Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
Shooting to his feet, Jacob gave me the most dangerous look I’d ever seen on a man. “Over my dead body,” he hissed.
Before I could say anything, Jacob stormed out of my office. Perhaps to tell Becca my intentions. Perhaps to forbid her from accepting any overtures from me.
It didn’t matter.
Becca Woods was mine, and I was going to put a ring on her finger with a diamond that could be seen from space to make sure the whole world knew it.
I didn’t care how long it took, or how many people I had to piss off.
I was going to marry Becca Woods.
Becca.
Layla and I were dictating to the housekeeper what we needed bought and brought in for the children when James arrived at the door to my suite. He leaned on the doorframe, just watching. Alessandro was on a blanket on the floor, blowing bubbles and kicking his little legs in the air.
Dahlia was under a different, lighter blanket as I breastfed her.
“… Lightweight pacifiers, if you can find them,” Layla was saying. “Alessandro won’t take the heavier ones yet.”
“Of course, Miss Garcia,” the housekeeper, Giana, confirmed. “We can get anything you need.”
“Don’t forget about things you need for yourselves,” James called, and Giana turned around and gave a slight bow.
“Yes, I was just getting to that, signore. But they have been terribly concerned about the children,” Giana explained to him.
I liked Giana. I’d never actually met a housekeeper who was in charge of a whole fleet of maids, but she was a no-nonsense woman in her sixties with gunmetal gray hair and a sharp intellect. I was pretty sure if Patton weren’t available, she could have commanded his armies.
“Becca, would you mind if I played with Alessandro for a bit while you’re making your lists?” James asked with a hopeful smile.
Giana and Layla kept going back and forth over needed items while I nodded, and James came in. Even in what must be a tailored suit, he sat down on the floor next to Alessandro.
Alessandro waved a chubby hand, then gripped one of James’s fingers and brought it to his mouth, gumming it.
I thought my heart might burst.
“Madam?” Giana repeated, bringing my attention back to her.
“Oh, I’m sorry. What was the question?” I asked.
“I would like a list of items you need for yourself, madam,” Giana said.
“Right. Yes.” I forced myself to keep my eyes away from James and the cooing and giggling baby on the floor, and gave Giana’s question some thought. Giana had already established a strict hierarchy. Layla was “Miss Garcia,” as she was a member of staff. I was “madam” because I was… well… madam, I guess.
I began rattling off things like clothes and toiletries. I was rather sure they wouldn’t be able to get my favorite New Zealand skincare regimen here, but Giana wrote it down with just a sage nod of her head.
Layla’s list wasn’t extravagant at all, and Giana seemed to approve of that. She smiled at both of us and then left my suite just as I was switching Dahlia to my other breast.
“Powerful little eater, huh?” James asked, grinning up at me.
“They both are,” Layla confirmed.
“We started Alessandro on formula, though, since… well… before I had Dahlia.” I paused. I didn’t want to bring up Tally. “Anyway, he’s still on a very high-quality formula.”
James nodded in understanding but didn’t speak.
“I barely produce enough milk for just Dahlia,” I said apologetically.
James shrugged. “Not to worry. We just double-confirm that Alessandro is on the highest-quality formula there is, and I’ve no doubt he’ll grow up big and strong.”
“Like his grandpa,” I added without thinking.
James smiled softly. “Like his grandpa.”
“I’ll just go see about the nursery,” Layla said, looking from me to James and back again. She rose quickly and exited the suite.
Then it was James and me and the air crackling between us.
“Take the blanket off?” It was almost an order.
“Why? I’m not done breastfeeding,” I replied, though a shiver went down my spine at his demand.
“I want to see Dahlia,” James said, giving me big, puppy eyes.
Sometimes, James could be so sweet. But I also knew the side of him that was stone cold.
I decided to give his sweet side a reward. I pulled the blanket off and revealed Dahlia, who was making little coos and grunts while her cheeks puffed in and out, very determined to get her lunch.
James scooped Alessandro off the floor and held him in the crook of his arm, then sat down next to me. He smiled at Dahlia and stroked her dark hair.
Dahlia was too busy eating to notice or care.
But I noticed. I didn’t know if it was post-pregnancy hormones or what, but my eyes welled up with tears.
James put an arm around me and kissed my tears, then bent down to kiss Dahlia’s little head. She stopped nursing, gumming at my nipple a bit now and then, but mostly falling asleep.
“May I?” James asked, taking the arm that wasn’t holding Alessandro and holding it out to me.
I carefully placed Dahlia in the cradle of Jame’s other arm, and watched, choking back tears, while James held them both. The expression on his face was pure bliss as Dahlia slept and Alessandro tugged on one of his jacket buttons.
“I wish I’d been there,” James whispered, stroking each baby with his thumb. “I’m sorry, Becca. I really thought I was doing the right thing, staying away. I wanted to keep you and the little ones as far away from the dangers of my life as possible. But all I did was miss out while my enemies and Neal’s came after you.”
“What enemies do we have now?” I asked, tucking my breasts away and pulling down my shirt.
James looked pained. “More than I’d like. But we also have powerful allies.”
“Like me,” came an older voice from the doorway of the suite.
James and I both jumped. I looked at the older man who was impeccably dressed and looked a bit like James.
“Oh, Becca, this is my uncle…” James began.
“Just call me Zio, dear,” James’s uncle said, striding into the room.
It was impossible to tell his age, as he was proud and strapping like most Italians. However, I could tell he was older than James, at least.