Secret Daddy: A Second Chance Romance

by Scarlet West

  It wasn’t all bad, I had to give him that. He knew how much I liked to play the field. Yet another thing that he saw wrong with me. He’d settled down rather young with my mother, and though he still attended these kinds of things – Hell, he even orchestrated them – he was faithful to her.

  I, on the other hand, wasn’t looking to settle down. I liked hookups that I could forget about when morning came. And with the amount of money I had, and how powerful my father was, many women were more than happy to jump into bed with me.

  Of course, it wasn’t just the money. It was everything. I took care of myself. Very good care. Even at the end of my twenties I was on top of my game, putting in hours at the gym every week, watching what I ate for the most part, and making sure I was rock hard and muscular.

  My father wasn’t a fan of the tattoos I chose, but I made sure they were hidden – only visible when I took off my shirt for some lucky young woman I brought to bed with me. My dark hair and blue eyes certainly worked to my advantage as well, and I didn’t have any problem making any of the women swoon.

  It was a good life overall. I didn’t have much to complain about. Well, nothing that I could really justify, anyway. I went through the motions, doing what I wanted to do and keeping my father happy. As long as I could keep him off my back, I was happy.

  He didn’t give a damn what I did, and I didn’t want much to do with him. We share a business and a fortune, and that was it.

  “Blake? Blake Bogart is that you?” I cringed. I knew that voice. Frank Gingham came stumbling over to me. I’d easily describe him as a dirty old man who’s main goal in life was to get on these yacht parties and hookup with women who were a third his age.

  But, he was one of our biggest investors, a man my father was adamant we keep happy despite my feelings toward him. I forced a smile before I turned.

  “Frank! You old Bastard! I wondered if you made it on the ship before we set sale!” I said as I helped steady him. He also had a drink in his hand and was far more intoxicated than I.

  “Of course I did. I was running a little late so I missed the party on the dock, but with the proper ID you know you can get in at the last second,” he said. “How’s your father? I haven’t seen that man in a while and I’m beginning to think we’re past due for a day of golf.”

  “He’s in Italy right now, working on another business deal with someone he was telling me about over there,” I said. “I’m not sure when he’s going to be back.”

  “Bastard. Well, you tell him that he needs to get a hold of me when he does. I need to hit a few balls,” Frank said. “Speaking of hitting balls, which lucky lady is yours tonight?”

  I looked around the yacht, quickly trying to find my escape. I didn’t want to talk about this with him, and I knew once I told him I didn’t yet have anyone in mind, I’d get trapped at him with the bar. To make my night worse, I had a feeling he’d have several of his other friends there. Being more than thirty years older than me, the last thing I wanted to do was get trapped drinking with them.

  “Oh, she’s around here somewhere,” I said with a smile. “I was just on my way to find her when I ran into you.”

  “I’ll give you a hand. With any luck she’s ended up topless with the group jumping off the back of the boat,” he said with a grin.

  “That’s okay,” I said. “I’ll find her.”

  I was trying to back away, but he was sticking to my side like glue. I didn’t want to lose my temper with him. That was the one thing my father made sure to drill into my head. I must never, never lose my temper with this man or any of the other investors. It was hard with my arrogant, can’t tell me what to do attitude in life, but I didn’t want the word getting back to him.

  “There she is,” I pointed to a girl who was hanging back against the wall. She was young, but she was hot, and she was perfect to get me out of here.

  “Wow,” Frank said as he looked at her. “You’ve outdone yourself this time.”

  “Yeah,” I replied. “But I’m going to go snag her before she gets away from me again.”

  “You should introduce us!” he announced, and my heart sank. I had no idea who that girl was or what her name was. All I knew was that if she was here, she had some sort of status in life. I was about to make some sort of excuse when Allen Hughs walked over.

  “Frank! You old Bastard! Get over here and buy me a drink!” he announced.

  “Looks like we’re going to have to take a raincheck on that,” I said. “You’re being beckoned.”

  “Allen!” Frank’s attention was quickly turned to another of our investors. A man with more money than most on the boat, and who often played everyone’s friend. I wasn’t so sure about him, either, but I was glad to be rid of Frank. I helped turn him toward Allen before dodging away myself.

  But, I still hadn’t gotten that woman out of my mind. She was gorgeous. Brown hair, Brown eyes. She was tan, clearly having spent a lot of time in the sun. She was just my type, and I decided I was going to fuck her.

  Suavely, I walked through the seat of people to where she stood, leaning coyly against the wall and smiling down at her. “You having fun?”

  “As much fun as anyone has at these kind of events,” she replied rather dryly.

  “Doesn’t seem to me like you are. I’d think someone as pretty as you would be out there dancing the night away,” I said as I sipped on my drink.

  She looked up at me, glancing up and down my body before sipping on her own glass. “This isn’t usually my scene.”

  “Mine neither, but I’m here for my father. Impressions, you know?” I said.

  “I do, actually,” she replied. “I guess my grandparents are partners with the guy who owns the yacht. They weren’t able to make it themselves, so they sent me to represent, though I’m not even sure I’ve met any of these people.”

  “You have now,” I said. “My father is that guy, and I’m here to host.”

  “You’re Blake?” she looked at me once more, surprised and, I’d like to think, interested."

  “You make it sound like I’m not what you were expecting,” I said with a grin.

  “You aren’t,” she said.

  “So who are you? I’ll know the name, I promise,” I said.

  “Ashley Velvet,” she said.

  I almost staggered. She was indeed one of my father’s favorites. At least, her grandparents were. I remembered the Velvets coming to see my father before I was even in high school, though I never saw Ashley before.

  “You know me?” she asked.

  “I know your family,” I said. “But I’d like to get to know you.”

  I gently reached down and picked up her hand, lifting her fingers to my lips. She smiled, clearly charmed but trying not to be, then she turned her attention back to the women who were still dancing on the deck.

  “This is quite the party you’ve got going on,” she said.

  “To be honest, I’m getting rather sick of all the noise. You want to head somewhere quieter?” I asked. She looked back at me, once more looking me over from head to toe. It was clear what I was getting at, and it was clear she wanted to take the invitation.

  “We’re on a boat,” she said at last. Ah, that was one thing I’d heard many times before.

  “We’re on a yacht, but that doesn’t mean there’s nowhere we can go for some privacy,” I said. “Come on, let me show you down below. I think you’ll like it more than up here.”

  I nodded toward the door at our left and started walking, turning to see if she was going to follow. Ashley hesitated for a moment, seeming to be torn as to whether she was willing to make the decision, then she drained the rest of her drink and shrugged, tossing the empty cup in the trash can on her way by.

  “I hope it’s good,” she said.

  “Oh, it’s good,” I said with a seductive grin. Her smile once again told me she knew what I meant, but she was eager to follow.

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  Scarlet West, Secret Daddy: A Second Chance Romance