Baby Daddy: A Sexy STANDALONE Romantic Comedy

by Nelle L'Amour

  “I’m glad you didn’t. You would have needed a criminal defense attorney, not me.”

  Brock knew the extent of damage I was capable of on the ice. I’d knocked out a few players’ teeth over the course of my hockey career and sent several to the emergency room for stitches. I’d lost count of how much time I’d spent in the penalty box.

  “Did you or Dee file a police report?”

  I shrugged. “No, I wasn’t thinking straight.” In retrospect, maybe it was for the best. The last thing I needed right now was a media shit storm—getting my name smeared all over the news in the midst of my father’s big takeover. And that was the last way I wanted my father to find out about Dee’s checkered past.

  “Brock, I’m worried about Dee and Tyson. I don’t think they’re safe. Or Lulu for that matter. They have security bars on their windows and an alarm system, but I’m still worried.”

  Brock’s expression softened. “You really care about this girl, don’t you?”

  I took in a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. There was no hiding my feelings about Dee. I wore them on my sleeve.

  “Yeah, I do. I have some kind of weird connection to her. And to her little girl too. When I’m around her, an explosion of fireworks goes off inside me. Dee does things to me no woman has. It started from the minute she stepped into my office.”

  “Get out. Love at first sight for LA’s biggest player?”

  My cheeks flushed. “I think that title belongs to you, but yeah.”

  “So, why haven’t you fucked her?”

  Hunching, I rested my elbows on my thighs and slid my head between my fists. “I’m taking it slow. I don’t want to hurt her or her daughter, and I guess I don’t want to get hurt either. I don’t know how to do serious relationships and this one has disaster written all over it. To use her own words, she comes with a lot of baggage I don’t know how to handle.”

  “Is there an issue with fraternization?”

  “Yes and no. I told my father about her, but left out the sordid details. For now, he’s okay with her being my temp and having a kid. The bigger issue is what if her past leaks out in the middle of the Saxton Enterprises deal.”

  Soaking in my words, Brock ran his hand through his perfectly groomed light brown hair. I could tell from the intense expression his face that his sharp legal eagle mind was at work. After a few minutes, he broke his silence.

  “Listen, Drakester. You’re right. This is complicated. There are a lot of issues at stake here, but you’ve got to prioritize.”

  I cocked my head, my ears perked.

  “Number one on the list is Dee’s safety and that of her daughter.” He took a sip of his water. “And Lulu’s too.”

  I detected unease in his voice. I wasn’t sure if Dee had told Lulu what had happened the other night with Kyle. What was obvious was that Dee’s sister was more to Brock than a passing fling. Still pensive, he stroked his chin with his thumb.

  “Do you or Dee know where this asshole lives?”

  I shook my head.

  “Do either of you have his driver’s license or license plate number?”

  “I don’t,” I replied, regretting that I didn’t chase after him. “Dee might.”

  “Find out. And I’m sure she must have his Social Security number. If she doesn’t, I can get it from the Fresno County sheriff’s office.”

  “Where are you going with this?”

  “We need to find out where this douchebag lives. Once we have that info, we can get a restraining order that won’t allow him within one hundred feet of Dee and her daughter. And if I have to, I’ll put a few of my peeps on him to make sure he stays away.”

  While this all sounded good, it didn’t stop the motherfucker from stalking them or endangering their lives in the meantime. They needed 24/7 protection, not something understaffed LAPD could provide. Brock cut into my mental ramblings.

  “Once we locate him, we can also serve him divorce papers. California is a no-fault state. While his scumbag lawyer can contest it and draw things out, ultimately no one can force a man or woman to stay in a marriage. Where it may get dicey is with the kid, but with his criminal record, Dee may have a good shot of getting full custody of Tyson. I’ll be glad to represent her.”

  At his words, a heavy weight lifted off my chest. “Thanks, man. You make it sound so easy. I’ll take care of all of Dee’s attorney fees.”

  Brock broke into a smile. “Bro, you don’t owe me shit except for the money I have to outsource to my informants, which shouldn’t be much.”

  My brows lifted. “No way. I can’t let you take on this case for gratis. C’mon, man, I owe you something.”

  Brock twisted his lips in thought and then flashed a wry smile. “How ’bout this… make me Best Man at your wedding and be sure your lovely bride throws her bouquet to her sister.”

  My heart palpitated at this possible reality. “Deal.”

  “Good,” he said, glancing down at his fancy watch. “Listen, man, let’s talk more tomorrow. I need to head downtown to a mediation; it’s a high-profile case involving a big reality TV star. Another sperm donor dispute. Seems like a few recipients found out his identity and are suing him for major child support. I’m trying to prove that the sperm bank screwed up.”

  At this news, the good feeling I had dissipated and a knot formed in my stomach. Brock knew nothing about my college sperm donor days. After all these years, I shouldn’t be worrying, but something deep in the pit of my gut told me my past was going to catch up to me. Sooner than later. I had another pressing issue to discuss with Brock, but this wasn’t the time.

  “Good luck, man,” I said, rising to my feet as Brock strode over to his desk to retrieve his briefcase.

  “Thanks.” We walked to the door together. “And get me that info as soon as you can.”

  As we exited his office, he gave me a man pat on the back. “Hey, and maybe later this week we can go out on a double date.”

  My mind jumped to Dee. Date was four-letter word I’d never done and I was already contemplating something much longer.

  CHAPTER 26

  Drake

  One of my many job responsibilities, and among my favorites, was overseeing Danger Rangers recording sessions. Our in-house studio was being refurbished—updated with the latest state-of-the-art equipment to impress my father’s courter, Gunther Saxton—so we were now temporarily holding them at a studio in North Hollywood, not too far away from our headquarters.

  Why did I like them so much? They were fun. I got to kick up my legs in the control room with the voice director and audio engineer and watch the actors do their job in the soundproof recording booth. Jennifer Burns, the head of Peanuts TV, was also usually there, and it was an opportunity to schmooze her, something I excelled at doing. I’d inherited this social skill from my father, who was indeed the King of Schmooze. His ability to charm powerful network executives, whether they be personable ones like Jen or tough cookies like some of her competitors, had a lot to do with his success as well as the pending deal with Gunther Saxton, who was notorious for his ruthlessness.

  “I love this episode,” said Jen before we moved on to the next line. She was seated between the director and me, taking notes.

  “Me too.” I honestly did. Now in its twenty-second season and still going strong, the Danger Rangers were being threatened by the latest villain to land in Bay City. The Exterminator, a half-racecar cyborg, who wanted to eliminate the Rangers.

  While the pace was fast, the atmosphere was laid back. The fun part for the actors was that they could come to work in their pajamas if they wanted and they didn’t have to memorize their lines. Furthermore, being a voice actor often let them play a role that they were not normally associated with… like Brandon Taylor, America’s number one action hero, who was guest-starring as the evil Exterminator. Charlie Atlas, our flamboyantly gay voice director, was a hoot, throwing the actors hilarious jibes, while getting them to deliver their lines perfectly in ju
st a few takes.

  “Taylor, give me a grunt,” he shouted out.

  “Ugh!” huffed Brandon.

  “Jesus, Brandon. Don’t give me a grunt that sounds like you’re ramming your wife.”

  All of us burst out in hysterical laughter, including Brandon and the other actors.

  “Charlie, what exactly do you want?” asked Brandon, still laughing.

  “Pretend you’re the Incredible Hulk and you’re mad as hell.”

  “Okay.”

  “Line 228. Take two,” called out the engineer.

  Taking a couple fortifying breaths, Brandon got back into character and scowled. On Charlie’s count of three, he let out a thunderous grunt that almost knocked the other actors off their stools.

  “Keep that,” an elated Charlie told the engineer and then met Brandon’s gaze through the glass window. “That was so gorgeous I came in my pants!”

  More laughter all around. Like I said, Charlie was uninhibited and outrageous. Thank God, parents and kids didn’t know what went on behind the scenes of our G-rated cartoons. For laughs, storyboard artists liked to occasionally draw the Danger Rangers with big dicks bursting through their latex superhero outfits, and writers liked to sneak in lines like “Fuck off, asswipe” to keep the network executives and broadcast standards peeps on their toes. My mind flashed to Dee and her precocious daughter. As much as Tyson wanted to meet the actors who played the Danger Rangers, maybe it wasn’t a good idea to have asked them to come to the racy recording session.

  “Yo, Charlie. My temp and her six-year-old daughter will be here soon. Do you think you could tone it down a bit?” A bit? By a landslide.

  “Honey, just call me Glenda, the Good Witch of the North,” he retorted in an overly effeminate falsetto voice. I fucking loved Charlie. A total pro, he was simply the best.

  Fifteen minutes later, Dee and Ty arrived. We were on a roll, more than halfway through the script.

  “Hi, Drake!” shouted Ty, running over to give me a hug.

  “Shh!” I put a shushing finger to my mouth.

  “Okay,” she rasped back softly as she peered through the window. “Are those the Danger Rangers?”

  “Yes. You’ll get to meet them soon.”

  “YAY!” She gave me another hug.

  “Oh my goodness, what an adorable little girl!” exclaimed Jennifer. Wearing shorts, a Danger Rangers T-shirt, and her red cape, my favorite little girl indeed was the epitome of cuteness. I could just eat her up.

  “Hi, Drake,” said another soft, raspy voice that made my cock stir. Dee. I turned and met her gaze. As our eyes locked, a spark of electricity lit up the air between us. Dressed in jeans and a jersey that revealed the contours of her perky boobs, I had to will myself not to take her into my arms and consume her. I also had to will my cock to behave.

  “Make yourself comfortable,” I told her in a business-like voice, pointing to the vacant chair next to mine.

  “Drake, can I sit on your lap?” asked Ty, her big smile melting me. The small gap between her front teeth only added to her cuteness. I had a gap like that, too, when I was a kid.

  “Sure,” I said as Dee sat down and Ty hopped up on me. As the strawberry scent of her hair wafted in my nose, a big part of me (no pun intended) wished it was Dee sitting on my lap and I was inhaling her.

  Charlie cut into my fantasy. “Everybody, let’s take five. When you guys get back, we’ll wrap this baby up.”

  “There’s a baby here?” asked Ty, full of innocence, her eyes circling the small room.

  I chuckled as did Jennifer. This little girl was so damn adorable. “What Charlie means is that when the cast gets back we’ll finish up the recording session.”

  “I get it!” beamed Ty as the cast removed their headsets and dissipated to take a short break. Right about this time, the accommodating studio always had a tray of delicious, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies waiting in the kitchen for the staff and actors. Usually, a PA brought in a plateful for Charlie, Jen, the engineer, and myself, and today was no different. They arrived just after I introduced everyone.

  “Yum!” squealed Ty, taking one giant bite after another.

  “What is your red cape for?” asked Jen, the mother of two young children.

  “Drake gave it to me for my birthday,” replied Ty proudly. “It’s magic.”

  I shrugged nonchalantly as Ty jumped off my lap.

  “I’m Mighty Girl!” She flexed her slender arms like a weight lifter. “I can be anything I want. And today, I’m a superhero like the Danger Rangers!”

  As she fearlessly leaped across the room, my eyes jumped from Dee’s mortified expression to Jen’s excited one.

  “Drake, after the recording session, let’s talk. You’ve just given me a great idea.”

  I shot her a puzzled look. She shot me back a wink that had me guessing and could drive me crazy. Network executives had so much power. Much more than Ty’s imaginary superhero. Another voice diverted my attention.

  Brandon Taylor. Wearing low-slung sweats and a V-neck T-shirt, he entered the booth.

  “How am I doing, guys?”

  I watched as Dee’s jaw dropped to the floor. “Oh my God! You’re Brandon Taylor! I love your show.”

  The dashing actor was the star of the highest rated show on TV—Kurt Kussler. A cocky mega-watt smile curled on the action hero’s lips, and his famous violet eyes twinkled. “Thanks. Will someone introduce me to this beautiful woman?”

  My eyes fixed on Dee’s face, her expression wavering between awestruck and love-struck. Her eyes were batting a hundred miles a minute and her mouth was still wide open. White-hot jealousy heated my bones as I reluctantly made the introduction to Hollywood’s number one heartthrob—People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” What woman didn’t love him? My nerve endings crackling, I had to remind myself he was happily married and a family guy. But my jealousy reared its ugly head again when I made the introduction and he bent to kiss Dee’s hand.

  “Why are you kissing my mommy?” challenged Ty, hopping back on my lap. “Only Drake’s allowed to kiss her!”

  I felt my face reddening. Dee’s was turning crimson too. All eyes fell on me.

  “Kids,” I mumbled with a dismissive shrug, thankful that the cast was filing back into the recording booth.

  “I guess that’s my cue,” said Brandon as he pivoted toward the door. “See you guys later.”

  “By the way, Brandon, you’re rocking it,” commended Charlie just before he disappeared.

  My pulse rate calmed down as the actors returned to their places and put their headsets back on. Mikes stood before them along with stands holding the recording script.

  “Okay, boys and girls, let’s wrap this episode up. Don’t forget there’s a six-year-old sitting next to me so you need to behave.”

  “Yes, Mommy!” the cast shouted out in unison in childlike voices.

  Ty giggled. “They’re funny!”

  With Charlie pulling all the punches, the rest of the session went smoothly—and tastefully. Now almost six o’clock, we had one last scene to record—the climatic scene where the Rangers save the citizens of Bay City from the evil Exterminator and then destroy the monster.

  “Okay, cast,” Charlie thundered, “I need some loud screaming. You’re the citizens of Bay City and the Exterminator is coming after you.”

  The cast did as he asked, but I had to agree with Charlie. They sounded lame.

  Charlie turned to us. “Okay, troops, we need reinforcements. Get in there and give it all you’ve got.”

  “Oh boy! Does that mean we get to act with the Danger Rangers?” asked Ty, her eyes bright with excitement.

  I gave her an affectionate noogie. “Yup. C’mon, Mighty Girl. Let’s kick some butt!”

  “Yay!” she squealed as I stood up and carried her.

  Dee flung me a nervous look. “Drake, I’m not sure about this.”

  “C’mon, Dee. We need you. You’re a great screamer.” Oh was s
he! My cock twitched at the thought.

  “Honestly, Dee it’ll be fun,” Jennifer added, giving me a suspicious look.

  In no time, we were all in the booth, sharing mikes with the actors. I was still holding Tyson, but had repositioned her so she was facing the mike. Dee was standing beside me and I was grateful she was sharing the Purple Ranger’s mike and not Brandon’s. The Danger Rangers all fawned over Tyson. She was in seventh heaven.

  Charlie gave us the cue to scream. “Okay, boys and girls. On my count of three, scream like you mean it. One…two…three…”

  A deafening roar broke out in the room. A decibel louder than everyone, Dee was in rare form. Orgasmic.

  “Cut! You guys fucking nailed it!” shouted a jubilant Charlie. I cringed at his language, but I think it went over Ty’s head. “Let’s do the Rangers’ final bit and we’re out of here.”

  “Charlie, wait,” intercepted Jen. “I’d like to give Tyson a line to say before we move on.”

  “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

  “Go, go, Danger Rangers!”

  Charlie spoke directly to Tyson. “Sweetheart, do you think you can do that?”

  “Piece. Of. Cake.”

  Everyone laughed at her words, and then on Charlie’s cue, she shouted the words into the mike.

  One take. “Sweetheart, that was fuh…freakin’ perfect.”

  “Totally!” Jen agreed as I high fived her. My little star.

  We stayed in the booth while the cast finished up with the epilogue—the Danger Rangers going back to their civilian identities and celebrating their victory.

  It was a wrap, but the sweetest wrap ever with all of the cast giving hugs to Tyson and telling her to come back anytime.

  I set Ty down and we filed out of the booth.

  “Drake, I’m going to take Ty to the restroom and then head home.” Dee paused and met my gaze. “This was so much fun, especially for Tyson.”

  No one looking, I smiled and then flicked her nose. There was a lot more I wanted to flick, and not with just with my fingers. “Wait for me in the reception area before you leave. Okay?”

  She nodded and then took Ty’s hand, heading in the direction of the restrooms. I returned to the control room where Jennifer was gathering up her notes and belongings. She cut to the chase.