My Surprise Secret Baby (Romance Box Set)

by Lexi Wilson

  “What kind of guy only has wine on hand?” Kira asked. “You haven’t really told me much about this man, and I would like to know if you’re going to be spending more time with him. You know, for safety’s sake.”

  “Sure,” I said, dragging out the word. “I’m sure that’s the only reason you want to know more about that handsome individual.”

  “It is!” Kira insisted, handing me some pain relief and a glass of water. I took the pills and drained the entire glass before heading to the kitchen to fill it again. I was so thirsty. I wasn’t hungover, but I couldn’t get enough water in me to feel better. And the headache wasn’t helping the situation, either.

  The coffee had helped a bit, but I knew I was going to need more if I was going to make it through the day without the headache turning into a full-blown migraine.

  “He’s an accountant,” I said after draining a second glass. “He’s from New York and moved here, and he’s older than me. He’s got great taste in literature and a great sense of humor, too. It’s like he’s the guy version of me. I’ve never felt so connected to anyone when we’ve first met.”

  “Or any guy at all, for that matter,” Kira teased. “Since when have you ever gone all weak in the knees over some guy?”

  “I’ve always had better things to do than get involved with a guy. I mean, back home I was so eager to get out of there, I didn’t want to get involved with a guy who was going to keep me there. You know enough of the girls got pregnant in high school, I wasn’t going to be one of them,” I replied.

  “Fair enough,” Kira said with a shrug. “It’s a wonder I wasn’t one of them with how stupid I was back then. Oh well, you live and you learn, and I’m out of there now. Living the dream in Chicago, huh?”

  “I’m glad you made it out of there without getting stuck,” I told her. “I wouldn’t want to be out here with anyone but you.”

  “Aw, you make my day,” she blew me a kiss, and I laughed. I filled another glass of water, but this time I sipped on it as I walked to the couch and collapsed into the cushions. Kira had cartoons on the tv, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was so weird to me to have been in bed with a man the night before, then come home and watch cartoons with my roommate.

  We had watched cartoons together so many times when we were kids, and it felt like a blast from the past now. But I was also glad I had told her what had happened the night before. I felt less embarrassed about getting in bed with Josiah how quickly I did, and I felt supported in my choice to pursue him.

  It would be nice to have a boyfriend while I was going through school and getting through my day-to-day stress at work, and he was just the guy I wanted to be mine. I knew already I was falling for him, and I hoped he felt the same way. He was my first, after all, even if I was the only person in the world who knew that.

  I was okay with my decision, and I was already looking forward to the chance to be in bed with him again, even if I did have to wait another week before we would be able to spend any real time together.

  “You know, I have to admit,” Kira said, breaking into my thoughts as she sat on the couch next to me with a glass of orange juice in her hand.

  “What?” I asked.

  “You have officially been christened in,” she said. “Having such casual sex with a man you barely know. I mean, I can’t think of anything that’s more college freshman than that!”

  I laughed. “Well, thanks. I guess if that’s the way I have to do it, then I’ll take it.”

  “It’s certainly a lot better than trying to get into a fraternity,” she said with a shake of her head. “Fuck that.”

  “Agreed,” I said with a nod. “I would much rather get laid with a hot guy and come back to my apartment to tell my roommate all about it. That’s the true definition of college to me.”

  “Cheers to that!” she raised her orange juice, and I knocked my glass of water against it before we both drank. I was lucky to have Kira and her support. She had been my best friend for as long as I could remember, and I felt I could trust her with anything.

  If there was one person who was always there for me, it was Kira, and I knew she always would be.

  And I’d do my best to be there for her, too. It was the least I could do after all she had done for me in life. We would be best friends forever, never letting anything come between us.

  We both settled into the couch to watch tv, and I let out a contented sigh. I was still sore from the night before, but it was a good kind of sore that made me crave Josiah all over again. I hoped to God we would have the chance to hang out within the next few days.

  God knew I would do everything in my power to be free for him.

  I just hoped he would do the same for me. I didn’t want to be ghosted again. I didn’t want to think I had done something wrong.

  Because right now, everything felt so right, and I hoped it would stay that way.

  Chapter 12

  Josiah

  My fingers tapped on the keyboard, but I was having a tough time concentrating on what I was writing. I was putting together a lesson plan for the first week of school, though it would mostly focus on getting the students used to the schedule and how I ran the class.

  I had met with the dean that morning after cutting the conversation short with Clara, and I had to admit, I was surprised she hadn’t come to find me afterwards. She wasn’t giving up on hitting on me, and some of the other teachers were looking at me in a way that let me know they were also thinking about it.

  I would tell them all the same thing. I didn’t date coworkers. I knew I was good looking, and I knew women found me charming, but that didn’t change the fact that I wasn’t going to change my mind about dating them.

  Not to mention, Zia had been on my mind all morning. Ever since I left her on the sidewalk in front of her building I had thought about the night before. Her body was perfect in every sense of the word. Hell, she was perfect in every sense of the word.

  I just had to focus and fight through the feelings that were welling up inside me. I knew I was playing with fire, but for some reason, I didn’t care. And I didn’t know what that would end up doing to me and my career.

  A knock on the door took my attention from the screen and my own thoughts to the moment, and I looked up to find Nathan standing there, a grin on his face.

  “Heard you finally talked to the dean,” he said as he walked into my office. “How’d that go?”

  “It was fine,” I said with a shrug. “I’m taking it he’s not the kind of guy to warm up to the new people.”

  “He’s not,” Nathan said with a laugh and a nod. “But you’ll get used to him. The longer you’re here and the better you do with the students, the more he’s going to warm up to you. Soon you’ll be on the board with the rest of us, and everyone’s going to wonder where you came from and how you wound up doing so well.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” I grinned. “But thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  “Anytime,” he said. “Speaking of confidence, how are things going with that girl you so confidently left the bar with the other day?”

  “The bar?” I asked.

  “The club,” he corrected himself then shrugged. “Club, bar, same thing.”

  “Not really,” I argued, but he changed the subject.

  “How’s she doing? How’re things going with her? Do you need a wingman to get her in bed with you? You know I’m good at that,” he pressed.

  “I said things are going just fine,” I told him. “No, I don’t need a wingman, and I’m not going to let you get involved in this. You were enough help with the last girl I was trying to date.”

  “It wasn’t my fault the two of you broke up, I’m just saying,” he replied. “You just couldn’t see she was playing you like a guitar. I’m glad I was there to watch your back.”

  “Or maybe you fucked up something that was just getting started for the mere fact you wanted to have a shot dating her yourself,” I replied with a dry t
one.

  “I wouldn’t do that. Come on, who do you think I am?” he asked. “You’re my best friend. I would be there to support you in any way I could and chase off the scary ones when the need arises. I know you can’t always see it, but I’m here to help.”

  “Sure,” I said.

  “Come on, tell me about this one! I know you’re seeing her, or you would have told me you weren’t,” he said. “I want to hear every detail besides the fact her body was absolutely insane. Nice tits on that one, too, I must say. I’m not sure how you always get the good ones.”

  “How the hell did you even notice?” I asked. “You were playing pool!”

  “I checked her out when she walked through the door, just like half the club,” he laughed. “And now I want to know how she’s doing. Why are you being so secretive about it?”

  “Because this isn’t any of your business,” I said. “I’ve got work to do, and if you will excuse me, I’m trying to get it done.”

  “Come on,” he said again, but it was too much. I had tried to be patient with him, dealing with his bombarding me with questions about Zia, but I was quickly running out. I wasn’t going to talk about her. The last thing I needed was for Nathan to find out about the fact I was sleeping with her and she was a student in the school.

  For all I knew, he was going to wind up having her in his class, and I wasn’t entirely sure he would be able to keep his mouth shut over that one. He was worried about his own reputation, after all, and I knew people could change against even their closest friends when their own reputation was on the line.

  “Fuck off!” I snapped. “I told you things are fine, and I’m not going to talk about it! I’m trying to get this done, if you don’t mind!”

  “Sorry, geez,” he looked at me like I had grown horns and a tail. “I was just asking.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. I did feel bad for yelling at him, but I wasn’t going to apologize for it. He had to take a hint, and there were times when he just couldn’t seem to do it no matter how hard I tried to give it.

  “Well, if you do need anything, let me know,” he said. “I have work I have to get to as well, and if you’re going to insist on getting yours done now, I might as well head over to my office and get a start on my own.”

  “You want to grab a beer soon?” I asked. “It’s been a while, and we can catch up then. I’m not going to talk about this girl, but we have plenty of other shit we can talk about.”

  “You know I’m always down for a beer,” he laughed. “It’s a date.”

  I shook my head, but I smiled. He was always one for a joke, and I knew he wasn’t angry with me for snapping at him. Not that I would have apologized regardless, but it was nice to know we were cool with each other. Even if I was hanging out with Zia now, he was still my first friend here and my only guy friend.

  Odds were I would need his help at some point, so there wasn’t any need to cause any tension between the two of us before we were even thrown into the stress of the semester.

  With the distraction of Nathan out of the way, I focused on work as much as I could, getting it done as quickly as possible. I didn’t have it in me to keep going, though I would often do lesson plans two weeks at a time. There would be plenty of time throughout the week to get the other one put together, and I wasn’t going to have much homework to deal with this early on.

  I would go light on the students on purpose the first week, getting into my own habits and schedules. And, with that out of the way, I decided it was time to head out for the day. I didn’t want to be stuck in my office any more than necessary at this point. God knew I would be stuck there plenty in the coming months.

  So, I grabbed my things and headed straight for the coffee shop. Zia was working, and she smiled when I walked in. There was one other customer in the lobby, and they were taking their coffee to go, so we were soon left alone with each other.

  “You going to order something?” she asked.

  “I would like a heaping helping of you,” I smirked, and she blushed with a giggle.

  “That can be arranged,” she said. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too,” I told her. “Do you have a second to…?”

  I let the words hang in the air, and she looked around. “There’s another barista in the back, but she’s on the phone, and I doubt she’s going to be up here any time soon. Still, we’ve got to be quick.”

  She walked me over to the corner of the lobby away from the cameras, then she melted right into my arms. Our lips met in an instant, and I felt the shock run through my core. There was something about this woman that was different from any of the others. I could sense it.

  Perhaps it was the fact she was forbidden, perhaps it was the sexual chemistry we shared. Whatever it was, I couldn’t get enough of her – that was for damn sure. We made out as fast and passionately as possible with the coworker in the back of the coffee shop, and I could sense the excitement flowing through her as we did.

  There was a thrill that went along with almost getting caught, and just the possibility was enough to make me want to take her right there on the table. But there wasn’t any way we would be able to pull that one off out in the open, and with her being the only person up front, I knew kissing was all we could get away with right now.

  We broke apart at the sound of the door opening, and Zia quickly headed back behind the counter. She gave me a wink of her own as she prepared for the customer to choose what they wanted, and I felt the rush of excitement run through my veins.

  I decided against ordering any coffee, and instead decided to head out, letting Zia remember the fact that I walked in just to make out with her then left without another word. It was part of the intrigue, part of the mystery of my charm that drove women crazy, and I knew it would work on her, too.

  She was a woman, after all, and there was no way she wasn’t going to go wild over such a charming act. She had work to keep her busy, yes, but that didn’t change the fact that I was the one on her mind. She’d told me she missed me, and I meant it when I told her I felt the same.

  This was electric, and whether it was short term or not, I was eager to have her in my arms again. Hell, I wanted to get her back in my bed, too. I would intentionally keep my schedule in the evening open, sure to be there when she had the time off from work.

  I wasn’t going to let her slip out of my grasp so easily, even if I was just as infatuated with her as she was with me. There was something here, and I wanted to explore what it was.

  Nathan could ask all the questions he wanted. Clara could hit on me all she wanted. I was going to keep this up for as long as possible; I’d already made up my mind about that. I was the kind of guy who got what he wanted, and right now, I wanted Zia. She had caught my attention, making me have no intention of leaving her any time soon if I had any say in it.

  And it was easy to see she wanted me, too.

  Chapter 13

  Zia

  I was both surprised and rather disappointed when Josiah left without ordering anything. It was hard to have him there when I was trying to work, sure, but I also loved having his company, even if I wasn’t able to give him the attention I wanted.

  On the other hand, it was really hard to deal with the customers coming and going when all I wanted to do was sit and talk with Josiah. I could spend hours with him. I had just the night before, and I was already counting down the hours until I had the chance to do it again.

  It wasn’t fair. I hadn’t ever felt this way about anyone before, and now, now he was the only thing on my mind. I didn’t know how the hell I was supposed to get through the school day concentrating on my classes and thinking about him at the same time.

  I already just wanted to spend all of my time with him. It was hard to let real life get in the way. Still, I’d never experienced this feeling toward anyone in the past. I’d had crushes here and there, just like everyone, of course, but I’d never felt this intense desire to be with someone every waking sec
ond of every day.

  With each passing hour, I checked my phone. I wanted to see if I had a text message from Josiah, though I hadn’t texted him yet. I wanted him to be the one to reach out to me. He had come in to see me, after all, and I felt that had to mean something. It really had to mean something with the way he walked back out of the shop without ordering anything and without telling me goodbye.

  But, hour after hour of my shift, nothing appeared on my screen. It was nothing but blank, and I didn’t know if I should finally cave in and text him first. I didn’t want to appear desperate. I wanted to be more like Kira. She was always so chill when it came to the men in her life, and she always had the best luck with them from what I could see.

  I didn’t want to be the girl who just stared at her phone all the time, wishing for the text from the guy she liked. But each time I checked my phone and found nothing, I felt that much more discouraged. I wanted to see him. I wanted to spend the night with him again, and I wasn’t sure if I should tell him so.

  Then, at long last, I got the text I was waiting for. And, to make it even better for me, he was wondering the same thing that was on my mind. It was as though the two of us shared the same brain waves. We could sense what the other person was thinking, and we were both willing to act on it.

  I can’t stop thinking about you. That kiss in the lobby was one of the hottest things I’ve done in as long as I can remember, and I don’t want to go to bed alone tonight. I’m guessing since you were there so early in the day, you’re probably going to be off at a decent hour, and if you wouldn’t mind, I would love to pick you up and take you home.

  My heart raced as I read each line, and I didn’t have to hesitate in my answer. I already knew what I wanted to do, and I wasn’t going to play games with him. If he was going to ask me directly to come over to his place, then I was going to be just as direct with him telling him when I got off work and that I was happy to accept the invitation.