harper is still struggling with the memories of it all even over a year later. I know she still struggles with being at home alone and with people coming up behind her. She hates surprises now. That’s why I’ve never told her how much I’ve suffered over the past year, both physically and mentally. She has a new baby girl and she needs all the strength she can get. Besides, I can take care of myself. Jess pulls me from my thoughts with a fresh drink, presented to me with a wink. I take it and smile, tucking a strand of my fiery red hair behind my ear before lifting the glass and tapping it gently against hers. “You’re far too serious for your birthday,â€� Jess says. “This is the first time we’ve been able to celebrate in weeks! Months, even!â€� “You’re right,â€� I respond with a smile. I shake my head and my red curls brush against my cheeks. I need to snap out of it. If not for my sake, for Harper’s. It may be my birthday but she deserves a night away from the baby. “We need to find you a man, is what we need to do,â€� Jess announces. She spins around, surveying the room like an expert judge. I laugh. “That’s the last thing on my mind right now.â€� Jess shoots me a look and rolls her eyes. “Don’t lie to me, Rosie.â€� The three of us laugh and Harper pokes me in the ribs with her elbow. I throw up my hands. I haven’t been out in months and haven’t had sex in who knows how long. Call it residual fear of people, or stress, or whatever. I’ve just been saying I’m busy with work, but the thought of letting a strange man into my apartment still makes me uneasy. Ever since the incident last year I haven’t been the same. “Fine! Fine! Yes, I need to get laid. But I’m not going to just jump into bed with anyone.â€� Jess turns those dark brown eyes towards me. She lifts an eyebrow and even though she looks sarcastic I know it’s coming from a place of love. “Rosie, not only do you need to get laid, you need to get royally Fucked with a capital ‘F’.â€� Harper laughs and I can’t help but join in. I shrug and nod my head, giving in. Jess dips her chin and turns back towards the bar. “Now, who’s gonna be the lucky man,â€� she says almost as if she’s speaking to herself. She taps her fingers against her chin and swings her eyes around the room. “Come on, Jess, don’t force it,â€� I laugh. “What about him?â€� She says, pointing across the room. “Can you BE more obvious?!â€� I protest, laughing. Her arm is extended and she’s pointing straight at a group of men. “No. Definitely not,â€� I say after glancing at the man. He looks over at us and our eyes meet for an instant. My cheeks immediately start burning. I look away and stare at Jess with my eyes wide. She grins. “Ok, fair enough. I don’t like his shirt anyways. What about him?â€� She asks again, pointing to another man. Harper laughs. “Or him?â€� Now she’s pointing to another man, both of them grinning from ear to ear. I swat at their arms, laughing. “Guys, stop!â€� “Well it’s never going to happen with that attitude,â€� Jess says with an exaggerated eye roll. She cracks a smile and shrugs, turning back to her drink. “You’re just destined to be an old maid. I’m just trying to help.â€� “Nothing wrong with being independent,â€� I respond, relieved that she seems to be distracted for now. I have no doubt she’ll be back on the prowl for me in a few minutes. “I’m going to get us some drinks.â€� I breathe a sigh of relief when they let me go, still laughing and glancing around the room. I know for a fact there isn’t a man in here I want to sleep with tonight, but I’ll play along for now. Chapter 2 – Rosie
I slide my way to the bar and try to catch the bartender’s eye. I lean over and glance towards him, ready to tell him my order. I’m so focused on getting an opportunity to order that I don’t see the man slide in beside me until he speaks. “Buy you a drink?� He asks in a low growl. I almost jump out of my skin and whip my head around. It’s the man with the awful shirt that Jess was pointing to. Great. “No, I’m ok, thanks,� I respond, turning back towards the bar. “I saw you staring at me earlier.� My spine stiffens. I already said no, and here he is still talking to me. I swivel my head slowly and stare at the man. He’s got dirty blonde hair and his shirt is a short-sleeved muddled brown an green plaid. He’s got one too many buttons unbuttoned and I can see his unruly carpet of chest hair. It truly is one of the most revolting shirts I’ve ever seen. “First of all, I wasn’t staring. My friend was just commenting on your shirt. Second of all, I told you I’m not interested. Please leave me alone.� “My shirt?� My jaw almost drops. Once again, this guy has ignored my blatant comment about not being interested. He’s more concerned about his shirt than he is about the fact that I told him to leave me alone. I feel that familiar sense of panic rising in my throat. Ever since the incident last year, strangers stress me out. Unfamiliar places stress me out. I glance around at my friends and see Jess and Harper deep in conversation. The man is still staring at me and the faint stench of his body odour starts making its way to my nostrils. My heartbeat is getting faster and faster as I turn back towards the bar. “You were saying something about my shirt? What’s wrong with it?� My fear intensifies. He’s not leaving me alone. I can almost feel the scars on my chest starting to burn, like a beacon warning me of danger. This is why I don’t go out! This is why I don’t talk to strange men! They just can’t take no for an answer and I’m left feeling vulnerable. The words catch in my throat and my body stiffens even more. “You got those drinks yet?� Jess’s voice is the best thing I’ve heard in my life. It’s like a lifejacket when I’m about to go under. She slides in between me and the man and turns her back to him. I glance over her shoulder and see the beginning of anger in his eyes, and I pray that he’s not the type to get
upset. I turn back to Jess. “No, not yet. The bartender is pretty busy.â€� She nods and waves her hand. Within seconds, she has our drinks ordered and paid for. They arrive a minute later and we grab them, heading back towards Harper. “What was that about?â€� “He came up to me at the bar and asked why I was staring at him. I told him I was staring at his shirt and to leave me alone but he wouldn’t take a hint,â€� I respond. My heart is still pounding in my chest. Jess puts an arm around my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Rosie. I was just trying to have a bit of fun. If you’re not ready to be with a guy then you’re not ready.â€� She hugs me and Harper puts her arm around me too. “We’re here for you. However long it takes you to feel comfortable around people is fine. The fact that you’re out in a bar is a big deal!â€� I feel the tears gathering behind my eyelids. “Thanks Jess. I just don’t think I’m ready to let a man into my house or into my life. I still start freaking out whenever someone talks to me.â€� She squeezes my shoulder and Harper clears her throat. Her eyes are filling with tears. I shake my head as a pang passes through my heart. The last thing I want to do is make Harper feel bad about it! Jess shrugs. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Rosie. His shirt truly is one of the ugliest things I’ve ever seen. It was even worse up close.â€� She takes a sip of her drink and I start chuckling. Harper cracks a smile and Jess brings her drink down again. “And that chest hair! God! At least a trim! I’m not a fan of waxed chests, you know, I like a bit of chest hair on a man but even I have my limits!â€� Jess shakes her head and now both Harper and I are laughing. My shoulders relax and I let the air out of my lungs. I know I was overreacting, but both Jess and Harper understand. Harper starts telling us about her daughter and the panic inside me dissipates completely. I know there won’t be any more talk of men or getting laid tonight, and I’m glad of it. Chapter 3 – Lucas
“You sure you don’t want to come out? It’s your last night!â€� Max is looking at me expectantly, one eyebrow raised as he gauges my reaction. I try to smile but I think it might look like a grimace. “Nah, I’ll just take a cab to the hotel. Early flight tomorrow.â€� Max shakes his head and grabs his jacket. “Your loss, man. There’s a lot of great women in New York City.â€� “Thanks, Max. I’m just tired tonight. Want to hit the ground running with this stuff when I get back to LA.â€� I wave my hand across my desk at the neat stacks of paper that are ready to be packed into my bag. Max shrugs. “Alright, well I’m going to head out. We’ll be in touch later in the week for the launch.â€� “Have fun,â€� I say as Max turns around and walks out. I sigh in relief. I couldn’t think of anything worse than going out drinking tonight. His promise of ‘great women’ just makes me think of loud bars and loud women and people rubbing up against each other. I haven’t met any ‘great women’ since my wife died, and I’m not sure they exist anymore. I just want to sleep. I rub my eyes and run my fingers through my hair. My body is aching and I haven’t even been to the gym all week. It was supposed to be a short business trip, over and back in two days, but it’s stretched out to ten days, twelve to fourteen hours in the office every day. We’re launching my client’s new music album in a week, and Max’s advertising firm is the best in the country. I glance at the advertisement mockups and the schedules laid out in front of me and take a deep breath. The next few weeks will be completely manic, but they’re crucial if we want this album to top the charts. My phone buzzes and I smile as I see the name pop up. “Hey kiddo,â€� I say into the receiver. “Dad! I got 98% of my math quiz today!â€� “Wow!â€� I exclaim. “That’s amazing!â€� I mean it too. I lean back in my chair and listen to my daughter as she tells me about her day. I smile and close my eyes. “So you’re going to be back tomorrow?â€� “Yep, tomorrow afternoon. Can’t wait to give you a big hug, Allie.â€� “Me too!â€� Her voice is full of energy. “I have a surprise for you!â€� “A surprise!â€� I answer. “What is it?â€� “I can’t tell you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise!â€� I feel my shoulders relax and the smile spread from my face through my whole body. Ten days was far too long to be away from my little girl. She giggles and I feel that familiar warmth spreading in my chest whenever she makes me laugh. “Ok, I gotta go, kiddo. I have to pack and get ready for my flight. I’ll see you tomorrow.â€� “See you tomorrow, love you Dad!â€� “I love you too, Allie.â€� We hang up and I sigh. Hearing her voice was exactly what I needed. Whenever I feel like I’m too focused on work she always reminds me of what’s important, and tomorrow I get to see that little grin and kiss her cheeks. I stand up and start stacking my files. I slip them into my briefcase and then pack up my laptop. I flick off the lights and look back at my temporary office. Hopefully I won’t have to be back here for a long time. I’ll get this album off the ground and take a few weeks off to spend with Allie. When I step outside, the cool night air hits my face and I fill my lungs. I take a deep breath and smile. I’ll be back home tomorrow. I glance up and down the street and frown when I don’t see a cab. I turn towards the nearest main road and let my feet take me there as my mind wanders back to LA, to our little house in the suburbs and to Allie’s smiling face. Ninety-eight percent! I think as I shake my head. She’s smarter than her old man, that’s for sure. I smile and turn my head just as a cab turns down the street. Perfect. I extend my hand and watch as he puts his indicator on and starts to pull over. I glance down and see my shoe is untied. I wave at the cab until it starts to pull over and then bend over to tie my shoelace. I hum to myself as I tie my shoe, not paying attention to anything except the lightness in my heart. I’m going home, finally. I hear a car door slam and I glance at the cab. He’s still there, so I stand up and start jogging over to it. Just a few more hours and I’ll be with my little girl and out of the chaos of New York City. Chapter 4 – Rosie
Knocked Up by the Single Dad: A Secret Baby Office Romance Page 1
