Surprise Daddies: A Contemporary Romance Box Set

by London James

  I shake off my coat, getting the freshly fallen snow off my shoulders and look around. Damn, this place is nice. High ceilings with gold trim. The red carpet is thick and giving, cushioning every step I take.

  People are coming in the doors with their skis and snowboards, goggles on their foreheads and cheeks bright red from the cold. They must be just coming in because of the storm coming.

  I rub my hands together and blow hot breath in them. I’m so cold. Fuck. I thought Washington got cold. Denver is a different ball game.

  “No, I know. I just want you to put fifty on that card and one hundred on the other.”

  I know that voice. It’s sweet, soft, and angelic, even when she is upset.

  “What do you mean you can’t take two forms of payment? I’m only here because my mother and stepfather are missing,” she snaps, stuffing her cards back in her purse.

  Everly’s hair has gotten long again. It isn’t as long as it was before she chopped it, taking ten years off my life. It’s so beautiful, shining against the bright fluorescent lights. I hope she never cuts it again. When she chopped it, she looked beautiful, but with it long, she is an ethereal goddess, a creature of a myth—the ones that entangle you in the binds of their beauty.

  Yeah, that is what she is, and it seems she only gets more beautiful with age.

  “So that just doesn’t matter? My mother and stepfather are missing from your resort, and you don’t care? I’ve spent every last dime I’ve had to get here you hoity-toity rich snob! Just try the card again.” She is crying, but it isn’t because she is sad. No, she is about to blow this fucker up until it is nothing but rubble and dust.

  I know a lot of her financial issues are due to identity theft, and I can’t imagine how frustrating it is.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. It won’t go through. The payment is declined.” The front desk clerk seems unbothered, probably because she has to deal with this every day, but it wouldn’t hurt her to be more friendly.

  The first tear falls down her porcelain cheek, and it breaks the trance I have from watching from afar. I stroll forward and reach into my inner coat pocket for my wallet.

  “Here, put it on my card.” I hand over the black American Express that has no limit.

  The clerk’s eyes widen when she sees who I am. “Of course, Mr. Michaels. Right away.”

  Everly whips her head around, causing her hair to fan out. It reminds me of a flower, spinning the stem in my hand as I watch the petals spin in circles. It’s hypnotizing, and what’s even worse, Everly has no idea she still holds all that power. She has the kind of beauty that can change the world with just one look.

  Just like a flower that can bring a smile to the saddest face. It’s quick and undeniable.

  Her eyes are wide with surprise, the large green orbs sparkling like gems from the tears swimming in her emerald oceans. “Rowan, you don’t have to do that.” Everly wipes a tear threatening to fall off her lower lash line.

  “I know, but this is important. And I know about your situation. It isn’t fair.” I mean that, too. I’m not just saying that. No one deserves to have their entire life ruined.

  Her eyes soften around the edges as she looks at me, and just seeing her, that honey brown hair, those jade eyes, it makes my heart skip a beat from the cold coma I put it under. I hate how much I love her beauty.

  “I’ll pay you back,” she says.

  “No, you won’t. Only Dad could afford a place like this. No offense,” I hurry to say. I don’t want her to think she doesn’t have the potential to make a lot of money. She does. Everyone does. I just got lucky.

  “No offense taken. I know I won’t ever be a billionaire. I’m okay with it.” She blows a piece of hair out of her face from the side of her pale, pink lips. I always loved how the top curves like cupid’s bow.

  This is the most we have talked to each other in over six years, and it took something as awful as our parents going missing to make it happen, but even when it is all said and done and we find them, I know she and I will go our separate ways again. I just can’t be around her without loving her because when I’m away from her, I numb the yearning I have for her.

  When she is near, like she is right now, smelling like a bouquet of freshly cut wildflowers, the bulletproof glass I put around my soul to keep her away shatters. And without effort or attempt, she owns me all over again.

  “Your room keys,” the clerk hands over one small envelope of key cards. As in, for one room. One. That’s it.

  “Oh, no. I believe you misunderstood. I was only paying for her room, but we still need two rooms.” Because lady, if I have to be within the same four walls as Everly Madison, I may just lose my fucking mind.

  “Yes, I’m sorry, Mr. Michaels. This next week is booked, and the only room we have available is the penthouse suite.”

  “Of course it is,” Everly mumbles under her breath.

  I lean my arms against the counter and give the clerk the smile women melt themselves over. I flash my straight, white teeth, and make sure to show the dimples. Dimples work every time.

  “I’m going to need the other room…” I dart my eyes to her name tag, “Becky. That’s my stepsister.” I have to hold back a little bile that works its way up my throat. To think of Everly as my sister is repulsive.

  “While it is great news that she isn’t your girlfriend because that means we can get a drink when I get off...”

  No, we can’t.

  Everly snorts, not hiding her disdain for the raven-haired clerk.

  Becky clicks her tongue when she sees Everly’s reaction, “…but it is the only room we have. I apologize. I’ve ordered complimentary champagne for you to be delivered to your room.”

  “Right. Okay. Thanks.” I click the key cards on the counter and grab my bag.

  Everly shoves her tote strap up her shoulder, and she seems like she’s dreading this just as much. I take offense to that. I shouldn’t because I feel the same. I don’t want her to dread it, but at the same time, I do.

  What a wicked, wicked world we live in.

  I press the button to the elevator and watch the numbers illuminate, as the red glow shows how much longer of a wait we have. Everly stays a few feet back, trying to stay out of my personal space, but I feel her.

  And I know she feels me too.

  It’s the same every time we are together. The call of her heart makes me want to answer. The heat of her body is familiar, like home, and it is so hard not to just fall into it like an everyday routine.

  The ding of the elevator snaps me out of my haze. Silver doors slide open to reveal an empty cart. I hold my arm against the elevator door to keep it from closing. “After you,” I nod.

  “Um, thanks.” She keeps her head down to hide her eyes under her hair.

  She hides herself in the far-right corner, trying to make herself invisible as she leans against the mirrored glass.

  The same glass that shows all of her curves.

  The curves I got to taste first.

  I still feel smug about that. I smirk at the memory and rub my hand over my mouth to rub off the humor. When I walk into the elevator, I stand by the buttons, keeping a few feet of distance between us. Her wildflower scent fills the small cart, and out of habit, something as simple as breathing, I inhale. And she wraps around my lungs like wayward petals swirling in the breeze.

  I scan the card over the black pad and press the button that says PH. The metal box creaks and jolts as it starts to life. The lights flicker, and the elevator moans, and in a sudden moment, the power shuts off. The elevator stops, trapping Everly and I between the eighth and ninth floor.

  “Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” she hisses.

  She took the words right out of my mouth.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Everly

  This cannot be happening.

  It’s my worst nightmare. Or my favorite dream. I suppose it depends on the context, but as of right now, it seems to be the nightmare.
<
br />   We are in a fancy pants hotel, and their elevator can’t even work?

  “It must be the storm,” Rowan says from somewhere in front of me, but I can’t see him. Everything is too dark.

  But it makes it easier—not seeing him.

  “I thought the storm was supposed to hit next week?” That was my hope because if it did hit early, that means the chances of finding my mom and Mr. Michaels are zilch.

  “Never know with environments like this. This may not even be the storm they are talking about. It could just be the average snow cloud. I wish I knew,” Rowan’s voice echoes off the four walls of the elevator; hitting me from all sides. It’s gotten deeper over the years, and it drapes over me like a cloak, tingling my spine, teasing me, but most of all, making me feel at home again.

  “Oh, okay.” That’s all I know to say.

  We sit like that in silence for who knows how long, and the oxygen in the cart starts to get hot from the lack of fresh air. I’m breathing in his recycled air.

  Why do I suddenly want to swallow it all up?

  “So, Gray says you guys have been talking.”

  I lift my head from my knees to give him the evil eye, but I forgot, he can’t see me. “Yeah, but only in a legal sense.”

  “Don’t be so disappointed,” he snaps.

  I pinch my brows together, out of habit from making so many expressions when I speak. “I’m not disappointed. He has been a good friend and has helped me as much as he can.”

  “That’s really it?”

  “Yep,” I nod, popping the end of the word for emphasis.

  “If you want to take it further with him, it’s okay. You can. Gray is a good guy.”

  Did Rowan seriously just give permission for me to date his best friend? “I think we both know he would do better with someone like Blaire.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  I slam my head on the wall of the elevator and groan from frustration. “What is it that you want, Rowan? No, it doesn’t bother me. I only see him as a friend, that’s all. Just as he sees me. He’s helped me when no one else could.” Or would. I wanted to ask for Rowan’s help so bad, but I know he would have laughed in my face and told me it was exactly what I deserved.

  Well, that’s what I think anyway.

  He doesn’t say anything in return. I guess it was the exhaustion in my voice, the worry, or something, I don’t know what it was, but it was enough to make him speechless. I’m waiting until he blows, though. This must be the calm before the storm. He’s going to let me have it. I’m not sure how long we are going to be stuck together, but something has to give.

  And I had a feeling it’s me who will break from whatever he has to give.

  I wipe the back of my neck. Sweat has started to gather along my hairline and is dripping down the column of my spine. “Do you think they are okay?” I ask, whispering in the dark to make sure I’m not by myself.

  “I wish I knew,” he answers a few seconds later.

  “They have to be, right? I mean, we can’t lose them, too.”

  “I know. Both of us have lost enough.”

  I swallow, wondering if he means the relationship between us.

  “You smell different,” he says out of the blue, completely changing the subject.

  I let out an offensive huff, “It’s hot in here, okay? I’m sweating. It’s snowing outside, and I’m sweating my body weight.”

  He laughs. It’s almost eerie since it is in the dark, but knowing it is Rowan keeps my nerves steady. Even after all these years, I still feel safe around him. No matter how angry we are at each other. “No. I don’t mean in a bad way. You changed your perfume. It’s still sweet, but more flowery.”

  It’s a good thing it is dark, or he would be able to see how red my cheeks are. “Yeah, I changed it. They call it ‘wild honeysuckle’.”

  “It smells good, even through the sweat.”

  “Rowan! Are you saying I smell bad right now?”

  “I’m just saying, both of us probably are a little rich right now, okay?” The mirth in his voice makes me smile.

  “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything but…” I leave my sentence hanging to make him think he stinks. He doesn’t. He smells like cologne. It’s light and airy, kind of like the ocean, but mixed with sandalwood. It’s different from the last one. I guess we both upgraded.

  “You’re full of it. I smell like damn sunshine and man.”

  “And man?” I giggle. “Aw, whatever you need to tell yourself.”

  “You’re still a little shit, still. Aren’t you?”

  “Aren’t you?” I mock him, as if we are fifteen again.

  “I ought to make you sleep in here while I sleep like a baby in the suite.”

  His statement makes reality crash down. The suite. His life. His hatred for me. For a minute, I forgot about everything. “I’ve been keeping track of you and Gray with the company. I know it doesn’t mean anything, but I’m proud of you both. The company has grown so much. You must be so busy.”

  “Thanks. Yeah, it’s been a journey, Gray is handling everything right now while we search for dad and Barbara.” He pauses and lets out a deep breath. I swear, I can feel the warmth dancing over my skin, even if I am on the other side of the elevator. “And you’re wrong. It means a lot, Everly. Thank you.”

  I don’t say anything back. What’s there to say? Besides ‘I love you still’. And that will make an already awkward conversation completely unbearable. I want to comment on how good he looks. I want to tell him how sorry I am for ruining everything, but now isn’t the time. Not while we are trapped in a metal cube, sweating our asses off and needing to find our parents.

  My head thuds against the wall, and I shut my eyes.

  “Everly?”

  “Yeah?” But we are interrupted by the door being plied apart. “Finally.”

  I wince as I think of how that sounded. I’m just happy we are out of the elevator, but I wish Rowan and I could actually sit down and talk. Maybe being in the elevator was my chance to say what I needed to say, but fear held me back. The time and place doesn’t matter as long as it is said.

  How many times do I need to tell myself that?

  The clerk from the front desk peaks her head in when the doors are finally opened. I want to narrow my eyes at her and tell her to get lost. “Oh, thank goodness. Mr. Michaels, your stay is free here, for however long you need to stay.”

  Yeah, I bet she wants him to stay forever.

  “Thanks, I appreciate it,” Rowan nods, lifting himself up on the floor to push himself through the gap since we are between floors.

  All those scary movies start to run through my mind. I imagine the elevator falling, breaking Rowan’s body in half and me plummeting to the bottom of the building. I’d crumble and dissipate with the metal tin.

  He’s there, and then in one quick moment, his feet disappear, and all I hear is a loud metallic crash. I can’t see him.

  “Rowan!” I scream, throwing my hand over my mouth from the fear possessing my body.

  “Oh, Eve,” his voice drifts down, as he gets through the gap and then lays down flat, holding his hands out to help me up. “You’re watching those scary movies again.”

  I could cry with relief, seeing him alive and well. I grip his arms and nod, fighting back the tears. When our skin touches, it’s an entirely new sensation. Desire, nostalgia, and love. He feels it too because his breath catches, and his eyes dilate. Electricity zaps between us. Maybe static, maybe something else.

  I’ll never know.

  And Rowan doesn’t seem to want to feel it anymore because he yanks me up through the gap until my body is safely out of the elevator and puts me on the floor.

  “Are you guys okay?” one of the firefighters calls over.

  “Fine. Just a little dehydrated is all,” Rowan answers and gets up to his feet, completely ignoring me and shutting me out.

  It makes sense. We are around other people now. The spell is broken, an
d he has awakened from the trance. “How long before we can get upstairs?” he asks.

  “Another twenty or so minutes, I’m afraid.”

  “We can always take the stairs,” I suggest. “How much further is the penthouse?”

  “Eight more floors,” Becky explains.

  Becky. What kind of name is Becky, anyway?

  “But I’ll be glad to buy you a drink to pay for your trouble?” she asks Rowan.

  Rowan puts his hands on his hips and tilts his head up to the ceiling. His face is red from the heat, and sweat is dripping off his temples, cascading down his cheek. He lets out a laugh under his breath and shakes his head.

  “Listen, I’m sure you’re a nice girl. Maybe. But we are here to find our parents that are lost on that mountain right now. So no, I don’t want to get a drink with you, today, tomorrow, or any other day. I have more pressing matters at hand.”

  He walks toward the stairwell, and Becky’s jaw hits the floor from his audacity. Ha. I turn my nose up and follow Rowan to the stairwell that leads to the penthouse. I should feel bad for the girl, but I don’t, even though I know what it’s like to be on the side of him that doesn’t like you.

  I’m still on that side, but she doesn’t need to know that.

  Rowan is in front of me, and my eyes wander to his firm bubble butt. The muscle flexes as he opens the door to showcase the stairs. “You ready for this?”

  The words make me stumble, and I run right into his back, feeling the soft globes of his butt that are still somehow firm. How? Mine is just soft…

  “What?”

  “The stairwell. Are you ready? It’s a lot of steps.”

  As long as I get to follow behind him to watch his backside, I’ll be alright.

  I just need to make sure he doesn’t know I’m looking at it.

  “I’m fine. Let’s go. I want to take a shower.”

  He nods and takes the first step. The sound of our shoes echo off the walls with every step we take. We are huffing by the time we get to the third floor. I’m exhausted. I’m sweating. I smell like elevator. I had no idea that was a smell, but I swear, it is. And the only thing keeping me motivated is Rowan’s butt. I have no right to look at it.