Hot Daddy Package: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Read online

  I look to my left and right, but it only confirms my fears. I’m alone and this smell is no one's to deal with but mine.

  I lay the changing mat out on my bed and hope and pray that both of us, and the bed, don’t end up covered in shit. My last attempt was amateur at best so I was ever hopeful that second time would be lucky, well… not lucky, I had a nappy full of shit on my hands, but… better, maybe?

  Thankfully, all the crap stays in the nappy and is almost professionally deposited into the nappy bag and then into the bin in the record time of… twenty-four minutes.

  With her all bundled up in her babygrow, I settle her down once again and climb into bed. Although I’m exhausted—mostly emotionally after what this day has thrown at me—I lie there with my eyes open staring at the ceiling and listening to her heavy breathing. Anytime the rhythm of it changes, I’m up and checking on her. She’s fine every single time while my heart races like a motherfucker thinking that I’ve done something wrong.

  And when she needs something? Man, do I know about it. I’ve just drifted off when she lets me know, none too subtly, that she needs feeding. The sleep fog had just hit me and those first few seconds, I have no fucking clue where I am or what’s happening. But with her in my arms to settle her, we make our way to the kitchen and I prep her bottle thanks to the fan-fucking-tastic machine my auntie told me I had to buy. I don’t need to worry about the temperature, although like the sensible parent I am, I check it anyway just like Jenson showed me. We settle back into bed and I stare down at this incredible little package I received today and wonder how I’ve survived this long without her in my life. I thought I needed a different woman every night of the week. Turns out I just needed a single one every fucking night.

  Once she’s fed, I place her down in her basket and she almost instantly falls back to sleep. Thankfully, I do the exact same thing.

  The next time I wake it’s to a happy, smiling baby and the winter sun shining through the curtains.

  I change her and place her down in her basket while I make myself a coffee and her milk. I’m just burping her with a pink cloth thing thrown over my shoulder, again exactly like I’ve been taught, when the buzzer sounds out.

  I frown. No one ever visits me. I always go to them, whoever it may be. It’s one of the reasons my flat is such a shithole.

  With Doe still over my shoulder, I continue to gently tap her back hoping for a burp sometime soon so the rest of her bottle doesn’t go cold on her and I lean down to press the button.

  “Hey, it’s me.” The sound of Suki’s voice knocks me for six.

  “Oh… uh…” I don’t mean to sound like I don’t want her help. I’d just totally forgotten, again, that she was coming. “C- come up.” I press my hand down on the button to unlock the front door and try to ignore the rolling of my stomach. Us alone in a confined space is a recipe for disaster. Maybe I should go and hide my kitchen knives.

  Chapter Six

  Suki

  Why am I here? I’m standing outside Scott Sullivan’s flat with four bags of baby stuff after a trip to a popular baby store this morning. I’ve maxed out my credit card and the baby is nothing to do with me. Yet she’s everything to do with me at the same time. He buzzes me up and before I know it, I’m being greeted by the man himself who has Doe over his shoulder.

  And oh my god if that vision doesn’t actually do something to my own ovaries. The usually well-groomed Scott is a dishevelled mess, his fringe falling in his face. He’s wearing grey and cream checked pyjama bottoms and a cream t-shirt accessorised by Doe. Her little nappy clad bum looks so cute with his large hand against it.

  Then his mouth spoils everything and reminds me why I’ve come here. For the baby.

  “Are you actually coming in or have you arrived early for her first birthday party?”

  “Ha ha.” I follow him through to his flat, kicking my shoes off in the hallway and dropping my bags down in the living room he’s made me follow him to.

  “So I gather you’ve come to check she’s still alive.” He drawls.

  I shake my head. “No, Scott. I’ve come to help.”

  He fixes me with a weird stare. “Why would you come to help me? You must be laughing yourself to the point of pissing your pants with this situation.”

  “It’s not funny that a baby has been abandoned by her mother. Plus, you have to admit it yourself, you don’t have the first clue right now about looking after a baby. Neither can you sort out everything she needs all on your own. Well, you can, but it will be a lot more difficult while you take a tiny baby around with you. I’ve had tons of experience with babies so here I am. We need to call a truce as much as we can and focus on Doe, okay?”

  Several seconds pass.

  “Okay. I can’t guarantee I’m not going to carry on insulting you.”

  “I’m definitely going to be giving you grief.”

  “That’s okay then. I accept and appreciate your offer of help.”

  “Now that’s out of the way, I’ll show you what I’ve brought. But first why don’t you make me a coffee, go and get dressed and I’ll cuddle Doe while you do so.”

  He hands his daughter to me and I want to cry. She’s so damn precious. Her tiny, warm body fits into my arms and I sit back on the sofa and just stare over every inch of her. Those cherubic cheeks, her little rosebud mouth, the smattering of dark hair on her head and her dark eyebrows. I can’t help it; I lean in and take a sniff of her head. The smell of babies is irresistible.

  “Did you seriously just sniff my kid?” Scott’s looking at me with a furrowed brow as he holds my steaming hot cup of coffee in his hand.

  “I did. She smells gorgeous.”

  His face changes to an expression of pride. “Yeah, she does, doesn’t she? Right, I’ll put this on this shelf up here. Don’t drink it holding Doe, will you? You might spill it on her.”

  “Fucking hell. Scott Sullivan showing concern for a member of the female species. All it took was for them to be a couple of months old.”

  “I’m going to get dressed.”

  “Grab a shower if you want. It could be awhile before you get another one.” I shout after him.

  “Okay, thanks.” He shouts back.

  I settle back and spend the next twenty minutes or so just staring at this little sleeping girl in my arms.

  When Scott returns, his hair is now damp and remains dishevelled. I don’t like what’s happening right now because he’s looking all hot daddy. I might actually punch myself in the face in a minute. I reckon it’s a biological physiological response. I’m sitting with a baby and so it’s set something off inside me where I’m now looking at the nearest male to me like they’re a potential father to my children.

  Jesus, I don’t know if I can do this.

  I fucking detest this guy. I can’t be having pathetic thoughts because Doe is setting off my maternal instincts. Perhaps I’d be better just showing him the stuff I’ve bought and then leaving? Yep, that’s what I’ll do. Give him my purchases, give him some pointers on childcare and then leave him to it.

  “Hey, Suki. When do babies eat normal food? Can she have some whizzed up spag bol for lunch?”

  Fuck, no way can I leave.

  Holding out Doe to her father, extremely reluctantly I might add, I stand up, have a swig of coffee and then drag my bags closer to the sofa. I kneel down on his carpet near the bags and begin to take things out.

  “Okay, firstly. I bought one of these bouncing seats for little babies. You can get better versions than this, but it was all I could carry and they’re great for right now when baby is awake in the daytime.” I set it all up and then taking Doe I slide her onto it. “See now because of its tilted angle she’s no longer laid down.”

  “I like it.”

  I reach back into another bag. “Two books. One about general childcare and another about weaning and first foods. You have homework and that’s to read these books so that you know more about your current situation.”
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br />   He grabs those off me with gusto. “Thank fuck. This is what I need. Some kind of manual for looking after a kid.”

  I reach into the third bag. “Bath wash, a baby towel, comb, nail clippers etc. I thought we’d give Doe her first bath.”

  “She’ll drown in my big bath. She’s only tiny.”

  “Give me a minute.”

  I walk into his kitchen and sure enough he has a washing-up bowl. It’s square and grey. I carry it out back into his living room.

  “You want me to put my daughter where I put my dirty plates?”

  I laugh. “It’s perfect for her. I’ll show you in a minute. But first let me get the stuff out of this last bag.”

  From the fourth bag I bring out romper suits, cute little outfits, tights, and all manner of other clothing. I already bought her a few bits of clothing yesterday, but today I had more time to peruse and I couldn’t resist buying more.

  “I must owe you about a million pounds.”

  “You don’t owe me anything. They’re all presents for Doe.”

  “Are you one of those secret millionaires I’ve seen on TV?”

  I laugh. “No, just a sucker for a cute baby.”

  He looks at Doe. “Yeah, me too it would seem. Who knew?”

  I start removing tags from the clothes. “Ideally these should be washed first, but we’ll put her in one after her bath and then we can do a washload later. You’ll need to buy some sensitive skin wash powder.”

  “I already have that. Anything else makes me feel like I have fleas. That’s actually one thing I can manage, hurrah. I can put a load on. I even know how to sort colours, Suki.”

  “Bloody hell, Scott. I’m discovering you have hidden depths. I only knew you were good at removing female clothing, not actually washing them. In a bit I’ll even get to see you putting women’s clothes back on. Miracles are occurring today.”

  “Finish your drink and shut up. I’m going to wash the mountain of pink you’ve bought, and then we can do this bath.”

  To one side I put some pink leggings, pink socks, and a white t-shirt that says ‘I love my Daddy’ on it in pink letters. I deliberately don’t show Scott it. I add a sleeveless vest to the pile and spotting an open packet of nappies next to the sofa arm, one of those too. I add the baby wash and baby towel to the pile.

  “So let me show you the bathroom.” Scott says when he comes back in.

  “No need. We can do it right here.” I stand up. “I’ll just fill this bowl up with warm water. Do you have a large towel you can put on the carpet?” He nods and we both leave the room going off in different directions.

  “So just put her in like this.” I show Scott how to place her in the bowl. “You see, it’s the perfect fit for tiny babies. It makes them feel secure. You can get a baby bath for when she’s bigger. We should write a list and go shopping today while I’m here. I can help you carry stuff. Although,” I pause. “I guess you shouldn’t buy too much in case her mum comes back.”

  At this, Scott’s jaw sets and his eyes narrow and seem to darken beyond their original chocolate depths. “She can come back. She’s not having Doe. I’ll fight her in court. I don’t need a DNA test because it’s clear she’s my child, but tomorrow I’ll be taking legal advice. No mother who abandoned her daughter without a forwarding address or even any baby equipment, not even a clean nappy, is taking my child. No. Fucking. Way.”

  Jesus. His macho protection of his daughter is making my nipples hard. I need to get out of here. I’m getting baby brain and I didn’t even birth the baby.

  We flick Doe with the warm water and she’s now awake, those gorgeous huge eyes open. Scott’s eyes take on something I’ve never seen before. Pride. “She’s so gorgeous, isn’t she, Suki? Am I biased because she’s mine? I think she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Well, you might be biased, but she is absolutely gorgeous.” If his female admirers could see Scott now, they’d be green with envy as he looks at his daughter just how I imagine every one of his fan club would want him to look at them.

  I help him lift her out and arrange the baby towel on her. “Make sure you dry every nook and cranny. I’ll go empty this water out. Which way is the bathroom?”

  He tells me and I leave him to it.

  When I return, he’s finished drying Doe and is putting a fresh nappy on her. “Jenson gave me the week off. First thing tomorrow I’m sorting out the doctor’s appointment. I need that DNA test straight away. That and to see a solicitor.”

  “He’s told me I can have time off too if you need me.”

  Scott looks up shocked. “But InHale is so busy. Plus,” he gestures from him to me. “Why he thought that would be a good idea…”

  “We’ve managed so far today, and the fact remains that no matter how much I think you’re a complete dickhead, I can see you’re fiercely protective already of the child you only met yesterday and I can deal with Scott, the father.”

  He tilts his head staring at me. “Yeah, I can deal with Suki, the helpful person with baby knowledge. As long as stuck up Suki from the bar doesn’t turn up, I could use your help.”

  “It’s just for Doe. She has to be the priority and she’s better if I help you. Once you’re on your feet I can back off and leave you to it.”

  “I reckon you’ll only need to stay a couple of days.”

  I almost choke on my own saliva. “Stay?”

  “You can’t do a shift on the care of a baby, can you? I need twenty-four-hour round-the-clock observations here so Doe stays alive. Yes.” He nods his head so hard I think it may actually bounce off. “The more I think about it, it’s the best idea. I’ll learn faster so you can fuck off faster. Suki, we need to go to yours so you can grab some things. You need to move in for a few days.”

  Usually when Scott talks, I have a sassy retort ready to fire back. This time I have nothing.

  Not one word.

  Chapter Seven

  Scott

  I stare at Suki as she agrees that we should go and get her stuff, and panic. I wasn’t expecting her to say yes. I was half joking… I think.

  Doe and I managed to survive last night. I’m sure I could cope now I’ve got the basics down, but as Suki’s eyes drift down to Doe who’s falling asleep in my arms after the excitement of her bath, I can’t help but think that her being here just for a couple of days is for the best. I know single parents do this kind of thing every day, but they usually have a little heads up to do the research, read the book, create a nursery. Fuck.

  “She doesn’t even have a bedroom.”

  “She doesn’t need one yet. She’s better off with you for a while. If anything, it makes feeding easier. But there’s no harm in looking for a bigger, maybe ground floor place I guess.”

  “Oh, I don’t need a bigger place. This is a two-bedroomed flat.”

  “So what’s wrong with the other bedroom then?”

  “It’s… uh… not exactly habitable.”

  “What’s that meant to mean?”

  “It’s just a mess. I’ve never actually lived with anyone before and I’m not very good at tidying up after myself.”

  “It’s not so bad,” she says looking around my living area.

  “I had a tidy up when we got home yesterday.”

  “Where’s the room? I need to see what we’re dealing with.”

  “Down the hall on the right.”

  She puts her coffee down and follows my directions. My eyes drop as she moves. She’s wearing a pair of skin-tight jeans and the way her arse swings as she walks, well… fuck.

  I swallow down the trickle of desire that threatens to emerge and remind myself that it’s Suki I’m looking at. The badass bitch who hates my guts. There’s only one reason she’s here right now and that’s the little lady in my arms. I need to remember that it’s got fuck all to do with me.

  “Fucking hell, Scott. Do I need to sign you up for Hoarders Anonymous?”

  I groan. “It’s just my storage
room.”

  “For what?” she asks stepping back into the room. “All the shit you should have thrown away years ago?”

  “Some of it, yeah, probably. But there’s some useful stuff amongst it all. Plus… some sentimental stuff.”

  “I’m sorry, what? Did you say sentimental? Do you actually know what that word means?”

  “Fuck you, Suki. I’m not actually the cold-hearted arsehole you make me out to be.”

  “Okay, prove it.”

  “P- prove it?” I stutter, not liking where this is going.

  “Yeah, tell me something real. Something that will help me see the ‘real’ you that you’re so adamant exists.”

  My heart races and I swallow nervously as I consider what I might be willing to give her.

  I open and close my mouth a couple of times as a few options run through my head but in the end I go with one that she might be able to sympathise with easier.

  “My mum…” I blow out a slow breath. I don’t talk about this ever, especially with people I hate. “My mum died when I was nineteen. I held her hand and watched her leave me.” A huge lump forms in my throat and I almost have to stop halfway through the sentence, unable to squeeze words past it.

  “Shit, Scott. That’s rough. I’m sorry.”

  I shrug. It is what it is. Not much I can do about it now.

  “Your turn.”

  She pales. I’m guessing she wasn’t expecting me to turn that onto her, but I’ve seen a different side to her the past two days and I’m starting to believe her outer bitch layer might be a little on the fake side.

  “I was Doe.”

  “Weird coincidence. Why did you change your name?”

  “It wasn’t my name, arsewipe. I was her. I was the abandoned baby no one wanted.”

  My jaw drops. I stare at her. Her eyes harden, her lips press into a thin line as she builds her walls back up after that admission.