“I know. I was hard on you, and I’m sorry I ever made you feel unwanted.” Keith gently tucked my hair back out of my face, behind my ear, his fingers tender and warm. “But I thought about that as well and I have a solution.”
“Oh?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and about what I value in my life. I could have stopped being a doctor and just lived off of the proceeds from my invention all my life, but I chose to keep working because I like feeling fulfilled, I like helping people and taking care of them. And who needs more help and care than a baby?”
I stared at him. Could he be saying what I thought he was?
Keith smiled at me. “I’m going to retire and be a stay-at-home father.”
I gaped at him, joy and surprise coursing through me. “You’d really do that? Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure. And I will. I want to support you. You’re young and you have your whole career ahead of you. I’ve accomplished all that I want in my career. I’ve reached the top, I’m successful and happy, I have nothing else to do. And the best part of my life was raising Dawn. I loved being her father and being there for her. I had no problem when Kelly wanted to move on and wasn’t really made to be a mom. I adored being a dad. I want to do that again and be there for my child—and I want to be there for you and support you.”
My heart felt so full, I nearly burst into tears. I kissed Keith fiercely, and wrapped my arms around his neck to hold him against me. “I can’t wait to have your baby,” I told him. “I can’t wait to raise a family with you.”
We kissed again, and I could feel Keith smiling against my lips. I had never been happier in my life.
Epilogue: Holly
No one ever said that being a mother was easy, but my mother had assured me that it would be rewarding, and she was right. I loved being a mother, but I knew that I couldn’t do it without Keith.
He was the definition of a doting father, and loved our son immensely. We had named him Matthew, partially because it was a name I had always wanted to give my son should I have one, and partially to help smooth the way between our families. It had taken some months for everything to work out, although both of my parents, and Dawn, had worked hard to come to terms with the situation. I’d had a lot of long talks and heart-to-hearts with Dawn and my mother, and Keith and my father had apologized to one another several times over by now.
Being pregnant helped. Everyone had been so excited for the birth of my child. Even with him five months old now, it was all anyone could talk about. The birth had been smooth and easy, but the best part had been having my best friend and parents there, happy and celebrating with me. Just as Keith had said, it had all worked out. It was amazing how much could change, just in one year.
I was so grateful. I loved my family and I wanted us all to be together the way that we always had. We’d already been one family, really, rather than two—with Dawn and I growing up together like sisters and my father and Keith being best friends, taking vacations together, always having dinner at each other’s houses. Now it was just official.
And of course, everyone spoiled little Matthew. We all loved him. Dad loved being a grandfather, just as I’d known he would. He liked having a new kid to spoil and dote on, now that I was an adult who didn’t need that anymore. I could demand the best, demand what I deserved, for myself. I didn’t need things handed to me anymore.
Few things gave me more joy, though, than watching my husband with our baby boy. All the ladies at the park envied me and how much dedication he put into both our marriage and raising our child.
Not that I had a lot of time to be at the park lately. The band was blowing up. In fact, their new music video was premiering online tonight. I had encouraged them to wait to do a music video until they already had a following from playing live in bars across the state, so that they already had people who would want to take a look and share it. Now they had a built-in audience ready to enjoy and share their video. Soon they would be a household name, I was sure of it. I’d booked them appearances at some local festivals, including all the way up in New York. It was going to be amazing.
Speaking of the band, they were over at our house for the night to celebrate the video going live. Keith was upstairs, putting the baby down, while I was in the kitchen getting snacks for everyone.
Simon walked in. “Need help with anything?”
“Nah, I’ve got it, but thanks.”
“I can’t quite believe this has all happened,” he admitted, leaning against the counter to watch me. “We’re really getting somewhere, and it’s all thanks to you. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
I laughed. “Well, I can’t play guitar, so give yourselves some credit. I just saw the talent that was already there and did my best to make sure everyone else got a chance to see it to.”
Simon smiled. “You’re right. I’m awesome.” He winked at me. “Someday, I’ll have my own giant house just like this one.”
“I’m sure you will,” I said, half serious, half teasing. “Help me carry these into the family room.”
Simon did as he was told. The other band members, Dawn, and a few others that had been invited were all scattered around the large room on couches and beanbag chairs. Keith and I had wanted a house that could host the parties that I would need to for my work, and the small galas for the charities Keith had worked with for years, but also had an area that could be used for relaxing when it was just the family.
Dawn grinned and took one of the bowls of food from me. “Here you go, you starving beasts,” she said, teasing the various band members who were already digging into the food. “Honestly, I should get an X-Ray to see if you all have more than one stomach.”
“I’m more than willing to play doctor with you,” Simon replied.
I couldn’t be sure if Simon was flirting because that was just how he was, or if there was perhaps something more there. Dawn blushed in response, and I filed that all away for later. I would love to see my best friend finally be happy, and Simon was, overall, a good guy.
Before I could investigate further or say anything, I felt Keith come up behind me. It was like a sixth sense now, knowing where he was, like we were connected by something deep and instinctive. I smiled at him and saw he had the baby monitor in his hand, ready to go in case baby Matthew needed us.
Keith wrapped his arms around me and dropped a kiss to my shoulder. “All good?”
“All good,” I promised. I smiled even more broadly as he looked at me. I was so in love with this man, and he was so in love with me. It was nothing short of a dream come true.
“Okay!” Simon said. “The video is going live in three… two… one!”
We all cheered as the video went live. The members of the band, including Simon, were on their social media accounts telling their fans about it, answering questions, promoting, just like I’d told them to. It wasn’t just about making good music, after all—it was about engaging with fans, making them feel seen and appreciated, and using social media to get the word out and get yourself trending so that you could get more attention and draw in new fans.
Dawn grabbed her soda can and stood up. “A toast! To the band! To all of their future success!”
Everyone yelled cheers.
Keith held up his soda can. “And a toast to their manager, for all the hard work she’s done to get them here!”
“Cheers!” rang out everyone else.
I laughed. “Well, since we’re doing toasts…” I held up my own soda can. “A toast to everyone. To friends, to lovers, and to band mates. I’m so happy you could all be here to celebrate together.”
“Cheers!” everyone echoed.
I smiled and we all drank and I knew, in that moment, that I had never been happier.
If you enjoyed My Best Friend’s Daddy, make sure you check out Daddy’s Business Partner here
I should’ve stopped it before it happened.
But I never thought that the consequences would
be this scandalous.
I’m pregnant and I can tell no one.
Including Scott.
Especially Scott.
And if my dad catches a whiff of it, then we’re both screwed.
More than we already are!
GRAB HERE!
Daddy’s Business Partner (Sample)
Description
Hot? Check.
Older? Check.
Forbidden? Trouble? Completely wrong? Check. Check. Check.
He’s my dad’s best friend and business partner.
My father, normally a smart man, could’ve sent anyone else to console me.
But no, he asked Scott for the favor.
I was going through a brutal breakup when he tried to cheer me up.
But he didn’t just leave after I was smiling.
He stole my heart.
Ravished my curves.
He made me belong to him.
Maybe this was all my fault.
I should’ve stopped it before it happened.
But I never thought that the consequences would be this scandalous.
I’m pregnant and I can tell no one.
Including Scott.
Especially Scott.
And if my dad catches a whiff of it, then we’re both screwed.
More than we already are!
Prologue: Lou
My head was spinning, and not just from the champagne.
I almost couldn’t believe that this whole thing was real. If I’d ever thought to write down my perfect day, what it would be like, I would have described this. I didn’t even know that days like this could happen outside of movies.
But here I was, being swept off my feet by none other than my father’s business partner.
This was a man I’d described as ‘hot garbage in a designer dumpster’. I’d wanted nothing to do with him. Honestly, I’d been ready to tell my father himself that he should have nothing to do with this man. I’d been appalled at the behavior he’d shown.
But now he’d done a 180. He was charming, respectful, attentive—everything that a man ought to be when wooing a woman. I was shocked. I felt like I was dealing with a completely different person.
And he was so whimsical. It felt like I had finally found someone who didn’t look at me and see my romantic ideals and laugh, but would meet those ideals and rejoice in them. It felt like I’d finally found someone who found joy in sweeping me off my feet and was delighted for the opportunity.
And by sweeping me off my feet, I did mean literally. We’d been dancing and I felt like I was floating on a cloud. I had never gone properly dancing before, just the clubs when I was in college and having a wild girls’ night out, but Scott knew how to dance. It was amazing.
The man himself returned with two refilled champagne flutes in hand, and passed me one with a wink. “Enjoy, just not too long, it’s time to get back out on the dance floor.”
I laughed. “If this is how much energy you have at thirty-eight, I’m terrified to think of how you wore out your dates when you were my age.”
“Oh, I wore them out in other ways, too,” Scott replied, a gleam in his eyes.
Unlike the time before when he’d been disgusting and over the top with his come ons, this line was one of the first he’d given me this night, and it was a lot classier.
I laughed, unable to help myself. I had no doubt of that. Scott might be fifteen years older than I was, but he was full of energy and enthusiasm for life. I never would’ve guessed there was such an age difference between us if I didn’t happen to know how old he was from my father.
His looks certainly helped. His blue eyes were so intense, I felt like I was burning every time I looked into them. And his dark hair gave him an oh-so-slightly rakish air, but in a dashing way. He’d over-gelled it to distraction when I’d first met him, but tonight it was soft, curling a little, and my fingers itched to run through his locks.
I couldn’t deny it, and I didn’t want to—I was falling for him, the way I had always dreamed of falling for someone. All my life I’d hoped to meet someone and have that instant spark, to fall hard and fast, to be swept up in the passion of their desire for me.
To think that I had nearly settled, that I’d nearly given up—before Scott came along.
I sipped at my champagne, admiring the shape of his muscles underneath his classy suit as he sipped at his own drink. Last time, he’d been trying to ply me with alcohol, and he’d been rather over the top and obvious about it, too. It was as if he thought I was extra dumb.
But now, there was no plying about it. We’d had scrumptious wine to compliment our dinner, and now this was only my second glass of champagne, and he was having a second glass as well. I was feeling the buzz, but I certainly wasn’t drunk, or even really tipsy. At least, not on the alcohol. Just on Scott.
I finished my champagne and Scott took my glass from me, setting it down next to his. He held out his arm. “Shall we?”
I wanted nothing more in the world.
Scott let me out onto the dance floor and pulled me into his arms. This was a truly classy place, with a live band, and couples all around us were dancing swing-style to the music.
I had no idea what I was doing, but Scott did, and so all I had to do was follow his lead.
His arm wrapped around my waist, keeping me against him, and I couldn’t hide the hitch in my breath, my sharp inhale. Scott smiled at me—he didn’t smirk, like he was just thinking about how he was turning me on—he smiled. He looked at me like he was delighted with me.
We moved around the dance floor, keeping to the simpler steps compared to some of the other couples. I didn’t mind being a beginner, not when it kept our bodies pressed together, not when it kept Scott so close to me that I could hardly focus on anything else. He was making my blood sing and anticipation build in me.
I’d never before wanted a man like this. All my life I’d been waiting for this moment, for the time when I would feel swept away by my emotions and my desire for someone, and it had never happened until now. I’d thought that I was stupid for waiting—and now along came a man to prove me right and valid. This was worth waiting for.
As a song ended, Scott wrapped his arm more firmly around my waist and dipped me, so that my red hair brushed the ground. His lips were so close to my neck that they almost, but not quite, brushed my skin, and my heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest. My skin buzzed with desire and anticipation as he gently raised me back to standing.
God, I wanted him. I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anyone else. What better way to cap off the night than by making love to a sexy, talented man who looked at me like I was the only woman on earth?
Once I was back to standing and properly in his arms, I kissed Scott just below his ear and whispered, “Let’s get out of here. Take me somewhere private.”
I wanted to go somewhere we could spend hours learning each other’s bodies. This was going to be the first time I’d ever had sex, and I wanted it to be worth it. I wanted to lose my virginity with a bang, no pun intended.
Scott gently brushed a lock of my hair out of my face, my curls a bit messed up from all the dancing and the dip. “Are you sure?” he murmured.
He sounded so concerned, like he really wanted to make sure that I was okay with this. His consideration made my heart melt.
“I’m sure,” I promised him. “Please.”
Heat flashed in Scott’s eyes and he smiled at me, his thumb oh so gently stroking my cheek. “How could I ever say no to you?” he said, almost as if he was speaking to himself.
I might have actually swooned; it was hard to tell.
Scott offered me his arm and led me outside, to the limo that he’d been using to take me places all night. I still couldn’t quite believe it. A limo! He was truly going all-out to impress me (and probably to make up for the other night) and I had to admit, he really was succeeding.
We slid into the limo, Scott gave the driver an address, a
nd then rolled up the divider. The moment that we were safely alone with the driver unable to hear or see us, I slid across to Scott and pressed my lips to his.
I felt his swift inhale against my mouth and smiled. I had never been so bold before. With Dexter, I’d always let him make the moves, trying to encourage him to take the initiative and make romantic gestures on his own, but he’d never done anything, and that had just led to me feeling too awkward to initiate things on my own.
But now—now I felt bold enough. I wanted Scott to have no doubt that this was what I wanted. The commanding, alpha male vibes that rolled off him in waves were intoxicating, but he’d been holding himself back all night. It was impossible for me to miss it. And given what an ass he’d been the first time we’d gone out I understood his reasoning. He was trying to be respectful and show me a good time, make up for his past actions.
Now, though, he’d done more than enough to make up for it. I wanted him, and I wanted him to know that it was okay. He could let go, he could stop holding back.
Scott groaned and wrapped his hand gently around the back of my head, holding me in place as he kissed me back. He licked right into my mouth, drawing my tongue out, sucking on it before raking his own tongue over the roof of my mouth, and I moaned and gasped, trembling with desire.
He kissed me like he was going to mark me for life, like he wanted the brand of his kiss to be on my mouth always, so that everyone would know I was his, and I shivered at the implication.
Scott hauled me into his lap, and I whimpered, the friction of his body and the drag of fabric right up between my legs making me unbearably wet. I held onto his shoulders like they were the only thing keeping me grounded to this world as Scott continued to thoroughly kiss me. You’d think it was the end of the world with how he moved his mouth against mine.
The limo rolled to a stop and Scott used his hand on my hair to get a fistful of it and tug my head back. I gasped, heat spiking in me and a pulse of slick, anticipatory wetness sliding out of me. Oh, God, that was so hot, how he just casually moved me where he needed me to be. He was so strong and in control, I felt like I might orgasm on the spot just from how he tugged me off his lap and back into my seat.
My Best Friend's Daddy (Forbidden Temptations) Page 18
