Knocked Up by the Single Dad

by Lilian Monroe

  I have three weeks to figure out what I’m going to tell Rosie. I can’t do long distance, and I can’t move to New York. Above all, I have to put Allie first.

  In a few days I’ve saved my client’s careers, I’ve gotten a promotion, and discovered that my daughter is practically a genius. I’ve also met the woman of my dreams and had the most mind-blowing sex of my life. I should be happy. I should be excited about the future and hopeful for my prospects. I should be proud of my daughter and happy that I’ll get to spend more time with her.

  Instead, I’m worried about what will happen. I’m worried about losing Rosie, about losing something I never even knew I wanted in the first place.

  Three weeks.

  I have three weeks to figure it out.

  Chapter 32 - Rosie

  Three weeks doesn’t seem like a long time until you’re waiting for it to be over. The days drag on even though I’m working from morning till night. I’m chained to my phone, my heart jumping every time it dings and Lucas’s name pops up. There’s a spring in my step and I feel hopeful about the future, hopeful about my baby and about Lucas.

  He’s finally getting here today. My whole body is buzzing with excitement. I haven’t felt this giddy in a long time. I can’t wait to see him, even if the first eight hours will be at work. I have to wear a mask of professionalism all day, but still. I’ll get to see him and smell his cologne and brush my hands against his arm. We’ll work shoulder to shoulder and spend all day together in the office and then rip each other’s clothes off the instant we’re alone together.

  The thought of his skin against mine is making the desire pulse inside me already. I just have to make it through the day without soaking through my panties.

  Easier said than done.

  I’m sitting at my desk, keeping one eye on my screen and one eye on the elevators. My knee is bouncing up and down and my heartbeat is faster than normal. I smooth my hair done for the thousandth time and check my makeup in my compact mirror.

  “You look great,” Harper whispers from behind me. I turn around and blush.

  “I’m so nervous!”

  “Don’t be,” she says as she squeezes my shoulder.

  The elevator dings open and both our heads whip around to see who steps out. My heart starts pounding when I see Lucas’s broad shoulders and perfectly tousled hair come into view. He scans the room and when our eyes meet he starts smiling. He looks away and shakes his head, putting a neutral expression on his face again. A younger, blonde man steps out of the elevator behind him. He scans the room as well with a curious expression.

  “Well he’s happy to see you,” Harper says with a grin and a raised eyebrow. I blush again.

  “This is ridiculous,” I say as I put my hands against my cheeks. “I’m blushing as badly as you now.”

  Harper laughs. “Not quite. I’m brutal!” She winks and walks over towards the two visitors and greets them warmly before pointing them to the conference room. I gather my things and get ready for a long, torturous day of work.

  I step into the conference room and the breath leaves my body. All I want to do is climb on top of him right now.

  I can’t, obviously.

  He stands up and extends his hand. I slip my hand into his and the electricity shoots up through my arm and straight to my core. His eyes are laughing as his voice stays placid.

  “Rosie, nice to see you again. I’d like to introduce you to Jake. Jake will be taking over from me, so we need to get him up to speed over the next couple days.”

  His words are like ice in my veins. “Oh,” I say, slightly taken aback. I extend my hand to the man. “Hi Jake.”

  “Nice to meet you. Rosie, is it?”

  “I thought you were going to lead this?” I ask Lucas, ignoring Jake’s question. Lucas looks from me to Jake and nods.

  “Change of plans.” I’ll tell you later, his eyes seem to say. I nod and paint a smile on my face.

  “Well let’s get started then. Jake, have you seen the detailed ad sets that were sent through yesterday?”

  I push the million thoughts flying around my head out of the way and focus on what I’m good at: work. All I want to do is ask Lucas what he means, where he’ll be, if I’m going to see him again! Did he ask to be taken off the project? Is it because of me?

  I try to focus on what Jake is saying but my eyes drift back to Lucas. He glances at me and then looks back towards Jake.

  My heart starts pounding. He’s being so cold! Maybe it was his choice to be taken off the project! Maybe he doesn’t want to see me at all.

  I hate being this insecure. I don’t like myself when I’m like this, and it hardly ever happens. I need to get it together.

  “Do you guys want a coffee before we get started?”

  “That sounds great, I’ll help,” Lucas answers quickly. I nod and the two of us head out of the room.

  “Sorry, I should have told you earlier,” Lucas whispers as we walk towards the kitchen. I glance up at him.

  “So, does this mean you’re not coming back?”

  “Let’s talk about it tonight.”

  He keeps looking straight ahead as I try to search his face. I frown, but say nothing. We make coffees in silence and I make myself a tea. He glances at it.

  “Still feeling under the weather?”

  “What?” I frown.

  “The tea. I thought you said you were drinking it because you were sick.”

  “Oh, right. Yeah. Just got used to drinking it I guess.”

  Lucas lifts an eyebrow and nods. “Let’s get back to it. Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”

  I feel my shoulders relax and Lucas smiles. “Sure,” I respond. I brush my hand over his arm and hear the hint of a groan inside him.

  “Don’t touch me till we’re out of here,” he says under his breath. “I won’t be able to handle it.”

  I move my hand to his ass, shielded by the kitchen cupboards and give it a gentle squeeze.

  “Oops,” I say with a laugh. He grins and shakes his head before running his own hand down my spine. He lets his hand linger over my ass and moves it further so that his fingers are almost between my legs. I groan and take a deep breath before grabbing the steaming mugs.

  “Let’s go,” I say. He chuckles and nods, following me out the door. So much for not soaking through my panties.

  Chapter 33 - Lucas

  If I thought the past three weeks were long, they were nothing compared to today. Being in the same room as Rosie without being able to touch her was pure torture. It was easier being across the country.

  Finally, not a minute too soon we wrap up for the day.

  “You go on ahead,” I tell Jake. “I’m going to head back to the hotel and probably just get room service,” I lie.

  “Alright no worries. If you change your mind I’ll let you know what bar we’re at.”

  “I’m not as young as I used to be,” I laugh. “I can’t party like you kids anymore.”

  “Your loss,” Jake answers with a grin. He heads out the door and I sigh. Rosie is tidying the papers on the table and she looks up towards me.

  “Room service? Is that what you meant by taking me out to dinner? A bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”

  I grin. “No. I’m taking you to Emilio’s. Seven o’clock reservation. You want me to pick you up?”

  She shakes her head. “I’ll meet you there.”

  Rosie stands up straighter and closes her laptop. Her lips curl up into a smile and she looks me up and down.

  “It’s good to see you,” she says.

  “It’s good to see you too,” I respond. I take a step towards her and then catch myself and clear my throat. “Let’s get out of here,” I say.

  We part ways at the bottom of the elevator and I have to hold myself back from kissing her. She squeezes my hand subtly and then winks before walking away. I watch as her hips move from side to side and she glances
back, shaking her head and laughing.

  “Pervert!” She calls out with a laugh. I shrug and laugh before turning towards the hotel.

  I hardly have enough time to go to my room, shower, change and be at the restaurant for seven but it still seems like an eternity. I get there before she does and wait at the table, ordering us both a glass of wine. The tables are candlelit and the restaurant is dim and cozy. I take a sip of wine to calm my nerves. I haven’t felt this nervous around a woman since grade school.

  I’ve spent two nights with this woman but this is our first date, and I’m as nervous as a teenager with his first girlfriend. I can’t sit still and I can’t stop looking at the door. I pull out my phone and flick through some apps before setting it down on the table. I hate being restless.

  Finally, it opens and she steps through. Her black, skin-tight dress has a plunging neckline and shows off her milky white skin. Her hair looks like fire against the black of the dress and her smile is radiant when she sees me. She points to me and the hostess nods before leading her to the table.

  I stand up and put my hand on her waist when she gets there, greeting her with a kiss. Our lips touch and my cock jumps. All I want to do is forget about dinner and take her straight back to my hotel. Instead, she pulls away and smiles at me before sitting down. I take a deep breath and sit across from her.

  The candlelight flickers over her face and chest in a mesmerising dance. Her eyes are bright and intelligent and she smiles as she lifts her glass.

  “Cheers,” she says.

  “Cheers,” I reply as I clink my glass against hers. Suddenly, all my conviction about staying in Los Angeles evaporate. It feels like this is where I should be, right here. She takes a sip of wine and I look at the way her neck curves, the way her hair cascades down in red curls and the way her breasts move ever so slightly with every breath.

  I can’t forget about her. I can’t just turn my back on her. I haven’t felt this way about a woman since my wife died, and I never thought I’d feel like this again.

  There has to be a way to make this work.

  “You clean up alright,” Rosie says with a grin. “Who knew there was a gentleman under there.”

  My eyebrows shoot up. “Are you implying I’m not clean cut in the office?”

  She tilts her head to the side and lifts her wine glass, looking me up and down. “I wouldn’t say not clean cut, just… roguish.”

  “Roguish. What is this, a romance novel? Am I Fabio?”

  She laughs. “It’s not a bad thing!”

  “It doesn’t sound like a good thing,” I shoot back.

  “It is, I promise. It’s a very good thing.” She takes a sip of wine and looks me up and down again. Excitement builds inside me whenever her eyes pass over me and my cock pulses in my pants every time she moves.

  “So,” she continues. “Tell me about this change of leadership. Why is Jake in charge of the campaigns and not you?”

  “Not wasting any time, are you?”

  “I’m a very direct person,” she says.

  “I can see that. I like that.”

  “You’re stalling,” she answers with a laugh. “I won’t be fooled that easily.”

  I lift my hands up and nod. “Alright, alright. You’re right. I… I got promoted. They’re giving me the assistant director’s position in the Los Angeles office. It’s a crazy opportunity that I’ve basically been working my entire career to achieve.”

  Rosie looks at me intently and nods slowly. She takes another sip of wine and places her glass down gently. Her lips part and she looks me in the eye. Just before she can say anything the waiter appears.

  “Are we ready to order?”

  “Sure,” Rosie says right away. She glances at me and then back to the waiter before placing her order. When he walks away she looks at me again with that serious look. There’s something else behind it, but I can’t quite place it. She wants to tell me something. She looks at the candle on the table and then back at me, and the look is gone from her eyes.

  “Congratulations,” she finally says. Her voice is flat.

  “What?” I frown.

  “On the promotion. Congrats.”

  “Oh, right. Thanks,” I respond. She smiles but there’s a sadness in her eyes. My heart starts thumping and I feel like I’ve done something wrong. I rack my brain to try to think of something to say, but the words won’t come.

  I want to tell her that I want to see her, I still want her in my life, I don’t want to lose her when I don’t even know her, but nothing comes out. I clear my throat and take another sip of wine, and she does the same.

  There’s tension between us now. I know it’s my fault. I haven’t told her how I feel, or let her know how much she means to me. I haven’t told her anything except the fact that I won’t be back in New York. I don’t know how to get back to the easy conversation we’ve always had together.

  When she puts the wine glass down she smiles at me. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves tonight,” she says.

  I nod and smile. “Sounds good.”

  The words catch in my throat and I look at my half glass of wine. I might need another one before I’m ready to lay it all out for her and tell her how much she means to me. I take a deep breath and meet her eye again, trying to relax and let myself smile. I have all night to tell her I want to try to make this work. She’s right, we should just enjoy ourselves.

  “Cheers to our first date,” I say, raising my glass.

  She laughs and my heart sings at the sound. “Cheers.”

  Chapter 34 - Rosie

  My mind is racing. He’s gotten a promotion, and he’s handing off the campaigns to his coworker, which means he won’t be coming back to New York.

  Just when I thought we had some time together, just when I thought I’d be able to get to know him and tell him about the baby the right way, I find out that I don’t have any time at all. He’s on a flight out of here tomorrow evening. I have less than 24 hours to tell him he’s the father of my child and then he leaves back to LA, back to his fancy life and big promotion.

  Good for him. Congratu-fucking-lations.

  My hands are shaking as I bring the glass of wine to my lips. It feels wrong, even though the doctor told me a glass of wine per week was alright. I stare at the dark red liquid and let it wet my lips.

  “Good wine,” I say as I put the glass back down.

  “It is,” Lucas answers. He stares at me from across the table, the candlelight flickering across his face. “I thought you didn’t know anything about wine,” he adds with a smile.

  I look at my glass, swirling the liquid in it. “It’s just something to say, isn’t it? Does anybody know anything about wine? Are you sure this didn’t come out of a box?”

  “I did watch the waiter pour it, so I’m fairly sure.”

  “Doesn’t mean anything,” I say with a wave. Lucas laughs.

  My heart is thumping and my stomach feels heavy. I’m not sure I can do this. It feels good to just laugh with him. It’s so rare that I feel comfortable around anyone, and he’s the first person I’ve been able to open up to in over a year. The thought of ruining that is breaking my heart already.

  But, it’s now or never, I have to tell him about the baby tonight. Otherwise I don’t know when I’ll see him again. At least if he reacts badly I’ll only have one more day of work with him and then he’ll be on the other side of the country.

  A thousand thoughts fly through my head. What if he doesn’t believe me? What if he doesn’t think it’s his? Do I have to wait until it’s born to get a DNA test? What if he gets angry? What if he yells?

  What if he’s happy?

  That thought scares me almost as much as the others. If he wants the baby, and he wants to be part of my life, what does that mean? He’s just gotten a promotion, but so have I. I don’t want to leave New York to go somewhere I’ve never been where I know no one! He wouldn’t expect me to up and m
ove, would he?

  I take a deep breath and pick up the glass of wine again. With one more sip I’m able to sit up straighter and look at him again.

  He’s looking at me curiously, head tilted to the side and eyes squinting slightly. Even in the dim light I can see how piercingly blue they are. He licks his lips and my stomach does a flip.

  Even with all these thoughts I still can’t get over how attractive he is.

  “Are you ok, Rosie? You seem worried.”

  I nod. “I’m ok. I just…” I pause. I just want to tell you something. “I’m just a bit sad that I won’t see you again after tomorrow.”

  “We don’t know that,” he answers slowly.

  “Don’t we?” I shoot back. I hate how bitter I sound. He glances at the table and grabs one of the uneaten dinner rolls in the basket between us. He tears it open with his hands, reaching for the butter. I wait for him to speak, but he seems completely enthralled with his bun. I take a deep breath.

  “I’m sorry, Lucas. I was just hoping we would have a bit more time together. I haven’t met a man that I’m into in way too long.”

  He glances up at me and grins. “So you’re into me?”

  I snort. “Is that a serious question? Isn’t it obvious??”

  He shrugs and goes back to his dinner roll. “When you didn’t call me when I left the first time I thought you weren’t interested in me. Like I was just a fling or whatever.”

  My heart starts thumping when his eyes flick up to mine and I see the hurt in them. The words tumble out of my mouth. “I lost your number! I can’t believe I never told you this! It was on the paper and I brought it to lunch so that my girlfriends would help me text you and -“

  Lucas starts laughing and I pause, mouth still open. “You needed help texting me?”

  I blush and grab a dinner roll of my own. It’s still warm and the steam billows out of it when I tear it open. I shrug. “I was nervous.”