The Daddy Dilemma: A Brother's Best Friend Enemies To Lovers Romance (Hot Daddy Book 3)

by Tracy Lorraine

  “I know. One drunken fumble and just look what happens.”

  “Way to ruin the moment.” I playfully swat him on the shoulder.

  “What? I can say hands down that it was the best thing I’ve ever done under the influence of alcohol.”

  “I didn’t agree at the time.”

  “No, maybe not the morning after. I pretty much still hated you then.”

  “So much so you ran before I even woke up.”

  Heat colours his cheeks as he thinks back.

  “I couldn’t bear to have you throw me out. I already felt like a total tool for banging my best mate’s little sister, the last thing I needed was a barrel load of abuse from you.”

  “Probably for the best.”

  “You’re not even going to deny that’s what you would have done?”

  “Why would I? It’s the truth and we both know it. It all worked out in the end though, didn’t it, snookums?”

  “Sure did, cupcake.”

  I’m still chuckling at how we found ourselves here when Brandon turns into a retail park.

  “What are we doing?”

  “I thought today was the perfect day to decorate the nursery. Though I was expecting you to cave about finding out the sex and that we’d need to buy a specific colour.”

  A zing of excitement races through me. “Can we pick furniture too?” I ask, looking towards the baby store a few shops down from the DIY shop.

  “Um... maybe another day. Let’s sort the walls first.”

  I’m disappointed, but still the thought of making our little one’s room look all cute is too appealing to let it fester.

  When we leave, Brandon’s loaded down with two tubs of paint, an arm full of wallpaper, paste, and all the brushes and tools we could need.

  “Don’t you already have most of that stuff in your garage?”

  “Yeah, but I wanted new for this. It’s special.”

  His excitement is clear in his voice and I can’t help but fall that little bit more for him.

  Turning, I come to an abrupt stop in front of him. Concern hits his features. “What’s wrong?”

  “I love you, baby daddy.”

  Dropping my lips to his, I kiss him in the middle of the car park. Not caring about the cars driving around us trying to find a space or the fact it’s drizzling rain. All that matters is this man who’s giving me everything.

  “I love you too, Reese, but any chance I could go put this down?”

  I look down at the stuff hanging from his arms and wince. “Well, if you’d have let me help, you wouldn’t be carrying so much.”

  “Just open the damn boot, woman.”

  “Sure thing, caveman.”

  “You’re going to need to part with this car sooner or later you know. We’re never going to get a car seat in this thing.”

  “I know,” I say sadly. It’s the one thing I’ve been clinging onto, but I know the time is coming to trade it in for something more sensible.

  “We can go this weekend if you like. Any idea what you might want?” I shake my head. I’ve always had expensive taste when it comes to cars, so I’ve really no idea what I could get for the money I’ve got.

  As the sun begins to set later that day, we’re both covered in paint splatters. My back aches and my feet are pounding but the sense of achievement that’s swelling my chest is totally worth it.

  “It looks incredible, Brandon.”

  The walls are a soft biscuit colour with one feature wall with paper featuring different colour stars.

  “I wish we had the furniture to finish it off,” I sulk, now desperate to see our baby’s room complete.

  “We will soon. Why don’t you go and have a bath? You look like you’re struggling.”

  I hate to admit it, but he’s right, and the temptation of hot soothing water is a little too much to ignore.

  “That sounds like an incredible idea.”

  “Go and relax. I’ll get this all finished off and clean up.”

  “Thank you for this, Brandon.”

  “You’re more than welcome. Anything for you two.” His hand gently brushes over my belly.

  There was a time when I never would have believed this was possible. But standing here it’s the most natural thing I’ve ever done. I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for everything else I’ve ever done in my life, but this just feels so... right. I thought I’d miss my job and the thrill of winning my client’s case, but I really don’t. I can honestly say that right now is the happiest I’ve ever been.

  Smiling down at Brandon who’s dropped to give my belly a kiss, I thread my fingers into his hair and pull him back up to me. His face is covered in paint thanks to the roller he’s been using all afternoon, but he’s never looked better.

  Reaching forward, I bring our lips together and pepper kisses over his mouth. He allows me a few seconds of control before his hand slides into my hair and his tongue slips past my lips.

  “Can’t. Get. Enough,” he murmurs between kisses.

  Pulling back, he rests his forehead against mine. His heaving breath skirts over my face.

  “Go… before I take you in our baby’s new room.”

  I almost stay exactly where I am because the offer is so tempting, but my backache makes itself known and I know where I really need to be. There’s time for that later.

  With one last kiss, I leave him in the room and go to run my bath.

  Once I’m settled in the soothing water, I grab my phone and call Sarah.

  “So did you find out?”

  “Nope, I was strong.”

  “I can’t believe I don’t know whether to buy my future godchild blue or pink,” she grumbles.

  “Godchild? Bit presumptuous, aren’t you?”

  “After all the years I’ve had to put up with you? Not at all.”

  “Hardly. You pissed off up north as soon as you could to get away from me,” I say lightheartedly. “So how are things up there?”

  “Stressful. The oldest kid is going off the rails. She was suspended from school this afternoon for fighting. I’m at my wits end, and with her parents never here, I really don’t know what to do for the best.”

  “The little shit needs teaching a lesson by the sounds of it.”

  “I couldn’t agree more but there’s only so much I can do.”

  “That sucks. You know, you should just have your own. You can shout at them any time you like then,” I say with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood a little.

  “Ha, yeah. Chance would be a fine thing. I spend all hours of the day following these little brats around. I don’t find much time to go prowling for my own baby daddy.”

  “Your brother got a best friend?”

  “Funny.”

  We chat for a while longer before she insists I hang up and get out of the bath before I fall asleep in it and drown her godchild.

  I can barely put one step in front of the other when I step out of the bathroom a while later wearing one of Brandon’s t-shirts that I stole from his drawer.

  “I can positively say that that looks better on you than it does me,” he says, climbing the last few stairs.

  “I hope you don’t mind; my pyjamas are getting a little tight.”

  “Mind? You look hot as fuck right now. You are more than welcome to wear my clothes any time you like.” His eyes drop to my bare feet and slowly make their way up. By the time they hit the hem of his shirt, my thighs are clenching to feel his hands on me.

  He steps forward and I wait for his touch and hopefully his kiss, but instead of that, his hand comes over my eyes and he spins me around.

  “What are you doing?” I ask in a rush, not liking having my sight removed.

  “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  “Oh. I hope it’s what’s hiding behind those sweatpants.”

  He chuckles and thrusts his crotch into my arse, making me moan, but when he starts walking me forward and turns, it’s not into our room.

  “You ready?�
��

  “You naked?”

  “You’re insatiable.”

  “It’s the baby. Are you complaining?”

  “Not at all. Just worried it’ll dry up afterwards.”

  “I don’t think we’re going to have a problem. You’ve seen yourself in a mirror, right?”

  “So you only want me for my body?”

  “Yep. There isn't all that much else that’s worth it, slob.”

  “I could say the same, Ice Queen.”

  His hand that’s not around my eyes, skims up my hip and under his t-shirt so he can place his fingers over my belly.

  Leaning into my ear, his breath tickles, making goosebumps prick my skin. “One. Two. Three.” He removes his hand and I blink a couple of times to make my eyes focus.

  “Brandon,” I breathe, not able to find the words for what I’m looking at. “Oh my god, did you make all this?”

  “I did.”

  “It’s... it’s incredible.” I look between the hand-crafted furniture that now fills our baby’s room through tear-filled eyes. “This must have taken you hours.”

  “I’ve been working on it all for months.”

  “Wow,” I breathe. Walking over, I run my fingertips over the cot before opening the chest of drawers with a changing table sitting on the top and a perfectly sized wardrobe for little clothes.

  “Do you like it?” There’s a slight wobble to his voice like he’s unsure.

  “Brandon, it’s so beautiful. I’m lost for words.”

  His arms wrap around me as I stare down into the cot, trying to imagine what it’ll look like with our baby wiggling around inside it.

  “I’m so sorry I ever called you a lazy, talentless slob.”

  “I’m sorry I ever made you think I was one. I was just lost, Reese. But you rescued me. You found the man I’d hidden beneath heartache and hair and you’ve made him better than he ever was before.”

  A sob bubbles up my throat and I’m turning into his arms. He kisses the top of my head and expresses once again how much he loves me. I’ve no idea how I ended up here, but I never want to leave.

  19

  Brandon

  August

  My life is perfect.

  Our life is perfect.

  And in approximately a month’s time our life will be even more perfect.

  Today the sun is shining and so we’re taking a walk in the park before we nip to the shops to stock up on nappies and other items that are going to become essentials in the upcoming weeks.

  Reese is blooming. As the sun shines on her I’m glad it’s not overbearingly hot. Her pale blue strappy summer dress floats down, and the gentle breeze blows it against her bump, now very prominent. Her skin is tanned and golden. She looks the picture of health and she has the slightest little waddle to her walk.

  “Can you believe that soon we’ll be doing this pushing a pram around with our baby in it?” Reese smiles up at me.

  “It doesn’t seem real, but I can’t wait to meet our baby. I wonder what it’ll look like?”

  “Maybe a little boy who looks just like his daddy?”

  “Or a little girl who looks just like her mummy?”

  We’re corny and cheesy and I absolutely don’t give a fuck.

  Because we’re in love.

  And I’ve decided that as soon as that baby is here and we’re a little more settled, I’m going to propose to Reese.

  Because this woman has shown me to not be afraid to love, and I realise that what I thought I had with Naomi was nothing. That was first love, with its crushing disappointments while the body and brain learn about relationships. What I have with Reese is real, warts and all, ‘I’d die for you’ kind of love. She’s my world.

  The Ice Queen and the Slob. There’s a new one for Disney.

  We move onto the shops buying cute little outfits we don’t need because the baby’s neutral wardrobe is already vast, and another cuddly toy that just might be the one the baby loves hard.

  Finally, I can see Reese is tiring. “Let’s just nip quickly to the supermarket. Tell me what you want this evening for dinner and then you can put your feet up while I cook.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  I tell Reese she can stay in the car, but she insists on coming in with me. “Can we get some more nappies?” she asks.

  I begin laughing. “Reese, how many packs of nappies do we need to have in? The supermarket is five minutes away from home.”

  She gives me a pout that I currently can’t resist. “Oh come on then. One more pack won’t hurt.”

  We’re in the nappy aisle when we hear a voice.

  “Hello, bitch.” A sour-faced, thin, tall man comes up to Reese, invading her personal space.

  She jumps. I step in between the man and her, my muscles tensing ready to kill him if I need to.

  “Got a problem, friend?”

  “I’m no friend. Just it’s a little bit rich, seeing the lawyer who took my kids away from me, buying nappies ready for her own kid coming,” he shouts over my shoulder. “I hope some fucker takes yours away from you, so you know what it’s like.”

  He stamps off and I look around. “I need to get a security guard.”

  Reese grasps my shoulder; she’s trembling. “No, let’s just leave all this and get home, please? I just want to go home.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need to sit down?”

  Reese takes some deep breaths. “I’m okay. In fact, give me a minute and then let’s pay for this shopping. I refuse to be intimidated by that bastard. And he wonders why he lost access to his kids.”

  We take our time and eventually leave the store and make our way to our car. What happens next is so unexpected that it takes a moment for me to process it’s really happened.

  A car screeches through the spaces next to us and hits Reese. I watch in what feels like slow motion as she goes sprawling over its bonnet landing on the floor. I run to her but she’s out cold.

  “Reese. Reese. Wake up, please,” I plead looking around me for help.

  People come running; one tells me she’s a first aider, someone else calls an ambulance. The first aider takes over checking Reese is breathing while I turn to the man who has exited his car.

  “He did it. He threatened her and ran her over. Get the police,” I shout.

  The man starts to protest. “I just wanted to scare her. That’s all. I didn’t mean to hit her. My foot slipped on the accelerator.”

  I’m not interested in anything he has to say. All my thoughts are with my girlfriend and baby. It seems forever before the sirens of the ambulance arrive and we’re taken to hospital.

  Reese begins to stir as she’s lifted into the ambulance. “What…?”

  “Reese? My name is Moira and I’m a paramedic. We’re taking you to hospital, sweetheart. You were knocked down. Just keep still for us while we check you over.”

  “M- my baby?” Reese’s voice breaks as she asks.

  “We need to get you to hospital and checked over. Let us do our job and you just try to relax. Your husband’s here.” She nods to me to move closer. “He’ll hold your hand while we get there, okay?”

  And that’s what I do. I hold her hand all the way to hospital, stroking her thumb and telling her everything will be okay when the truth is I have no idea. I’m not and have never been a religious man but in my head I pray to every deity there is.

  We arrive at Accident and Emergency. The obstetric department is only around the corner and I don’t know who we need. I feel so helpless. Reese is whizzed through with staff shouting out words I don’t know the meaning of and I’m asked to wait in a waiting room.

  I’m left alone and my girlfriend and unborn baby are gone and at the mercy of doctors and fate.

  I fall to a seat, place my head in my hands, and take a moment to just try to gather my breath. Then I pick up my phone and call Jack.

  He arrives with Rhian, and his mother and his father. I look from one to the other of them
knowing they do not have a good history. Reese’s mum touches my arm. “She’s our daughter. We’ll be civil. What is happening?” I look to her father and he nods his head.

  “I don’t know. She was taken through to the main hospital and no one has been out yet.”

  Reese’s mum goes to make enquiries and before long a doctor comes out of the main doors asking for her. We step forward.

  After finding out who we are he begins to speak.

  “Reese has a concussion. Other than that her vital signs are stable. She’s been very lucky. However, the shock of the impact has triggered early labour. She’s been moved over to the labour ward.” He looks at me. “If you’d like to make your way there, your baby is on the way.”

  “But everything is okay?” I ask.

  “Reese is okay, apart from needing to be watched for a concussion. The baby is being monitored and so far everything is stable.”

  “Oh thank God.” Tears fill my eyes and I turn around to the others to find every one of us is sobbing.

  “We’ll go find a coffee shop or something. Keep us informed.” Rhian says, coming over and hugging me. “Now go!”

  Adrenaline fires me up and I run all the way.

  Pushing through the doors, I find Reese laid down on a bed with monitors on her stomach.

  “Brandon. Thank God.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  The midwife nods. “Everything is progressing smoothly so far. We’re likely to be a while with it being mum’s first labour. However this little monkey has decided to come a month early and so we’ll be monitoring things closely. Plus, we also have to keep an extra eye on mummy here, seeing as she has that nasty bruise on her forehead.

  It’s true. Reese’s forehead has a large yellowish bruise appearing and is swollen. I pull up a seat at the side of her.

  “What happened to Mr Harper?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t know and we’ll deal with him when you’re both home safe. The police will have him in custody by now. Right now, we’re concentrating on a healthy baby and a healthy mama, okay?”