Sweet Daddy: The Complete Collection

by Rachel Burns

  After what felt like an eternity had passed, the taxi arrived at her building. She paid the driver and turned to Mr. Johnson who was already opening her door.

  “Are you sick again, Ms. Riley?”

  “No, I’m fine, Mr. Johnson,” she lied. Tears started to run down her face.

  He helped her out and looked her up and down. “Tell me what happened.”

  “It was nothing really. Honestly, it isn’t important. I’m making a mountain out of a molehill. I mean they can choose whomever they want to make partner. I can’t be upset because they chose someone else. They get to decide, right. It’s their company.”

  Mr. Johnson’s heart was breaking as he watched tears rolling down her face. “But who works harder for them than you do?”

  “The guy they chose leaves at six every evening. He rarely stays later. Maybe they didn’t pick me because I appeared to be too desperate. I must have done something wrong, right? I probably wanted it too much.” She was trying to be brave and smile, but the tears rolling out of her eyes and dripping onto her coat gave her away.

  “I’m so sorry to hear that. Can I do anything to help you?”

  “No, I’m fine. But thank-you. I’ll just go up to my apartment and make myself something to eat. Maybe I’ll do a little channel surfing.” She was still smiling, but her chin was quivering, proving that she was pretending to be strong.

  The elevator doors opened. Robin was embarrassed that someone would see her like this, but when she saw Sebastian, she ran to him and threw herself against his chest. She couldn’t talk to tell him what happened.

  “Robin, honey, what’s wrong?” He petted his hand over her hair, trying to understand what could have upset her so much. “Are you hurt?”

  “Excuse me for interrupting, sir. Ms. Riley got passed over for and advancement at work. She worked very hard to get it. She’s terribly disappointed.”

  “They didn’t think I was good enough,” she blurted out.

  “Did they say that to you?” Sebastian wanted to go to her bosses and take them down a peg or two.

  “No, they didn’t say anything at all. They made the announcement, and then they didn’t say my name. I had a feeling like no one expected me to get it.”

  “Dr. Kennedy, would you like to take her up to her apartment again?” Mr. Johnson suggested.

  “Yes, thank you.” Sebastian turned her towards the elevator.

  “Can I bring you two anything?” Mr. Johnson offered. He hated seeing Ms. Riley cry.

  “No, we’ll be fine.” Sebastian had an idea. “Wait a second. Could you bring us burgers and fries like in a fifty’s diner?”

  “That wouldn’t be a problem at all, sir.”

  “A strawberry shake for Robin and a chocolate one for me would be nice too. Would that be possible?”

  “Naturally. It will be delivered to your apartment as soon as possible.” He pulled out his cell and talked to Mr. Schmidt, whispering what happened and what was ordered.

  Sebastian got back into the elevator with Robin still clinging to him. She was repeating ‘Oh, Daddy’ over and over again.

  “Daddy’s here, honey. Everything is going to be all right now.”

  “I wanted to call you back, Daddy, but I couldn’t. I knew that I’d start to cry if I heard your voice. I pretended to be a big girl all day, but I can’t pretend with you,” she sobbed into his chest.

  “And you never have to. Daddy loves you just the way you really are. I’d never ask you to change.”

  “I want you to move in with me, Daddy. I need to see you every day. I’m sure Mr. Johnson will help you pack and carry your things up.” She looked up at him and tried to smile, but she wasn’t ready for a real smile.

  “I’ll move my things in this weekend, but I’ll stay with you every night. I know you need me.” He hugged her tighter to his chest, because that was where she belonged, by his heart.

  “Daddy, I had a feeling that everyone but me knew who was going to be the next partner. The man they chose didn’t even look surprised. He took it all in stride.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. It isn’t fair that a man was selected over woman who worked harder for the promotion.”

  Robin handed Sebastian her briefcase. “Can you get out the key? I need to wipe my nose.”

  “Of course, honey.” Sebastian set his bag down on the floor in front of their apartment and took Robin’s bag to look for the key.

  “I forgot to ask you how your day was, Daddy.” Robin forced a smile on her face.

  “I had a very nice day. Don’t worry about me.”

  “But our relationship is all about you taking care of me. That’s not fair.”

  “That’s the way I want it. I told you that’s the kind of relationship I need. I meant it. Nothing makes me happier than taking care of you.”

  “I love you so much. Thank you for not breaking our pact.”

  “That was the best pact I’ve ever made.” Sebastian was dead serious. Meeting Robin was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He unlocked the door and held it open for Robin to walk through.

  Once they were inside, he turned to Robin and looked into her watery eyes. “Will you marry me, Robin? I swear I’ll love you and adore you for the rest of our lives. I’ll take care of you and make sure you know how special I think you are. Please say yes.”

  Robin stared at him, shocked. “Do you really like me that much?”

  “Oh, yes, I do. I like you better than everyone else in the world. I don’t need to wait and see how things will develop or get to know you better. You’re the only one for me. Say yes, Robin.”

  “Yes. A thousand times yes.” She took hold of his face and kissed him several times. “This is the best day of my life.”

  “Mine too,” Sebastian agreed with her, wholeheartedly.

  A smiling Robin opened the door when their food arrived.

  “Ms. Riley, you look positively radiant,” Mr. Schmidt declared. He’d expected to find her in tears.

  “Sebastian asked me to marry him. I said, yes.”

  “Congratulations, to both of you.”

  “He’ll be moving in with me this weekend,” she informed him while he set their plates on the table.

  “That’s great news. It’s always good to have a doctor in the house. And our Ms. Riley deserves the very best too.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” Sebastian took his little fiancée into his arms and kissed her soundly.

  Mr. Schmidt quietly left the lovers alone. He needed to report the good news to the others. That meant they only had two to go. He felt like a professional matchmaker. This would call for champagne.

  That night Robin lay in Sebastian’s arms as they watched the news on TV. “Daddy?”

  “Yes, honey.”

  “Are we going to be one of those couples like Gina and Alexander are?”

  “Perhaps. We’re going to be like we are. We’re going to explore what we feel comfortable with, and only do that. Nothing will be forced, ever.”

  “I think age play is more common than people think. I think Marcy and Todd do it too. Sometimes they slip up. I’ve heard her call him Daddy.”

  “Marcy is the one who doesn’t like to wear socks, right,” Sebastian asked.

  “Yep, I think he spanks her too, mostly for not wearing socks,” she giggled.

  “Do you want to hear from me that we’re perfectly normal? Because we aren’t. What we have is extremely rare and very special.”

  “I think so too, Daddy.”

  “You aren’t upset about being passed over anymore?” he asked, confused.

  “I guess I thought it would make me happy. I doubt that it would have. I know you’ll make me happy. Unless, you’re giving me an enema.”

  “I don’t know, you looked pretty happy while you sat on the toilet,” he teased her. She had finally learned not to be shy with him.

  “Daddy.” Robin playfully smacked his chest and then snuggled into it. She didn’t care what hap
pened in her outside life. What happened inside of this apartment was all that truly mattered. She had everything that she wanted. “You still owe me a lollipop.”

  That was right. He’d forgotten about the ring. This was the perfect moment to give her the ring he’d bought her this afternoon.

  He pulled a red heart-shaped lollipop out of his pocket and gave it to her. It had a red ribbon wrapped around it and a ring with a single diamond on it was tied onto the ribbon.

  Sebastian held it out to her so she could see it. Then he untied the ring and slipped it onto her finger where it belonged. “I love you, honey.”

  “I love you too, Daddy.” She snuggled into his chest with a happy sigh, feeling perfectly content. “Thank you for letting me be the real me.”

  “Of course, honey. You know I’d do anything for you.”

  Part 3 – Eve And Joshua

  Chapter 1

  Joshua walked into the club and looked for his friends. His first thought was that it was a little loud in here. He hadn’t seen his friends in a while. A quieter place would have been better, so they could talk and catch up. There were too many distractions in here. This was the kind of place he usually went to to pick up women.

  He spotted his old college buddies sitting at a table. They all had their wallets out. Joshua knew what that meant. They were showing pictures of their kids. He had no idea why they’d do that. Everyone knew exactly what the others kids looked like from the billion pictures they posted online.

  Joshua made his way through the crowd. When his friends spotted him they, all stood.

  “Looking good, Joshua.” Matt slapped his friend on the shoulder.

  “No, he doesn’t,” Ethan protested. “He doesn’t have any meat on his bones. What this man needs is a good woman cooking for him.”

  “Joshua has lots of women taking care of him.” Kyle jumped into the conversation.

  “Yes, but I said a good woman. There’s a difference.” Ethan looked Joshua up and down. “You look too good to be married. You’re missing the love handles that a man our age should have.”

  “Actually, I stay fit by having sex every night,” Joshua teased them. “I’m sure I eat as much as you guys do, but then I meet a lovely young woman and take her home with me. I burn calories that way.” He winked at Ethan.

  Ethan shook his had. “I know you think that sounds good, but it’s really sad. You need one woman who really cares about you.”

  The others made noises agreeing with Ethan.

  “You guys are always complaining about your wives. I read your ball and chain jokes online.”

  “That’s all they are, jokes.” Kyle told him. “I show them to my wife, and she scolds me. I apologize and wrap my arms around her and yank her down on my lap. We make up, and out, right on the spot.”

  “And then one of your kids comes in, and the day is done.” Joshua shook his head at Kyle. “Every man who owns a TV knows what married life is really like. I don’t want that.” Joshua was looking over Kyle’s head at a couple of women dancing. They were having a girl’s night out.

  He knew that if he went over to them that they’d laugh and giggle. If he played his cards just right, he could take one of them home with him.

  “Damn it, Joshua. Were talking to you.” Matt boxed him in the shoulder. “Can’t you concentrate on something other than Little Joshua for just one evening.”

  Joshua grinned at his best friend. “Little Joshua isn’t that little. He demands attention.”

  His friends snorted. “You just don’t get it. One of these days your lifestyle is going to catch up with you, and you’ll regret it.” Ethan shook his head.

  “That I highly doubt.” Joshua turned away from them to order a beer from the approaching waitress. He smiled at her nicely.

  “You’re not going to hit on the waitress.” Ethan said loud enough that the waitress could hear. “He’s a player, ma’am. He’ll just leave you with heartache.”

  “Thanks for the warning, but I already know his kind. They prey on the nice girls who don’t go out often.”

  The table hooted with laughter. “She saw right through you,” Matt declared.

  Joshua shifted in his seat. His so-called friends had changed. Thy never used to be like this. They’d been the ones dragging him out for a night on the town. They’d given him pointers on how to pick up women, not the other way around. “Trust me, I don't go for the nice ones.”

  They grinned when they heard that.

  Joshua was a bit offended. “Maybe you guys would feel more comfortable if I didn’t join your devoted daddies club.”

  “Don’t pout. We’re just saying that you have a problem.” Kyle didn’t want to offend Joshua. He wanted Joshua to have a better and safer life. “Who would you call if you got mugged on the way home and had to go to the hospital?”

  “First I’d call the police, and then I’d call an ambulance,” Joshua answered him.

  “Who are you going to call when they let you out of the hospital?” Kyle asked.

  “A taxi,” Joshua answered. Joshua wanted his friend to know that a woman wasn’t a cure all to the problems in the world.

  “Who would you call to bring you a toothbrush, and a book to read at the hospital?” Ethan was grinning from ear to ear. He felt he had Joshua with that question.

  “Mr. Johnson would bring me anything I wanted,” Joshua stated, proudly.

  “Whose Mr. Johnson?” Ethan asked.

  “His doorman,” Matt answered Ethan. “He’s right. Mr. Johnson would bring him whatever he wanted, find him an expert to get a second opinion, and find a sexy Swedish woman to give him a massage.”

  “Really?” Kyle asked, impressed.

  Matt nodded. “I was visiting Joshua to talk about a savings plan for the new baby, recently. While we were talking, my two-year-old, Sandra, tripped and knocked out a tooth. Blood was everywhere. Joshua called his doorman. Within minutes, we were in a taxi on a way to a dentist on a Sunday afternoon. Mr. Johnson found a babysitter for the baby and Brandon, and when we came back home, the rug had been professionally cleaned. That man can do anything.”

  “That’s right. He also found me an office. I now work in the building I live in. I'm playing in the big league now. With Mr. Johnson, it’s ask, and you shall receive.” Joshua bragged. “You don’t need a wife when you have Mr. Johnson and club girls.”

  Joshua looked over at the group of women dancing.

  The men laughed and talked about old times. Joshua's eyes wonder over to the women dancing again and again. The most beautiful woman he’d ever seen joined them.

  Joshua couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. She was the kind of woman that could persuade him to settle down.

  Kyle was washing his hands when he overheard two college kids talking. One was telling the other he got knockout drops from his older brother. He explained to his friend that they could slip it into girls’ drinks, and then the girls would go wild for lust and sleep with them.

  “Come on, man, it’s time we finally got laid,” one encouraged the other.

  Kyle sighed. He seldom heard such stupidity. He could see that the two guys weren’t what one would call alphas.

  Kyle pulled out his badge and went over to the two young men.

  “Do you have any idea how dangerous those drops are? The only type of person who would give a woman something like that is a guy who couldn't care less if she died.” He took the drops away from them. “You two are lucky that this isn’t my city. I just saved you a murder charge,” he said to give them a good scare.

  They apologized and thanked him.

  “Go home. If I see either of you again, I’ll have you arrested. Leave, now.”

  The two young men took off.

  One of them bumped into Joshua who was walking into the bathroom.

  “What was that about?” Joshua asked.

  “Just a couple of punks,” Kyle replied. Kyle followed them out to make sure they left the premises. Then he went back to
the table.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t invite Joshua along anymore,” Ethan said.

  “I don’t know, maybe.” Matt shrugged his shoulders.

  “What are you two talking about?” Kyle asked, sitting down.

  “Joshua,” Matt answered him. “He isn’t paying attention to us. All he cares about are the women dancing behind us.”

  “That man needs a wake up call,” Ethan said.

  “I just took some knockout drops away from two little punks in the restroom. We could put a couple of drops in his drink,” Kyle suggested, halfheartedly.

  “What would happen if we did?” Matt asked.

  “That depends on how much we give him, how much alcohol he’s had. His vision would fog, and he’d act like he was drunk. Tomorrow he’d wake up and have no idea what happened this evening.”

  “That’s what I call a wake up call,” Ethan said.

  Fifteen minutes passed, and Joshua still hadn’t returned to the table. They spotted him talking to a gorgeous blond woman.

  “He can’t even take a break for one night.” Ethan shook his head.

  Matt nodded. His friend needed saving, and they were the only ones who could do it. “Give him the drops. We’ll stay with him to make sure that nothing happens to him. Tomorrow when he wakes up and can’t remember a thing, we’ll make sure he’s freaked out and changes his ways.”

  “We can’t do that.” Kyle couldn’t be a part of something like that.

  “He’ll thank us one day.” Ethan was positive that this could help.

  Chapter 2

  Eve smiled at her friends. Today was her day off. She didn’t get many of those.

  Eve was an actress in an Off Broadway play, and did a couple shows every day. Things were going so well for her.

  She worked herself to the spot she wanted to be at. She was being offered roles in plays. That meant people came to her and asked her if she wanted to be in their play.