FORBIDDEN SINGLE DAD: A STEAMY DADDY ROMANCE Read online

  FORBIDDEN SINGLE DAD

  A STEAMY DADDY ROMANCE

  KRISTEN ECHO

  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

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  Author Note

  Sneak Peek

  About the Author

  Other Books By Kristen Echo:

  Acknowledgments

  FORBIDDEN SINGLE DAD

  A STEAMY DADDY ROMANCE

  STEAMY DADDY SERIES BOOK ONE

  Copyright © 2019 by Kristen Echo and Kristen Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the above copyright owner of this book or publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Website: https://www.echoromance.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkristenecho/

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  eBook ISBN:978-1-7753433-7-0

  Created with Vellum

  Chapter 1

  MILINA

  The dance music vibrated through my body and rattled my bones. I wrapped my long, black hair around my fist and swept it off my neck. Wearing it down had been a mistake. The air against my damp skin felt amazing as I shuffled along to the beats.

  It was hot in the club. Being sandwiched between hordes of men wasn’t helping. The scent of sweat and liquor hung in the air. The DJ was ramping things up, but I was running on fumes. After two hours of busting a move, my feet were ready for a break. I needed a drink. A tall glass of water with loads of ice.

  I glanced past the throng of dancers, searching in the darkness for my roommate. I smiled when I spotted her. Christy caught my eye and waved me over to a table where she sat with a group of older men I had never met.

  The table must have been theirs. Bottle service was a grand minimum. For that price, I was fine standing and dancing all night. But I eyed the empty chair and longed for a rest.

  Nudging my way through the crowd wasn’t easy. The popular dance bar was packed.

  “Milina!” Christy yelled as I approached. She beckoned me closer and pushed the empty chair from across the table out for me. “Take a load off. Brent, Ted and Felix, this is my beautiful and single friend, Milina.”

  I cringed inside at her description of me. Beautiful I didn’t mind, but she could have kept my social status to herself. It hadn’t been that long since my relationship ended. I wasn’t ready to get back on the horse just yet.

  “Ah, I finally get to meet your mysterious roommate,” an attractive man with dark-rimmed glasses, and a goatee said.

  Christy rolled her eyes and smacked his arm playfully. “Brent you act as though she’s a secret I’ve been keeping from you. The girl works odd jobs and our schedules hardly ever connect.”

  They laughed, but I didn’t get the joke. I had heard her mention that name before but couldn’t place it. Christy had a lot of friends and even more acquaintances. Her social media following was four times the size of mine, and I had over five digits. Being a swimsuit model and actress kept her busy. Vancouver was home base, but she traveled a lot. I’d been lucky to find her online before I had moved to the city a few months ago.

  “Hi.” I waved and sat on the tall bar stool, hooking my heels on the bottom rung. Rather than make eye contact, I searched for a server.

  The lasers from the light show beamed across the nameless faces. It was dark and I couldn’t find anyone wearing the red and black uniform. I licked my dry lips, wishing the sprinklers would go off overhead and fill my mouth. Looking up at the steel beams above didn’t make it happen. Defeated, I leaned my elbows on the table and dropped my chin in my hands.

  “Water,” I huffed.

  “Need a drink?” One of the men asked as he stepped next to me. His arm brushed mine, invading my personal space. He had a trimmed beard and smelled like cloves. “We have a nice vodka. Want a taste?”

  My pallet wasn’t refined. I wouldn’t be able to tell the expensive from the cheap stuff. I rarely drank. “No, thank you.”

  “It’s smooth,” he said, ignoring my answer. He grabbed an oval-shaped bottle encrusted with jewels from the center of the table. It seemed like a rather feminine choice for a group of guys. “You don’t need mixer. Trust me.”

  Christy lifted her half-full tumbler and swallowed a mouthful. “It’s nice,” she confirmed. “And it ought to be for the price. The markup on this stuff has got to be through the roof.”

  “I don’t worry about money,” Brent replied, clanking his glass to the edge of Christy’s. “Besides, Felix is buying this round.”

  “Already covered, and another bottle is on the way soon,” the man next to me replied.

  I wished money didn’t rule my life. Unfortunately, my acting career hadn’t taken off yet. I lived paycheck to paycheck. Which reminded me about the interview. Another non-acting job, but I had to take whatever I could get. I checked my watch. It was after midnight.

  “Clearly, being the most sought-after photographer in North America is paying well,” my roommate teased.

  “Bite your tongue. I’m the best in the world,” he corrected, draping his arm over her shoulder. “Need I remind you, they flew me here from Milan for your shoot.”

  Brent Miller was a big deal. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognized him.

  While my career was building slower than a sloth, Christy was close to becoming the next ‘It’ girl. With her long, golden curls, heart-shaped face and perfect curves, it made sense. She had the right package and the ambition to make it. She also had the right connections.

  The industry wasn’t what I imagined. Talent only got you so far. Even small-time productions were insanely picky. Having a thick skin hardly helped when agents, managers and casting crew dissected me limb from limb. Today’s rejection had stung. More than I cared to admit.

  “Maybe we’ll get to work together soon,” I interjected and straightened my posture.

  He reached across the table and grabbed my chin, twisting my face left and right. “Gorgeous, porcelain skin. High cheekbones and pouty lips. With the right hair and makeup, my camera would love to capture you. Have you been in touch with Max?”

  Max Trample was Christy’s agent and mine too. Kind of. He’d only taken me on as a favor to her. I was low on his priority list. But at least I had representation.

  “Yeah. He’s working on—”

  “Here. Have a drink and wet those big, red lips,” Felix said, shoving a glass into my hand.

  “Bottom’s up.” Brent winked at me and downed his beverage.

  Christy and the rest of the guys all polished off their drinks. I smiled and took a small sip. It didn’t burn the way I had expected. I was so parched the tiny teaser of liquid only
made me thirstier. I licked my lips and chugged the rest.

  “It’s eighty-four proof,” Christy warned. “Maybe wait a bit before you have another.”

  I laughed and set down the empty tumbler. “No more booze for me. Water and then I’m leaving.”

  The waitress came by immediately and replaced our dirty glasses with clean ones. I ordered a tap water and asked for extra ice. Christy gave me the stink eye, but I didn’t care. I had way too much on my plate to stay up late getting drunk. Showing up at an interview with a hangover would be unacceptable. I had also spent the last of my cash to get into the bar. Not that I would tell her that. My money problems weren’t her problem.

  For the next thirty minutes, I watched and listened while they drank and got louder. Every table around us probably overheard our conversation. I declined the vodka and drank two glasses of water.

  Felix got more flirtatious while I found new ways to rebuff his advances without coming across like a bitch. He was a good-looking man in his early thirties, but I wasn’t interested. He eventually got the hint but then Ted took his place.

  I couldn’t catch a break.

  Ted stood, shuffled next to me and splashed more vodka into his glass. “We need to get closer,” he said, dropping his arm over my shoulders. “Want to dance? Vertically or horizontally. Your call.”

  Laughter erupted from our table and the surrounding area. I didn’t find him funny. I shook my head and spotted the red glow from the exit sign.

  “No more dancing tonight.” I removed his arm. We were almost yelling, to be heard over the music.

  Not to be deterred, he stepped back and smiled. “Look, I’m not a famous photographer like Brent, but I can picture me and you together.” He waggled his eyebrows and emptied his glass. “What do you say?”

  I hated dealing with drunks. Men like Ted whose confidence grew with each glass. Did he seriously think his cheesy pickup lines would work? Never. At least not with me. I smiled politely and declined.

  When his hand landed on my knee, I had to call it a night. “I’m out.” I slid off the stool and swayed slightly. The buzz from the drink hadn’t fully worn off. I gripped the edge of the table.

  “I’ll take you home,” Ted offered, wrapping his arm around my waist.

  Removing his hold took more effort than it should have. “No thanks. It’s not far and I need the fresh air.”

  “Are you saying I stink?” He placed his hand over his chest as if he were physically wounded. “Cause you can feel free to rub yourself all over me and then I’d smell like you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “It was great meeting all of you. Even you Ted,” I smacked his arm. Maybe a little harder than a friendly jab, but he deserved it. “Brent, I really hope we’ll get to work together one day.”

  He stood and grabbed my hand. “Any friend of Christy’s is a friend of mine. I’m sure we can make something happen.” His lips caressed my knuckles. He blinked at me seductively.

  I would bet my next paycheck most women would have swooned. The man was nearly double my age and oozed charm from every pore. He was rich, famous and sexy. It was obvious my roommate wanted to hook up with him. Which surprised me, considering the age difference and she swore she’d never mess around with industry men. Despite his hot bod and handsome face, I felt nothing.

  I was numb. It’s not like I was holding onto the past. My ex hadn’t believed in me or my dreams. I had ended things. I had moved on. Well, I had at least moved to a new city. Brent held my hand as I took two steps backwards. I bumped into the table behind me and knocked something with my elbow.

  A bottle tumbled from the table and shattered against the floor. The loud clatter stole the air from my lungs as the liquid splashed my feet. I pulled my hand away from Brent and covered my mouth. I had broken an entire bottle of expensive liquor. Shit.

  “Fuck!” A masculine voice grumbled.

  “Oh no! I’m so sorry,” I said with my eyes glued to the shards of glass and the massive puddle.

  The bottle must have been near full. There’s no way I could pay for it. I looked for the label, but I couldn’t find it. One mistake and misstep would to cost me a fortune. There wasn’t even enough room on my emergency credit card to cover the cheapest option on the menu. My heart stopped beating, and I froze.

  Brent moved closer and rubbed my arm. “It’s okay,” he said and looked over my shoulder. “It’s an accident. Breathe.”

  Easy for him to say. He wasn’t going to have to sell a kidney to pay for it. I inhaled through my nose and the scent of scotch hit me hard. There was no noise behind me; only the music, blaring from the speakers.

  “Um… what was it?” I wiped the sweat from my palms onto my dress and glanced behind me. The chairs were all empty.

  Brent reached under the table and whistled. “Damn. That was a nice year.”

  I cringed. “Where did they go?”

  “It was only one guy, and he took off,” Brent answered as two servers raced to clean up the mess.

  I pivoted and caught sight of a man wearing a dark suit as he marched away. His stride was long, and he disappeared into the crowd. There was no way to catch him and apologize properly.

  “Sorry,” I said to the waitress that had been serving us. “Should I go talk to the bartender about paying for this? Do you offer payment plans or something?”

  She smiled as she used an oversized rag to soak up the spill. “I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s already bought and paid for. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

  That wasn’t likely. “Out of curiosity. How much—”

  “Twenty-three thousand,” she answered. “It’s our most expensive scotch, but he owns…”

  Blood rushed to my head, drowning the rest of the words. That was more money than I took home the previous year. The room seemed like it was spinning. I almost fell over. I reached out for the table top and missed. Brent grabbed my hand, stopping me from tumbling over.

  He helped lift me to my feet. Holding me against his body, he pushed the hair away from my face. “You look like you need a drink.” He guided me back to our table and offered a seat. “You should stay.”

  I shook my head. I needed to get out of the bar and fast. The constant beats and warmth weren’t mixing well. My stomach flipped. “Thank you. But no thank you. I’m going to leave and be very careful not to bump into anything else.”

  Christy laughed. “It’s no big deal, but if you must leave then be safe. Don’t wait up for me,” she said, grabbing Brent’s hand and pulling him towards the dance floor.

  The two headed towards the crowd of bobbing heads. “My offer still stands,” Ted said.

  I chuckled. “My answer still stands. Good night guys.” I waved and headed for the exit. Something I should have done ages ago. Better yet, I should have stayed home.

  Between the crowd and my cautious steps, it took me several minutes to get out. One foot outside and I stopped to inhale the fresh spring air. Instead, a combination of mustard, onions and sauerkraut blasted me from a nearby hotdog vendor. At least it covered the exhaust permeating from an idle town car and several taxis waiting at the curb. My apartment was close enough that I didn’t need transportation.

  A cool breeze tickled my skin. A welcome reprieve from the heat inside the club, but a jacket might have been a good idea. I rubbed my arms as goosebumps broke out across the surface. There was still a crowd lined up down the block to get in. Two ladies wearing designer dresses waited at the front. I recognized the brand since I had been passed over for a recent commercial.

  It had to be near closing time. I looked up at the dark and moonless sky. The glow of the city hovered, preventing total darkness. I missed seeing the stars. The sky looked very different in the prairies.

  “Hey! You need to wait in line like everyone else,” the girls near me whined.

  The crowd protested, drawing my attention to the entrance. I missed the cause of the commotion. Though I guessed it involved the man nearing the bouncer. Not my problem
.

  I glanced at my watch. Almost one. The bar would close soon. Everyone should just go home.

  So should I.

  With my head down, I moved towards the sidewalk. Shiny, black shoes came into view too late. I collided with a man. My face plastered against his chest and I bounced back. My hands gripped his arms to stop from falling. Thick, hard muscles filled my hands.

  His arms wrapped around me, trapping my body against his. “I’ve got you,” he said. His voice was gruff and deep. Unbelievably masculine. A wave of arousal rippled through me.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, tilting my chin up. “I wasn’t… looking ahead.”

  The street light illuminated his face. His features were sharp and undeniably sexy. A sprinkling of hair lined his chin, encasing full kissable lips. His intense hazel eyes made my heart skip a beat. There were so many colors swirling around.

  Mesmerized, I couldn’t look away. Our faces were inches apart as I drank him in. I’d been around attractive men all night, but this guy commanded my full attention.

  His eyes narrowed as he stared at me. “I’ll be a gentleman and keep your secret,” he said.

  I detected a subtle accent. Nothing heavy or pronounced, but it was different. I licked my suddenly dry lips. “What secret is that?”

  His lip lifted on one side. The sexy smirk caused my knees to buckle. “That you have two left feet.”

  I laughed and let go of his arms. His assessment couldn’t have been more wrong. I was a trained dancer. Ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop. I had studied them all. I’d even been in two music videos.