To the Moon and Back

To the Moon and Back N.R. WALKER Copyright Cover Art: Soxational Cover Art Editor: Boho Edits Publisher: BlueHeart Press To the Moon and Back © 2023 N.R. Walker 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, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events or locales is coincidental. The Licensed Art Material is being used for illustrative purposes only. WARNING Intended for an 18+ audience only. This book contains material that maybe offensive to some and is intended for a mature, adult audience. It contains graphic language, and adult situations. TRADEMARKS: All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Contents 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 Epilogue Epilogue 2 Newsletter Sign-Up About the Author Also by N.R. Walker Blurb Gideon Ellery had the perfect life. Nice house, great job, and a long-time boyfriend. But weeks after adopting his nephew, his boyfriend splits, leaving Gideon a single father to a newborn. Disillusioned, sleep deprived, and unsure how to navigate fatherhood, he’s asked to return to the office. He’s overwhelmed and at his breaking point. Toby Barlow is back in Sydney after three years of studying, travelling, and nannying in the UK. He needs work and a place to live, and the perfect solution drops in his lap. After all, caring for a sweet-cheeked baby in a beautiful home owned by a gorgeous single man isn’t exactly terrible. Gideon isn’t too keen to share his life with a stranger, but his need for help is dire. Sunshiny Toby isn’t prepared for a grumpy Gideon or his utterly adorable son, Benson. Or how easily he slots into their lives. And Gideon isn’t prepared for how much he needs Toby. Or how much he wants him. Neither is prepared for the complications of falling in love. Chapter One “You need some help.” Gideon sighed, exhausted. Actually, he was so exhausted, he needed a new word for it. He looked at Lauren and Jill, his dearest friends, and nodded. “I know.” Benson stirred, his waking grizzles clear through the baby monitor. “I’ll get him,” Jill said gently, and disappeared down the hall. Lauren patted Gideon’s knee. “It’ll be okay,” she reassured. “It’s the right thing to do.” Gideon knew it was, even if it stung. He’d thought he could do it. Being left on his own with a six-week-old baby had been awful. Having his life upended, having his long-term partner simply walk out on them, had been awful. And after six weeks of trying to do it all—full-time work, full-time dad—it had just been too much. Lauren and Jill had helped immensely, but they couldn’t do it forever. Gideon could barely keep his eyes open, and it was only a matter of time before something went wrong. He needed to work to keep his house. Having a house—this house—to raise Benson in was important to Gideon, and he’d worked remotely as much as his job would allow. His bosses had been gracious and generous, but he was drowning. The bottom line was, Benson needed better care. Gideon had relied on Jill and Lauren’s help enough already. He needed a full-time solution. “And this guy is good?” Lauren nodded. “He has a degree in early child development. He’s worked as a nanny in England for three years and is now back in Sydney. You know my boss and her level of standards.” Gideon nodded. Lauren’s boss was a high-flying lawyer who accepted nothing but the best. “She recommended him,” Lauren added. “And he’s available through the agency now. I know you didn’t want just any old stranger. Senna said he’s great. It’s perfect timing.” Jill came out holding a fussing Benson. “Changed his nappy and he’s good to go,” Jill said, handing Benson to Gideon. “Think he wants his dadda.” Gideon took his son, holding him close and inhaling in the baby powder smell. He softly kissed his head, immediately rocking back and forth. “Dadda’s got you.” Benson settled though Gideon kept rocking. He loved his son more than life itself. He’d never imagined loving any other person as much as he loved Benson. He was all he had now. It was just the two of them. Getting help was the right thing to do. Not just for himself but for Benson too. A nanny . . . Gideon sighed again, resigned. Too exhausted to argue. “What time will he be here?” * * * Toby Barlow drove through the leafy suburban Putney streets, grateful for Siri’s directions. He wasn’t too familiar with this part of Sydney, given it’d been years since he’d been in Sydney, and the price range of the houses and cars he drove past were well and truly out of his league. There were grassy parks with dappled shade from huge trees, people strolling with kids and dogs out enjoying the spring sunshine. Could he live and work here? Hell yes. Well, if the guy he was meeting turned out to be an arse, he might decline. God knows the last family he’d worked for in London hadn’t been a treat . . . Well, the kids were great, but the parents had been horrible. Horrible parents, horrible human beings. Surely this guy couldn’t be that bad. All Toby knew of Mr Gideon Ellery was that he was thirty-four years old, a very well-established corporate finance manager, and a recently single new father to a twelve-week-old son. Babies. Toby loved babies. Toby pulled up at the address he was given. The house itself was a Victorian style bungalow with a cute front yard with grass and its very own tree,