My Surprise Secret Baby (Romance Box Set) Read online

  “You say that, but” – he looked around the room. “Oh hey, there’s some hotties on the dance floor, how about we try our luck? You can prove to me you know what you’re doing with the opposite sex these days.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks,” I said with a laugh and a shake of my head. “You go on ahead, but I told you I’ve got someone coming to meet me. I’m not going to leave her hanging here while you and I try to get laid.”

  “That’s right, you already have someone to take home tonight,” he said.

  “It’s not like that!” I called after him. I wasn’t normally the kind of guy who would shut down such things from a coworker, especially Nathan, but knowing that this girl was a student was enough to make me already wonder if I was doing the wrong thing by meeting her at all.

  Of course I couldn’t date her. I had established that in my mind already, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t meet her for a drink. She might be a really nice person, someone I would love to talk to and get to know, even if all it would ever be was a friendship.

  I was new to town, and though Nathan was one of my best friends, he had his social life here already, and I had yet to build my own. Not that I was going to make friends with the students, but with how attractive I was to that girl at the coffee shop, I knew it wasn’t a bad idea just to talk to her for a while.

  She said she had a bad day, after all, and I knew I was just the guy to cheer her up.

  “Hey, you made it!” I walked over to the door to meet Zia as she stepped in. She looked uncertain and more than that, uncomfortable.

  “I didn’t know this was a club,” she said.

  “Is that an issue?” I asked.

  “Well, I’m not one much for going clubbing at this time of day,” she replied. “I mean, I do have to take care of a few things still, and if I hang out here, the entire night’s going to be gone.”

  “We don’t have to hang out here,” I said. “I was just meeting with a friend of mine for a drink. If you want, we can go for a walk or something; there’s a park nearby. And, if you haven’t seen much of Chicago yet, what better time to get to know the place than now?”

  I flashed a grin at her, and she smiled, though she still looked rather nervous. “Okay, yeah, I think that would be fun. I mean, no offense. If you want to hang out here, I can just grab a water or something.”

  “No, no, really,” I insisted. “I want you to have a good time too. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  I put my hand on her back and led her toward the door, trying to keep it casual as possible. I didn’t want to give off the impression I was looking for more, but the sight of her right here in front of me was enough to remind me why I had given her my number in the first place.

  This wasn’t going to be easy.

  And as we walked along the sidewalk and talked to each other, I realized this might not have been such a good idea after all. She told me about her family, her dreams, and why she had come to Chicago in the first place.

  She was down to earth and easy to talk to, and her laugh was enough to make me want to fly. I didn’t know what it was about this woman, but I knew she was just the kind of woman I would want to spend my life with. But with my job and her position in the school, I had to be smart. I couldn’t put her in the position that could cause her to be kicked out of the university, and I wasn’t going to put myself in the position that could cost me my job.

  “So, I guess that’s about all there is to know about me,” Zia said after she rambled on for a bit.

  “Oh, there’s got to be so much more,” I said. “And I would love to hear more about you. Anything, everything. I find you to be one of the most interesting people I have ever met, and I mean that.”

  She blushed.

  “I would rather hear about you,” she said. “I’ve been doing all the talking, and I want to know what you do and what you like. You know, the same stuff I’ve been talking about.”

  “Well, ask me a question, and I’ll be happy to answer,” I said.

  She thought for a moment, but we were interrupted by her phone ringing.

  “Shit, it’s my roommate, let me take this, sorry,” she said.

  “No worries,” I told her. “I’m sure it’s important.”

  She answered her phone with an apologetic look toward me, but only held my eye contact for a brief moment before she turned away.

  “Kira! Yes, I’m okay. Sorry, I know. Yeah, I was invited to grab a drink with a friend, and I wanted to do that before I came back home. I know I should have said something, but I forgot,” she said. “No, I’m coming now. Sorry.”

  She hung up the phone then looked back at me. “Sorry, but I really need to go.”

  “You apologize a lot, don’t you?” I teased, and she blushed once more.

  “It’s habit, I guess,” she said. “Are you mad?”

  “No, not at all,” I told her. I hailed a cab. “I told you I would make sure you got home safe, so?”

  “Thank you,” she slid into the cab, but I gave her another sly look.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I need to know your address if I’m going to send you home,” he laughed.

  “Oh, sorry, right,” Zia slapped herself on the forehead before giving me the address, then she sat back on the seat.

  After giving the address to the cab driver along with my payment information, I closed the door, slapping it before he drove off. But, I remained where I stood, watching the back of the cab. I could see the back of Zia’s head, watching as she appeared to be on her phone, but I couldn’t help but wish she would turn around and give me one last look.

  She was perfect. Absolutely perfect. There was no doubt about that in my mind, and I was glad I had managed to learn about her without her getting much information about me.

  Still, it was just a matter of time before she found out the truth. I knew that without a shadow of a doubt. I could make this last for a while, and knowing what I now knew about her, I had every intention to make it last as long as possible.

  But school was coming, and when that happened, she was going to put it all together, and my game would be up.

  I just hoped I would get the chance to really get to know her before then.

  Perhaps we could maintain something. I wasn’t sure what – but something.

  Chapter 5

  Zia

  “Come on! He was just some dumb guy and you only hung out with him the one time. It’s not like he’s the only one in this city,” Kira said as she threw dress after dress on her bed.

  “I know, I just don’t know why he hasn’t called me,” I said. “It makes me wonder if I did something wrong. I thought we were having a good time.”

  “It sounded like you were,” she commented.

  “Maybe he’s mad that I left when you called,” I wondered aloud.

  “You didn’t have to come home,” she said.

  “I know, but I wanted to. I mean, I felt like I had been out long enough, and there was something about him that, well, I don’t know, scared me I guess,” I sighed.

  “Scared you?” Kira looked at me with a dress in her hand.

  “I mean not in a bad way, in a way – like I’ve never had that sort of connection with anyone else before in my life sort of way, you know?” I asked.

  “Right,” she paused. “But you know, just because that guy didn’t work out doesn’t mean that no other guy is going to. You have to get back out there, show the world what you’ve got, and eventually you’ll find the right one.”

  “I just don’t have the same luck with guys that you have,” I told her.

  “That’s because you always hold back. You hang back in the crowd and let the rest of the world pass you by. You need to get out there, throw yourself at the boys, but then let them do the chasing. It’s a delicate dance, really,” Kira smirked.

  “Sounds more like a game and drama to me, and I don’t have time for either of those,” I said.

  “Well, you’re going
to have to make time if you want to find a boyfriend,” she had her back turned to me, but the silence I gave her told her that I wasn’t thrilled with that answer.

  Turning back around, she smiled. “We’re going to a party tonight. You know that means there’s going to be a lot of men there. Bring one of them home. Who cares what he looks like? Who cares what kind of personality he has? You are so young, and this is the first time in your life you’re able to cut loose and have a good time. Why not make the most of it before you settle down with someone?”

  “I’m not really into hookups,” I admitted.

  “Oh, please!” she rolled her eyes before turning back to her closet. “Why the hell can’t I find my sparkly dress?”

  “You probably left it drying over the shower,” I said. “You wore it last night, remember?”

  “I don’t remember much of last night,” she laughed. “But you might be right.”

  She disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I laid back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. I did look forward to going to the party, but I certainly had no intention of bringing anyone home with me that night. I hadn’t ever told Kira the truth, but I was a virgin.

  She thought I lost my V-card to a jock when we were still in high school, but the fact of the matter was that he had been too drunk to perform for me, and he didn’t remember the night when he woke, so I just let him think that something had happened.

  It was more for the sake of popularity than anything. I didn’t care if everyone thought that I was just like the rest of them. I knew that I hadn’t slept with anyone before, and I didn’t want my first time to be with some drunk kid I picked up at a party.

  That might have been okay with me when I was still in high school, but now that I had made it to adulthood, I wanted to have my first time be special. I wanted it to be with someone who meant something to me. I wanted to have that connection with someone before I let them into that part of my life.

  And sadly, I felt that Josiah and I shared a deeper connection than I had shared with any other guy before. I didn’t share Kira’s optimism that there would just be another guy out there who could fill that role. I wasn’t like her. I wasn’t outgoing enough to just throw myself out there and see what happened.

  I was reserved, and I didn’t see an issue with it.

  “You were right!” Kira reappeared in the doorway, her dress in hand. “I hung it between the liner and the curtain like an idiot so I didn’t see it when I was in the bathroom this morning.”

  “Glad I could help,” I laughed. “Did you get the stain out of it?”

  “I guess,” she said as she looked over the garment. “I’m not seeing one now. Wow. I guess I should have drunk me take care of my laundry more often, huh?”

  I laughed again. “Maybe you want to have drunk you take care of my laundry, too. I get all kinds of stains on my pants working with those syrups and stuff.”

  “Send them my way,” she said with a shake of her head but a smile on her face. “Geez. What happened last night?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I came home to find you passed out on the couch, and when I sent you to bed, you were going on and on about being at some party and that you got wine on your dress.”

  “Wow, I was drinking wine? No wonder I have a headache. Well, the best way to get rid of that is to take another shot of vodka, so you better hurry up and get dressed yourself. I want to be one of the first people there,” Kira announced.

  “Not sure why anyone would want to be one of the first,” I teased.

  “Because that way you can see everyone who comes in, and you can make a beeline for the hot guys,” she announced. “And if I have my way, we are going to get you to bring someone home tonight so you can forget all about that guy you met at the coffee shop.”

  “Oh, goodie.” I walked out of the room, sure to let my tone let her know I wasn’t thrilled with the idea. I didn’t want to bring anyone home – that was for damn sure – but I wasn’t going to argue with her before we made it to the party.

  I wasn’t sure what to wear myself, but I didn’t have to wonder for long. Kira quickly appeared in my doorway.

  “Put this on,” she said, tossing a short, red dress on top of my bed. “And wear your strappy heels. You’ll look sexy as fuck!”

  “I was thinking of putting on something a little more conservative than this,” I started, but she held up her hand.

  “We’re going to a party, and I refuse to let you be the old lady there. Come on, put it on and get your makeup done. We’re leaving in twenty minutes!” Kira disappeared before I had the chance to argue, and I sighed. There was no getting around it when she said she wanted to do something, so I put on the dress and did my makeup.

  Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time for me to move on from Josiah. I didn’t have much hope of meeting something at the party, but it would be a distraction that would get my mind off him and the fact he never texted or called again.

  At least, I hoped it would be.

  “This is great, huh?” Kira all but shouted into my ear on the dance floor. The fraternity house was packed, and I barely had enough room to move. “I got you this!”

  She shoved a drink in my hand, but I had to force a smile.

  “Thanks,” I said. I pulled her close. “There’s this creepy guy who won’t take a hint. I keep telling him to get away from me, but he keeps trying to grind on me.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked with a laugh. “Maybe we’re just too close for comfort!”

  “I’m sure!” I hissed. I gave her a look that let her know I wasn’t joking, and she quickly became serious.

  “Where is he?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure right now,” I said. “He seems to come out of nowhere, then he grinds up against me, and when I try to move out of the way, he runs his hands up my hips. I’m getting fed up with the fact he’s not taking no for an answer.”

  “Dance with me,” Kira pulled me in front of her, and I tried to relax. I sipped on my drink, but I felt violated. I wanted to leave, but I didn’t want to disappoint my friend. At the same time, I didn’t feel I should have to stay there when this guy wasn’t taking my answer seriously.

  I didn’t want him to touch me, and I had made that clear to him more than once. But he was either too drunk or just didn’t care about what I had to say. It seemed every time I turned around, he was right there ready to run his hand over my body again, and I hated it.

  I wanted to punch him in the face. But with Kira there, I did feel a little better. I knew she wasn’t going to take shit from anyone, and she wasn’t going to let me, either. If there was one thing I could trust from her, it was that she wasn’t afraid to tell someone to fuck off.

  She might be a little pushy to me, but she wasn’t going to put me in a position that made me uncomfortable.

  “Stop!” I snapped, suddenly feeling a hand on my hips.

  “Look, if you’re going to dress that way, you’re going to have to expect to be admired,” he slurred.

  “I can dress how I want! No means no!” I snapped, wondering where Kira was.

  He took a step forward. “Come on, you’ll like it.”

  “Look, buddy! My girlfriend told you to leave her alone, now you better fuck off before I give you a reason to!” Kira seemed to appear right out of the crowd, and the guy looked at her like she had three heads.

  “I mean it!” she snapped. “A girl tells you to fuck off, you fuck off!”

  Though the music was loud, she was drawing attention from several of the other people standing nearby. Clearly, the guy was outnumbered, and he wisely chose to walk away from the situation without causing more of a scene than what was already happening.

  “There,” Kira turned to me. “That’s how it’s done.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “I think I want to go home.”

  “Oh, don’t let him chase you away from the party!” Kira lamented. “I got rid of him for you, and you can spe
nd the rest of the night with me. I’m not going to let anyone get near you.”

  “That’s okay,” I said. “I need to work tomorrow, and I don’t want to be too hungover to pull my shift. My boss would kill me.”

  “Suit yourself,” Kira said with a shrug. She clearly wasn’t happy with the fact I was leaving, but she was also drunk, and I knew she had other friends there she could hang out with.

  I felt claustrophobic in the room, and I wanted to get out of there. It wasn’t just that the guy hadn’t taken my seriously when I told him to leave me alone, it was the fact that every single guy I saw there reminded me of Josiah in one way or another.

  Well, they all made me want to talk to him.

  As soon as I was outside, I called him. I knew it was a bad idea. I knew I was only reaching out because I was drunk, but I also knew that I had to do this. I wasn’t going to walk away from the guy without at least trying to reach out to him.

  As I left a voicemail, I knew it was likely I would regret it when I sobered up, but I would deal with it then. Right now, I was going to go with what I wanted to do. I would take Kira’s advice and throw myself at this guy before making him chase me.

  It might not be the best plan in the world, but it was a plan, and it was one I was rolling with.

  I just hoped for the best.

  Chapter 6

  Josiah

  She misses me. She said she misses me. Of course, she was clearly drunk when she left me that message, but that doesn’t change the fact that she told me she misses me.

  Come on, I’m being stupid. I know this is a bad idea. There’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to be with her. Not with the school’s policies. Not with the fact she’s a student. I’m not going to put her in the position to get kicked out, and I’m not going to put my job on the line for a girl.

  There’s a reason I didn’t call her all week, and I have to remember that. I have to figure out a way to get her off my mind, too. This is going to drive me crazy if I don’t get my head on straight and focus. I’m not going to date a student, I’m just not.