Single Dad's Christmas Present: A Dad's Best Friend Romance

by Amy Brent

  “Wait, did you say my escort?” The words suddenly sank in.

  “Yes, Dr. Strong thought it would be nice for you to have a proper escort, especially considering you’ll be participating in the trial. I’ll be driving us down, so you’ll need to give me your address so I can pick you up.” The thought of him seeing where I lived embarrassed me. I shared a small apartment with my roommate close to the hospital, but it left a lot to be desired.

  “I can meet you here. I live just up the road.”

  “Nonsense, it’s no trouble. Be sure to pack a few nice dresses. We’ll be having dinner after the event each day, and you’ll want to look your best.” He glanced down at my shoes as panic went through me. I didn’t have but one nice dress and that was because I’d gone to a wedding six months ago. I didn’t have a lot of money to get a bunch of new clothes, but I might be able to borrow something from Courtney, my roommate.

  “Okay.” Before I could reach inside my bulky bag for a pen, he placed a hand on my wrist. My body heated and I felt a tingle between my legs as the thought of his moving to other places.

  “Text it to me.” His lips twitched in the corners, and for a moment I wondered if he knew the effect he had on me.

  “How much money should I bring?” I wanted to make sure I had my costs covered, or I’d have to talk to Dr. Strong about a possible reimbursement. I hadn’t planned on eating at fancy places or spending that kind of money. If I had that kind of money, I wouldn’t be doing the trial in the first place.

  I was a bit nervous about it. Being that I wasn’t sexually active made it a bit silly, but at least if I ever decided to have sex, I’d be covered.

  “Oh, it will be my treat, of course. But you can bring whatever you want.”

  “Thank you, but that’s not necessary.” He was still glaring at me like I needed a bath and even more than that like he wanted to bathe me. I tilted my head, and a loose strand of hair escaped my clip and fell against my cheek.

  He brushed it away, his hand grazing my glasses. “It’s totally necessary. I’m a bit particular. I like things my way.” His mouth turned up in the corners again as I adjusted my glasses.

  “I was under the impression that Dr. Strong had made all of my arrangements. She was supposed to get my hotel room booked.”

  He waves his hand dismissively. “Yes, but I’ve already taken care of that as well. She wanted to make sure you were in good hands, so she sent the best.” He gave a sly smile, and I couldn’t argue. As far as surgeons come, he did have a great pair of hands, but something about the thought of them sent me to blushing again.

  He stood too close, his cologne filling my nose and his warmth radiating. I wondered how many of others at the hospital he’d flirted with, but then I caught myself. He wasn’t flirting with me. He was being polite.

  “Don’t worry about a thing; we’ll make the most of it.” The way he said that made me wonder what if he’d found himself stuck in this situation with me and no hope to get out of it. Maybe he’d pissed off Dr. Strong one too many times or gotten on her bad side.

  I’d been surprised when she offered me the opportunity to make the extra money to help compensate some of my tuition. When I’d first come to the medical university, she’d tried to stop me because of my age. I’d finished high school early and begun my college career early. I’d always had the feeling she didn’t like me very much, but she’d been helpful over the last few weeks that I figured she’d changed. I glanced back up to Dr. Black’s smirk and thought maybe she had someone else to be offended by.

  “I’m sure it will be fine. Thanks.”

  “It will be more than fine.” His voice had lowered an octave, and he stepped even closer. “I bet we’ll have a good time. I’m looking forward to it.” Chills went up the back of my neck as another throb hit me down to my core.

  If he thought for one minute that I’d lose my focus over him, he was sorely mistaken. I’d come too far to let him or anyone else step in the way, and if I could refuse a bunch of silly, horny, high school and college boys, I could hold out on him too.

  If he thought for a moment that I was like all the other girls he’d seduced, he had another thing coming. Not only was I not easy, but I had no desire to have a sexual relationship with anyone at this point in my life. Not even a one night stand or a weekend for that matter.

  I took a step back, and one more look brought me down to reality. He wasn’t interested in me. How could he be? Men—doctors like him, weren’t interested in some silly, slouchy school girl with glasses.

  “Well, I just need you to sign some papers for me, and I’ll let you be on your way.” He walked over to the counter where he placed the papers, and then he reached into the pen cup and handed me one.

  I scribbled my name and then when I turned, he held out his hand. I took it, and we shook hands. “I guess I’ll see you in a couple of days.” I forced a warm smile, but he still gave me that steamy gray stare like was picturing me naked.

  “I can’t wait.” He gave me another look up and down as I turned to leave and I felt his eyes all over me as I walked away.

  As much as I was certain I’d never give in to his temptations, I had to admit he was the sexiest man I’d ever laid eyes on and he’d stirred more inside me in our brief encounter than anyone else I’d ever met.

  I’d need a hell of a lot of self-control to get me through the weekend.

  Chapter 3: Evan

  A word popped into my head as I watched her walk away. Damn.

  I could have followed that up with a few ideas: Damn I hope she’ll dress better on the trip. Damn, she’s young. Damn what a rack. And finally, my personal favorite, damn I want to come all over those big glasses.

  She might not have had the sense of fashion most of the young women I had dated did, but there was a true beauty waiting to be claimed underneath all of that awkwardness. I had a few ideas already long before even meeting her. Turns out she’s a very photogenic young woman, and I’d taken the liberty to look up her up through the hospital to see what I was dealing with. I’d had a bad feeling that Nora was trying to set me up, but this girl looked harmless enough.

  Once I decided she was bang worthy, I booked a joining suite at the hotel and decided to treat her to dinner. By my calculations, this time Saturday I’d have already nailed her.

  I’d expected her to be a bit chubby considering in her picture she had a younger, fuller face, but she’d slimmed out a bit since it was taken. Her soft, round ass wasn’t terribly noticeable in her baggy jeans, but I could tell it had firmed up nice and tight and I couldn’t wait to get my dick in it; that and her perfect, pouty mouth.

  She seemed to have a bit of a chip on her shoulder about something, but I was well capable of knocking it off. I’d tamed wilder women than her and some even twice her age, which was closer to my own at thirty-eight.

  I loved my women a bit younger, but she’d be the youngest I’d had since it was no longer appropriate. Tana had been a scandal for me at twenty-two. But as things went on, she’d gotten too clingy. I remembered those daggers she’d given me on her way out the other day and laughed. I didn’t worry too much about her. If I wanted her, she’d come to me and then she’d come her head off.

  But now my focus was all on Harbor Moore and making her my weekend project. Maybe a good fucking would improve her desire to dress sexier. All she needed was the right frame of mind and someone to show her what a goddess she could be.

  That would be my goal.

  I finished up the paperwork and left it on the counter for Nora’s assistant who had gone for the day, and then I headed out to go home. I had to get my things packed and make sure my nanny had her instructions and most importantly I needed to spend as much time with Blythe as possible.

  We hadn’t had as much time lately because of my workload and the fact that I’d been covering for the other surgeons who had gone on vacations. This trip marked the last of that stretch and when I returned I was going to plan a trip for the tw
o of us. She was getting to the age where she could go do more, and I didn’t have to carry her or bring the nanny along. Taking Tana anywhere had been out of the question in the year past, she was too problematic forgetting she wasn’t at work and making out like we were one big happy family.

  When I replaced her, I’d taken all of that into consideration and hired an older woman, one who I wasn’t attracted to in any way. It had been anything but normal with Tana around, and it had even gotten to where I’d brought her to my bed a few nights and let her stay over. Not to mention the many times she’d put Blythe down for a nap and then come into the living room only to blow my cock or end up beneath me.

  I couldn’t let that go on. I had to watch what situations I put my daughter in, even though I missed the accessibility of having someone around to relieve my stress. Dating was out of the question too, because no one just wanted to go to dinner, fuck, and be friends. They all wanted a deeply committed relationship, and I needed a bit of variety.

  My thirst for variety hadn’t sat well with Tana either, and the few times she’d want me to fuck her only to find out I’d just blown both wads with someone else the hour before, she’d lose her damned mind. I’d had to put her in her place one too many times during those last days, and even though she tried to be the one for me, she just couldn’t.

  I couldn’t help but think about Harbor and hoped that she wasn’t so impressionable. I wanted her to crave me, sure, but I didn’t want her to get attached or some crazy idea that just because I fucked her a few times, I was in love.

  My love was reserved for Blythe alone.

  I pulled my convertible Corvette into my private drive and eased into the garage. If I had a love for anything else in the world, it was that car.

  Lucinda greeted me at the door holding Blythe’s hand. She had always been good to do that when I returned, and she’d once told me it was because her mother did that with her and her papa. It was nice to have someone more concerned about my daughter than where and when the next orgasm would take place,

  Blythe jogged her little feet and jumped up and down with her arms up. “Daddy!” She had a big smile for me, and I wasted no time scooping her up and into my arms and hugging her tightly.

  She was the spitting image of her mother with dark blond hair, but those pale gray eyes were all mine, and they made her look years wiser. “How’s my special girl?” I rubbed my nose against hers and planted a soft kiss next to her mouth. She laid her head on my shoulder for a moment and then rose up to put both of her hands on my face.

  “I painted pictures today with my fingers.” She held her hands up and other than a tiny spot of blue next to her nail that Lucinda must have missed, they were perfectly clean.

  “Let me guess. You painted it blue?” Her eyes lit up, and she giggled.

  “Only the sky, silly.” She turned her head to the side. “What other colors do you think I painted.”

  I pretended to think really hard. “Apple?”

  She shook her head and giggled louder as Lucinda walked away smiling. “Apple isn’t a color, Daddy. Don’t you know your colors?” She put her hand on her hip being sassy.

  “Well, what is it then?” I shrugged my shoulders.

  “It’s a fruit that you eat.” She spoke very precisely, as if each word was more important than the next.

  “Opposed to a fruit that you don’t eat?”

  She sighed. “You eat all fruit, silly.”

  “But what about an orange?” I smiled as her eyes narrowed and she frowned as if she had to think about that. “It’s a fruit too, right?”

  She nodded her head. “But it’s a color too, Daddy. But an apple isn’t a color.”

  I held up a finger. “You’re so smart.” I walked her into the kitchen where Lucinda was pulling cookies out of the oven.

  “Lucinda baked cookies while I painted.” She went to the fridge and pulled down her paper causing the magnets holding it to fall to the floor.

  Lucinda picked them up and stuck them back in the fridge. “The paint’s still a bit wet,” she warned. The woman was so thoughtful I was glad we had her in our lives, and Blythe was crazy about her.

  “Sorry, I’m a bit late. I had to meet with a colleague about a trip I have to take this weekend. I will need you here through Sunday, and I’ll pay you overtime.” The woman’s face lit up like she was happy with the idea, which made it much easier. We’d discussed the crazy schedule when I hired her, and since she lived alone only five minutes away, she was good with my last-minute traveling or call-ins at the hospital. I had also offered to pay her rent to keep her in that location instead of moving her in with us to give Blythe and I more quality time.

  Blythe wandered into the other room to see something on TV and Lucinda stepped closer and lowered her voice. “That’s fine, Sir. Do you mind if I take Blythe to a play on Saturday? I was going to ask anyway, but now we could perhaps make a whole day of it?” She had hopeful eyes, and I appreciated her not asking in front of Blythe. If I had to say no, it could make me look like the bad guy, and Lucinda always respected me in that manner and not put me in that position.

  “Yes, that would be great, thanks. It’ll be good to know she’s having fun.” I thought a moment about the fun I’d be having.

  “Oh, thank you. She’s going to be excited when I ask her. She’s seen it on TV all week, and I would like to see it myself. It looks fun.” She walked to the other room to see Blythe and then the two returned happy.

  “I’m going to see the big rabbits dance, Daddy.” She danced in a little circle and pumped her fist. I couldn’t help but laugh, and I know she’d seen me do the same thing when watching sports.

  I had no idea what she was talking about. “I know, I’m so excited about it. You’re going to have so much fun!”

  She ran to Lucinda, and the two hugged. Lucinda stood upright and walked to where she kept her purse. “I’ll leave you two alone now, if you need anything you know to call, I’ll be here.”

  “Thanks so much, Luc. Take care.” And then it was just the two of us. My precious angel and her devil of a daddy.

  “What do you want for dinner?”

  “Pizza!” she cheered, and then she danced around the kitchen.

  We’d had pizza three nights in a row, but there was no way I wasn’t going to give my sweet pea exactly what she wanted. So, I grabbed my phone and made the order as she danced around me.

  Even though all the excitement over pizza and finger paintings was the center of my attention, I couldn’t get that hot little intern off my mind.

  Chapter 4: Harbor

  I hated going home some days. It wasn’t often that I had the pleasure of silence with Courtney’s boyfriend, Scott around, but at least today he’d managed to cook dinner and had the decency to ask me if I would like some. And this time he’d actually been talking about food.

  I shrugged and said sure as Courtney came out of the bathroom. “Good news, I’m not pregnant.” She showed us the test on her way to the trash and then she went to the sink and washed her hands.

  “Awesome, now we can have more sex,” Scott cheered as I rolled my eyes.

  He could have more sex, and I’d have to hear it. Not to mention the two of them had offered more times than once to include me, which I’d politely refused. They did it after learning I was still a virgin, but I wasn’t inclined to lose my virginity that way.

  Courtney and I were practically strangers who had only become roommates out of necessity. Rent and food were a lot cheaper when split, and since she’d started dating Scott, he’d even pitched in a little because he was always around.

  Courtney gave him a dead-eyed stare. “No, now you can be more careful. I’m not ready to be a mother.”

  “I told you, you should have volunteered for the procedure. God knows it would do more good to you than it would do to me. I’ll be the only virgin on the list of volunteers.” I had told her about the trial the day I’d signed up, and of course, she’d told Scott all
about it. There wasn’t anything he didn’t know about me.

  “Yeah, what a waste. You should take us up on our offer, Harbor. I’ll put that baby to use.” Scott’s brows jogged up and down.

  “Don’t be crass, Scott and don’t use the word baby, I’m still a bit freaked out. Could you imagine me as a mother?”

  “I want to be a mom.” I had always wanted children, and I’d always considered the idea a happy thought. It would be an amazing experience. I thought about the treatment and hoped that it wouldn’t have any ill effects on me. I had read some of the side-effects, and everything seemed common, but Dr. Strong had warned me that it could make my natural hormones go a bit haywire at first. She’d wanted me to know all the risks before I signed on the dotted line.

  “You’ve got to get laid first,” said Courtney. I could always count on her to be blunt.

  Scott made a noise that let us know he was totally offended and to drive the point home he put his hand on his chest. “Who’s being crass now?”

  Courtney wound up the dish towel she’d dried her hand on and popped it in his direction, and as the two danced around the kitchen, I contemplated telling them about Dr. Black. They’d surely have something to say knowing I would be staying with the handsome, single doctor.