Big Daddy To Go: A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance

by Adams, S. C.

  6

  Kane

  As I sit in my office on Third Avenue looking over the end of the quarter profits and losses, my mind drifts to last week. Lexi left before I woke up.

  Usually, that’s how I like for things to go. I don’t want girls to linger and get comfortable with me. I’m quite particular with the company I keep, especially when it comes to women. I’ve met too many gold diggers who dream of being socialites to allow myself to be used.

  I don’t date. I hook up. Usually, I wine and dine girls I meet at Marquee. The girls there want to land a rich guy, and I know that. But by the time I’m done with a girl, she’s usually looking for more than my money. Being well-endowed has its advantages, but I never take out the same girl more than three times.

  I know there is nothing more than sex between us, and if I let it go on, I’d be taking advantage. Or I’d wind up letting them take advantage of me. I won’t be played for a fool. I won’t be used for my money, or even for my body. I have given up hope that good women exist anymore. Thoughts of marriage and kids are dreams I had in my twenties, but now, I’m not so sure it’s possible for me.

  Even sexually, I’m no longer satisfied with the trash I meet. All of these women I see conform to some sort of mold. They all look like they need to eat a sandwich and lay off of the collagen and Botox injections.

  Lexi is different than most girls, though. Her curvy body is a delicious sight. She’s a real woman.

  While I could tell Lexi didn’t come from money, she also didn’t seem too concerned with mine. Even though she admired the penthouse at the Hotel Magnolia, she was more enthralled with me.

  Thoughts of her legs wrapped around my waist fill my mind. I can still hear the sound of her ass slapping against the glass as I drove my cock deep inside her.

  I want to see her again, but I don’t even know her last name. I went back to The Drunken Bucket last night. Since we met there on a Thursday, I thought it might be the night she goes to that bar.

  The same bartender who had been working that night was there. I asked if he had seen the girl I left with.

  “Oh, Chugs?” he remembered.

  “Has she been here?”

  “Usually she comes on Friday nights for happy hour with her friend.”

  I thanked him for the information and left, knowing I would come back tonight since it’s Friday.

  The day drags on. I debate leaving work early, wanting to head home to shower and change for tonight. I was certainly out of place in my Versace suit last week at The Drunken Bucket.

  Four o’clock rolls around, and I page my assistant, Joel.

  “Yes, Mr. Jones?”

  “Joel, cut it with the Mr. Jones crap already. You’ve been working for me for half a year now,” I chuckle.

  “Sorry, Kane.”

  Joel grew up in the South and is a hard-working kid who moved to New York City straight from college. Quite a few qualified people applied to be my assistant, but I liked the idea of giving the kid a chance. This city can swallow people like Joel up if they don’t find the right opportunities.

  “I’m leaving for the day. If anyone wants to reach me, tell them I will get back to them on Monday.”

  “You got it. Have a great weekend, Kane.”

  “You too. Great job at the meeting today,” I assure him, knowing he had been taken out of his comfort zone when he had to speak in front of the executive team.

  I leave the building and head to my penthouse on East 22nd Street. I decide to take the subway home instead of my private car service. I try to take public transportation a couple of times a week. It keeps me grounded. I can have anything I want, as fast as I need it.

  I try to remember that life isn’t always about material things, though. I like taking the train or walking somewhere every once in a while. I sometimes unplug from technology too. It helps me clear my mind and destress.

  And I really liked going to a dive bar last week and drinking cold beer while watching the Yankees game. Going home with a beautiful stranger was the icing on the cake. It felt normal, like something I did back in the small town I grew up in near Philly. The only thing missing was the buddies I’d had back then.

  I’d become too lost in work after college to keep up most of my relationships. I missed out on a real social life as I worked my way up the financial ladder. And now, I question people’s motives so much that I keep everyone at a distance.

  When I get home, my chocolate Labrador, Kayla, runs up to me. I don’t care that she’s covering me with dog hair as I scratch her belly. She makes this penthouse a home for me. I love having someone to come home to. Dogs are loving and loyal, and Kayla doesn’t care if I’m rich. All she cares about is food, walks, and love.

  “Kay-Kay, are you hungry?” I ask.

  She wags her tail and waits by her food bowl in the kitchen. I give her a can of dog food and head into my bedroom to get out of my work clothes. After I shower and shave, I pick out a pair of jeans and a collared shirt.

  Once I’m ready, I take Kayla for a walk, all the while thinking about Lexi. I know it might be a longshot for her to even be at the pub, or that she will come home with me if she is, but I can’t stop thinking about her.

  The sex was fucking fantastic, but our chemistry was on-point. I need one more night with her. I had never been with a girl like Lexi—with all of those delicious curves and the passion in her kiss. I’m once again aware of how different Lexi is than the girls I’ve picked up at Marquee—with their bony hips and and dull conversation with forced laughter.

  After Kayla’s walk, I bring her back upstairs and grab my car keys. I lock up and head to the parking garage to retrieve my BMW. As I drive toward The Drunken Bucket, I say a silent prayer to see Lexi tonight along with her sexy ass.

  7

  Lexi

  I stare at my open closet, trying to decide on an outfit. I’m not sure why I’m making such a big fuss. It’s highly unlikely Kane will be at The Drunken Bucket tonight, but I want to be prepared if he is.

  “Lex, what’s taking so long?” Melanie calls out from the door.

  “Sorry, I can’t decide what to wear.”

  She snorts. “It’s just The Bucket. Jeans and a t-shirt will do.”

  I haven’t gotten a chance to tell Melanie about my romp with Jason’s double yet. I plan to tell her tonight and hope that she doesn’t judge me too hard. She might think that what I saw as a rebound lay is really me hanging onto Jason in some way.

  After thinking about Kane all week, I wonder if that’s normal for a one-night stand. Isn’t the whole point of a one-night stand to get off and never see or think about that person again?

  Then again, I’m not normal. Nothing I’ve done in the past two years has been normal for me… I was constantly trying to be someone I’m not to please a man I didn’t even love. I guess I hoped love would come later with Jason. So I tried to make myself fit into his life with whatever little room he left for me.

  I settle on jeans, but instead of a t-shirt, I go with a red and navy peplum halter top. I slip into red wedges and walk out of my bedroom.

  Melanie whistles at me.

  “You look hot.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Getting rid of that loser is really bringing you back to life, huh?”

  I shrug and look down at my toes briefly before looking back at Melanie. Her silky red hair is pushed over her shoulder as if she is The Little Mermaid. Melanie’s blue eyes are concerned as I begin to speak.

  “Jason put me down a lot, and he never made me a priority. I’m frustrated with myself for putting up with it for so long,” I admit.

  She rubs my shoulder and smiles.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Lex. Everyone has sacrificed a piece of themselves for the opposite sex at some point. You live and you learn, and hopefully, you’ve realized your self-worth like I hope you have,” Melanie says sincerely.

  “Thanks, Mel. You’re the one person who truly wants to see me happy.”
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  “You’re my best friend. I only want the best for you.”

  She brushes my gratitude off as if it isn’t needed, and I hug her.

  “So, I do have something I’ve been wanting to tell you…”

  “Can you tell me on the way? I’m dying for a nacho bucket. I skipped lunch.”

  Nacho buckets are the bar’s specialty. It’s literally a giant tub of nachos with beer-battered jalapenos, salsa, pulled pork, and sour cream, all smothered in cheese. We usually get halfway through the bucket before we’re stuffed.

  I lock up my apartment, and we start the short walk to The Drunken Bucket.

  “So, what did you want to tell me?” Melanie asks.

  “I had a one-night stand last week.”

  Melanie stops walking as her eyes bug out.

  “You? Lexi Smith? The girl in college who wouldn’t let a guy touch her boobs until the fifth date?”

  I laugh and nod.

  “Good for you, girl! Where did you meet him?”

  “At The Bucket!”

  “Seriously?” she asks, her face scrunched up like she smells something bad.

  “Hey!” I smack her arm. “You always flirt with the bartender!”

  “Well, Ricky works there… that’s different. Besides, he’s adorable.”

  I roll my eyes and laugh.

  “Don’t be so quick to judge. We go to The Bucket every week.”

  Melanie shrugs. “That’s because we’re broke as hell; we aren’t going there with the intention of meeting people.”

  “True. But I doubt Kane normally hangs out at dive bars anyway. He was wearing a three-piece suit and took me to the penthouse at Hotel Magnolia.”

  “Woo-woo, swanky,” Melanie comments, waving her wrist back and forth.

  “This guy, Mel…” I try to find words to describe Kane, but none of them seem to do him justice.

  “That good?”

  “The best,” I gush. “His face, that body, and oh God, the sex…”

  “Lexi,” Melanie blushes at how freely I’m discussing sex as we walk down the street. “Are you going to see him again?”

  “No, of course not. What do you think ‘one-night stand’ means?”

  “It sounds like you don’t want just one night.”

  “Well, I’ll admit another night like that would be more than welcome, but I don’t really have a choice. We didn’t exchange numbers or anything.”

  “But you got dolled up tonight just in case he’s here,” she figures out as we get to the bar.

  I shrug, “Yup.”

  Melanie laughs and opens the door. I step inside. The place is crowded, like it usually is for Friday night happy hour. Melanie and I squeeze our way up to the bar.

  “Chugs!” Ricky calls out upon seeing me.

  “Chugs?” Melanie questions.

  “That’s my new nickname,” I roll my eyes.

  “Are you doing vodka again?” Ricky asks with his pierced eyebrow raised.

  “No, it’s back to the usual,” I tell him.

  “Two beers and a bucket?” Ricky asks, looking between Melanie and me.

  “Please!” Melanie grins.

  Ricky’s longish dirty-blond hair is pulled into a man-bun tonight, and his sleeves are rolled up, revealing his tattooed forearms. Melanie has a weakness for guys with tattoos and piercings. She’s been low-key into Ricky since he first started working at The Bucket two months ago.

  “You got it,” Ricky winks at Melanie.

  “Are you going to give me a nickname, too?” she asks, leaning onto the bar.

  “Sure, Blue Eyes,” he flashes her a flirtatious smile.

  Melanie blushes and smiles over at me. There are no seats at the bar, so we look around, hoping to see an open table. Melanie spots a table in the corner—the same corner I originally saw Kane sitting in.

  Melanie grabs my hand, not wanting to lose me in the crowd, and pulls me to the table quickly so that no one steals it. After a few minutes, Ricky brings over our beers.

  “The nachos will be out soon. I’ll keep an eye out if any seats open up at the bar,” Ricky says, knowing that’s where we always sit.

  And probably because he wants to flirt with Melanie while he works.

  “You just like hearing our girl talk,” Melanie presses her chin on her hand as she leans her elbow on the table.

  Ricky laughs. “You got me, Blue Eyes.”

  After he walks away, I lean toward Melanie.

  “You should finally give him your number.”

  Melanie’s eyes are focused on something behind me.

  “Oh God, Lex, don’t look now…” she mutters, trying to hide. “Jason is here.”

  “What?!” I nearly shout.

  “Shh. Maybe we can sneak out the back,” Melanie suggests, glancing toward the back door of the bar.

  “Hello.”

  The voice comes from above me, and its familiar raspy sound makes my heart beat faster. Kane. I immediately look up to see him towering over me.

  He’s dressed down tonight, but he looks just as gorgeous as he did last week. The sleeves on his blue button-down shirt hug his biceps, and the color matches his eyes.

  “Kane, hi,” I smile.

  “It’s nice to see you again,” he smirks.

  “You too. Um, this is my friend Melanie,” I introduce her. She still seems dumbfounded that Kane looks like Jason.

  “Hi, I’m Kane,” he says as he shakes her hand.

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” he hesitates, probably feeling awkward with how Melanie is staring at him.

  “No, it’s fine,” I insist, eager to get him to stay. “Please, join us.”

  “I’m going to grab a beer from the bar. Do you ladies want anything?”

  “No, thank you,” I say, holding up my beer.

  Kane walks away, and I watch his tight ass. He really knows how to fill out a pair of jeans. When I look back at Melanie, she’s glaring at me.

  “What the fuck, Lexi?”

  “Calm down.”

  “The guy looks like Jason’s twin for crying out loud!”

  “Shh—”

  “Oh, he can’t hear me,” Melanie waves me off with her hand.

  “Okay, at first glance, Kane does look like Jason, but I swear he is nothing like him.”

  I emphasize the word “nothing” to make my point.

  “So, he’s not rich like Jason either?” she asks, knowing the answer.

  “I didn’t know he was rich when I met him.”

  “And you don’t know him. You spent one night with the guy. How do you know if he’s nothing like Jason?” Melanie asks with a sigh.

  “I don’t, okay? All I know is I had an orgasm from someone other than myself for the first time in a year. And I’m hoping to come again tonight, so can you not ruin it?”

  “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “I know, and I appreciate that. But it’s just sex. I’m trying to have fun for once,” I explain.

  Melanie shakes her head at me and holds up her beer bottle.

  “To orgasms with doppelgangers,” she toasts.

  I snort as I laugh and clank my bottle with hers. Just then, Kane comes back to the table with a beer in hand. He pulls up a chair and sits down.

  Before we can say a word, Ricky shows up with our nacho bucket.

  “It’s about time,” Melanie teases.

  “This one isn’t for you,” Ricky says, slapping her hand away playfully. “There’s a seat open at the bar, and I put your order in front of it. Why don’t you keep me company?”

  “You don’t have enough company with all of those college girls up there?” she plays coy.

  “That’s not the company I keep,” Ricky replies, giving her a cute smile.

  Melanie looks over at me, and I wave her off.

  “Have fun,” I wink as she follows Ricky to the bar.

  “How are you?” Kane asks when I look over at him.
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  “I’m good. A little surprised to see you here.”

  “Oh? Why’s that?” he asks, taking a swig of beer.

  “I have a sneaking suspicion you don’t really hang out at dive bars too often.”

  Kane laughs, the sound light and genuine. I can’t remember the last time I heard Jason laugh, other than a phony chuckle here and there.

  “Your suspicion is right. I don’t even spend time in this part of town.” He shrugs his broad shoulders and grabs a gooey nacho.

  He pops the chip into his mouth and washes it down with another swig of beer.

  “I had a meeting in the area that night and decided to go for a drink and watch the game,” he continues his explanation while wiping his fingers on a napkin.

  “I guess Morningside Heights is a little too lackluster when you’re used to penthouses, huh?”

  Kane stares at me meaningfully.

  “I didn’t say that. I just don’t get many reasons to come to this part of town.”

  “What brings you to the area tonight?” I wonder.

  His lips curl into a smirk.

  “I was hoping to see you.”

  My heart thumps against my chest, and butterflies fill my belly. I know I set him up for the answer I was hoping for, but it didn’t take away from me actually hearing him say those words.

  He is in the exact same position as I am… hoping to see him again, wanting him to ravish my body one more time. Or maybe three more. The night is still early.

  8

  Kane

  When I walked into The Drunken Bucket, it was much more crowded than the other times I had been here. I feel a bit out of place with the younger crowd, but I don’t care. I’m not here to fit in. I came to find Lexi.

  I was about to give up hope after not seeing her at the bar. With the thick crowd, I couldn’t see Lexi on my first scan of the place either. The bartender spotted me and pointed to the back of the place.

  I muscle my way through the crowd and see the back of a woman at the corner table sitting with her friend. I know it’s Lexi from the curly hair thrown up into a clip. The sinful curve of her back leading to her perfectly round ass proves it’s her. I think I could spot that ass out of a line-up if I had to.