Daddies & Nannies: A Contemporary Romance Boxset

by Piper Sullivan

  “Here we are, sir. Would you like me to wait for you?”

  I looked up and noticed the small red brick café with big windows and blue trim. It was mostly empty except a few wannabe screenwriters tapping away on their laptops and drinking lukewarm coffee with their hipster glasses and man buns. I remembered those days fondly, free wi-fi for the cost of a few cups of crappy coffee. Right in the window, staring down at a tablet with a little frown crinkling her brows, was Becca. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, so do what you have to, but don’t go too far.”

  He smiled and held the door open. “Yes, sir.”

  “No problem. Have a good day.” I handed him a fifty for his courtesy and strode into the café and to the booth by the front window. “Beautiful Becca, we meet again.”

  She looked up, wariness burning in her silver eyes. It was replaced with a warm look that I could certainly get used to. “Jackson, how did you find me?”

  She was worried and I didn’t know why. With a shrug, I told her simply, “I asked Eric.”

  “Oh.” She looked completely shocked that I would have tracked her down. “Are you here to give me a tongue lashing?”

  I nodded and licked my lips. “Now that you mention it, that sounds like a fantastic idea.” I slid into the booth across from her with a hungry smile, gathering one of her hands between my own. “But if you mean did I come to yell, the answer is no. Though I have to admit, you got me good.”

  She smiled nervously. “I did, didn’t I?”

  “You don’t have to sound so proud about it,” I grumbled.

  She shrugged, but the low laugh told me she wasn’t as sorry as she should be. “I really am sorry about today. I tried to change it back but things at the office were nonstop crazy, and then it was too late. The boarding time had passed.”

  “That’s okay, Becca. I forgive you because I know subconsciously this was your way to ensure we got to see each other again.” With a grin, I leaned back. “Now you can go out with me tonight.”

  She frowned. “I don’t know, Jackson. We’ve already had a good night. A really good night, do we want to ruin the memory?”

  I smiled. “Or we could make even more incredible memories. Several times over.” Because now that I was forced to stay in New York, the only thing I wanted was to see Becca. Spend more time with her. In her.

  She shivered, but she tried to cover it by picking up the oversized coffee mug. “I’m not sure, Jackson. Can the memories get more incredible?”

  Challenge fucking accepted.

  “Be ready at seven, I’ll pick you up.”

  She grinned and finally, her body relaxed into the soft leather booth. “I haven’t said yes.”

  “Yet.” I clarified. “You haven’t said yes…yet. So tell me, beautiful Becca, how do we get there.”

  She rolled her eyes but it was one hundred percent affectionate. “Do you even know where I live?”

  I grinned and switched sides so I could invade her space. We were pressed together, side by side. “Once you tell me, I’ll know.” She held out her hand for my phone and typed it in quickly.

  “See you at seven.” She flashed a grin that let me know exactly what was on her mind.

  “I can’t wait,” I told her honestly, before I cupped her jaw and kissed her long and slow until my cock sprang to life and her soft hands gripped my thighs. Her tongue was so soft, and tasted of tea, maybe bergamot or Earl grey. Sweet and strong, just like her. With a reluctant groan, I broke the kiss and smiled. “’Til tonight, sweet Becca.” I brushed another kiss to her lips and slid from the booth, walking out of the café with a big-ass smile on my face.

  Becca was a breath of fresh air compared to my usual women. She was beautiful and didn’t seem to know it, and she wasn’t chomping at the bit to spend time with me, which only made me want to spend even more time with her. And tonight, I planned to show her why it was in her best interest to spend time with me.

  Instead of calling for the driver, I decided to walk a few blocks. I hadn’t spent much time in New York as a tourist since leaving after my modeling days. Now when I did come to the city, it was for fundraisers, the occasional theater production or fashion show. My schedule was too busy to allow for this kind of downtime and I took advantage of it, enjoying the grittiness of the city whether it was downtown or uptown. The skyscrapers and more importantly, the sounds of the city. For all its traffic, LA just didn’t have the same feel. Car horns, slamming doors, idling engines and the frequently shouted profanities for those who dared to drive too fast, or worse, too slowly.

  I smiled as I passed two drivers shouting at each other through open windows, thinking about my date with Becca. One call and I would have a table at any of the best restaurants in the city, but for her I wanted something different. Something to show her I wasn’t the asshole I’d been to her in the parking lot.

  I pulled out my phone and found the number of a fellow former model who now worked at the Museum of Modern Art. He could probably hook me up with a memorable evening for Becca, but my phone rang before I could make the call.

  “Yeah?”

  “Boss, it’s Sebastian. We have a problem.”

  I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk as tension filled my body. I’d learned a long time ago that whatever could go wrong in any type of production—television, film, music or theatrical—would and often did, go wrong. “Tell me.”

  Sebastian sighed and my body grew even tighter. He was unflappable, my right hand man who would soon move up in my empire. “It’s Vashti Tomasi. She’s a no-show on set today. Her PA can’t find her and none of the production people have been able to get her on the phone.”

  “Fuck!” I knew hiring that chick would bite me in the ass, but she was a box office draw and this film was set to be the first in a high action trilogy with a star studded cast. “Where are you now?”

  “Headed to her place in Malibu.” I grinned because Sebastian was the fucking man. “If she’s not there, I have our PI on standby to start tracking credit cards. Her PA is contacting her last known dealer, and I have Marnie stalking her social media to see if she can’t resist posting.”

  I let out a relieved sigh and moved out of the way of the pedestrian traffic, before the rude New Yorkers with places to go and people to see, knocked me on my ass. “Sounds good, Sebastian.”

  “The thing is, Jackson, the director is losing his shit. He’s talking about going to the press, about halting production. About re-fucking-casting. We can’t afford that.”

  We could, but it wasn’t ideal and it wasn’t the way I ran my business. “I’ll get a flight home ASAP and you, keep doing what you’re doing, Sebastian. Good job.” I ended the call and texted the driver my location.

  I spent the next hour packing and making calls to anyone I could think of who had, at one time or another, partied with Vashti. No one had seen her and that did not bode well for this production. “Shit!” I stabbed the phone and it rang again. “Yeah?”

  “Your driver is downstairs, Mr. Steele.”

  “Yeah thanks,” I grunted and tossed the phone on the bed. My bags sat beside the door so I grabbed my jacket, picked up the bags and headed out.

  It was only when my jet began to taxi that I realized I left my phone sitting on the bed of my hotel suite.

  And I hadn’t called Becca to tell her I had to bail on our date.

  Becca

  It was seven-fifteen and Jackson still hadn’t shown.

  Maybe it was too soon to worry, but I couldn’t help but feel like maybe this was his way of getting me back for the auction, and for screwing with his flight plans. I should have known better, accepting a date from a guy like Jackson. Rich, handsome and too damn charming for my own safety.

  Of course he was playing games with me.

  After I’d spent the better part of an hour getting ready for this date. Well getting ready for after the date. My hair was conditioned and glossy, falling down my back in sexy, touchable waves. I had on the silver e
yeliner that made my eyes look sexy and sultry, and kissably pink lipstick. I’d even whipped out a little black dress I hadn’t yet had a chance to wear but it was perfect for tonight. Sleek and leather.

  And totally fucking useless.

  Seven forty-nine had come and gone and there was no call or text, not even from some well-meaning assistant to offer some excuse about why he wouldn’t show for our date. So I sat on my sofa, legs crossed primly and looked out the beautiful bay window that I rarely got to use, as the sun began to sink behind the skyscrapers. And waited.

  And waited.

  And fucking waited.

  As much as I wanted to be angry as hell, I really couldn’t. This was what guys like Jackson did. The thing I didn’t understand, the thing I couldn’t wrap my head around was why he would do it when I was a sure thing. Every inch of my skin was silky smooth and perfumed, the important parts covered in sexy red lace to make his mouth water. I was primed for sex. Hot and fast and uncomplicated sex.

  With Jackson Steele.

  By eight-thirty I had removed the sexy little black dress in favor of something more practical. And comfortable. Since no fancy dinner would be happening tonight, I placed an order at my favorite sandwich shop for pastrami on rye, a salad and my favorite salt and vinegar sweet potato chips. Before the order was placed, I had a glass of wine in my hand and half-empty.

  I kept sneaking a glance at my phone, willing it to ring, only it wouldn’t. I knew it. But I looked anyway.

  Needless to say, it didn’t ring.

  And when it finally did ring, two hours later, it wasn’t Jackson. It was Jenn. “What’s up, Jenn?”

  “Men are shit, that’s what’s up Becca!” I could hear the anguish in her voice and I sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly to calm my own nerves. Jenn needed a shoulder to cry on, and that shoulder belonged to me. It always did. And I didn’t mind, really, I didn’t. But as I shoved my feet into my sneakers, I couldn’t help but wonder when someone would make sure I was okay.

  That my needs were met.

  “Why would he just leave like that?” Jenn wailed again as I rubbed gentle circles in her back. It was late when the taxi dropped me off at her place last night, and we’d stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, drinking and moaning about men. And the sorry state of our love lives.

  “Maybe something came up,” I told her but not even I believed that. Aaron had done the same thing as Jackson, had up and simply disappeared. But we weren’t talking about me or my failed attempt at romance. I was here for Jenn. “Don’t worry about it, tonight. Wait to see if he calls.” He wouldn’t but saying so now wouldn’t provide my friend any comfort.

  “Something so important he couldn’t make a call or write a note on the back of a piece of mail?” She scoffed her disbelief and finished her cup of steaming coffee before pouring another. “Ugh, remind me never to drink that much again, especially over a guy.”

  I laughed as I guzzled two glasses of water to combat my own burgeoning hangover. “I tried to remind you last night, but you weren’t having it.” Though the truth was that I’d needed that wine as much as Jenn had, maybe more since she’d gotten to deal with her anger and pain last night. For hours. “Anyway, why don’t you go take a shower and I’ll whip us up some breakfast?” That way I’d have at least fifteen minutes to myself, to deal with my own emotions, while she got hers under control.

  Jenn’s smile was shaky, but she stood and wrapped me in a hug. “You are the absolute best, Becca. I hope you know that.”

  I rolled my eyes at her words but accepted her hug because hugs were awesome and I didn’t get many.

  “Yeah, I’m great,” I deadpanned.

  Jenn laughed, shaking her head as she walked away. “You are, dammit!”

  Less than a minute later, the shower started and I headed to the kitchen, thankful Jenn had food in her fridge and pantry. Pancakes and bacon were on the menu because I needed sugar and fat to help me forget just how easily it had been for Jackson to forget about me. Forgettable Becca, that was me.

  My phone buzzed on the counter and I frowned at the message, tapping it to read the full email. The contents of the email would certainly clear up some things for Jenn. I turned back to the batter.

  I cursed myself as I whipped the batter until it was light and airy to produce perfectly fluffy pancakes. No good would come of wondering why Jackson hadn’t shown or called. Or from reliving that glorious night of passion, the way he’d touched and tasted me. Made love to me until I clung to him and cried his name, before he turned around and did it all again. Those were just memories of a one night stand, as it was originally meant to be. Not the start of something, simply a few lost hours shared with another person.

  “Now I feel human again,” Jenn said as she entered the kitchen, startling me and pulling me from my thoughts. “Whoa, are you okay?”

  “Oh sure,” I waved her off. “I’m fine. You just snuck up on me.”

  “Becca.” Arms crossed she leaned on the counter right beside me, staring. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head, refusing to get emotional about it. Jackson wasn’t the first guy to lose interest, and he wouldn’t be the last. If I was brave enough to try the whole man-woman thing again.

  “Nothing. Just, I was supposed to have a date last night but he didn’t show up, and he didn’t call. So you see, it’s no big deal.” Nope, no big deal at all.

  “Aww, honey, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  I ducked out of her attempt at a hug because I didn’t want a hug, didn’t need one because some guy who was totally out of my league realized it before it was too late. Before my feelings got involved. “It’s fine. It was just a date, nothing to get bent out of shape about.”

  “Ouch,” she pouted and I pinched her arm.

  “Not like that. You actually like Aaron, and you know him enough to like him. That wasn’t my case, and now it never will be.” I flashed a smile that felt as fake as it probably looked, based on Jenn’s worried expression. “Oh and I have news for you. Some kind of emergency popped up yesterday because Eric booked a jet for Aaron back to Washington. He did it himself, Jenn, so it must be something serious.”

  I knew it was welcome news by the way her mouth quirked up at the corners and her green eyes took on that wistful quality that smitten women often wore. “I guess you were right. He had a reason.”

  “Yep. Let’s eat.” She grinned and just like that, it was as though last night had never happened. Jenn spent breakfast talking about Aaron and their wonderful night together, his handsome face and his sense of humor. I listened, ignoring the sound of my own heart breaking.

  Jackson

  “Dammit!” Scrolling through my phone, I let out a string of curses as I remembered the thing I kept forgetting. I never backed up any data, so now I couldn’t retrieve anything on the new phone Sebastian had gotten me. So I didn’t have Becca’s number and I could only imagine what she thought about my disappearing act. She probably hated my guts and cursed the fact that I still walked the earth. But I was determined to speak with her.

  I knew just the person to help me out. I picked up the phone and grinned when I heard the familiar voice. “Eric, how’s it going?”

  “Jackson,” he answered coolly and, I was fairly certain Becca had told him that I stood her up. “What can I do for you?”

  “It’s like that, is it?” I would have laughed if my friend didn’t sound like he was so close to killing me.

  Eric sighed, sounding exasperated. “What do you want me to say, Jackson? Clearly you hurt Becca. But I’m not supposed to do or say anything about it, and I won’t because I am a man of my word. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to act like you didn’t do what you said you wouldn’t.”

  “But, I didn’t. It was all just a shitty mistake,” I told him and went on to explain about Vashti and my three-day hunt for her to get my production back on schedule. “I left my phone at the hotel and I never backed up my data so I lost ever
ything that had been added in the past month. Including Becca’s number.”

  Eric was silent, probably thinking about ways to kill me. “I believe you.”

  My shoulders sank in relief and hope swelled in me. If Eric could forgive me, I was certain Becca would too. “I’m glad to hear that man. You know I would never hurt her on purpose.”

  “I didn’t say that, I just don’t believe you did it this time. But messing around with a girl like Becca can only end with her hurt, Jackson. You’re not looking to settle down so what other option is there?”

  “Says who?” Sure, I’ve been known to be a bit of a playboy, taking advantage of what my looks, fame and wealth have afforded me. And it was true that I wasn’t looking for anything permanent, but that didn’t mean I would hurt Becca.

  Eric barked out a laugh. “Says me and every woman who has ever been with you, Jackson. What will you do if Becca falls in love with you?”

  “She won’t.”

  “Well she won’t with my help. She asked me to stay out of it, so that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

  I grinned and grabbed a pen. “I appreciate that, so what’s her number?”

  He chuckled in that amused way that told me I’d gotten the wrong end of the stick. “No, Jackson. That means I’m not giving you her number. I am removing myself from this situation altogether. You’ll have to find another way to con my cousin back into your bed.”

  “Back? Did she…,” Hell I couldn’t even bring myself to ask.

  “Of course she didn’t talk to me about it, you jackass! But she wouldn’t have been so upset about whatever you did, if you hadn’t already slept with her.” He sighed and I could picture him scrubbing a hand over his face. “She’s not like your typical women, Jackson. I have to go.”