Baby Daddy Read online

  Part of it has been a mini-business boom. In addition to the new product and restocking, the shop has been crazy busy with customers, and Devon and I have stayed after hours every night to get the new items out on the floor.

  I don’t know what caused the boom, but it’s been great for the bottom line. One of the spring dresses I’d bought an entire rack of completely sold out already, and I even had to rush-order a few more to keep up with demand. The Etsy dealer must be doing backflips themselves . . . or shitting themselves trying to keep up with my demand.

  But for now, we’re finally done. I glance over at Devon, who’s looking just as exhausted as me. “Devon, thank you so much! I don’t know how I would’ve done this without you. You’re a life-saver.”

  She smiles back, her chin lifting proudly as she surveys the shop and all our hard work. “No problem, Rose. I’m happy to help. And I appreciate your teaching me so much. I know unpacking and hanging clothes isn’t exactly fun and games, but your telling me about how you choose what to order and the quantities helps me understand the whole process better.”

  I snicker, smirking back at her. “I love how you make my rambling about business stuff that only interests me sound like something you actually enjoy. Thanks for indulging an old lady.”

  Devon bursts out in giggles, shaking her long, dark locks. “Old lady? You make it sound like you’re ancient. You’re a few of years older than me, and I’m twenty-two.”

  I half-close my eyes, nodding sagely while putting on a false philosophical accent. “Ahh, but it is the wisdom and life in those few years' difference that change everything.”

  She rolls her eyes, heading for the back room where I know we’ve both got water bottles stashed. “All right, Dr. Phil-etta, you'd better get out of here before you’re late for your prenatal appointment, or did you forget about it?”

  I can’t help but bounce up and down a little bit, despite my aching lower back. “Of course I didn’t forget! It’s sonogram day and I get to find out if Jelly Bean is a boy or a girl. I really hope it’s a girl or Brad is gonna be so pissed. He already bought pink booties with humongous bows on them and a onesie with a tutu attached. Can you believe that? A tutu. I guess I’m just thankful he hasn’t bought a tiara yet. Well, at least not one for the baby, but between you and me, I’m certain he has one for his own use.”

  Devon snickers. “He definitely has at least one, and don’t tell him that I snitched, but he already bought a headband with a big tiara printed on it, complete with blingy rhinestones.”

  I laugh, waving it off. “I can definitely believe that.” Giving her a quick hug, I grab my purse and head out to my appointment. I’m supposed to meet Nic there, even though he offered to pick me up. With the way I’ve started feeling every time I see he’s sent me a text, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t detour the car straight back to my house for a quickie before the appointment. As much as I want him, I don’t want to jump the gun.

  Speaking of texts, I check my phone to make sure he hasn’t sent anything while I was working today. It’s another habit I’ve gotten into, just sneaking my phone out for a moment to see if he’s sent me anything. In some ways, I feel like a teenager again.

  Nope, nothing new since his simple confirmation of the appointment he sent me this morning, but I see the few texts we sent last night, full of double-entendres and dirty talk. I swear that man can get me off when he’s not even in the same room. Actually, that was literally the case last night because after we signed off for the night, I had to finish what we started, rubbing myself until I yelled out his name.

  Shutting off the phone for the drive, I soon pull into the doctor’s office lot and see Nic waiting outside. He looks handsome as always, dressed in a business suit with a long overcoat to keep out the chill.

  He waves, immediately rushing over and opening the car door for me, taking my hand to help me stand, and then wrapping his arms around me in a big hug. “No carrying me through the lot, you big ape,” I tease, relaxing into his arms. “How was your day?’

  His lips press to my cheek, and my heart speeds up as he whispers in my ear, “I’ve missed you.”

  Smiling, I reply back, “I’ve missed you too, but we’ve been so busy I’ve been working like mad the last few days. I don’t think I’ve sat down once before ten in the evening.”

  Nic raises an eyebrow as he looks down at me, and I can tell he knows I’m exaggerating just a little. Actually, last night, I was lying in bed with my legs spread, my fingers busy, and my mind on nothing but him at ten . . . but he gets the idea. “Well, maybe we can go to dinner after we see the doctor and then I can give you a reason to sit down.”

  I lean back, patting his chest playfully. “Any particular reason in mind?”

  I’m flirting, half-hoping he says something sexy back but cautiously reminding myself to go slow. It’s just so damn hard with Nic. Everything with him seems natural, easy, and about a hundred miles an hour.

  He nods somberly, playing Mr. Serious. “Definitely something in mind.” He leans back down to whisper in my ear, his breath tickling me and making my stomach flutter. “Maybe I could interest you in a foot rub since you’ve been working so hard?”

  I moan, my mind already filling with ideas of candles, oil, lingerie, and Nic on his knees easing the exhaustion out of my feet before moving up my legs. “That’s not at all what I thought you were going to say, but that sounds amazing. Just don’t judge my pedicure. I slapped a fresh coat of polish on for the appointment, but my toes are getting further away every day so I’m sure it’s sloppy.”

  Nic laughs, letting go enough to let me catch my balance. “Trust me, I’m not judging your polish.” He takes my hand, and we go inside, quickly getting escorted to the sonogram room.

  Within moments, Dr. Stevens enters and I introduce Nic to him. “Nice to meet you, Nicolas. We would like to do some bloodwork on you too, and there’s a questionnaire if you’re up for some paperwork? I just want to make sure we screen for any possible complications, not that I think we’ll find any.”

  I look to Nic, uncertain about his response, but his voice is unwavering as he answers Dr. Stevens. “Sure, we can take care of whatever you need today. I’m here for Rose and for Jelly Bean.”

  His steadiness puts me at ease, a coil of tightness loosening in my heart to let Nic sneak in just a little more. I lie back on the table, Nic moving politely up to stand by my head and hold my hand.

  I jump a bit as Dr. Stevens squirts cold jelly onto my belly and begins moving the handheld wand around. I watch as he points out various body parts and takes measurements, my eyes flicking back and forth between the screen to see for myself and then back to Nic to see his reaction.

  Nic looks a little terrified, but mostly excited, probably exactly how I looked at first, and I remind myself that to him, this is all brand-new. Dr. Stevens presses a little bit, getting a view of the heart flickering on the screen. With a press of a button, the musical rhythm of Jelly Bean’s heartbeat fills the room. My eyes lock with Nic’s and his jaw drops open in wonder. “Is that it—the baby’s heart?”

  Dr. Stevens nods. “Yep, sounds good. Everything’s looking good, for that matter. Measurements are right on track for your due date. Are we finding out the gender today?”

  I nod, grinning foolishly as I think about the idea. “Yes, please! I can’t wait any longer. And Auntie Brad will probably kill me if I don’t call him within minutes of leaving here.”

  Nic squeezes my hand, and I look up to see him gather his courage and strength. In his steady gaze, I know that somehow, everything’s going to be all right. “We’re ready.”

  Dr. Stevens draws a circle on the screen before declaring triumphantly, “Looks like you’re having a . . .” He pauses dramatically, and we nod like bobble heads until he explodes into a huge grin. “Girl!”

  The news is stunning somehow, as if knowing that I have a baby girl inside me makes this all real, and I burst into tears. Joy fills and explodes inside me
like someone’s just set off a whole value-pack of fireworks, and I’ve got sparklers, Roman candles, pinwheels, and more running all around inside me, and the only way to let off the pressure is through tears.

  Nic looks back at me, suddenly confused as he wipes the tears away, wrapping his arms around me and whispering in my ear. “It’s okay, Rose. We’re having a girl, and she’s going to be beautiful and perfect, just like you.”

  Vaguely, I realize he’s trying to comfort me, like I’m disappointed, and I laugh. The combination of tears and laughter do him in, and he looks to Dr. Stevens for help. “Uh . . . Doc?”

  This isn’t Dr. Stevens’s first rodeo, though, and he smiles, patting my shoulder with a neutral gesture that can be both reassuring and celebratory. “Congratulations, Rose!”

  He exits the room, and I wipe the last of my tears away, getting control of myself. “I’m not sad, Nic. I’m excited and happy. It’s a girl! I’m having a girl!”

  He wipes my tears once more, lowering to press a light kiss to my lips. “We’re having a baby girl.”

  Chapter 16

  Nicolas

  After the doctor’s appointment, I hug Rose a few more times, pulling her close. I’m still in disbelief at the surprising change in my life in such a short period of time.

  A baby girl . . . my baby girl.

  I carefully help her into her car before following her home in my rental SUV. I normally try and drive something that’s less than a rolling penis compensation, but around here, the big tires and four-wheel drive are actually helpful. Twice, as we leave stop signs, I feel the tires have to bite a little extra before accelerating, and part of me wonders if Rose’s very practical and very small car is the right vehicle for the winters here.

  “Stop freaking out,” I laughingly chide myself as we pull up in front of Rose’s house. “I’m sure she can drive just fine around here. She’s been living here a lot longer than you have, mother hen.”

  I feel warm and very self-aware as Rose invites me inside her place, and from the moment I cross the threshold, I can see Rose’s personality all over the place. Her style is warm and cozy, neat and tidy. Along the short hallway to her living room, I see four pictures, and I smile when I see an obviously younger Rose holding a diploma while wearing an emerald green gown and cap. “Graduation?”

  Rose stops, then smiles as she shrugs off her coat. “Yep. That was me, eight years ago. Can I take your coat?”

  I hand her my coat and my suit jacket, leaving me in just the dress shirt and slacks that I wore for my meeting with Mr. Adams, the resort’s owner/manager, earlier today. I can feel her eyes on me as she slips both onto hangers, making them disappear into the closet before leading me into a comfy-looking living room with a long overstuffed couch along one wall. “I might be all about fashion at work, but at home, it’s all about poufy pillows and being able to let my body relax.”

  “You’ll get no arguments from me,” I tell her as we sit down on the couch. “My living room still has the same secondhand sofa that I picked up and have kept because I swear there’s no place better for catching some sleep after a long flight. Now . . . about that foot rub.”

  I reach down, pulling Rose’s feet into my lap, encouraging her to lie back along the length of the couch. The corners of her mouth tilt up, her smile growing as I slip off her shoes and take her feet in my hands, rubbing and kneading lightly.

  She groans, her eyelids fluttering as I start to work the knots in the sole of her foot loose. “Nic . . . what are you doing?”

  “What do you mean? Exactly what I told you I was going to do,” I reply as I run my thumb down the arch of her right foot. I can’t help it, the intimacy is turning me on even though I’m not trying to seduce her. My cock is stirring in my pants. “You’ve been working hard and you deserve a reward for doing so much. Tell me what you’re thinking about our baby girl.”

  I get a little catch in my throat as I say ‘our baby girl’, but I don’t think Rose notices, thank goodness. Instead, she’s almost purring. “Well, I’m thinking I want to name her Amelia and paint her room pink. Well, Brad wants to paint her room pink, but that’s fine because that’s what I want too.”

  I chuckle, lifting an eyebrow while wondering. I don’t mean to pry, but I do need to find out more about Rose’s life. Besides, she’s in a good mood right now, about two glasses of wine from being jelly if that was still allowed. “Brad seems like a good friend. You said he’s been taking care of you?”

  Rose smiles, biting her lip as I work on her big toe. “Oh, yeah, he’s gonna spoil this girl rotten if I’m not careful. Between him and Trey, her feet may never touch the floor.”

  I smile back, my cock growing as Rose shifts, and I can feel the warmth of her left calf coming to rest on my growing bulge. “I’m glad you’ve had friends and support during all of this. I’m sorry I wasn’t here before, but I’m glad I’m here now.”

  “Me too,” Rose admits. “Don’t tell Brad, but he sucks at foot massages. Although come to think of it, that might be on purpose because pedicures aren’t really his favorite job.”

  I chuckle and keep massaging, my hands moving up Rose’s lean legs, creating tension in the quiet house as I get higher and higher. As I trace lightly across her inner thighs, the back of my hand grazes up to her pussy as she starts to squirm. She opens her eyes and looks at me with a small smile, inviting me in. I cup her mound, my thumb sweeping across her clit, and even through her clothes, I can feel her heat.

  Rose bites her lip again, her breath catching when I stroke her clit again. “Nic . . . oh, God . . . what are you doing to me?”

  I reach up, hooking the waistband of her leggings, shifting her a little to the side and easing them down along with her panties in one long, exhilarating pull. My mouth is already watering to taste her as I remember our last encounter. “Driving you as crazy as you drive me.”

  I spread her legs, sitting back on the couch facing her so that one leg is half slung over the back and the other half on the floor, open on either side of me. Rose looks at me with desire coursing through her beautiful blue eyes and reaches back, grabbing the cushion behind her head. I slide my hands up her legs to her pussy, bared to me now. “You’re so damn perfect, Rose,” I murmur as I massage her lips, spreading her wetness along my thumbs and using it to slip along the pearl of her clit and back down to her tight asshole. “Five months, and every night I’ve thought of you . . . and you’re more beautiful now than ever.”

  She writhes, her hips chasing my fingers to get more, and her fingers clench around the cushion, her breath coming in short gasps. “Please, Nic,” she moans sexily as I keep rubbing her clit in feathery little circles with one thumb and sink my other thumb slowly into her wet folds, spreading her open a little and watching the dark pink of her inner lips be massaged by my digit. “Oh, fuck, yes.”

  I feel her squeezing me, and it’s enough to make me groan out loud, my cock pressing painfully against the fabric of my suit pants. I switch, replacing my thumb with first one finger and then two, moving them in and out slowly in time with the teasing to her clit. “My sweet Rose,” I murmur, watching her. “Let me help you feel good.”

  Speeding up to match the rhythm she sets with her hips, I can feel the flutters starting deep in her core as her honey drips down toward her ass, and I pull back. “Not so fast, Rose,” I tease. “We have all the time we need.”

  She whimpers, whining desperately. “More . . . I need it so much. I need you.”

  I pull my fingers out, dipping my pinky finger in once and then moving it to press against her tight asshole as I slide my other fingers back inside. She squirms, a sound of uncertainty squeaking out, but I reassure her, kissing her upraised knee. “Just relax, baby. I’m gonna give you more than you ever imagined possible.”

  Rose nods, her eyes full of concern and trust, but with just a few deep breaths and a few circles on her clit by my thumb, she relaxes enough, letting my finger slip inside her tight ass. I hold stil
l, relishing the interplay of feelings across her beautiful face, and I realize . . . I’m her first back there.

  “Good girl,” I rasp, nearly overwhelmed with the gift she’s giving me. I let the two fingers in her pussy sink in further while I keep my pinky still. When she adjusts, I start sweeping back and forth across her clit faster, filling her with slow strokes from all of my fingers. She squirms, loving the new sensation of being totally filled and taken by my hands as I stroke her clit with feather-light caresses that are meant to light her body on fire.

  Rose’s reaction is immediate and sexy, and she plunges herself deeper onto all of my fingers, looking down with her mouth dropping open in pleasure. “Oh, God, Nic . . . fuck.”

  Quickly thrusting my fingers in and out of her, I give her clit a small pinch, and she shatters under my touch, shudders wracking her body as she yells out my name. It’s beautiful to behold, and I feel lucky to be the man sitting here with her in this moment. I ignore my own desire for this instant as I watch her, and I realize again that something powerful exists between us and I need more.

  As she comes back down, her eyes focus on me and I’m shocked at the pure heat I see in their depths. She tries to sit up, and I help her, easing her legs down. Without saying anything, she reaches out, cupping my cock and massaging it, making me gasp.

  “Strip,” she says, more fiery than I’ve ever seen her before. “Now.”

  I stand, doing as she says while she pulls her shirt and bra off, exposing breasts that are bigger but even more perfect than five months ago.

  I do my best to give her a little show, playfully opening my shirt and easing the zipper on my pants down, but after five months, I’m too eager, quickly kicking my shoes off and nearly tearing a seam on my shirt as I yank it off. I sit back down on the couch, pulling her to straddle me, and she rubs along my shaft, coating me in her honey as her hips move up and down.

  I groan, not sure I can hold back much longer. I mean, other than my hand, it has been five months for me too. “Rose, is it okay . . . you know, with the baby?”