The Boss Baby Daddy (A Secret Baby Romance)

by Claire Adams

  I went back to worrying about the bills, and I could see out of the corner of my eye that she looked like she wanted something.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked her.

  “Will you play with me?”

  “Sure thing,” I said and followed her to the couch where she already had four dolls laying. She picked out two and handed them to me, then she took the other two, and we began to play. She had such a creative and imaginative mind. I loved that she used her imagination often.

  “I’m glad you met Anna,” Margie said randomly, as she made her two dolls host a tea party for the two dolls I was playing with.

  “Why is that?” I was curious as to what she might say.

  “I love her so much.”

  I was in awe. “I love her, too.”

  “How come you never tell her?” she asked.

  I didn’t know how to respond to that. So, instead, I distracted her from her real question. “I need to go to the gym to get ready for my next fight, would you like to come with me?” I knew it wasn’t fair to ignore her question, but it wasn’t really something I could or should discuss with my four-year-old daughter.

  Margie’s eyes went wide. “Really? You want me to go with you?”

  “Yeah, I think it could be fun.”

  “Is Anna going to come with us?”

  I wasn’t expecting her to ask that, but it was a good idea.

  “I can call and ask her if she wants to tag along.”

  “Do it!” she yelled. “I wanna see my Anna!”

  I loved her use of the word “my” when she was referring to Anna.

  “Let’s go get ready,” I said and followed her into her room. I helped her pick out a pair of black leggings and a short sleeve pink shirt with a black cat that said “I’m purr-fect” on the front.

  “Daddy, what’s this shirt say, again?” she asked, pointing at the words.

  “It says ‘I’m purr-fect.’”

  “I am!” she said and did a quick spin.

  “Yes, you are.” I hoped on everything that she would never lose that confidence in herself. I wanted her to grow up with a strong sense of identity, and I knew she would need a woman to help her with that. I hoped Anna would be that woman.

  After she got dressed, I grabbed her bag and told her to put some toys in it that she would want to play with while we were there. I then went into my room and put on the clothes I normally wore to train and work out at the gym.

  We got into the car, and Margie asked, “Did you call Anna yet?”

  “Not yet,” I said and pulled out my phone and dialed Anna’s number. She answered on the first ring.

  “Hey, you. What are you doing?”

  “Margie and I are driving to the gym. Would you like to come with us?” I asked

  “Hmm,” she said. “I don’t have any clients today, and that sounds like fun.”

  “Great. Margie’s going to be so excited,” I said.

  “I can’t wait to see you both,” she said.

  I smiled at the phone. I wasn’t too sure what her feelings were for me, but I hoped that maybe they were becoming something real. She was so beautiful, so perfect, and I was sure my daughter loved her more than I did, which just made things so much better.

  “We can’t wait to see you either,” I said.

  “I’ll see you in about ten or fifteen minutes?”

  “Yeah, that’ll work,” I said.

  We both said goodbye, and I hung up the phone, tossing it into the cup holder.

  “Is she coming?” Margie asked.

  “Yes, she is going to meet us there,” I said.

  Margie squealed. “Yes! I’m so excited.”

  I pulled up to the gym and helped Margie get out. We walked in, and Artie greeted both of us.

  “Margie is here to cheer me on today,” I said.

  “I’m glad to see you here on a day you don’t normally come in. It shows me you’re committed,” Artie said.

  “I am very committed. I know I need to train harder,” I said.

  I started doing some warm-ups, jumping jacks, and push-ups while Margie played with her doll and occasionally yelled, “Go, Daddy, go!”

  She was cheering me on even though I was just warming up, and I thought it was the cutest thing ever.

  I stepped into the ring with Artie, and we started with some boxing moves. He was covered in mats, and I was told to hit him like I would an opponent. This always made me nervous because I didn’t want to accidentally knock him out.

  I threw a left hook, right hook, upper cut, and repeated these hits a few more times.

  “Harder!” Artie demanded.

  I threw my next one harder, and Artie tumbled a little bit.

  “There you go. Don’t hold back just because of me. I’m wearing these on purpose. Hit me like I’m your opponent.”

  I hit him harder.

  “Good. Again, but use all your strength. You’re still holding back. If you hold back with me, you’re going to hold back with your opponents. Now, again!” Artie said.

  I hit him again and knocked him over.

  “Artie! I’m so sorry,” I said.

  Artie got up. “Good job. That’s what I’m talking about. Again.”

  We went through this drill a few more times. I knocked Artie over every single time.

  “You’ve got the strength. You just need to make sure to utilize it. Quit focusing on everything else going on in the world. Focus on the cage. Block out the noise outside of the cage. Focus on your breathing and getting your opponent to submit.”

  A few more minutes went by before I saw Anna walk into the gym. She looked just as beautiful as ever. I could feel my heart skip a beat as I watched Margie run over to Anna. Anna picked her up just like she did on Saturday before we went to the theme park.

  Artie waved hello. “Hello, Anna. It’s good to see you again.”

  “It’s good to see you again, too, Artie,” Anna said, waving back to him.

  I turned my attention back to Artie and instantly felt much more focused than I had before she showed up. Artie said we should switch it up, and we moved on to some Judo moves.

  “Yay! Go, Daddy!” Margie yelled.

  “Yay, Justin!” I heard Anna yell, and then they both laughed and clapped.

  I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. I turned my attention back to Artie again and took him to the ground with a perfect hip toss.

  “That’s the kind of focus I’m talking about Justin. You didn’t hesitate; you went for the opportunity. I think you’re finally getting it together,” Artie said. “You are a great fighter. All you need to do is focus.”

  “Thank you,” I said. It had been a while since he last complimented my work. I figured I must be doing something right, and I owed it to Anna. Her presence made me much more focused. Her presence made me more in tune with what was going on. Her being around me was all I needed.

  Another gym member, Zach, showed up a few minutes later. He was in my weight class and an MMA fighter. Artie stepped out of the ring and put us together to work on our moves. I felt pumped to do this with him. He didn’t have as much strength as me, but he was quick, and it was exactly what I needed to work on my focus.

  I glanced at Anna and Margie. They were messing around and pretending to train. Anna was holding up a mat, and Margie was hitting it. Her form was wrong, but she was throwing herself into it. They were both laughing.

  “You ready?” Zach said from behind me.

  I tore my gaze from them and turned to Zach. “Oh yeah, let’s do this thing.”

  We touched gloves, and Artie said, “Fight!” It reminded me of the game Mortal Combat that I used to play when I was younger. My mind drifted for half a second before I remembered Artie’s insistence that I stay focused.

  Zach aimed for my face, and I blocked it, getting him in the ribs all in one motion. When I focused, I could find the person’s weaknesses in no time. I could use that to my advantage.

 
; “Good, Justin. Zach, make sure to tuck yourself in after a blocked hit. The first thing your opponent is going to do is aim for your weak areas.”

  Zach nodded.

  He threw another punch; I blocked it and went for his ribs, and again he didn’t block me.

  “Focus, Zach,” Artie said.

  Zach went for a rib shot and then tricked me and turned it into a face shot, but I was able to block both. So far, he hadn’t been able to get any hits in.

  I went for an uppercut and got him; then I went for a right hook. Zach went to the floor. I was glad we had our protective gear for sparring. I wasn’t looking to hurt the guy.

  I held out a hand and helped him up. “Damn, Justin. You got a helluva lot stronger,” Zach said.

  “Thanks.” I took it as a compliment.

  “Yay, Daddy! Does that mean you won?” Margie asked.

  I turned to look at them. Anna had put down the mats, and now they were sitting in a couple of chairs, watching us.

  “No, I’m not trying to win right now,” I said to her.

  “Well, what are you doing then?” she asked.

  “Zach and I are just sparring. It’s just part of training. It’s like practice,” I said.

  Margie nodded her head like she understood, but I wondered if she actually did or not.

  Anna smiled at me and then I watched Margie lean into Anna and whisper something. Anna smiled and seemed to be thinking. Then she responded and whatever she said warranted a big hug and a loud “OKAY!” from Margie.

  The two of them together filled my heart with so much joy. It felt like a puzzle piece that had been missing was finally found.

  I sparred with Zach a little while longer. I knocked him to the ground repeatedly. Finally, I think he had enough and called to be done for the day. Artie took him to the side, and I was sure he was giving him one of his famous lectures.

  I got out of the ring and walked over to the girls.

  “Hey, how are you girls doing?”

  “We’re doing good, Daddy. You can go back to play fighting,” Margie said.

  I laughed. I thought it was sweet that she wanted more time alone with Anna. “I think I’m done for the day. We’ve been here for a couple hours already.”

  “Oh, well I am hungry,” Margie said.

  “You wanna go get some lunch?” Anna asked me.

  “I don’t have much money.” I hated having to admit that, but I didn’t want her thinking I could pay for it when I knew I couldn’t.

  “It’s fine, Justin. It’s on me.”

  “I don’t want you doing that.” It felt weird that she was offering to take us out to lunch. I felt bad because not only was I getting free massages from her now, but she was also going to feed my daughter and me.

  “It’s seriously no issue. Think of it as a reward for kicking ass during training,” she said with a smile.

  “Alright, fine. But let me go get changed first.”

  “Okay.”

  “Yay!” Margie yelled.

  “You don’t mind watching Margie for a minute, do you?”

  “Not at all. Go. Go get changed. We’re waiting on you, slowpoke,” she said with a laugh.

  I wanted to kiss her, but I wasn’t sure how she would take it since we were in public. Instead, I just went off to the locker room area to change.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Anna

  I watched Justin as he trained. He was sweaty and working so hard; I’d never seen him like that, and it only served to make my attraction even stronger. I was glad to see he had some protective gear on while sparring. I was nervous that he would get hurt, but I guess it wouldn’t have mattered since the other guy wasn’t able to get a single punch in. Justin beat him easily. He barely looked like he was trying.

  “Anna?” Margie asked from beside me.

  “Yes, sweetie?” I looked down at her. Every time I looked at her, I was taken aback by how cute she was. Getting to know her was such a blessing.

  “Are you going to be my new mommy?” she asked.

  It took me a second to process her question, and when I did, my heart melted. It was the sweetest thing I had ever heard.

  “I don’t know, Margie.” I watched her hopeful smile turn into a sad face, and it broke my heart, so I added, “I will always be your friend, at the very least.”

  “Really?” her hopeful smile returned.

  “Yes, really!” I said. “I’ll always be here for you if you need someone to talk to or play with that isn’t your dad.”

  “That’ll work,” Margie said, and I laughed at how nonchalant she was.

  I was glad my promise made her smile. I was happy to know that she wanted me in her life that way; it made me feel optimistic about my place in Justin’s life. I loved them both so much more than I ever thought I could love any one, but I didn’t really know how Justin felt about me. I was sure I had an idea, but I didn’t want to be wrong.

  We watched Justin for a bit longer before he stepped out of the ring and walked over to us. I offered to take them to lunch, and as he headed to go change, my phone rang. It was my mom.

  “Hey, mom,” I said into the phone.

  “Hi, honey. We want to see you again. Would you be able to come to lunch?” she asked.

  I looked at Margie. “It’s my mom. Would you like to go to lunch with her and my dad?”

  Margie nodded her head, excitedly. “Yes! I want to see them!”

  I loved how excited she was. Margie’s joyful energy was infectious. “Okay. Where were you guys thinking?”

  “We are at Sunshine Bistro Sandwich and Soup. Do you know it?”

  “Yes, I do. In fact, we are at Justin’s gym right now. It’s just right around the corner. We’re waiting for him to get changed, and then we should be there.”

  “Okay, sounds good,” she said. “See you soon.”

  I pressed “end call” on my phone just as Justin came out of the locker room, still in the same clothes he wore while he had been training.

  “I’m sorry to ruin our plans,” he started saying. “Artie wants me to stay and work on some new moves.”

  “No,” Margie said in protest. “We were going to go to lunch with Nana and Papa.”

  I smiled at her use of the names they’d given themselves before I looked back at Justin to explain.

  “My mom just called. They’re over at Sunshine’s. Maybe I can take Margie, and we can bring you a sandwich when we’re done?”

  “That’ll work,” he said. He gave Margie a kiss and a hug and then turned to me and did the same thing. I felt my heart skip a beat. I was falling so madly in love with this man. Every single day, every passing moment, made me fall harder for him. I only wished I could tell him.

  “Thanks, Daddy,” Margie said.

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart. You listen to Anna, okay? Be good.”

  “I will!” she said, excitedly.

  “I’m serious. You better behave,” he said.

  “I will, Daddy. I promise.”

  “Thanks, Justin,” I said.

  “Anytime. She adores you and your parents. I think it’s great.”

  He gave Margie and I both another kiss before we headed out the door.

  When we stepped outside, Margie grabbed my hand, and we walked down the sidewalk toward the sandwich shop.

  “How far is the walk?” Margie asked.

  “Not very far. It’s actually just around this corner.”

  Margie smiled. “I like spending the day with you, Anna.”

  “I like it too, Margie,” I said.

  We got to Sunshine’s, and when we walked inside, my mom was standing at a table. She waved at us, and we headed over to them.

  “Where’s Justin?” she asked as she gave me a hug.

  “He had to stay and learn some new moves,” I said.

  “Well, you’ll have to take something to him afterward.” She bent down and gave an anxious Margie a big hug.

  “That’s my plan,” I said a
s Margie scooted into the booth. I scooted in after her.

  “Hello, Margie. How are you today?” my dad asked.

  “I’m good,” she said, and after a pause, she added, “How are you?”

  Both of my parents laughed. “I’m wonderful,” my dad said smiled.

  A waiter approached our table. “What drinks can I bring out for you?” he asked me. My parents both already had glasses in front of them. My father I assumed had tea and my mother a diet soda of sorts.

  “I’ll have a Pepsi,” I said, turning to Margie. “What do you want to drink?”

  “Do they have chocolate milk?” she asked me instead of the waiter.

  The waiter nodded his head.

  “She’ll have a chocolate milk then.”

  He wrote it down and then said, “Okay, I’ll have that right out.”

  We looked over the menu, and when the waiter brought us our drinks, we ordered our food.

  “What’s new with you guys?” my mom asked.

  “Anna’s my new mommy!” Margie said suddenly.

  We all laughed. It felt good that she was saying it, and I wished it was true. I loved both Justin and Margie, and I couldn’t picture my life without them now. Still, I wondered how Justin would feel about Margie’s proclamation.

  My mom looked at me as if expecting me to announce that we were engaged. I shook my head. “No, it’s not like that. She’s just playing pretend,” I said.

  “No, I’m not. You said you’d always be here for me to talk to and play with. That’s what I see the other mommies at the park do,” she said.

  It made me feel a little sad. She was noticing all the other kids with their moms, and she didn’t have one. I didn’t want to make her upset, but I also didn’t want to get her hopes up and tell her that I was going to be her mom.

  My mom gave her a sympathetic smile and then changed the subject. I think it distracted Margie enough.

  Our food arrived within twenty minutes. By then, Margie was practically drooling. I loved this time we were spending together, alone, with my parents. It made me feel like we could possibly be a real family one day.

  “How’s your sandwich?” my mom asked Margie after she took her first bite.

  “It’s really yummy,” she said. Then she took another bite and made an exaggerated “mmm” noise.