Babysitting Love (A Single Dad Romance #1)

by J. L. Beck

  “I can’t believe you were with a Barbie look alike.” I snorted. “She’s a real winner, Liam.” I tried to hide my anger, which wasn’t directed at him but I was still seething from the things the damn woman had said.

  “Not my greatest pick no, and I regret telling her about the adoption. I wanted kids at the time we were dating and she didn’t. It’s a good thing I didn’t end up with her because God looks at her now.” Liam released his hold on me as if he realized then that I wasn’t going to run away or magically disappear through the concrete.

  “We all have a past Liam. I’m just glad you made a good choice and decided to give Emery a mother she really deserves.” I boasted about myself, and Liam, of course, being himself caught on right away.

  “You’re a perfect mother Whitney and when the time comes for us to have our own baby I know that you will do even better.” I loved the way he spoke so soft and careful about me like I was a fragile piece of glass.

  “I love you. Now, get me out of here before I go rearrange real life Barbie face.” I ordered. Liam unlocked the SUV in the next second and we both pilled in, hopefully heading to get takeout because nothing made me hungry than getting into an almost brawl.

  Chapter Eight

  Liam

  Two weeks later

  Whitney and Emery had been acting strange the last week and I wasn’t sure why. After the little stunt Jay pulled with Whitney and me, I was sure she was going to be running back to her house and our entire future would be at risk because of some stupid bitch like Tina.

  Whitney proved me wrong, though. She didn’t run or shy away from me. She simply held her own proving she had the strength to hold on even when someone tried to knock her down.

  Her strength and love for me poured from her more and more every single day and I hoped like hell all the fucking we were doing was giving her a baby that she more than deserved.

  “So I just got off the phone with my mother.” Whitney didn’t sound too thrilled, actually, she sounded pissed.

  “What’s going on sweetheart?” I asked concerned that they had said something to her to upset her. From the talks Whitney and I had about her family it seemed they weren’t very supportive of her choice to be with me and of course that pissed me off.

  She slammed down on the leather couch beside. Emery was on the floor playing with her toys and I was trying to catch up on the football highlights.

  “My parents want us to come to their house for dinner and bring Emery with. I wouldn’t have a problem with this if I didn’t assume it was just a little stunt to try and ruin what we have.” The protectiveness in her voice made me smile.

  “Nothing can ruin what we have. No one can tell us what were doing is wrong. The only people that have to support our choices is us.” I assured her running at hand through her hair as she laid her head down on my lap. She looked exhausted and concern for nothing but her started to grow deep in my belly.

  “I know. I know but I don’t want to deal with it. My sister tried convincing me when I talked to her weeks ago that even being a nanny to you was a bad idea.” She sighed angrily. I understood her frustration. No one liked feeling as if they had no one in their corner rooting them on.

  “Obviously your sister was wrong then. I assure you the wages are fair, and the overtime is exceptional.” I teased, smiling down at her, trying to get her out of her grumpy mood.

  “Dadddddaaaa…” Emery babbled, crawling across the floor at hyper speed towards us. Whitney sat up right away, plucking her right up off the floor and into her arms.

  “Say, mommy.” Whitney urged. Emery merely smiled, her bright blue eyes twinkling with endless happiness.

  “No can do sweetheart. She’s been a daddy’s girl since the day I brought her home and she will be for the rest of her life.” I beamed. Whitney shot me a dirty look and then looked back down at Emery.

  “Tell daddy you won’t always been his little girl because someday your own prince is going to come into your life and sweep you off your feet just like your daddy did to me.” How was it possible that I had someone so perfect, so beautiful, and loving.

  “When is dinner with your family?” I questioned, changing the subject because I wasn’t ready to think about my little girl growing up and finding someone to replace me.

  “Tonight at seven. I don’t want to go but I think it’s the right thing to do. I want them to meet you and Emery and see just for themselves how amazing you guys are.” Whitney’s eyes bled into mine. She believed in me, and us so much. Enough that she told her family where to go and how fast to get there.

  “Then we will go. If you’re okay with it then we will go. I want you to be happy and I’m willing to meet your family if it's something that you want.” I licked my lips the need to kiss her and assure her everything was going to be okay was astounding.

  “There’s something else….” She bit her bottom lip in worry. Fuck, my cock was already hard.

  “What?” I cleared my throat trying to cover up my arousal. Emery was still up after all and I tried not to engage in sexual activities in front of her even if Whitney tempted the beast beneath the surface at every turn.

  She looked away and down at Emery before looking back up at me like she was contemplating something.

  “Last week when we went to the store I picked up a pregnancy test.” I perked right up, my body going ridged. I had waited for this day forever. I loved Emery as my own and that would never change but there was nothing like having your own child and watching the woman you loved to carry it to birth.

  “Don’t tease me like that sweetheart. Tell me if I’ve done the job. Tell me I haven’t let you down.” Something in me snapped, and the man in me roared to the surface. It was my job to provide, protect, and give my girls whatever they needed. Whitney wanted a baby, and I had fucked her so many different times and ways that it should’ve been done by now.

  “I don’t know yet.” She shook her head a small smile pulling at her lips. Clearly, she thought this was funny.

  “You don’t know yet? Did you take the test or no?” I questioned a bit more aggressive than needed. I couldn’t help myself, though. I wanted a baby inside of her just as badly as she wanted one.

  “I’m waiting for Emery to nap so that we can take the test together. I didn’t want to do it alone.” She frowned. Did she think I would have her do all of this alone?

  “We're in this together. I’m not going to make you do anything by yourself. Not ever.” I brought her lips to mine coaxing her to open up to me. I wanted her taste to coat my tongue and her body beneath mine.

  We kissed for a long moment before Emery took her hands and pushed our faces apart breaking the kiss before it even got good. I sucked in a deep breath calming the fire that burned through my veins.

  “You just cock blocked your daddy.” Whitney laughed, putting Emery back on the floor so that she could play with her toys. I didn’t find anything about it to be funny in fact it was way more uncomfortable than funny.

  “Laugh it up darling but when I’m deep in that pussy later tonight you won’t be laughing so hard….” I warned. I was going to punish that slick vagina tonight just like I did every single night but first I was going to find out if I had succeeded in giving us both a baby.

  Emery started to whine, her back arching as the tantrum from hell started to come out of her. I had to admit that ever since Whitney started staying with us Emery was nothing but an angel. She hardly cried, or fussed and that was something she almost always did before Whitney came along.

  “Nap time princess,” Whitney announced in a sing-song voice getting Emery’s attention before she could start ravaging the house with her rage. We both went to her bedroom and laid her down, and then came out together.

  “Shall we?” I asked eagerly wanting to know so badly if I had done what I set out to do.

  “I’m nervous.” She whispered under her breath walking directly into the bathroom. A little package that said EPT on it was sitting on
the counter.

  “Nervous? Don’t be. Why? There is no rush baby. None at all.” I assured her, wanting to wrap her up in my arms and do nothing but make love to her all day long. She owned me.

  “I want to give you this baby and I’m going to be disappointed in myself if it says negative.” I hated that she was feeling so low about herself.

  “Nope. I don’t want to hear any of that bullshit. It will happen when it does. In the meantime, we can just continue to practice.” I didn’t know if I had convinced her to let go of the pressure or not but she grabbed the package and ripped it open revealing a white little stick. Moving past me she made her way to the toilet where she did her business while taking the stick and placing it between her legs before putting it back on the counter.

  I, of course, grabbed the package examining it to figure out when we could look at the small little stick.

  “Three whole minutes.” Patience wasn’t my strong suit. Whitney washed her hands and looked at me with more anxiety than needed. I couldn’t help seeing her in such a way so I pulled her into my chest and hoped like hell that my body could melt away the anxiety she was feeling.

  The seconds seemed to tick by so slowly each one feeling like an entire year. By the time three minutes was up I was sure I was going to have gray hair sprouting from my head.

  “Are you ready?” I asked just above a whisper. This was the moment we had been waiting for. She held up her end of the bargain providing me with a mother for my daughter. It was my turn to give her, give us a baby.

  With her eyes squeezed shut she mumbled yes, and we broke away from each other to look at the test. My body shook and my hands felt clammy. There on the little stick in the tiny window laid the one word that made all of this worth the while.

  PREGNANT

  “Oh my God Liam. We’re having a baby. A baby.” Whitney sounded like she couldn’t believe it, and had I not seen the test right in front of me I wouldn’t have believed it either.

  “Yes, we’re sweetheart. We’re having a baby. I’ve done what I set out to do.” I announced relief flooding me. I didn’t want to let her down, not today, tomorrow or ever for that matter.

  “Yes!” Tiny tears slipped from her beautiful green eyes and I wiped them away with my thumb.

  “This is what we both wanted. What we’ve waited for so don’t cry, baby. Don’t be upset.” I didn’t know how to handle all these emotions I was feeling. I was thrilled, excited and nervous. Whitney and I had wanted this from the start, and though we didn’t expect it to happen so fast I didn’t think either of us was upset about it.

  “No. You’re right.” She placed her hands on my shoulders. “I want this. These aren’t sad tears but happy ones, because for the first time ever I’ve been given a gift that will be mine forever, ours forever so thank you.” Her gratitude towards me and thankfulness was something I couldn’t even put into words. There was nothing I could say to her that I hadn’t already.

  She made our family whole, and now I was going to do my part by making her whole again.

  Chapter Nine

  Whitney

  Anxiety pricked at my skin like a bad rash. Liam and I were pregnant, and we were also going to reveal the news tonight to my family. Nausea clung to my insides. I was a mess, and my family would know that the moment I walked through the front door. Still, I wasn’t going to not show up and prove to them that I wasn’t ready for them to meet Liam or Emery.

  “Ready?” I asked blowing out a breath. I had dressed casually while Emery was in a bright yellow dress and Liam looked like he was trying to impress someone. What he didn’t know was there wasn’t any impressing my family.

  “Whenever you’re sweetheart.” We had just parked along side the street right outside the house I had grown up in my entire life. Every light was on inside and I could see from the street that everyone was packed in the small dining room obviously waiting for to show up.

  “Whatever happens Liam, just know, that I love you and that nothing they say will change that.” I barely got the words out and the front door was being flung open my mother standing before us with a witchy look in her eyes.

  She didn’t have to say it but I knew she disapproved of the entire things, which probably only made me want to do it all the more.

  “Mrs. Sky it’s so nice to meet you.” Liam hustled to the door to greet my mother who offered him a strained smile.

  “It’s so very nice to meet you as well. I’m so happy you and Whitney could make it.” I couldn’t even stop my eyes from rolling if I tried. I knew fake when I saw it and my mother was playing the role very well today.

  Ushering us through the front door my anxiety only seemed to mount as my entire family stared at me with judgment in their eyes. I found Layla across the room her eyes on the floor.

  She had totally told them everything, even without me being able to stick up for myself. I knew I should be mad, livid even but I wasn’t when it came to her. Not when I knew my parents would just force her to tell them.

  “Hello, I’m Jack, Whitney’s father.” My dad’s deep voice rumbled through me, bringing me back to the present. He was eyeing up Liam with vengeance in his eyes as if he had done something wrong already.

  “I’m Liam Whitney’s boyfriend, and this is my daughter Emery.” Liam smiled, brushing off the fact that my entire family seemed to be throwing daggers at us. Emery cooed, and I swear I saw the heat in my father’s gaze melt away.

  “While now that we have introductions down let’s go eat. We’ve been waiting for about ten minutes for you to show up.” My mother made no attempt to hide her anger towards me and instead wrung her hands through her apron before scurrying off into the kitchen.

  I stared at the entrance to the dining room where my sister, her husband, and my brother, and his wife with their three kids all stood.

  “Liam this is my sister Layla and her husband Link.” My sister looked at me with amazement and her husband looked at the ground, clearly bored by the entire thing.

  “And this is Pete my brother, and his wife Molly and their three kids, Heather, Matt, and Greg.” Pete glared at Liam and Molly gave a tight-lipped smile. Neither my sister, or brother said hello, or it’s nice to meet you which only made me angrier. Liam and Emery in my eyes were as much family as they were.

  “Everyone please have a seat.” My mother announced bringing a tray with two large roasted chickens on it. I looked around the room, and at the people that I called my family. I looked at my mother, and father who didn’t seem to care or have a moment to spare to be happy for their daughter.

  I looked at Layla who couldn’t even meet my eyes because she was so guilty of what she had done that she didn’t want to look at me and then there was my brother who hadn’t really said more than a handful of words since he graduated from High School and left the house to me.

  I realized then that this wasn’t my family. I didn’t have to hide behind something that wasn’t real with Liam because it was all, real. Every kiss, caress, and word. It was real.

  “Actually…” My eyes darted to Liam’s and then to baby Emery’s. Did I want this kind of life for her? Or our unborn baby? “Liam and I just came to tell you all that were expecting a baby…. I know that none of you will approve and that’s fine because it’s not your life. It’s mine.” I kept my voice strong refusing to show even the slightest crack that my mom could bust through.

  “You just came to tell us that you’re having a baby with a man that you hardly know. A man that obviously couldn’t keep that little girl’s mother around long enough to give her a stable life….” I clenched my fists at my sides at my mother’s snide comment.

  “Mrs. Sky will all respect to your family I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t make false claims up. This little girl is adopted meaning both her parents decided to let the system have her and me being a stand-up guy adopted her, without the need of a woman.” Liam’s voice rose as he continued to speak, the strength in his words giving me my own strengt
h.

  “Coming here was a bad idea anyway. You knew nothing about Liam and were already judging him the second he walked in the door. Hell, you had all your own assumptions before we even got here.” I fumed. Maybe it was my hormones or maybe I was just done with all the bullshit. I deserved better, and even if my family didn’t support my choice of happiness that didn’t mean I had to stand around and listen to them.

  “If you leave Whitney we will never allow you to come back…” My father warned. The man that had taught me how to ride my first bike, the man that was to give me away on the day of my wedding was threatening me.

  I clenched my fists until I could feel the indentation of my nails into my palm. “I don’t need this family and I don’t need your hate or judgment which is why were leaving. I won’t have to wake up every day and know that I shoved my daughter out of my life. That’ll be on you.” I pointed at my parent’s before turning on my heels and heading for the door. Everything about this house was suffocating me, and I just needed out. I could hear Liam speaking softly to my parent’s as I stepped out the front door, letting the cool breeze calm me.

  What was I thinking? Had I wanted Liam to meet my family so badly that I pushed the fact that it would be this way from my mind? He didn’t deserve this.

  “Even if they don’t support you, you know that I do. I care about you. I love you. I cherish you.” Liam whispered in my ear, one of his arms wrapping around me, tugging me into his side. Emery was still chilling on his arm, her big bright blue eyes filled with wonderment.

  “I know that and that’s the reason I came to this conclusion as I stood there staring at a room full of strangers. They were supposed to be my family but nothing other than the blood that ran through our veins showed it. DNA didn’t make you family, and the blood you shared didn’t make people love you.” I sobbed, letting the painful tears I had been holding back finally slip down my cheeks.