Babydaddy To Go: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by Adams, S. C.

  As soon as Alyssa is out of earshot, I dial David’s number.

  “Hello?” he answers.

  “Hey, man, are we all set for tonight?”

  “We are,” David assures me. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “Of course I am!” I respond. He’s been asking me that for months now. I know he’s just looking out for me, but I’m getting kind of sick of it.

  David sighs. “I just want to make sure you’re serious about Alyssa. We went down this road a few months ago, and you bit my head off when I told you I bought the building.”

  He has a point. When Alyssa and I broke up last year, I was in rough shape. Now that we’re back together I have no intention of ever letting her go again.

  “I have never been so certain about anything in my life, David,” I tell him. “I love Alyssa. I want to do this for her – for us.”

  “Okay,” David sighs, resigned. “Then yeah, we’re all set on my end. Let me tell you, it has not been easy keeping this out of the press. Remember how hard it was keeping your last opening a secret? This was a million times harder.”

  “You did a great job, David. Thank you for running point on this. I wouldn’t have trusted anyone else with it.”

  “I’m your guy. If you think this is the right thing to do, I’ll stand by your side on it.”

  This is why David is my best friend, and my financial manager. “It’s the right thing to do. Thanks again, David. I’ll see you tonight.”

  After hanging up, I walk over to the classroom closet and pull out the tux I hid there last weekend. It was the only time I could sneak over here without Alyssa knowing. I had told her I was going to the dry cleaner so that she wouldn’t be too suspicious. Although she knows I have maids to do that kind of thing for me, I do occasionally run errands for myself.

  It’s still way too early to get dressed, but I’m feeling anxious, so I slip into the tailored suit. Alyssa is going to love it. I picked out the cut that she tells me I look best in. I want to look extra handsome for her tonight.

  I check the pocket to verify my surprise is still there and lock up the classroom. I can’t go home, so I’ll have to go somewhere else. I request a taxi to take me to our date location.

  Tonight is going to be the best night of my life, and hopefully, the best night of Alyssa’s life, too.

  23

  Alyssa

  Friday

  James drops me off in front of the mansion and for the millionth time I’m struck with how beautiful the property is.

  I can’t believe I live here now.

  When Nate and I got back to New York last year, I fully planned on moving back to the apartment I had been living in, but Nate insisted I move in with him instead.

  It’s been a major life adjustment for me. I’ve never lived with anyone other than my grandparents. We certainly never had maids to clean up after us or drivers to take us wherever we wanted to go. It took some getting used to at first, but I’m finally comfortable calling the mansion my home.

  It helps that I have Nate here with me. Living with him has been a dream come true.

  “Miss Alyssa,” the maid greets me when I walk in the door. “Mr. Nathaniel says to be ready by seven to go on your date.”

  “Thank you, Rose.”

  The woman takes my chef’s coat and hangs it in the closet. With me taken care of, she returns to cleaning this massive house.

  It’s only four now, so I have plenty of time to relax before Nate will be taking me out. I wonder where we’re going?

  Up in the master bedroom, I change into my bathing suit. The vintage bottoms cover my belly button and the sweetheart top keeps the girls in check while I’m by the pool.

  I grab a towel from the linen closet and head for the kitchen. I’m still pretty full from all the food we had at school, so I prepare myself a light snack of avocado toast. After eating it all, I stroll to the pool and gaze at the turquoise water. It’s gorgeous and absolutely still without a ripple.

  The water is warm when I dip my toes in, and I giggle. But I don’t want to get in just yet. Instead, from my bag, I pull out my report card and sit by the edge. I can’t believe I finished the course with honors! Nate told me I was doing well, but I thought he was just saying that because I’m his girlfriend. The grades on this card prove that he really meant it.

  I shouldn’t be surprised. I could feel myself getting better with every day in class. The skills I learned throughout the course are invaluable. Now I just need to find a restaurant that will take me on as a chef.

  Maybe I can work at one of Nate’s restaurants, I think, chuckling to myself. I could never work with him as a boss. We’d drive each other crazy.

  Nate’s note on the bottom of my report card gives me pause. Be prepared for a graduation treat, it reads. What does that mean? What does Nate have planned for us tonight?

  When I asked him about it, he was really cryptic. I can’t even begin to imagine what he has up his sleeve. I’m sure I’ll love whatever it is. If it’s coming from Nate, I’ll definitely love it. I love everything about him. Things have been amazing between us since we got back together. I can’t imagine my life without him.

  As I kick my feet in the water, I remember the last time Nate and I swam together. It was the first time we christened this pool as our own. We’ve officially made this mansion ours by enjoying each other intimately in every room and on every surface. We’re working on a second go-round, now.

  After I finish my avocado toast, I jump into the heated pool. The warm water feels great on my skin. It’s a much-needed distraction from the place my thoughts were heading. I’m sure Nate will relieve me of my urges later today, so I can’t do it myself now, even though just thinking about him is a major temptation.

  I force myself to think only of the water. The only pool I had growing up was the community pool and you never knew what kind of bacteria might be lurking in that disgusting water. It’s nice to have a place right here in the backyard to swim.

  I get a few laps in before I’m too tired to continue. The sun is bright and warm, so I float on my back until my fingers are pruned. Time to go in, I guess.

  I put my plate in the dishwasher and slowly climb the stairs back to the bedroom and lock the door so I won’t be interrupted. In the bathroom, I strip off my bathing suit and stand in the steaming hot water to rinse the chlorine off my body.

  If Nate and I are going to have a date night, I want to look good for him. I shave everything in the shower. We both prefer smooth skin.

  Once I’m done soaping down, I walk nude into the closet. Nate said to prepare for date night, so I pick a sexy black dress that covers enough to be worn in public, but I know it turns Nate on. My wardrobe has gotten a major upgrade since moving in with Nate. He loves buying me clothes so he can see me wearing them.

  I dig into my underwear drawer and find the brand-new pair of red-lace panties and matching bra that I’ve been saving for a special occasion. I want my boyfriend to drool when he strips me later tonight, and this lingerie is sure to make him extra excited.

  I slip on the black dress and check myself out in the mirror. The dress hugs my curves perfectly. It looks great, but I’m missing something. I need some accessories!

  Just as I’m opening the jewelry box, I notice a package tied with sheer blue ribbon. There’s a tag on the box that says, “For Alyssa, with love, Nathaniel.”

  I open the box and find the most beautiful sapphire necklace I’ve ever seen. It must have cost Nate a fortune! One of the biggest adjustments to moving into the mansion has been the fact that money doesn’t matter. Nate has billions of dollars, so he can drop cash on a gorgeous necklace without blinking an eye.

  I slip the necklace around my neck and admire how perfectly it goes with the dress. Did Nate somehow know what I’d wear tonight? I don’t doubt it. We seem to be on the same wavelength most of the time.

  As I’m putting the finishing touches on my outfit, the front door opens and Nate c
alls out my name.

  I slip on my heels and hurry to the top of the stairs so I can make my grand entrance.

  24

  Nathaniel

  Friday

  Alyssa descends the stairs slowly, giving me plenty of time to admire her beauty.

  She found the necklace I left for her and it looks elegant against her tan skin. The black dress she chose for the evening clings to her chest and hips. My tux pants get a bit tighter and I’m tempted to throw her over my shoulder and bring her back upstairs.

  That will have to wait, though. I have a surprise to get Alyssa to.

  “You look absolutely beautiful,” I tell her when Alyssa gets to the bottom of the stairs. I kiss her softly. “Do you like the necklace?”

  “It’s perfect,” she whispers, fingering the jewels. “Is this the treat you were talking about?”

  “Part of it, but not the whole thing,” I say. “Are you ready to go?”

  Alyssa nods. I take her arm in mine and lead her to the limo waiting outside.

  Nervously, I open the door. I’ve never been so anxious about a date because everything needs to go perfectly tonight. It’s unlike me to be so insecure, but then again, this woman is different from any woman I’ve dated before.

  Alyssa climbs in first and waits for me to join her. I slide in and tell James to take us to our destination without spoiling it.

  My hand rests on Alyssa’s thigh as we ride. She stares out the window, probably trying to guess where we’re going. To distract her, I trace the softness of her legs up to her waist.

  “You naughty girl,” I whisper, nibbling her ear. “Is this thong for me?”

  She gasps.

  “Yes.”

  “Perfect.”

  Alyssa tries to shift her body so my fingers find a more sensitive spot, but I move back down to her thigh instead. I love teasing her when she’s so turned on. There will be plenty of time for release later tonight.

  Eventually, we get to a stop sign and I pull a silk blindfold from under the seat.

  “Will you put this on?” I ask Alyssa.

  “What are you planning?” she responds.

  I kiss her.

  “I don’t want to ruin the surprise, honey.”

  She giggles.

  “Okay,” she whispers before tilting her head towards me so I can put the blindfold over her eyes. Then I check to make sure she can’t see anything. Good. She’s totally dark, and my goal is met.

  Alyssa rides the rest of the way to our destination unable to see. This makes my teasing even more fun. I don’t have to touch her to know she’s more than ready for me. Tonight is going to be incredible for both of us.

  The limo pulls in front of our location and I step out. I guide Alyssa from the car and to the front entrance where a ribbon waits to be cut.

  “What’s all that noise? Where are we? What’s going on?” Alyssa’s attention is piqued, but I ignore her questions. My assistant hands me a giant pair of scissors and I remove Alyssa’s blindfold.

  Her eyes widen when she sees the huge crowd of people gathered. She looks around and is even more surprised to see the name of the restaurant. Alyssa’s Alley.

  “What is this?” she breathes.

  “This is your restaurant,” I tell her. “You’re the owner, and today is the grand opening.”

  “What?” she cries. “What do you mean?”

  “This place is yours! You’ll be the head chef, you’ll decide the menu… it’s all yours, baby.”

  Alyssa’s eyes water. “You did this for me?”

  “I love you, Alyssa. Yes, I did it for you because I adore you, sweet girl.”

  Her eyes grow wide.

  “I don’t know what to say!” she says in a trembling voice. “This is incredible.”

  I pull her into my arms and plant a kiss on her lips. “You don’t have to say anything, just stay by my side forever.”

  “I can do that. I love you so much.”

  Our moment is interrupted by the flashing lights of cameras in the crowd. I’d forgotten we weren’t alone.

  I hand Alyssa the giant scissors.

  “Do the honors, sweetheart,” I say.

  Delighted, she cuts the ribbon to her restaurant. The entire crowd cheers as photos are taken of us in front of Alyssa’s new venture.

  I immediately whisk Alyssa to the kitchen.

  “It’s tradition for the chef to make the first meal,” I explain.

  Her face pales.

  “I don’t know if I can do this right now.”

  “Hey,” I say, tilting her chin so she has to look at me. “I wouldn’t have given you the restaurant if I didn’t think you could handle it.”

  She nods, looking slightly more confident, and gets to work preparing her signature dish, chicken alfredo. I offer a hand, but she insists on preparing the meal herself. I’m okay with that because I love watching her work in the kitchen.

  Once our meal is ready, the hostess leads us to a balcony booth reserved for us. From this vantage point, we can see everything that’s happening in the restaurant. It’s perfect because I thought Alyssa might like to see her grand opening from above.

  “This is the most beautiful restaurant,” she says with wonder in her voice. “I can’t believe it’s mine.”

  “Believe it, baby, because it’s true.”

  We enjoy some sparkling water and good conversation while we eat Alyssa’s masterpiece. The waitress comes by to offer wine, but interestingly, Alyssa declines. I chalk it up to the fact that she doesn’t want to lose her head on this special day.

  “I already have so many ideas for the menu,” she rambles adorably with sparkles in her eyes. “I can’t wait to try out some of the new things I learned in class, and bring in some of the recipes I already know…” She flushes suddenly. “Sorry, I’m talking too much about the restaurant.”

  “Don’t apologize, honey. I’m happy you’re excited.”

  In fact, I’ve never been happier than I am in this moment. Who knew that bringing joy to someone else was like receiving a gift yourself? But it warms my heart to see my woman so happy.

  We finish off the pasta slowly, enjoying every bite. A waiter comes and takes away our plates and offers us the dessert menu. We pick a slice of chocolate cake to share and he returns quickly with the decadent dessert. After we each take a bite, I can’t wait any longer. Heart pounding, I begin.

  “Alyssa,” I begin. “From the moment I met you, wandering lost in Grand Central Station, I’ve known you were special. I tried so hard to fight my feelings, but it was no use. We were meant to be together, and I can’t imagine living with anyone but you by side. So, Alyssa Grace Hall, will you make me the luckiest man in the world and do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Tears stream down Alyssa’s smiling face.

  “Oh my gosh, yes,” she breathes. “Of course, I will. Yes!”

  I slip the large diamond ring, which matches her brand-new necklace, onto her finger. It’s a perfect fit, and I’ve never been happier in my life. But then Alyssa takes me by surprise. She gets a secret look in her eyes and her hand comes to rest gently over her tummy.

  “The meal was good, wasn’t it?” I growl, looking at my beautiful fiancée. “I would never take you to a place with bad food.”

  She nods, looking flushed and beautiful in the low light.

  “It was good, Nate. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful meal, and I wanted to mention that both the baby and I are grateful.”

  I stare at her, my mouth falling open with shock.

  “What?” I ask, dumbfounded.

  She giggles a little, her hand making little circles on her belly now.

  “You know what I’m saying,” she purrs. “We’ve made love so many times, and you know that protection isn’t one hundred percent. Plus, you’re such a virile man, Nate, and you have such enormous loads too. It was bound to happen at some point.”

  I still can’t speak even though my heart’s racing with
joy.

  “So I’m going to be a daddy?” I say in a low voice.

  Alyssa nods, a smile wreathing her beautiful face.

  “Count on it,” she murmurs. “Is that something you want?”

  In a moment, I’m on my knees at her side.

  “Sweetheart, you’ve given me such an amazing gift,” I breathe, putting both of my hands on her burgeoning mound. “A baby. Holy shit. I mean, I just can’t … No, I can. I want this child. I want to be your babydaddy, Alyssa.”

  She giggles again, her cheeks turning pink.

  “You’re more than that to me, Nate. You’re my fiancé, my lover, my soon to be husband, and a father-to-be as well. You’re going to be a wonderful babydaddy.”

  I bend to press my lips to her stomach as gratitude and well-being flow through my veins. Holy shit. It’s really happening. I’m engaged to a beautiful, gorgeous, intelligent girl, and now she’s having my child. I’ve been doubly blessed, and I kiss her again.

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” I rasp in a hoarse voice. “This is the best gift ever.”

  Alyssa looks at me with tears in her eyes.

  “No, Nate. You and the baby together are the best gift ever. You’ve changed my life, and with a child on the way, I know we’ll never be apart again.”

  Tears rise in my throat and my voice feels choked. Instead, I merely lean forward to seize her plump pink lips with my own because it’s true. With this woman at my side, nothing can go wrong.

  25

  Alyssa

  Friday

  I can’t stop staring at the newest piece of jewelry on my hand.

  Nate leads me to his car behind the restaurant. Though we rode here in the limo, Nate planned ahead. He wanted us to have privacy on the drive home. Of course, not having a driver means that Nate has to watch the road, but that doesn’t stop his hands from wandering over my body.