Hot Daddy Package: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

by Tracy Lorraine

  Deciding I’ve spent enough time in my head, I go and throw myself into helping Carl. After all it’s Doe’s future room, it needs to be the best it can be.

  By the time the room is done, I’ve had many hours to think and I’ve decided that I am definitely going to sit and talk to Scott. Explain that we’ve complicated things by ending up in bed. That we need to have some space where he can work out things with his daughter and his ex. Then perhaps if he does feel something for me too, we could just get to know each other slowly. I scrub a hand through my hair. God, even in my head it sounds pathetic. I’ve just started to become another one of his desperate harem. They say there’s a fine line between love and hate. It was so much simpler when I couldn’t stand the man.

  Carl goes home and I decide to do some housework next. Nothing major, just a bit of tidying. I go into the kitchen to put a bit of laundry on. While I’m in the kitchen I hear the door going and then there’s a ton of laughter. I walk out into the hall.

  A woman with long dark hair and pale-blue eyes walks in wearing just a bra. Behind her is Scott who is creased with laughter and behind that is another woman who is also laughing though fully dressed. I can see the pram behind the dressed woman.

  “Oh my fucking God, Scott. You brought two women home when you’re supposed to be looking after your daughter? So that’s what you meant by double trouble; you’re having a fucking threesome. Why did I think you had a decent bone in your body?” I yell. “I’ve a good mind to take Doe with me, but unfortunately she’s not mine. The poor cow stuck with you and her waste of space mother. Make sure to put her down safely before you start fucking, won’t you?”

  The women are looking at me stunned.

  Scott reaches out for me, but I smack his hand away from me.

  Well at least now I know. Once a player, always a player, and now I’m one of the fools who thought he could be different.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Scott

  Sarah phoned to say that Reese had agreed to meet me later that afternoon. I must have sounded a little frantic on the phone because she immediately offered her assistance. Doe’s been grumpy all morning. I’ve done everything I’m meant to. I’ve given her the colic medicine exactly as per the instructions, but nothing I do seems to make her happy this morning and I hate it. The only thing I can put it down to is her missing Suki. That’s the only thing that’s different.

  Sarah suggests getting some air and says she’ll meet me with her brood. Hopefully that’ll cheer Doe up.

  We’d not even made it to the park and Doe had fallen asleep. I sit on a bench with her while Sarah tears around the park after the twins. It looks exhausting.

  Eventually they don’t even notice when she walks over to me and falls down onto the bench.

  “Kids keep you young, that’s for sure.”

  “We are young,” I point out.

  “Depends on who you ask,” she says with a laugh. “So what’s got that permanent scowl on your face? It can’t be this little angel, she’s sleeping so peacefully.” Hearing Doe’s real name is a pang to the chest. I really should start calling her it, but every time I open my mouth to do so, it gets stuck on my tongue. She gave her that name, the woman who wants to exchange her for cash.

  “Suki didn’t come back,” I blurt.

  “Why? What did you do?”

  I shrug, not all that happy that she assumes it’s my fault. “Nothing new. I think she’s freaking out about what happened between us.”

  “Can’t say I blame her. She’s probably sworn time and time again not to touch you and yet she caved to your manwhore ways anyway.”

  “It wasn’t like that,” I admit. “It wasn’t just a hook-up. It was… it was—”

  “More?”

  With a sigh, I go for honesty. “Yeah.”

  “You just need to talk to her, Scott. Man up and tell her how you really feel.”

  “I don’t know how I feel.”

  “Okay. Do you still hate her?”

  “No.”

  “Do you think about her all the time?”

  “Yeah.”

  “We already know you want to screw her, that’s a given knowing your rep—”

  “We haven’t actually… fucked.”

  “Oh?”

  I drop my head into my hands and say as fast as I can that I couldn’t do it.

  “Jesus, she really has got you all messed up.” Sarah’s hand lands on my back and she rubs gently as I sit in silence.

  “My advice still stands. Just talk to her. You might find that she's as confused as you are.”

  Silence falls around us as we watch the twins play.

  “Right, come on. Emmett should be home by now so we can drop off the monsters.”

  We take the short walk back to Sarah and Emmett’s home before jumping in an Uber and heading towards the cafe where we’re meeting Reese.

  Sarah’s talked about Reese briefly a few times so it’s not hard to pick her out of the customers when we walk in. She’s dressed in a sharp navy suit, her hair is perfectly smooth and her make-up is flawless. She’s kind of scary and probably not a woman I’d have approached on a night out for fear she’d claw my eyes out if I propositioned her.

  “Reese, this is Scott.” Reese looks up and runs her eyes down my body as she judges me. I can almost read the words, ‘manwhore, check,’ in her eyes. “Scott, this is Reese. I’ll go and get drinks. What would you like?”

  “Flat white and a bottle warmer?” I ask thinking that Doe’s probably going to scream the place down soon.

  “Sure thing. I’ll leave you to get acquainted.”

  “I...uh…” I fight for the right words under Reese’s intense stare. “I really appreciate your help.”

  “It’s no problem. I used to live for this. We’ve met before. Kind of. I’ve eaten at InHale. Watched you and that bartender in action.”

  I unstrap Doe from her car seat and pull her into my arms. I change the subject from Suki.

  “What changed? How come you’re not still in law?”

  “My own version of what you’ve got right there. She’s gorgeous.” Her eyes turn soft as she focuses on Doe and I see a totally different side to the woman at the other side of the table. “So Sarah’s given me the basics, but let’s just start from the beginning so I don’t miss anything.”

  I begin with Doe’s mum turning up at the restaurant on Saturday before Sarah joins us and sets about digging through Doe’s nappy bag for her bottle so she can prepare it while I talk.

  Talking to Reese is incredible. Hearing actual solid legal advice, not just someone’s opinion gives me real hope for Doe’s future.

  “We obviously need those DNA results. If those come back negative, then this is going to turn into something much bigger.”

  “They won’t be negative,” I state, one hundred percent sure that Doe is my baby.

  “Okay. I’d also like to see your flat, if possible. It’ll be important that should you be granted custody that you have a good home. I’ll help you build the best possible case that will give you every chance of getting custody, but you’ve got to do what I say.”

  No sweat there, this woman’s scary as fuck, If she told me to jump I’d immediately ask how high. The last thing I want to experience is her anger. I shudder at the thought.

  Doe screams bloody murder the second Sarah tries to put her into her car seat. “It’s okay, I can carry her if you two want to keep talking.”

  I push Doe’s empty pushchair as we begin the short, but cold, walk back. I know I’ve got Carl there working on Doe’s nursery and I can only hope that proves to Reese just how serious I am about getting custody.

  Doe continues crying on Sarah’s shoulder as we walk but it’s not until we’re inside my building that we learn what the issue is.

  “What’s up baby gi—ah.”

  Reese and I turn just in time to find Sarah holding Doe out in front of her while she pukes right down her front.

  “I
said I’d help look after her not get covered in your daughters sick,” she moans, passing Doe to Reese and looking down at herself with a ‘what the fuck do I do now’ expression on her face.

  “Oh come on, this is your job. It must have happened more times than you can count.”

  “Not the point,” she snaps before shocking the life out of me. She reaches behind her and pulls her jumper from over her head leaving her standing in just a lace bra.

  “What? Don’t even try to look shocked. You’ve seen them before.”

  “Yeah, like a million years ago.”

  Doe coos at Reese as she places her into her seat, probably not wanting to get sick on her fancy suit. “Looks like we found the issue.”

  We’re still laughing about the whole thing as I push the key into the lock and open the front door. I allow Sarah to go first, intending to go straight to my room to find her a shirt to wear but we come up short when we find a short feisty woman staring at the three of us with her hands on her hips and her lips pressed into a thin line.

  She shouts something about threesomes and taking Doe, her words getting louder and screechier with each one that passes her lips.

  The three of us stare at her in utter disbelief. Once she’s run out of steam, Sarah turns to me and whispers in my ear. “She’s jealous as fuck right now. You are getting that right?”

  The thought that she might be right warms me from the inside out. Could Suki be feeling things for me like I am for her?

  “Sooks.” She fumes and I can’t help but laugh. “This is my friend Sarah, and her friend Reese who’s a family solicitor. I met with her to get advice about getting custody of Doe.”

  A slow breath leaves her, her shoulders sagging and her chest deflating as my words settle in her head.

  “So… so why is she…?”

  Sarah sees where this is going and holds her sticky jumper in Suki’s direction. “Doe just barfed all over me. I wasn’t sure what else to do to stop it dripping down my jeans.”

  Suki’s lips curl up as if she’s imagining it before she nods. “I’ve got some clothes here. Would you like to borrow something?”

  “That would be awesome, if you don’t mind.”

  Sarah follows Suki over to the sofa where I now see her packed bags are. My heart drops. She really is going home.

  “Thank you,” Sarah says before turning to Reese. “Have you seen enough?”

  “Uh… yeah, I think so.”

  I want to laugh because Reese is barely inside the flat, but she agrees and pushes Doe farther into the flat. Suki’s eyes immediately fall to her and a smile forms on her lips and she rushes towards her. It’s nice to know that she missed one of us at least.

  “I think it’s best we leave you two to it,” Sarah whispers. “Don’t let her out of this flat until you’ve told her how you feel. And by tell her, I don’t mean show her.”

  After saying goodbye to Doe, I thank Reese for all her advice and help and they both see themselves out. Suki and I both stay exactly where we are, our eyes locked as she slowly rubs Doe’s back.

  “I… um… I’m sorry?” It comes out as a question and I can’t help but laugh. Even when she’s in the wrong she doesn’t like backing down.

  Walking over, I take Doe from her arms and place her into her bouncer. Thankfully she’s happy now she’s covered Sarah in puke. By some miracle it seems she managed to not even get a splash on herself.

  I stand to full height in front of Suki before taking her cheeks in my hands. She flinches at my contact but she soon relaxes into it.

  “I missed you,” I whisper, staring deep into her eyes before leaning down toward her lips. Her head tilts. It’s barely visible but it’s enough for me to know that she’s in. Sarah’s warning about telling her, not showing her, sounds out in my head and I tell myself that I will right after I’ve— I’m too slow, Suki reaches up on her tiptoes and crashes her lips to mine. I stumble back a little in surprise before lifting her into my arms. Her legs automatically wrap around my waist and I lower her to the sofa, covering her with my body and giving her everything I have, well... the PG version seeing as we have a young pair of eyes on us.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Suki

  After kissing for what feels like forever but is probably only five minutes or so, I push Scott away from me and we sit close together.

  “What’s happening here, Scott?” I ask and then I wince. “Oh fuck, I’ve done it. I’ve become one of them.”

  “One of who?” Scott’s brow furrows.

  “Your fan club.”

  “Suki.” He says exasperatedly. “You are not one of them. Can’t you see that? They don’t come to my house. I don’t see them more than once, and I certainly wouldn’t let them spend time with my daughter. They don’t sleep in my bed, and I don’t want to kiss them over and over and over.”

  “Oh.”

  “Suki. When I was alone last night I was thinking about when we stopped, you know, when I stopped; and yes, I think it being the first time since Doe-gate happened and being scared of lightning striking twice might have been the case, but I also think that I was scared of what it might mean. Because I know if I fuck you it’s not going to be a one-time only deal. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually starting to like you. A lot.”

  I sigh in relief. “I’m starting to like you too. This is ridiculous, right? We’ve detested each other all that time.”

  “Look, I ragged on you because underneath I knew you were right. I know sleeping with a multitude of women and binning them off isn’t anything to be proud of, but it was a life I could cope with. No real drama other than a few stage-five clingers. I think giving you shit was a defence mechanism.”

  “I just didn’t like seeing how you treated women. They have feelings, ones you walked all over. I don’t completely know your family history, but I’m guessing the reason you’re acting like that and guarding your heart has some part in it?”

  “Some, I’m sure, but it’s who I am. Well, no, who I was. Before Doe, and before, well, whatever this is. I enjoyed being single and having lots of sex with no ties.” He sees me flinch. “If I said otherwise, I’d be lying, Suki. It’s this that’s different.” He motions between us.

  “But is this…” I mimic the same motion, “just because of what’s happening with Doe?”

  “I don’t think so.” He moves back closer so he’s millimetres from my face, “I think this was inevitable.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I loved to hate you. Looked forward to my shifts. Loved watching your face scrunch up when I wound you up. Wondered what you’d look like if I spanked your arse.”

  My breath hitches.

  I think he’s going to kiss me again, but instead he sits back against the sofa.

  “I knew Sarah from her living next door to my auntie. I stayed with my auntie when my mum got sick.”

  “And you ended up in hospital.”

  “Yeah, I couldn’t take it. My father was a twat who messed with my mother’s head. My mum was my one constant. I couldn’t handle my dad having moved back in. He did it while I was at my aunties because he knew if I’d been there, I’d have thrown him out, teenager or not. Mum fell for it like she always did until she started to get better. Then he was gone again, back to his first wife, Deacon’s mother.”

  “Because he thought she’d die, and she didn’t?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

  “Yep. The stress of trying to live with him, knowing what was happening… well, I ended up in hospital, like I said, sectioned. He left and my mum got sick again, fast growing secondaries. I should have been there and I wasn’t.”

  “Scott, it’s not your fault you got sick.”

  “My father didn’t want to know. When she died and I told him I was now alone. He said I was nineteen and to get on with it. How does a dad do that? Deacon more-or-less always got my father’s attention. He got the college and university education which led to his swanky job, whil
e I floundered and ended up working in a bar.”

  “And you don’t have anything to do with Deacon?”

  “Absolutely not, because he’s not a nice person. He’s too much like our father.”

  “So you don’t see your father now at all?”

  “Rarely. He moved on again. Left Deacon behind too. Fuck knows where he is now, but no doubt he’s fleecing them.” He huffs.

  “Huh, wonder what your brother thought of that.”

  “Who knows? Too busy living life in the fast lane probably. He’s a celebrity journalist. Always shagging the hottest new star. He part-owns B.A.D. Magazine. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”

  “Shit, your background’s so fucked up, it makes my life look relatively normal.”

  “You said you were Doe. You were abandoned?”

  “Yep. Short version: my mother was fourteen, I was given up. Found out my dad died aged seventeen, but I have an auntie and uncle on that side and their son, Carl, who you now know.”

  “Fuck, that’s grim.”

  “I didn’t have an ideal upbringing, but life’s what you make it, isn’t it? I get by now.”

  But the truth is, I don’t want to ‘get by’. I want an amazing life. The family life that Doe has made me realise I crave.

  “I don’t want Doe to become a victim of her beginning. If Morgan gets her back, then what will her future be? I have to fight for her, all the way. I want to be the father that I never had.”

  My eyes fill with tears at his words, and because I want to be the mother she needs too. But I keep that to myself. It’s too early. I’m just some kind of honorary auntie.

  I decide to break up the seriousness of everything with distraction. “Well, Carl finished in super quick time because he had an awesome helper. Want to come see Doe’s room?” I ask.

  “Sounds like a fantastic idea.” He gets off the sofa and holds out a hand to me. I accept it and he pulls me to my feet.