Daddy Ivy League: A Second Chance Professor Baby Romance (Private School Bad Boys Book 2)

by Holly Jaymes

  Vince and Cliff exchanged looks.

  “Wow, man, you seem to underestimate our support,” Cliff remarked, raising his eyebrows at me.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, and Vince laughed.

  “Are you kidding me, man? That woman right there is the most sensible decision you have ever made in your life!” he said. He looked over at Margo. She had her head thrown back, and was in the middle of laughter. Apparently, Sawyer had said something funny to her. I guessed they were talking about me.

  “Are you serious?” I turned to the other two again.

  “You’re joking, right? She is smart. She’s sensible, she’s actually hilarious, and man is she hot! She’s the whole package. Where did you even find her?” Cliff replied.

  I looked over at Margo again. I couldn’t stop looking at her.

  “We went to college together,” I told them.

  “I don’t remember hearing about any Margo,” Vince said. I shook my head.

  “We weren’t exactly friends in college,” I answered.

  Then I breathed in deeply as I turned to them again. I hadn’t told them about the baby yet. I wanted Sawyer’s wedding to be over before I broke the news.

  “And there’s something else,” I said. Cliff and Vince could sense that there was bigger news coming.

  “We are having a kid together.”

  Both of them were silent for a whole minute before they cheered loudly. Vince and Cliff fell on me, exchanging hugs and thumping my back. I wasn’t expecting this reaction from them either. Sawyer’s unexpected baby seemed to have paved the way for me.

  “You’re going to be a dad!” Cliff cheered.

  “That leaves the two of us,” Vince said. They looked at each other and laughed.

  “Better keep it in our pants then,” Cliff said. I shook my head mockingly.

  “There’s no feeling in the world like it,” I said as I looked in Margo’s direction again. She was playing with Evie now, and I knew that my friends were right. She was the best decision I had made in my life.

  “Knowing that a woman you’re in love with is carrying your child. When you find that woman. There is no feeling like it,” I continued.

  Vince and Cliff broke into a loud laugh. My words were too deep for them, and neither of them was at that stage in their lives. I knew Sawyer understood.

  “All I’m saying man, is you should keep an eye on that one. There are too many eyes on her already,” Vince joked.

  Margo looked at me. Then I caught her eye. She smiled at me and then lifted up Evie’s small hand to wave at me.

  “Excuse me, guys,” I said to my friends and headed in the direction of the woman I loved. Not that much time had passed since I found out I was going to be a father. It had been only seven days actually, but already, I could feel a change in me. I felt more settled and more sure of myself. I knew I could stop looking. I’d found everything I needed, right here, in this woman.

  When Margo saw me walking towards her, she gave Evie back to Faye and headed in my direction too. We weaved around the people in our way, towards each other. She had a smile on her face, and I was smiling too.

  After my conversation with Cliff and Vince, I knew I had to tell her.

  She looked resplendent, in a beautiful pale pink dress. With every step she took, her leg peeped out from the folds. Just watching her walking towards me was enough to excite my cock. I was already fantasizing about all the things I wanted to do to her tonight in our hotel room. Margo’s red hair was neatly pinned to her side in a loose bun, and her green eyes glowed. She picked a darker, pink shade for her lips to match her dress. Everything about her was magnificent. I felt like the luckiest guy at this place.

  Margo stopped in front of me, and she was beaming. I noticed the way her hand drifted to her belly from time to time. It was a constant reminder of the fact that I was going to be a father soon.

  “Sawyer had so many stories to tell me about you. I can’t wait to find out more from Cliff and Vince,” she said with a laugh. I grabbed her by her waist and jerked her towards me. Margo gasped when I kissed her because she wasn’t expecting it.

  “What was that for?” she asked, panting for air when I finally released her.

  “Do I need to have a reason to kiss the mother of my child?” I asked. She snuggled into my arms and placed her head on my chest.

  We weren’t on the dance floor but were swaying to the music playing behind us.

  “No, you can kiss me as much as you want. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it,” she replied and looked up at me with a content smile.

  I kissed her forehead and stroked her bare back.

  “I have something to tell you, but I don’t want you to freak out,” I told her. Margo pulled herself away from me. I could see that I had alarmed her.

  “Just tell me. What is it?” she asked, pulling her arms away from me.

  “I’m in love with you, Margo Clarke. I know it seems too soon, but that’s just how I feel. I don’t want to keep it a secret from you,” I said.

  It seemed like she’d been holding her breath and now she sighed, shaking her head.

  “You silly man. I’ve been in love with you since the first time I saw you. It started back in college when I was too scared even to meet your eyes or to say something to you. That was when you didn’t know I existed!” Margo replied. She was laughing, relieved.

  “I always knew you existed, Margo. I just didn’t know where to find you,” I said.

  She fell on me, throwing her arms around my neck so she could kiss me again.

  “I can’t believe my luck!” she said and we continued dancing. We had so much to look forward to.

  Epilogue

  Margo

  One Year Later

  Our son, Oscar Clarke Parnell, was born two days early and I was wrong in thinking that I couldn’t love anyone more than Isaac. The truth was that I had never loved anyone or anything, the way I loved my son.

  Now he was four months old, and he was the joy of both our lives. He looked so much like his father. It was remarkable! Oscar had his father’s blue eyes and the same dark hair and that trademark sharp nose. Isaac was obsessed with him, probably even more than I was.

  I couldn’t believe what a wonderful father he already was to our son. So much had changed since my geeky days in college, when all I could do was dream of Isaac Parnell looking my way. All I did in those days was fantasize about him at night.

  Now, every time Oscar woke up or cried at night, Isaac was the first to get out of bed and go running to take our son in his arms and soothe him. I’d stay up in bed, listening to Isaac reciting Shakespeare to our son, quoting Edgar Allen Poe and other inappropriate pieces of literature. I knew Oscar was going to grow up to be just like his father. He would be smart, accomplished, an expert in English Literature and a breaker of hearts.

  There was nothing in my life I could complain about.

  I moved back to Boston after our return from the Bahamas. Isaac wanted me to move in with him so that he could monitor the progress of the baby and look after me. Even though it seemed like it was too soon, I did it anyway. It felt right. Isaac was the right man.

  I visited mom often in Amherst, and Isaac accompanied me on most of these trips. Slowly, he had won her over. These days, it almost seemed like mom was more concerned with Isaac than she was with me! It was like she found a part of dad that she missed, in Isaac. I felt blessed to see them together, laughing and playing board games and fighting over the best recipes for lasagne.

  At the center of our world was Oscar. He was growing up in Boston, surrounded by Isaac’s intellectual friends from Harvard, and Cliff, Vince, Sawyer, Faye, and Evie. We had a full life. I couldn’t be happier.

  I woke up late. It was already eight, and I was surprised to find that Oscar wasn’t crying. Our son was an early riser and liked to throw a fuss first thing in the morning. When I looked over, I saw that Isaac wasn’t in bed.

  “Isaac? Osc
ar?” I called for them. Slipping out of bed, I put on an old pair of pajamas and a t-shirt and threw a robe over myself. Isaac had still not gotten into the habit of waking up early.

  “Oscar?” I called for him because I couldn’t hear him.

  When I stepped out of the room, I could hear voices. It was Isaac and someone else in our living room. I rushed out, worried that something had happened. Then that voice started sounding familiar. Was it Lionel?

  In the living room, I saw the three of them. Oscar was in Isaac’s arms, awake and happy. Lionel was there too, cooing to the baby. They turned to look at me when I walked in. I hadn’t seen or heard from Lionel in over a year.

  “Hello, Margo. Sorry for barging in like this at this time,” Lionel apologized. I stared at him and then at Isaac, who was beaming beside him.

  “Don’t take the blame for this, Lionel. I invited him here. I thought this would be a good opportunity for the two of you to talk, while I watch Ozzy,” Isaac said.

  I was too stunned for words. Isaac walked over to me and kissed me lightly on my lips.

  “Where are you going?” I asked, and he gave me a hug.

  “Remember that I love you,” Isaac said and brushed my cheek lightly as he started walking out of the room, with Oscar in his arms.

  “I’ll get started on the coffee. I hope you stay for breakfast, Lionel!” Isaac called as he left.

  I stared at Lionel, who was standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.

  “I feel like I should change. You shouldn’t have to see me in my pajamas,” I said, feeling self-conscious. I pulled the robe tightly around myself. Lionel waved a hand in the air.

  “You don’t have to. I’m in your home at eight in the morning! Sit down, Margo. We should talk,” Lionel said and then sat on an armchair.

  I sat on the couch, still concerned what this was about.

  “Isaac set this up? I don’t understand,” I said. Lionel smiled.

  “He’s a determined young man,” he said. I blushed.

  “What did he say? Did he threaten you to come to talk to me?” I asked. Lionel shook his head.

  “On the contrary. I actually reached out to him. Word got to me that you two are together and that you have a baby together. You should have told me, Margo. I was happy for you. I am happy for you…”

  I couldn’t control the color rising in my cheeks.

  “I didn’t know how to tell you, Lionel. Isaac was another person I was supposed to have a strictly professional relationship with. I was embarrassed. Besides, I quit my job,” I told him.

  “Yes, but as I understand. You two have known each other since college. Did you really think I would judge you? Anyway, when I got in touch with Isaac, asking about you…I didn’t have your phone number or address. I had no way to reach you. Isaac suggested that he would set up this meeting. He said that we should talk,” Lionel continued.

  “What did you want to talk to me about?” I asked.

  He was smiling while he looked at me.

  “Well, firstly, I wanted to congratulate you on the baby, and for finding happiness. I have to say, Margo, you look very well,” he replied.

  “Even in these pajamas?” I asked.

  “Even in those pajamas,” Lionel laughed.

  “And the other thing was when I found out you were still in Boston, I didn’t want to let go of the opportunity of offering your job back.”

  I felt the air leave my lungs. I hadn’t considered going back to the paper. Oscar and Isaac had occupied my whole life this past year. Lionel must have seen the shock on my face as he smiled.

  “We need you, Margo. I need you on my team. It was a silly mistake to reprimand you for a personal error of judgment. I shouldn’t have taken you off political correspondence. I’m hoping that you’ll able to forgive me,” he continued.

  I gulped and nodded.

  “Of course I forgive you, Lionel. If you hadn’t stood me down, I don’t know if I would have met Isaac again. I wouldn’t have Oscar. So, in a way, I have you to thank for all this,” I told him. We smiled at each other.

  “So, you’ll consider it?” he asked.

  “I’d be happy to go back in a few months when Oscar is at least closer to one year old,” I said.

  Lionel and I both stood up and shook hands.

  Isaac entered at the opportune moment with coffee on a tray.

  “Good news?” he asked. He looked so handsome, with his thick hair and his sparkling blue eyes. Only I knew about the tattoos underneath those clothes.

  “All good,” Lionel beamed at us and took a mug of coffee. I took the other and kissed Isaac on the cheek. He wrapped an arm around my waist and leaned his cheek against the side of my head.

  “She’s a special one, this one,” he told Lionel, who nodded his head.

  “I can honestly admit there is nobody like her. I can’t wait to have you back on board,” he said.

  Then Isaac instructed us to raise our mugs of coffee together. We cheered like it was champagne. Isaac and I kissed again, till Oscar started calling for me and I had to go get him back to the room.

  I couldn’t believe how everything had worked out. Just when I thought I was at the very bottom of my life, I met Isaac, and he changed everything. Now I had a family and my old job back. Most importantly, I had the love and support of a strong man who made me feel special every day.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you, thank you, for reading my book, Daddy Ivy League! I’m so grateful and I hope that you enjoyed the story.

  Reviews for my books are very important to me as an author. If you enjoyed reading my book I’d be so thankful if you would be willing to write me a review.

  Thanks again for your support and for reading me story. I couldn’t do it without you!

  XX Holly

  Below is where you can review if you like.

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  P.S. Please flip to the next page to read a preview of book 3, “Daddy CEO”!

  Chapter 1 Preview of Daddy CEO

  Chapter 1 Daddy CEO

  Piper

  I was concentrating hard, trying to get my hands not to shake as I drew the exact shape Chef wanted me to draw with the mint sauce on the plate. He was obsessed with presentation, and it added several additional minutes to the plating procedure for every dish I created.

  I hadn’t been sleeping well. My mind was wrecked with thoughts about my future and where I was headed. Every night, I tossed and turned in bed. For the rest of the day, I survived on caffeine and an adrenaline rush. But now I could feel the effects of the lack of sleep. My eyes felt strained, and my hands were beginning to shake.

  Both were dangerous traits to have when you were trying to create the perfect plate of food, to match Chef Morris’ high standards. Was I going to lose my job? Chef would not hesitate to fire me if he was unhappy with me. But then again, he wasn’t happy with anyone.

  “Cohen! The fucking lamb!” I heard him shout from across the kitchen.

  “Two minutes, Chef!” I shouted back.

  “That’s not good enough. It should have been served two minutes ago!” he called.

  I swept a perfect circle with a butter knife across the plate and stepped back. It was looking right now, at least in my opinion. Behind me, I sensed a shadowy presence looming. It was Chef.

  “What do you call this?” I heard his voice, and I pressed my eyes closed.

  “I’m sorry, Chef,” I said. There was no point getting into an argument with him. I would never win.

  “This is despicable work, Cohen. It’s cold as marble too!” he growled, lifting up the plate. It was hot in reality, but not hot enough as per his standards.

  “I’m sorry, Chef,” I said again, while he handed the plate over to a waiter.

  “Sit the next one out,” he snapped and whipped away from me. Telling one of us to sit the next order out was the most significant punishment he could give us. I caught the others’ eyes as they glanced o
ver their shoulders. They sympathized with me. Everyone knew we were all working hard, and to the best of our abilities and yet, nothing seemed to be good enough for Chef.

  Breathing in deeply, I stepped away from the counter and walked over to the corner of the kitchen. When Chef told us to take a break, he didn’t actually mean take a break. He meant more along the lines of go to the corner and watch the rest of the kitchen work, and repent your sins!

  It was painful.

  I stood with my arms crossed over my breasts, feeling increasingly hot in my uniform. I’d been working in kitchens all over the country for the past seven years. I even managed to get the job of Sous Chef at this restaurant, and that was through sheer hard work and determination. However, no position had been as hard as working under Chef Morris. He really knew how to make everyone feel worthless and not good enough for the job.

  I watched the others working. As always, the restaurant, Privy, was bubbling and busy. It had opened up just a year ago, and it was already the hottest new joint in the city.

  All things considered, I should have felt blessed. I was precisely where every young chef wanted to be, working as the sous chef of a new experimental restaurant which was being reviewed positively by the newspapers weekly. I was working under Chef Morris, who was one of the most celebrated chefs in the country. I knew I’d made it. I was already there, where I should have wanted my career to be.

  Despite all this, I felt like a failure every day. Not only because Chef treated me like I was unworthy, but also because I wasn’t actually living the dream I’d chased all these years.

  I wanted to be able to save enough so I could finally buy the restaurant I always had my eye on.

  It was a small cafe on the outskirts of Boston, with sprawling garden premises and thick ivy covering the exterior red brick walls of the building. The place had been kind of derelict, and eventually, the cafe closed down and the property remained abandoned.