Best Friend's Daddy (A Single Dad Romance)

by Naomi Niles

  Every time I thought about Victor, my blood boiled. What kind of brother tried to drag his sister back to an abusive relationship? In my opinion, he was as bad as Kameron.

  “Whoa… What’s happening in here?” John asked, as he walked into the kitchen wrinkling his nose. “Did you burn something?”

  “What gave it away?” I asked sarcastically.

  “Well, hello to you, too,” he said, raising his eyebrows.

  “Sorry,” I sighed. “It’s been a long few days. How was your Malibu trip?”

  “Great actually,” he replied. “The surgery went very well. Mrs. Lewinsky was thrilled with the work.”

  “What did she want?” I asked. “New breasts?”

  “She’s already had them done,” John replied jokingly. “This was about her daughter. She was in a boating accident a few months ago and one side of her face needed some work.”

  “And, you fixed her?”

  “I did.” I could hear the little note of pride in his voice.

  I usually loved hearing about his work, but today, I was too distracted to pay complete attention. John seemed to realize that because he fell silent for a moment. “Would you like some help?” he asked.

  “Sure,” I nodded. “Maybe toss the carrots through that glaze over there.”

  He got to work as I tried to salvage what remained of my meal. A few minutes later, we heard Sam arrive. “Excellent,” John said, looking up. “We can have dinner soon.”

  Sam appeared at the doorway to the kitchen with a huge smile on his face. His arms were outstretched and he looked like he had something to say.

  “What’s the matter with you?” John asked.

  “I have a special surprise for you ladies,” he said.

  “I’ll pass,” John said, turning away from him.

  I laughed. “What is it, Sam?”

  “I have brought you a guest,” he said. “Actually, I’ve brought you two guests.”

  John and I exchanged a glance. “We don’t know anyone.”

  “You should know these two,” Sam said, with a smile. “Especially considering they’re celebrities.”

  “Wait…”

  “Introducing Olympic gold medalists Alan Burbank and Jessica Winters!” Sam yelled dramatically.

  A moment later, Alan and Jessica stepped through the door, and John and I descended into cheers. “What are you guys doing here?” John yelled, as he grabbed Alan and gave him a massive hug.

  “Jessica,” I greeted. “It’s amazing to see you.”

  She was smiling ear to ear, obviously amused by Sam’s theatrics and our reaction to their arrival. She was a pretty girl. It was amazing how closely she matched my brother. Her light hair was a perfect complement to Alan’s dark mane and her light-green eyes set a stark contrast to Alan’s dark-blue ones.

  “Peter,” Jessica said fondly as she embraced me. “It’s so good to see you. Alan’s been missing you boys.”

  “We miss him, too,” I assured her, as I turned to Alan. “You look good, bro.”

  “Thanks,” he laughed. “I was about to say the same about you. Looks like you’re fully recovered?”

  “Please,” Sam said, rolling his eyes. “He was ready to go back to work weeks ago. He’s just being a slacker and hanging around the house because… Well, he’s a slacker.”

  We laughed at Sam’s failed attempt at an insult. “Wait,” he said quickly. “I’ve got another one!”

  “Give it up, buddy,” Alan said, punching him lightly on the arm. “You lost this one.”

  “Do I smell something burning?” Jessica asked, sniffing at the air.

  Sam looked at me in surprise. “Did you actually burn something?”

  “Why is everyone so shocked?” I asked. “I can make mistakes when I cook.”

  “Umm…you never have, though,” Alan pointed.

  “I’m just having an off day,” I said. “Bad time to have one, though, especially considering our guests of honor.”

  “I think that means I’m the favorite brother,” Alan said, shooting a wink at John and Sam.

  “He’s just sucking up to you because he thinks you’ve bought gifts,” Sam said. “Which he hasn’t, by the way, so maybe he doesn’t deserve a Grade A meal.”

  “Well, Alan may not have brought gifts,” Jessica said. “But I certainly did.”

  “You did?” Alan asked, turning to Jessica in surprise.

  “Yup,” Jessica nodded with a smile.

  “You didn’t mention it to me.”

  “Because I didn’t want you taking the credit,” Jessica smiled, giving Alan a wink. She proceeded to reach into her handbag and pull out a bunch of chocolate delicacies. “I hope you guys like your sugar.”

  “All us Burbank boys do!” Sam quipped, stretching out his hands for the chocolate.

  Fifteen minutes later, we settled down at the table to a big family meal. My mood had not improved significantly, but I was able to put the last few days with Madison out of my head.

  “How are your parents, Jessica?” John asked.

  “Great,” she nodded. “We had lunch with them over the weekend. I actually think Dad’s beginning to warm to Alan.”

  We burst into laughter, amused at the thought of Alan having to win over his girlfriend’s father. Alan had his arm wrapped around Jessica and turned to her with some satisfaction. “You know, he was actually telling me about one of his cases,” he said. “Forget warming up to me, I think he actually likes me.”

  “Aw, my darling,” Jessica laughed, shaking her head. “I think that’s overstating it a little.”

  Alan looked dumbfounded as the table erupted into laughter again. “What do you mean?”

  “You’re the man living with his only daughter,” she said with a shrug. “I don’t think he’ll ever like you. I think the most you can hope for is tolerance.”

  “What about that gift I got him?”

  Jessica gave him an apologetic look. “He gifted it to one of his younger law associates.”

  “What?”

  Sam actually banged the table with his fist. “This is so good,” he screamed. “I wish I could see you with Jess’s father.”

  “Urgh,” Alan said, shaking his head. Then he turned to Jessica again. “Your mother likes me, though, right?”

  “Mom loves you,” Jessica assured him. “You’re like the son she never wanted.”

  Alan shot her a look, but then his face softened into a smile and he kissed her gently on the cheek. I saw the way he looked at her and it was amazing to me how different he seemed. He was more settled, more content, and much more satisfied.

  After dinner, Sam, John, and Jessica decided to wash up in the kitchen while Alan and I walked out onto the porch for a brother-to-brother chat.

  “How are you, Alan?” I asked, the moment we were alone.

  “Honestly? I’m great,” he replied. “Amazing, actually.”

  “It certainly seems that way.”

  “Jessica’s made all the difference in my life,” he said. “It’s amazing that I ever thought being single was a good thing.”

  “You were the ultimate single man,” I reminded him. “How many girlfriends did you go through?”

  “A lot,” Alan admitted. “But I had it all wrong. I thought that flitting from one woman to another was the dream.”

  “And now?”

  “I realize that the real dream is waking up to the same woman day after day,” he said softly as his eyes went wide with affection. “There’s love and friendship and trust and comfort. Everything feels bigger and better and more colorful because of her.”

  Alan laughed at his own sentimentality. “I’m being sappy, aren’t I?” he said. “I’ve been driving Langdon crazy lately. He hates hanging out with me now because I keep telling him about the advantages of a monogamous relationship.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re happy.”

  “What about you?” Alan asked, with a pointed smile. “Sam filled us in on the new woman in
your life.”

  “Sam has a big mouth,” I said.

  “Is it true?”

  “Kind of.”

  “Kind of?”

  “We’ve been having dinner together,” I admitted. “Things actually seemed to be progressing towards a full-fledged relationship, but…”

  “Oh no,” Alan groaned.

  “This is a new development,” I sighed. “I haven’t even told John and Sam yet.”

  “What happened?”

  “She sort of has a…complicated past,” I explained. “The Cliff Notes version is that she ran away from her abusive drug-dealing boyfriend and now he wants her back. Madison’s brother works for her ex-boyfriend, and he came down here to try and convince her to come back with him.”

  “Geez,” Alan breathed. “Sounds intense.”

  I nodded. “I heard a commotion at her place a few days ago and I went over…with my gun.”

  “Whoa.”

  “I smashed into the house, and I saw this big guy with his hands on Madison,” I explained. “And I just…lost it. I managed to wrestle him to the floor before I pulled my gun on him. Turns out it was Victor, Madison’s brother.”

  “Fuck.”

  “She wasn’t too happy about that,” I sighed. “She made her brother leave and then she asked me to go, too. I haven’t heard from her since.”

  “Do you think she’s okay?”

  “I saw her drive off in her car,” I said. “So I assume she is okay. I just hope she’s kept away from her asshole of a brother.”

  “Hmm… I doubt she’d take too kindly to her brother being referred to that way.”

  “He was trying to drag her back to an abusive relationship,” I said defensively.

  “But he’s still her brother,” Alan pointed out calmly. “And obviously, she still cares about him. Why else would she have gotten upset with you for pulling a gun on him?”

  I fell into a thoughtful silence.

  “Think about it, Pete,” Alan continued. “If someone pulled a gun out on me or John or Sam or Talen, how would you react?”

  “I’d be pissed off,” I nodded. “I’d be furious.”

  “And, what if we deserved it?”

  “I’d still be pissed off,” I nodded.

  “Exactly,” Alan said. “Then why do you expect her to be any different?”

  I looked over at Madison’s house, wondering where she had gone. I was scared that she’d gone back to Kameron with her brother. But instinct told me that she was not the kind of girl to give up that easily.

  “You’re right,” I said finally.

  Chapter Twenty

  Madison

  “Come on, Madison!” Whitney yelled. “Dance!”

  I knew what she was doing. She was trying to distract me from my life.

  She had been extra bubbly the entire morning, twirling around in dramatic fashion and chattering through the whole morning. Even the customers looked at her like she was on something. I couldn’t help but be amused. It was the kind of personality that I’d always tried to emulate. But in my heart of hearts, I knew I lacked the confidence.

  “Madison!” Whitney yelled again.

  I humored her by twirling around and doing a little shake in the middle of the salon. I could see Lola rolling her eyes at the both of us and that made me laugh. It was a nice atmosphere to be in, and I felt my spirits lift slightly.

  It had been days now since I’d last seen or spoken to Peter. He hadn’t made any attempt to contact me, and it wasn’t as though I could blame him. I reasoned that he had only been trying to help me. In any case, he hadn’t known who Victor was when he had pointed the gun at him.

  But something about that image had sent tendrils of fear whizzing through my body. All I had wanted to do was jump in front of that gun so that Victor was not in the line of fire.

  “Madison?” Whitney’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You’re thinking again.”

  I smiled. “How do you know when I’m thinking?”

  “I can tell,” she said with a shrug. “We have got to get you out of this funk of yours. It’s not healthy.”

  “What do you suggest?” I asked, open to options.

  “I’ve got the perfect solution,” she said, clapping her hands together. “We’re going out tonight to do some real dancing and some real drinking! Lola, too.”

  “Urgh, must I?” Lola complained from behind her tiny desk.

  Whitney shot her a glare. “That’s a direct order.”

  “I don’t think you can order me around after five-thirty,” she shot back.

  “Watch me,” Whitney said dangerously and Lola and I laughed.

  “Fine then,” she sighed. “I’ll come.”

  Whitney turned to me with a pointed look. “Well?”

  “If Lola’s in, then I suppose I am, too,” I nodded.

  “Excellent,” Whitney smiled with satisfaction. “And since we’re having a night on the town, I think I should change up my look.”

  “Again?” Lola asked.

  “Again,” Whitney nodded. “And I want you to do it.”

  “Me?” I said. “Really?”

  “Yup,” she nodded. “I’ve seen you enough times to know that you know what you’re doing. So I shall put my trust and my hair in your capable hands. I want something bright, colorful, and fun.”

  I laughed. “I really didn’t need the brief,” I said. “I know your style.”

  Once the last appointment had cleared out for the day, Whitney and I started cleaning up the stray hair on the salon floor. Whitney turned the music up loud and pirouetted around the narrow space, using her broom as a mike half the time.

  “It’s funny how much more sweeping I’m doing than you are,” I pointed out.

  “I’m performing here, Madison,” Whitney replied. “Don’t interrupt me.”

  Once we were done with the sweep, I turned to Whitney. “Ready to get started on your hair?” I asked.

  “It’s a little early, don’t you think?”

  “Not really,” I shook my head. “I’ll need a few hours for your hair, then we have to go back to your place to change, remember? Then we have to pick somewhere to go.”

  “Hmm…decisions, decisions,” Whitney nodded. “All right, let’s get started.”

  Whitney had just sat down in a chair when the door opened and an attractive young man walked in. He was tall, well built, with blue eyes and blond hair. I felt Whitney perk up immediately.

  “Hello,” she greeted, in a slightly flirtatious voice. “How can I help you?”

  “I was looking to get my hair cut,” he said. “I saw this place and I thought I’d stop by and ask if you cut men’s hair?”

  “We certainly do,” Whitney said, jumping off her seat.

  “We do?” I asked.

  “We do,” she nodded with finality. “I’m Whitney, the owner of this salon. This is Madison, my protégée. And you are?”

  “Dave,” he replied. “Pleasure to meet you both.”

  “Oh, the pleasure’s all mine,” she said sweetly. “Take a seat, my good man. I’ll cut your hair myself.”

  I sat back and watched Whitney flirt through the entire haircut, engaging Dave in conversation. She was definitely a people person and as it turned out, a born flirt. The fact that she wasn’t even slightly conscious of herself helped a lot.

  “Thanks for taking me in,” Dave said. “I could see you girls were ready to close up shop for the day.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Whitney said. “Nothing we couldn’t push back for a couple of hours.”

  “What were your plans?”

  “Just a girl’s night out,” Whitney smiled. “We wanted to hit a club or something, do a little dancing, that kind of thing.”

  “Hey that’s perfect!” Dave said excitedly.

  “Is it?” she asked, with a suggestive smile.

  “The opening of my bar is tonight,” he said. “You ladies should totally come. The drinks are on me.”

/>   Whitney shot me a glance. “Well, in that case, we have to come.”

  “Yes, you do,” Dave nodded, and I noticed he gave me a little smile. “I’ll roll out the red carpet for you ladies.”

  “I should hope so,” Whitney laughed.

  He gave us the address of his bar and left fifteen minutes later. Whitney turned to me in excitement. “Well, that worked out perfectly.”

  “Lucky you,” I smiled.

  “You’re the lucky one,” Whitney said, with a wink. “He was obviously interested in you.”

  “What?”

  “Come on,” she said impatiently. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”

  “I didn’t,” I insisted. “He smiled at me a couple of times, but he was smiling at you, too.”

  “You have to read the smile,” she told me. “It’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

  “Ah… Well… I’ll keep that in mind next time,” I smiled nervously.

  “Keep that in mind tonight when we drop by his bar,” Whitney told me pointedly. “Now, let’s get going on my hair.”

  We had fun playing around with different styles and colors. But she finally settled on a peacock green with little threads of braided black running through it. It was amazing that Whitney managed to look amazing, no matter how outlandish her hairstyle choices were. Once she was satisfied with her new do, we headed back to her place for a quick change.

  It was almost eight o’clock when we arrived at her apartment and Polo was waiting for us eagerly by the door. I gave him some love and some dinner, and then I joined Whitney in her room.

  She was holding up a tiny pink dress in the mirror. “What do you think?” she asked.

  “That’s going to clash with your hair,” I pointed out.

  “Good,” she said, with some satisfaction. “I want to stand out.”

  I laughed. “Of course.”

  “Stick your head in my closet and pick something out for me,” she told me.

  I rifled through her closet and pulled out a silver mini dress with gold accents. “How about this one?” I suggested. “You’ll definitely stand out in this one.”

  “Hmm…good choice,” she nodded. “I haven’t worn it in a while, either. Great, I’m good to go. Now what about you?”

  “Me?”