Hot Daddy Package: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by Tracy Lorraine

  He stares at me like an alien has just landed.

  “But, Suki. That could be construed as almost… friendly.”

  “I can always suggest you grow a pair.”

  “No, no, no. You offered. Dinner and a movie. I’m sold.”

  “I did not…”

  He pouts.

  “For God’s sake. I’ll order a pizza as well.”

  We go back to the spare room and Doe lies contentedly in her basket while we carry on sorting through things. We make a pile of the clothing.

  “So what were you thinking with Mum’s clothes?”

  “I don’t know how you feel about it, but I’m quite handy with a sewing machine and I thought I’d cut some squares and make a quilt for her eventual bed and maybe some cushion covers?” He winces when I say about cutting them.

  “You could keep maybe one or two of your absolute favourites for her to play dress-up in, but ultimately Scott, you need to let go. Your mum is here.” I point to my temple.

  He nods. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll do that. Can you help me choose two you think she’d like to play dress up with and then I’d be very grateful if you could do the quilt and cushion thing. There’s no rush. It’s not like she can appreciate them yet. Or, if you don’t have time, I can find someone and pay them.”

  “I can do it. I can start it while I’m here. I just need to collect my sewing machine.”

  “Suki. I know we wind each other up the wrong way but thank you. Really. It pains me to say it, but I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “Can I have that made up as a poster to put on the wall of InHale?”

  “Nope, this message self-destructs in twenty seconds.”

  I snigger and carry on sorting.

  A couple of hours later there’s a visible floor desperately in need of a vacuum, and a room that needs dusting. The curtains are down and in the washing machine although Scott seems set on her having the perfect bedroom.

  “What would you have wanted, Suki?” he says as I collapse onto the sofa, exhausted.

  I immediately tense up. “This isn’t about me. It’s about Doe.”

  “God, I’ve fucked up again. Sorry, Suki. I just thought maybe I could give Doe what you didn’t have and it could kind of help you process your own stuff maybe. It was a stupid idea, forget I said it.”

  My eyes fill with tears. Fuck, I don’t cry. I never cry.

  “Oh, Jesus. What the hell? I’m sorry, don’t cry. Insult me or something. I’m a manslut wanker.”

  I mumble but it’s incoherent.

  Scott runs into the kitchen and back and holds out a few sheets of kitchen roll. I wipe my eyes and blow my nose.

  “What did you mumble?” he asks.

  “I said you were a thoughtful manslut wanker. I’m not a very girly girl and I’d be likely to ask for a black bedroom, but I think if I can choose for Doe, she’d love a unicorn-themed room with all pastel colours: pinks, blues, yellows.”

  “Unicorn-themed it is.” He says. “Right, I’m going to make us a drink. Tea? Coffee?”

  “Coffee please.”

  Doe is back in her bouncer. Once I’ve had this drink, I need to shower this dust and general grime off myself. God, that room was grim. Scott walks back in handing me a drink and plops down on the sofa next to me but right at the other end, thank goodness.

  “So my paternity kit should arrive today. It’s posted next day delivery.”

  “Wow. Big stuff. How long does it take?”

  “I’ve paid extra for results within a day so the quicker I get it back to them the better. But by the end of the week I should have the results, though there’s no question really is there?” He looks over at Doe.

  “Not to me, but you just never know, do you?” I hedge.

  “I can’t think about it coming back any other way. She’s mine. I’m attached. I’d want to be her father now even if she wasn’t mine. Every little smile that you tell me could be wind. Her smell. I’m just addicted. What would my flat be like without her noises in it?”

  “I get you.” I tell him. “I’ll miss her too when I go back home.”

  For a moment he looks panicked. “Sorry, I know you will have to go home sometime. Perhaps there’s a flat in my block, like we could drive out the person next door? Then you’d be able to visit and babysit.”

  “Oh yeah. At your beck and call while you go out shagging.”

  “I think those days are behind me, Sooks.”

  “A) I don’t think a complete personality transplant is possible in that short space of time and B) if you call me Sooks again I will throttle you with my bare hands and then your daughter will have no one.”

  He winks. “She’d have you… Sooks.”

  I put my drink on the coffee table and launch myself, pretending to wrap my hands around his neck. At the last minute I decide to tickle not mock strangle. He wriggles as he tries to get away. “Stop it, stop it.” Somehow I’ve ended on top of him straddling his lap. Well this is extremely awkward.

  I look down at him, “Erm.”

  A loud knock on the door means I can clamber off with the distraction of him needing to answer it. “I bet it’s your paternity kit,” I say.

  He climbs off the sofa but looks at me while scratching his chin. “I’d expect that to be left downstairs with the rest of the mail, but I guess it could need to be signed for.”

  He walks into the hallway and I sit back on the sofa, until I hear the loud words. “How do you know where I live and how could you just leave the kid like that?”

  I rush as fast as my legs will carry me into the hallway.

  “Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?” Doe’s mother asks, with a perfectly drawn brow.

  “Invite you in?” Scott sneers. “The woman who abandoned a baby without a stitch of extra clothing, not even a fucking nappy? Fuck off.”

  “Now, now, Scott. I’m sure I have information about our daughter that would be helpful to you, so I think a cup of tea would be nice. Yes, indeed.”

  I can see Scott is about to slam the door in her face, but it’s true. The leggy blonde standing in the doorway wearing a camel coloured jumper dress and brown boots does need to explain herself. I step forward.

  “Come in. Leave your boots in the hall.”

  She smiles smugly at Scott who is looking thunderous at me, steps past him, removes her boots and follows me.

  “We’ll go through to the kitchen.”

  “Where’s my daughter?”

  “She’s settled. You can see her later, maybe, after we’ve talked.”

  Scott follows us in. “You’ve got five minutes, that’s your lot.”

  “I like her attitude much better. You’re the bartender from InHale, right? I was under the impression you two hated each other. Was that just an act?”

  “It’s none of your business. Now what do you want?” Scott looks about to pick her up by her clothing and launch her back out of the flat.

  “Now, Scott, I don’t actually think you should be treating the mother of your child like this. If she’s yours of course. Arranged a test yet?”

  “I’m going to ask you one last time. What. Do. You. Want?”

  “Money,” she says as cool as she accepts her cup of tea. “Ten thousand and she’s all yours.”

  “Are you fucking joking?” I yell. “You’d sell your own flesh and blood?”

  “She was a mistake.” The woman looks at Scott. “A very enjoyable mistake, but a mistake all the same. I thought you’d call me, Scott, when I left you your special delivery but I’m guessing you didn’t keep my number. Do you even know my name?”

  “Nope. You were just one of many, darlin’, and obviously not memorable.”

  Her face falls slightly at that, but she soon recovers her composure. “Ten thousand and I’ll give you full custody.”

  “I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I already have full custody. You’re on camera abandoning your child.”

  “No
, I just handed her to daddy because an emergency came up.” She says smugly. “That’s what I’ll say, and that you refused to give her back.”

  “We’re fighting you for full custody.” My mouth blurts it before my brain engages.

  The woman starts laughing. “We?”

  “Yes,” I announce quick as a flash. “I’m his fiancée. We’ll fight you all the way.”

  Scott almost chokes on fresh air. But it’s rattled Doe’s mother.

  “Let’s start again, I haven’t even introduced myself.” She says. “I’m Morgan Durrant. I used to be a socialite until I fell on some hard times, especially that one.” She points at Scott’s groin. “Now to keep myself on track I need some financial assistance. You can either pay me a little through child support and I’ll keep the brat in a box in my flat, or you can have her, for ten k. It’s a bargain really.”

  “What’s her name?” I ask.

  Morgan just smiles. “What’s it worth, darlin’?” She mimics Scott’s voice.

  “Five hundred pounds. I can go get it from the cash machine now. I want to know her name, her birth weight, her proper date of birth and where she was born. I want to be able to copy her birth certificate. I presume you have it?”

  “How very astute of you. I do. Fine. Five hundred for the name. Seems like a good start.” I stand up and Scott steps in my way, his jaw set taut. “No, Suki.”

  “She deserves it.”

  Morgan looks surprised. “Well, I didn’t expect you to say that, but yes, I guess I do.”

  “Not you. Your daughter.” I spit. “I’ll be a couple of minutes. The cashpoint is only around the corner.” I grab my bag and dash for the door.

  I need to get this money and get to know who Doe really is and the details she needs for life, her date of birth. And then if I need to pretend to be Scott’s fiancée to fight this bitch for custody, I will. I’ll do anything for that baby, anything.

  I’m in so deep, I’m fighting to keep my head above water, especially as I withdraw five hundred pounds from the machine that I can ill afford, but some things are more important.

  Doe is more important.

  Making my way back into the kitchen, I’m actually surprised that I didn’t find Morgan back on the doorstep.

  She smiles as I walk in. “At least one of you understands me, anyway.”

  “I want the birth certificate first.”

  “And how do I know you’ll give me the money?”

  “You don’t, but then I don’t think you’re in any position to argue if you want to leave here with the cash. Give me the certificate so I can take a photo of it.”

  “I’ve got a scanner.” Scott says. I nod.

  “Pass him the certificate.” I demand.

  She laughs. “I did you a copy anyway. Here you go. I’ll exchange it for the five hundred.” She holds it to Scott who has a quick look, nods, and I give her the money. She hops off the chair. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you. When can you have the rest of my money?”

  “You’re not having any more money, that’s it. Get out of my fucking flat and I look forward to seeing you in court.” Scott fumes.

  “You want to take that risk? I’ll drag your name all over the courtroom.”

  “How are you going to afford it, if you’re here scrounging for five hundred quid?” I spit.

  “I’ll find a way. It’s what I do. I’m nothing if not resourceful.” She strides towards the doorway.

  “Don’t you even want to look at her?” I ask.

  “No, I have what I came for.” She says and with that she opens the door and walks straight out.

  Banging the door closed behind her we both run into the room to see Doe. She’s fast asleep.

  “She looks like an angel.” I say.

  “Maybe that’s because she is one.” Scott says. “Her name is Angelique Mirabelle Durrant.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Scott

  I fall down onto the sofa and drop my head into my hands. My heart is racing and my head is spinning. How could a mother of such a beautiful and incredible baby act like that? Like money is more important than her daughter? I feel sick. My stomach turns over just thinking about how easily she took the cash Suki offered and ran as fast as she could. She didn’t even give Doe—or Angel—a second look. My heart shatters for my daughter. I swear to her in that moment that I will do whatever it takes so she doesn’t ever know the kind of mother she has. So she doesn’t feel the kind of abandonment that’s surging through my body on her behalf right now.

  Suki’s voice pulls me from my turmoil. I thought today had already been traumatic enough with my meltdown earlier; her visit really was the icing on the cake.

  “Hi, please could I order two large pizzas? One meat feast and one Hawaiian.” She rattles off my address before putting her phone back in her pocket and falling down on the sofa beside me.

  “It’ll be thirty minutes.”

  I nod. Staring ahead at the blank TV.

  “Talk to me, Scott. You’re worrying me.”

  “I…” I trail off not really knowing where to start. “I think my life just flashed before my eyes.”

  When I turn to look at Suki, her brows are pinched together in confusion.

  “I discover I’m a dad, and now suddenly I’ve got a fiancée too.”

  A small smile tugs at her lips. I notice for the first time that they’re not painted bright red. As I look over the rest of her face, I’m struck with just how beautiful she is without her make-up. I’m starting to wonder how much she was using it to hide behind, just like me with my over-the-top personality. I’m well aware that I put on that persona to stop anyone getting close enough to hurt me. Could Suki and I be more similar than we’ve ever realised?

  “Sorry about that. I panicked. I couldn’t have her thinking she’d stand a chance of taking Doe… Angel…” She shakes her head in confusion, her short bobbed hair hitting her face. “I refuse to allow that bitch to take her from us.”

  “From us?” I ask, but I’m not testing her, I’m genuinely interested in how attached to Doe she’s become. How set she seems to be on helping us.

  “Shit. From you.” She chastises herself before getting up and walking to the kitchen and pulling the fridge open. “You haven’t any wine,” she complains.

  “I usually wine and dine women in restaurants, Sooks. You’re the only woman to spend any time here.”

  She looks over her shoulder at me in surprise, but I can’t read the look in her dark eyes.

  “I’m… uh… gonna run to the shop. I think we deserve a bottle—or two—after that interaction.”

  “I can go,” I offer.

  “No, no, you stay with Doe. She’ll need a feed soon. I could really do with some air.”

  I refrain from pointing out that she only just got back from the cashpoint, in favour of watching her pull her boots and coat on.

  The flat feels empty and like there’s something missing the second the front door closes behind her and I hate it.

  Making the most of the quiet and Doe’s nap, I run towards the shower. The dust from that room is coating my skin and I hate it.

  I have the quickest shower of my life. I hate not being able to hear Doe but if I don’t have a shower when I can then I’ll never wash again.

  I turn off the shower, grab a towel and rub it over my hair as I step from the room to check on her.

  She’s still sleeping soundly in her bouncer, but she’s put her little thumb into her mouth and she’s sucking intently. She’s too unbelievably cute and I forget what I’m meant to be doing as I drop down beside her and stare at her little face.

  I ignore the click of the front door, but it’s not until I glance up at Suki, who’s walking in with a few shopping bags in her hand that I realise I’m naked with the towel still in my hand.

  I stand but it’s too late. Her eyes run down my bare torso until they land on my cock. They stay there for just a second too long, giving me ideas. But then
she blinks, her eyes find mine and they narrow to slits.

  “Do you ever put clothes on?” she barks, turning her back on me and dumping the bags down on the kitchen counter. Glass clatters. So much for her buying one bottle.

  “This is my flat. I can let it all hang loose if I want.”

  “Yeah, when you’re alone. Go and put something on. Neither Doe nor I want to look at that before dinner.”

  “Fine.” I turn to walk to my bedroom but feeling her stare I look back over my shoulder. “Nice arse, right?” Her face turns beetroot-red at being caught.

  “I’m going to have a quick shower. Don’t eat all the pizza if it gets here before I get out.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Suki locks herself in the bathroom. I’m not sure if she wants to keep me out or her inside. The thought alone makes me smile. Am I cracking a little bit of Suki’s reinforced armour?

  The pizza man buzzes as I’m shoving my feet into a pair of jogging bottoms and I almost fall face first in the hallway as I race to go and answer it. I’m fucking starving; no one is taking that pizza from me.

  I’ve got them up around my waist by the time my hand hits the buzzer to allow the guy up. My stomach growls as I wait for him to appear with two steaming hot boxes.

  “Thank you,” I say, before taking them to the kitchen and resting them on the side while I get out two glasses and pull one of the bottles of wine from the bag Suki abandoned. I also find a punnet of cherries—random—and a tub of ice cream that I quickly shove in the freezer.

  I settle myself down on the sofa with the pizzas temptingly close on the coffee table. My self- restraint is threadbare as I wait for Suki.

  The shower turns off and I pray that she’s not one of those girls that then spends forever pissing about with exfoliators and fucking face cream.

  Thankfully I’m right because not four minutes later, the door cracks open and her light footsteps sound out behind me.