Daddy Plus One: A Single Dad Secret Baby Billionaire Romance

by Brooke Valentine

  “There’s nothing to worry about. Love will conquer all.” Her cheesy statement made us begin to laugh, knowing there was a long road ahead. We could weather the storm together.

  18 Inches for Christmas

  By: Natasha Spencer

  18 Inches for Christmas

  © November 2017 – All rights reserved

  By Natasha Spencer,

  Published by Passionate Publishing Inc.

  This is a work of fiction. All names and characters in this novel are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental.

  This book is for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher.

  Warning

  This book is intended for adult readers, 18+ years old. Please close this e-book if you are not comfortable reading adult content.

  Chapter One

  “I’m very pleased to have you here as my latest acquisition. You’re just in time for the holiday rush. I apologize if that is offensive. You still have a lot to learn, but you show amazing potential. Your articles are sound and written articulately.” Tanner Murphy was the editor at the New York Times. He was considered a throwback to a different era.

  Yvette’s opinion of him was biased. She had followed his career for years and watched him rise from one position to another. They had even stayed in touch. This was supposed to be her career, but her ex-husband had kept her on a short leash to make sure she didn’t become too independent.

  “We’ve been talking about this for years and something always got in the way. We were both in journalism school at the same time. It would’ve been nice to catch the world by the tail by working together. It’s better late than never.” She was conservative with only a modicum of skin showing. Her Latin blood gave her an attitude.

  The plane beige skirt went below her knees and the white blouse was buttoned to the top. Her black hair flowed freely over her shoulders and her dark black eyes captured the attention of the opposite sex from the moment she made eye contact.

  From where she was sitting in the leather chair there was a view of the New York landscape. The buildings overshadowed each other and made her feel small in comparison.

  “I’ve had my eye on you for quite some time. Making waves in the underground community has gotten you a cult following. It’s fortuitous you showed up. We are just about to lose one of our greatest assets. He’s taking early retirement and moving down to Florida with his wife.” Tanner was willing to give her a shot. The bold words in her articles written anonymously were in direct contrast to the woman he was seeing up close and personal.

  “I don’t know how you found out those articles were written by me. I should have known the journalistic community would go digging into my stories. There is nothing like cracking open a good secret. We all have that in common.” Yvette crossed her legs demurely and twirled her hair nervously in the presence of a journalistic giant.

  “I’ve heard about your divorce. It’s about time you got rid of 230 pounds of dead weight. We might’ve been colleagues and somewhat friends in college, but I’ve always wanted the best for you. You start tomorrow at 9:00 AM sharp. I want you to take over the exposé of illegal cross cutting. Most of the legwork has already been done for you.” He stood and hovered over her scrutinizing her every move. He felt like a father figure to all of his children and never once mixed business with pleasure.

  “You won’t regret this. I have some ideas which I have already forwarded to you by e-mail. We can talk about them and see which one makes the most sense to pursue. If I’m going to begin tomorrow then I have a lot to do today. I’m moving into my new place.” She was reluctant to mention the penthouse suite was courtesy of her ex-husband’s unwillingness to keep it in his pants.

  “I see great things in the future for the both of us. I’m taking a chance on you, but only because I feel you’re going to exceed my expectations.” He had old-fashioned suspenders and was holding onto them like a lifeline. He was emulating one of his mentors and good personal friend.

  “I might be a few years late, but I will make up for it with enthusiasm.” She was slightly smaller in height at 5’5 and 145 pounds.

  Her breasts made her feel embarrassed and she tried to cover them up to avoid those guys ogling the merchandise. Some were not very subtle when she’d finally developed at the ripe age of 14. She was able to hold onto her hometown values due to her religious background.

  Her wedding night with her ex-husband Tony was a dismal disappointment. He was all about his own pleasure and never once made sure she was pleased before attempting to get off. He was a selfish lover.

  “You’ve always been a little too straight-laced. This will give you the chance to broaden your horizons and go outside of your comfort zone. Life is about taking risks. You can’t stand on the sidelines and wait for the world to come to you. I have many of these intellectual nuggets I can share with you.” He was close to inviting her to dinner with his fiancée but felt that maybe it was too early to rekindle the shaky friendship they’d had in college.

  “I just finished with human resources. There was so much paperwork, but I’m finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.” She got up and smoothed her skirt to make sure there wasn’t even the briefest hint of impropriety.

  “There’s a lot of red tape, but it will be worth it when you get your first paycheck. I expect nothing but the best. Nothing goes to print until I personally approve it. Some may consider me a harsh taskmaster, but I only want the best possible product for the public. We both know print media is dying, but I want to bring it back to life.” The readership had diminished.

  Bringing aboard an Internet journalist assassin was going to give them more credibility than they had ever had before. It was a departure from the old guard. If they were going to keep up with the changing of the times it was necessary to boldly go where no journalist had gone before.

  “I was a little stunned when you agreed to meet with me. I don’t know how many times I threatened to make the phone call, but I never did get around to it. It is liberating to finally be able to do something I love. I doubt seriously my mother is going to share the same sentiment.” Yvette knew her mother was a bible-thumping religious zealot. The sanctity of the marriage bed was far more important than her happiness.

  “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you might want to improve your dress code. It’s true about what they say. Sex does sell. You can get a lot more flies with honey than you can from vinegar. To be honest, I like your style, but it requires a little tweaking. I have a stylist on retainer. I’m going to make an appointment for you.” He turned his back and looked out the window, thinking of all those stories waiting to be written.

  “I don’t know about changing my style, but I’m willing to entertain the idea.” She had one risqué dress and was waiting for the right opportunity to wear it.

  It would have given her mother the much-needed push into the grave. She smiled and then found herself guilty for thinking that her life would be far more productive without her in it.

  “I know how your father dying at a young age affected you. Your mother has always had you underneath her thumb. The only way you could stretch your wings was by going away to college. As I recall, there was some debate and some screaming matches when you took a full scholarship in journalism.” He knew her mother had a different way of thinking, grounded in tradition.

  “She had my life mapped out for me from the moment I was born. I didn’t even love Tony. It wasn’t exactly an arranged marriage, but it may as well have been. Our families have been friends for years. It was practically agreed upon when we were old enough to marry that we would bring the family even closer. I sense there’s going to be long and awkward holidays in my future.” The very thought of spending any time with her mother for any length of time was giving her anxiety attacks.

  “We can’t always live f
or our parent’s approval. We need to find our own happiness. That’s my last bit of unsolicited advice you’re going to get today. I’ve kept you for long enough. I have some work to get done.” He was dismissive and didn’t even wait for her to leave the room before shuffling through some papers.

  Yvette’s mind was whirling with how she was going to make her mark in the city that never sleeps. The moving van was set to arrive at her new residence in about an hour. She was anxious, but also hesitant to live in the very same place her ex-husband had found pleasure in another woman’s arms. She made that part of the agreed settlement for no other reason than to stick it to him.

  Chapter Two

  Yvette was ignoring her mother’s phone calls. She had several messages and was purposely putting off listening to them. They had barely talked and she had purposely left her with the belief there was hope for reconciliation. The papers were barely dry with both of their signatures affixed to the document. Her mother had no idea what her daughter wanted.

  The movers were not courteous and grumbled underneath their breath. They dumped her belongings in the elevator and stomped off without another word. She was left with the harrowing task of carrying each tremendously heavy box down the hallway to her penthouse.

  “I would say you could use the help of a strapping young man. I might have somebody in mind.” Adam Slim was doing what came naturally, sporting a Santa hat on his head. The flirting and casual conversation was easy for him. The same couldn’t be said for his brother Blake.

  “I can offer you a beer for all of your hard work. I can’t afford to pay you, but I will be eternally grateful.” He was a true ginger and the short, red hair did nothing to hide his natural physiology.

  Behind him stood a young man of similar features but remained remarkably silent.

  “Forgive my brother; he can’t help himself when he sees a beautiful damsel in distress. I have a bit more class than to shamelessly flirt for your affection. We will be more than happy to help you move in. Our place is upstairs. It looks like we’re going to be neighbors.” Blake had been in a dry spell looking for a woman of substance to break him out of the slump. He thought he might have found her.

  Yvette found both men charming in different ways. She noticed how Adam was undressing her with his eyes, making her feel exposed and vulnerable. Blake, on the other hand, was courteous and showed some restraint. They were as different as night and day.

  “I don’t know what I did to get so lucky to have two handsome young men to help me.” They were a cut above the rest and had the muscles of those who were not strangers to a gym.

  “I can’t speak for Blake, but I’ve kissed my fair share of frogs to last me a lifetime. I find it endearing the way you blush. It’s your innocence I want to get acquainted with. Some women are not subtle about their intentions.” Adam was up to the challenge. Competing with his brother brought his competitive juices to a boil.

  Blake was not about to let his older brother win the girl this time. He had lost several young potential conquests to the silver-tongued devil. There was nothing more galling than to show the women he was with some respect, only to have his brother sweep in acting like a macho, pigheaded asshole. His bad boy qualities made him catnip to the ladies.

  They were both wearing black leather jackets. Adam was in a t-shirt and Blake felt it was important to dress for success.

  His black slacks and leather belt made him feel comfortable in his own skin. He never could find a reason to wear a pair of blue jeans to the office. He had to shake his head in disbelief at how Blake could constantly snub his nose at old-fashioned values.

  “I think I recognize the both of you. I can’t put my finger on it, but give me a few moments and it will come to me.” They were familiar, and it was driving her crazy.

  “I’ve never been shy about our wealth and influence over others. Our last name is Slim. We are the heirs to the Slim family fortune.” Blake did like to brag and used his money to secure the company of some young ladies of discernible taste.

  “It can’t be easy having your every move scrutinized by the public and the press. To be perfectly transparent, I’m a journalist for the New York Times. I thought it best to be upfront so there is no miscommunication. This isn’t some sort of setup and I didn’t even know you two lived here.” She found herself fascinated by their differences and smiled behind their back from how they were grunting with the effort to carry the boxes over their shoulders.

  “We’ve never hidden who we are from anyone. Adam sometimes goes overboard flaunting his good fortune and making himself a target of every scam artist in the business. Women, in particular, have always been his Achilles heel. I’m a little more selective when it comes to partners.” Blake felt like he could build something with Yvette. He wanted the chance to pursue something platonic, to begin with. His worst fear was his brother was going to callously play his playboy card.

  “Blake has never been comfortable putting it all out there. I had to drag him kicking and screaming to Miami for March break madness a few years ago. I still party like a rock star, but my brother is more at home reading a good book and going to museums.” Blake felt it was necessary to put his brother down, but he wasn’t expecting a spirited conversation about art to develop between Yvette and his brother.

  “I’ve always been partial to those artists that make me feel something. It doesn’t matter their name. It’s the work that speaks for itself. I see the both of you have put in a hard day’s work. I do wonder how much manual labor you really do, being billionaires.” They were in stupendous shape.

  She couldn’t help but mask her desire to see them without their clothes on. It was only a fantasy, or at least that’s what she was trying to convince herself.

  “Adam likes people to dote on him hand and foot. I don’t mind rolling up my sleeves and getting dirty from time to time. I actually find it cathartic to live in the shoes of some blue collar workers. I have an investment in a property on the outskirts of Manhattan Island in desperate need of some TLC. I’ve been doing most of the work myself. It makes me feel good to see something accomplished by my own hand.” He couldn’t help but pose with his muscles threatening to burst through the crisp, white shirt underneath his jacket.

  “You’re not going to get any sympathy from me. I would rather enjoy life to the fullest. I’ve done some amazing things in my life including race car driving, mountain climbing, and bungee jumping, just to name a few. It’s the adrenaline rush I live for. I hope I’m not boring you with the details of my youthful indiscretions.” Blake lived without any regrets. He wasn’t sure if he could say the same thing for his brother.

  “I can see both sides. It might be nice to let my hair down and do something reckless for the first time in my life. I also understand how hard it is to go against your natural instincts. I think living underneath the both of you is going to be an adventure.” She had this inane ability to know when a man’s interest was more about getting her into the bedroom. They were both screaming the same thing in vastly different ways.

  “We have some unique pieces in our collection. Why don’t you get settled in and come up to join us for a drink? We promise to be on our best behavior.” Blake turned to Adam and found him lifting his hands in mock surrender.

  “I wouldn’t want to give you the wrong idea by accepting your invitation. I wouldn’t mind being friends.” Yvette had a couple of cold ones for them.

  She was trying to deny the chemistry between them and how hard it would’ve been to choose one over the other.

  “Blake is a bit of a prude, not that it has slowed down his pursuit of happiness. Our tastes do vary, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It would be no fun if we were exactly the same. I give him credit for inviting you before I did it myself. I’m a little older and somewhat wiser when it comes to matters of the heart. I actually had to get him a…” He didn’t get a chance to finish his thought. Blake knew exactly what he was going to say and had no interest in him airin
g his dirty laundry.

  “We really have to go. I’ve also been known to cook circles around him in the kitchen. I’ll be sure to whip up something interesting for your arrival for the impromptu holiday season. Is there anything you might be allergic to?” Blake had his hand over his brother’s mouth. He didn’t want Yvette to know his first time was with an escort when he was 18.

  “I’m not picky when it comes to food.” She found someone able to cook attractive. She was always bending over to please Tony, mistakenly thinking the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach.

  “When should we expect you? We have a bottle of wine recently acquired in an auction. I don’t want to shock you with how much we paid. It would be our honor to share it with you.” Adam had always been a big believer in plying a woman with enough liquor to lower their inhibitions.

  “I will be up shortly. It might be a little later considering all the work I have to do before tomorrow. We will have to make this an early night.” She was metaphorically pouring cold water down their pants. Any hope of sleeping with her had been dashed by a few choice words.

  They both attempted to kiss her hand, but she pulled it back from their fingers before anything could convince her to drop the pretense of being innocent. She was flushed and felt like her legs were going to buckle out from underneath her. She feared one touch of their lips to her bare skin and it would have signaled her body to betray her good judgment.

  Chapter Three

  She had no idea why she was wearing it, but it was almost like it was calling out to her from one of the boxes. The purple mini-dress was one of her favorites, but she’d never had the opportunity to wear it. It fit like a glove down over her hourglass figure making her breasts appear larger than life.