Unexpected Love
Page 1
Unexpected Love
Fiona Davenport
Copyright © 2020 by Fiona Davenport
Cover designed by Elle Christensen
Edited by Jenny Sims (Editing4Indies)
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
Contents
Unexpected Love
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
Epilogue
About the Author
Unexpected Love
Tech billionaire Jonah Carrington had no plans to have a family. Then he suddenly became the guardian of his one-month old nephew, and his heart was filled in a way he hadn’t known was possible. He was prepared to be a single father until he unexpectedly fell head over heels for his young, innocent neighbor.
He had to wait four long months to make her his, but when the time came, he wouldn’t hesitate to put a ring on her finger and a baby in her belly. Their love may have been unexpected, but Jonah knew it would last forever.
Chapter 1
Jonah
“Whoa!” I ducked just in time to miss the stream of urine that was coming from the wiggling little human on the table in front of me. “Nice try, dude,” I teased Tucker as I carefully folded the diaper over him and secured the sides. Lifting him to dangle in front of me, I nodded in satisfaction when it stayed on. Tucker gurgled, which I took as congratulations for accomplishing this task. It was always touch and go with those things. It was like the velcro straps knew their purpose and decided to rebel against it.
I settled him into the crook of my arm and walked from the room I’d recently turned into a nursery, heading to the kitchen. Tucker had only been living with me for a couple of weeks, but he was already the center of my world. I knew I’d get the hang of this dad thing eventually, but it was definitely overwhelming. I was constantly afraid that I was going to break him. Or do something that would scar him for life.
When my brother and his wife died, I was devastated. However, they’d named me as the guardian of their one-month-old baby boy in their will. To my surprise, not only had he helped my heart to heal, but he’d filled it in a way I hadn’t known was possible. It had only taken an instant to become his dad and think of him as my son.
Having a family had always been somewhere in the peripheral vision of my life plan, but it wasn’t something I really contemplated since I was always working. I’d built my tech company from the ground up, and now, it was worth billions. That came at a price, and at thirty-nine, I wasn’t sure if I’d missed the moment. Then Tucker showed up, and I realized what I’d have missed out on if I’d simply closed the door on starting a family.
Perhaps it was fate, but I’d sold my penthouse apartment in Midtown New York City less than a year before and bought a townhouse on the Upper West Side. It even had a yard, and I’d already ordered an awesome playset even though it would be several years before he’d use it.
Once I entered the kitchen on the second floor, I strapped Tucker into his swing and grabbed a bottle from the drying rack. I placed it under the machine that spit out formula and picked the correct ounces on the touchscreen before pressing the start button. I’d done a ton of research on babies and had been enormously happy to discover this machine, which was basically a Keurig for babies.
After Tucker was fed, he began to rub his eyes, and I transferred him to the infant carrier I’d bought because it was supposedly the best on the market. I was utterly exhausted, but I had some errands to run, and since he slept like a rock, I figured it was as good a time as any to get them done. I shot off a text to my driver, then tucked a blanket around my boy and grabbed my keys and wallet. The black Town Car was already idling at the curb when I stepped outside with the carrier, a backpack full of baby stuff, and a few folders of documents that needed to be dropped at my office.
“Mr. Carrington.” My driver, Hank, hurried over to help, and I handed over everything except Tucker, not trusting anyone but myself to make sure he was safe and secure in the back seat. Once I was settled in beside him, I told Hank to take us to my office, so he pulled away from the curb and drove in that direction.
I’d been working from home since Tucker had come to live with me, but I needed to stop by my office at times and make sure the place wasn’t falling apart without me. Though the signed documents could have been couriered over, dropping them off was a good opportunity to check in.
Cabe, my secretary, had been with me for five years. I was supremely grateful for him because, while he’d always been reliable and excellent at his job, he had adapted to my new lifestyle seamlessly. He’d proved himself so much more capable than I’d given him credit for. It was a lifesaver, considering that half the time I was awake, I was still a zombie from being up with Tucker at night. When I stepped off the elevator in my building, Cabe was already waiting for me and accompanied me on the walk to my office.
“He’s so adorable.” I held in a laugh at the way my efficient, no-nonsense assistant melted whenever he was around my son. Cabe was extremely private, so most people didn’t know that he and his husband had started the process of becoming parents shortly before Tucker arrived at my door. They’d finally found a surrogate and were getting closer, which was probably part of the reason he became a gooey marshmallow whenever he saw Tucker.
“You can hold him when he wakes up,” I assured him before he could ask. The way he lit up caused me to laugh out loud this time. He glared at me and began giving me all the company updates as we entered my office.
We’d been going over things for around a half-hour when Tucker began to cry. Cabe rushed over to pick him up, but after a few minutes of rocking and bouncing, Tucker’s cries had only increased. “He’s probably hungry,” I said as I crossed the room to where they were swaying in front of the view of Manhattan. “I’ll take him. Can you make up a bottle, please?” Cabe rushed to complete his task while I attempted to soothe Tucker. It didn’t seem like he had any interest in calming down, so I breathed a sigh of relief when Cabe returned with a bottle. Tucker latched onto it like I’d denied him food for a week. He sucked down the two ounces in minutes and began to cry again.
“Maybe he’s still hungry?” Cabe suggested. He produced a second bottle, and I raised an eyebrow even as I gratefully took it. He shrugged. “You know how I like to be overprepared.”
I chuckled and slipped the nipple into Tucker’s mouth. He sucked the second bottle down as quick as the first, then went back to crying. I was starting to feel panicked and wondered if I should take him to the ER. “Why don’t you take him home? Maybe he just needs some cuddles in a familiar place.” Cabe gathered all the baby paraphernalia and another stack of documents I needed to take home with me. I secured Tucker into the carrier, and the three of us made our way to the parking garage where Hank was waiting.
Throughout the drive home, Tucker’s cries seemed to get worse, and I decided to call the pediatrician before going straight to the hospital. I explained the situation, and she assured me that babies did this sometimes. “It could be that he simply needs to cry it out.” I glared at the phone, not at all happy with her response. “It could be gas or a number of other things. I wouldn’t worry too much unless other symptoms develop.” She gave me a list, and I wrote down everything she said on one of the folders.
Tucker’s screams were breaking my heart, a
nd as soon as Hank parked the car in front of our home, I climbed out of the car and took him out of his baby seat. I settled him on my shoulder and whispered comforting words while rocking from side to side. I was feeling a little frazzled and frantic but tried to keep my heart rate and breathing steady so I wouldn’t upset Tucker any further. Another car pulled up behind mine, and the back door opened. My neighbor exited the vehicle, and unsurprisingly, we drew her attention.
“How’s fatherhood, Jonah?” she asked with a teasing lilt in her tone. Mallory was vice president of the most prestigious ad agency in town, and she was rarely home. Though she was a very nice woman, she was extremely career-driven and made no secret of the fact she wasn’t interested in a husband and kids. Though, she did get a little soft with Tucker. But who didn’t?
“I—” before I could finish saying anything, I felt something warm running down my shirt. I sighed. It wasn't the first time Tucker had peed all over me, but the smell emanating from him indicated that it was worse this time. I lifted him away from my body and dropped my eyes to see yellowish-brown goop all over my shirt and, oozing from the sides of Tucker’s onesie. A blowout. Great.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“I think that’s pretty obvious,” Mallory snorted before dissolving into a fit of laughter.
“Hardy har,” I grumbled, throwing her a dark look. Just then, Tucker let out a loud belch. “Well, I bet that felt good, dude.” Despite being covered in shit, I smiled at my little man, hoping this meant it had just been a gas bubble causing him to cry. He looked a little unsure for a second, as though he wasn’t sure what was happening. Tears started to well in his blue eyes, and I cringed, but when he opened his mouth, cries weren’t what came out.
Instead, I found myself covered from chin to waist in baby vomit. He gagged a couple of times, expelling some more each time before he seemed to finish. I was stunned silent and didn’t have any clue what to do next. I would have been worried, except Tucker was suddenly happy as a clam. Flailing his little arms and legs, he flung more poop from his diaper while he gurgled happily.
Knowing I’d have to wash everything anyway, I went ahead and set him back down in his baby carrier. I had a gym bag in the car, and Hank handed me the towel from it, trying and failing to hide his amusement. “Thin ice, Hank,” I snarled even though we both knew it was complete bullshit. I would never fire Hank; he was like a member of my family.
He held up his hands in surrender and laughed again. “Been there, done that. Four times.”
I nodded and reached into the car to retrieve the diaper bag. As I lifted it, the strap broke and it crashed onto the ground. I stared at it in disbelief as the side split and bottles, formula, diapers, clothes, and everything else inside spilled out.
“Um, Jonah?” Mouth open and eyes wide, I lifted my gaze from the disaster at my feet and looked at Mallory. “Maybe you should get some help?”
The thought of someone else caring for my son had my mouth snapping shut and curving down into a frown. “I don’t want my son being raised by a nanny,” I said with a sharp shake of my head.
“I didn’t mean a nanny, exactly,” she explained. “I was thinking more along the lines of just someone to stop by and help from time to time.”
I crouched down and started to gather up the items, realizing it was probably better to just toss it all. “I don’t have the time or patience to find someone,” I mumbled distractedly.
“Actually, I might know someone.”
I glanced back over to her, curious but doubtful.
“My sister just came to live with me for a while. She graduated early from high school, and my parents...well, they’re pretty useless. Anyway, she’s not sure what she wants to do yet. She’s seventeen, but she’s been helping out in the daycare at K-Corp. Blaire Kendall sings her praises every time I see her.” Mallory chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Penny is pretty much my complete opposite. She adores children and will probably have a whole gaggle of them someday.”
“Auntie Mallory, huh?” I joked, snickering when she grimaced.
“Anyway, she’d probably love to help you out.”
When I stood, I was about to refuse, but to my astonishment, something inside me felt compelled to answer, “Send her over tomorrow morning, and we’ll see how she does.”
“Sure.” Mallory smiled and lifted her chin before climbing the stairs to her front door and disappearing inside.
Returning my attention to Tucker, I couldn’t help but laugh to see he was fast asleep and snoring. I envied the kid. Maybe some help wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Chapter 2
Jonah
I yawned and stretched my arms over my head, elongating my sore back muscles. Tucker had been a little fussy, and I’d been soothing him by rubbing his back, trying to get him down for an afternoon nap. It appeared I’d fallen asleep bent over the crib. The doorbell chimed, and Tucker stirred, which sent me sprinting down the stairs to the front door like a madman. I should probably have grabbed a shirt, but I was frantic to keep whoever it was from ringing the bell again. That must have been what woke me up, and I was going to beat the shit out of whoever it was if they woke my kid.
Reaching the foyer in record time, I threw the lock and yanked the door open. I opened my mouth, ready to let whoever it was have a piece of my mind, but instead, I was struck dumb. I couldn’t speak. I could barely think, but one part of me came roaring to life. In seconds, I was rock hard. My dick had barely twitched at a woman for years, and here I was, sporting an erection that threatened to bust the zipper on my jeans.
The sexiest woman I’d ever seen was standing on my porch, staring back at me with a similar expression to the one I imagined was on my face. She had thick auburn hair that floated around her head and down to her shoulders in soft curls. Her skin was pale and milky, and my fingers itched to see if it felt as silky as it looked. Her big, blue eyes were surrounded by long, auburn lashes, and her pert nose turned up adorably at the tip. Her mouth was wide with plump, pink lips. That mouth would be perfect for taking my above average size cock all the way to the back of her throat. I blinked owlishly, shocked at the dirty images she was inspiring.
My gaze continued its perusal to see a slender neck, large, mouthwatering tits, and a slim waist that flared into wide hips. Perfect for grabbing while I pumped her full of come, and perfect for having the babies I planted inside her. What the fuck? Where had these thoughts come from?
She was dressed in a tight pink tank top and jean shorts that showed off her legs. While she was probably around a foot shorter than my six feet, two inches, her legs were long and toned. They’d look amazing when they were wrapped around my waist...or my head.
Get ahold of yourself, man!
I ripped my gaze away from her body and returned it to her sweet face. She was staring at me with her lips slightly parted, and her blue eyes round and wide.
I knew what she was seeing because I wasn’t oblivious to my looks. Unruly blond hair that needed a cut, a long face with a hard jaw. Pale green eyes, framed with black lashes, a straight nose, and a round mouth. It was then that I remembered I was shirtless, and I was utterly speechless at the desire I felt to preen like a fucking peacock. I kept myself in shape, years of lifting and boxing made my biceps prominent, my abs were well defined, and I sported the cut V that women seemed to favor. Although I hadn’t used it in a very long time, I was also very well endowed, a detail that had not escaped my angel’s notice. In fact, she gasped when her eyes reached the bulge in my pants, and I almost laughed at how adorably innocent she looked. I didn’t bother to hide it either. I intended to get eleven inches deep in this woman eventually, so she might as well start getting acquainted with my size.
My mouth felt as though it was full of sand, but I cleared my throat and swallowed a few times, trying to reclaim some moisture. “What can I do for you, angel?” Better yet, what can I do to you?
“Um.” Her eyes dropped to the ground, and I immediately missed their
beauty. Her round cheeks flushed with a pretty pink hue, and I didn’t know how I knew, but I was sure that I could make her whole body flush pink like that by sucking her nipples or eating her pussy. “I’m Penelope—Penny. My sister said you needed some help with your son?”
And just like that, my world came crashing down around me. Son of a fucking bitch.
Penny. As in, Mallory’s seventeen-year-old sister. Jailbait. Off-limits. In fact, I should be thrown in a cell simply for thinking about the filthy, depraved things I wanted to do to her.
I waited for reality to throw a cold bucket of ice water over my libido, but it never came. I mentally banged my head against a wall. Seriously? I asked my dick. You practically hibernate for years and then lust after a woman—no, a teenage girl—who is off-limits on so many levels. I was thirty-nine, for fuck’s sake. Over twenty years older than her!
An evil voice in my mind began to argue that she certainly had the body of a woman and would legally be one very soon. The rational part of me sternly reminded me that I needed to send her away. This was a powder keg that could burn the whole city down.
“Listen, Penelope,” I said hesitantly, wanting to let her down easy. “Tucker is asleep right now, so you’ll have to be quiet, but I’ll show you around and where everything is.”
WHAT. THE. FUCK!?!?!?!?
It was like a fucking out-of-body experience. I watched myself step aside and allow her to enter the lion’s den. The gentle sway of those perfect birthing hips drew my stare like a magnet and gave me an eye full of her sexy, luscious ass.