Second Chance Daddy

SECOND CHANCE DADDY A SECRET DADDY ROMANCE ANNIE J. ROSE Copyright © 2023 by Annie J. Rose All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.The following story contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers only. All characters are 18+ years of age and all sexual acts are consensual. CONTENTS Description Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Baby for the Doctor (Preview) Also by Annie J. Rose About the Author Join my mailing list and grab a free steamy book! Updates on free books, hot deals and giveaways. Zero spam. Join Here www.anniejrose.com/newsletter DESCRIPTION A face from my past could bring my secret to light, A secret with his eyes and my stubborn streak. I never would have agreed to the job if I’d have known he was the client. Seeing Cody again, brought back so many emotions, Anger, fear, guilt, lust, desire… This could be a holiday for the record books. I agree to decorate his big, empty mansion, But only if we keep things strictly professional. I should have known we’d never be able to forget what we once had, Or that I’d run away without an explanation six years ago. One night in bed and it all comes rushing back, I know I have to tell him the truth. Our daughter might finally get a daddy for Christmas, And I might get a second chance with the love of my life. I just hope Santa thinks I’ve been a good girl. CHAPTER 1 LEAH “You’re wiggly today!” I said with a laugh as Ella shifted in the chair while I finished her braid. “I know, Mommy, but the horse needs his medicine!” she said seriously. “I gotta give it to him now, and he keeps turning his head like this—” she twisted her head to demonstrate while I tried to hold on to the braid and shook my head. “You keep turning your head.” “I know, Mommy, for the horse. To help him.” “Okay, Dr. Ella, I’m done. You can wrestle your horse and give him vitamins now.” “It’s not vitamins,” she said, adorably exasperated, “it’s medicine. The fever is very bad, and he don’t want the yucky medicine I’ll make him take it, don’t worry!” “I’m sure you will,” I said fondly. “Does the busy horse vet want peanut butter and jelly today or a turkey wrap?” “Turkey wrap, please! I like grapes and some chips, and if we got snackies, I want snackies.” I smiled to myself and caught my sister’s eyes. We exchanged a knowing grin. Ella was advanced for her age, five years old and talked up a storm, enthusiastic and smart and fearless. Her kindergarten teacher had told me within the first month that she was the only child in her class who could read already. It made me proud, but sometimes I wished she were still a baby, toddling around and coming up with cute names for things. It had been a long time since she called a cow a ‘moo-moo’. But she still called fruit snacks ‘snackies’ like she did when she was three. I loved that and hoped that she held on to that cute, babyish word for as long as possible. “I’ll make sure you get your snackies, baby girl,” I said. “They’re in the pantry. New box,” my sister said. Lana stood at the stove, putting Ella’s scrambled eggs on a plate. I squeezed her shoulders as I walked past to grab some fruit snacks out of the pantry. “You’re the best. I don’t even want to imagine what we’d do if we didn’t have Aunt Lanny here with us.” She smiled, probably flattered and thinking I exaggerated. I wasn’t sure she’d ever realize that there was no way I could have raised Ella and built a business on my own. Without her, I would’ve had to choose between my career and my daughter, and I would’ve chosen Ella every time, of course. But I would have had to give up the work I love and abandon my dream of starting my own design firm. Lana had made it possible for me to have it all, and no matter how many times I thanked her, she didn’t get what a crucial role she played in our lives. I still reminded her every chance I got though. I poured the juice and put out the butter and jam, toasted the bread and put it on the plates. We sat down together for a good breakfast. It was a tradition we made time for at least three days a week and every weekend. We knew that routine was important for Ella, and I tried to wait and leave for work after we ate breakfast as a family. “Your eggs are the best, Aunt Lanny,” Ella said. “Thanks, baby,” she replied. “I mean it,” I said. “Don’t make me get sentimental, Lan. We are so lucky to have you here with us.” “Where else would I be?’ “Wherever you’d be, we’d come get you and bring you home!” I said and Ella giggled. “Yeah, I’d carry you!” Ella laughed. “I better eat some extra toast. It’ll make me harder to kidnap,” Lana teased.