Isabella “What do you mean I’m not on the schedule?” I gawk at Amina. My resident smiles. “You’re not on the schedule.” I look at the paper scheduler in her hand. Sure enough, I’m not there. “No, I did not come all this way to not be on the schedule,” I grumble, whipping out my phone. I hurriedly navigate to my email where a schedule had been sent last week. I find the attachment and – “Ha!” I hold the phone out. “See? I am on the schedule.” “But you’re not,” Amina says with a shrug. Something is off. She’s got a lilt to her voice that’s playful and strange. “What’s going on?” She shrugs again, biting on her lower lip. She doesn’t even have to say, “I know something you don’t know.” I open my mouth to respond again, but hear my name said by an unfamiliar male voice. “Isabella Delgado?” I turn to find myself face to face with an older gentleman dressed impeccably in a suit and wearing aviators. An LA type through and through. I cross my arms over my chest, my scrubs wrinkling.
RexThe past couple of shows have been better since telling the band about what happened in Ocotillo Valley. Not incredible, but much better than passable.We are in the homestretch of our set. Two more songs, then we're out and back on for an encore. I might be feeling inspired enough to do two songs tonight. After all, this is Madison Square Garden where all the greats have played, from Zeppelin to Fleetwood Mac. I'm not here to fuck around.I'm here to fuck it up.We're in the middle of one of our ballbusters, "Thought You'd Start to Care", which has one of our jam sections and, boy, are we flying tonight. My fingers are flying across the neck of my guitar and I'm sweating like hell, hair dripping, t-shirt sticking to my back.I lift my eyes to check on Holden. He's on his feet at the keyboard, totally lost in the sauce. I smile to myself.Swinging around, using my guitar to propel me, I check on Blaise, giving him a quick nod. He can feel it, I know. He's got a solo on him, ready
There’s some laughter.“Not only do I…” I have to pause to get a hold of my tearfulness, giving my attention back to Isabella.Her emotionality mirrors mine. Fuck, one of us has to stay strong.“…love her.”Isabella’s shoulders rise with excitement. And Leo points at her as if to say, “He’s talking about you!”I watch her laugh and kiss him.“With all my heart. And soul and mind and body and… with everything I got, I love her.”A place like Madison Square Garden is hard to silence when it’s filled to the brim. But you could hear a single footstep, it’s so quiet.“And as if she could make me love her any more than I already do, she gave me another human to love.” I can see the splashy tabloid headlines now and for once, I don’t care. Because I’m getting to tell my story. My truth.I want the world to know.“My son.”There’s gasping and cheering and clapping.I smile, wicking away a tear before it falls. “They’re here tonight. And I’d like to introduce you to them. If that’s –” I do a d
IsabellaThe view from Rex's suite is incredible. The expanse of New York City rolls out before us. So much open sky and space.I wrap my sweater around me. Spring in New York is much cooler than spring in Ocotillo Valley. It quickly becomes colder than I'd like.I head inside from the balcony and look at the thin edge of light spilling across the carpet from the bedroom. With a smile, I walk closer to the bedroom door and rest my head against the doorframe.“You’ll be here when I wake up?” Leo’s small voice pipes up from inside.“Of course,” I hear Rex reply, his voice warm like honey, dripping with exhaustion.“And what about the next day?”“If I’m not there, you can call me right away.”There is a pause. “I want you to be there,” Leo says.Another pause. “I want to be there, too, buddy.”“Tell Mama.”Rex chuckles. “You know what, I will.”“Because Mama will want you there too.”“You think so?” Rex asks.I smile to myself. It’s not as simple as all of that. But I’m learning to be ok
Rex knocks back the rest of the champagne and then closes the space between us, pressing his hands to the counter on either side of me. Except it's not a motion of want. At least not yet. Whatever he wants to say is so urgent and so heavy he needs me. Right here. "I want you on tour with me."My eyebrows jump. "What?!""You. Leo. Your mom. I heard she and Mickey hit it off actually," Rex says.I slap him on the arm. "Don't talk about my mother like that!""It was a joke!" he hisses, rubbing the spot my hand thwacked."I can't go on tour with you, Rex. I work."Rex shakes his head. "You don't have to work anymore.""Um, yeah I do."Rex narrows his eyes. "You know who you're talking to, right?""It's not about – I can't be beholden to you for money, Rex, that's just –"He places two fingers to my jaw and I stop talking. "I'd be taking care of you." This thumb settles against my chin. "Because that's what I want to do."My mind races. I don't want to give up my job. At the same time, I w
RexSix months later...I stand outside of Leo's school with my baseball cap pulled low over my forehead and dark sunglasses on. As usual, I try not to stand out.However, since Isabella and I became an item, Ocotillo Valley has gotten used to my visits every six weeks. Not to mention all of the pictures of us circulating the internet from our tour antics this summer."Psst."I look up and see the face of a smiley Asian man. "Hey, Andrew.""What's up man?" he says, holding out his hand.I clap his hand with mine and give him a genial, one-armed hug. "How've you been?""Been good, been good. Isabella didn't tell me you'd be back so soon.""We were trying to keep it a surprise for Leo."Andrew gushes, "Aw, that's sweet."If I can make Leo's life special in any way, I'll do it. I'm making up for lost time, although I guess I always will be. There are worse things than throwing myself into the love I have for my son. I'd definitely like more so I can be someone's dad from the very start,
"That's who I'm named after? Did you know that?"Yes, Leo himself has told me this fact many times. "I did know that. You're very lucky to be named after such a good man." Marisol and Isabella both have fond memories of Aurelio, who passed away in his fifties from a heart attack. He worked himself to death for the good of the family. And I understand why. I would do the same if I wasn't so fortunate. "Listen, you should know this in case you ever... um... love someone. But when you love them so much and you want to marry them –""You're going to marry mama?!""Let me finish, kiddo.""Sorry, sorry."I smile to myself, focusing on the open road, the desert rolling by. "When a man wants to marry a woman, he is supposed to ask her parents for permission. And you know I love your mother very much, so I asked Abuela and she said yes, on one condition.""What is it?""That I ask you too. Because you were the man of the house before I came along."Leo puffs his chest and pouts his lips. "I am
Book 3 Is another standalone novel that also introduces new plot and characters while still maintaining the MY BILLIONAIRE BABY DADDY WANTS ME BACK series.---------He gives me a wonderful night while I give him a secret baby.Homeless loner as always, I encounter a handsome with fabulous wealth. Sparks fly when our eyes meet and we just click.The attraction is so strong that nothing could stop us to zealously explore each other's body, but after which I'm pregnant and he's nowhere to be found.Maybe he never likes me. It's all in my head.It takes several years before our reunion and I magically become his housekeeper.I get to know a bigger picture. He once indeed waited for my call and wanted me. But just when we have a chance to be together again, I gradually lose faith in him.He seems to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend and get tired of me, and coincidentally my suitor who takes great care of my child keeps wooing me.The misbelief must be cleared or we'll stray from each othe
- LukeSix Months Later..."Baby, hurry. I don't want to tear your lace, but for the love of God, I'm hurting so badly."Olivia laughs at my whining, but she might as well have stroked my cock with how throaty and aroused her voice sounds. Her hands are frantic as they unhook her lace garter and finally lift her skirt, which now poofs around us like a peacock. Then her panties are there for the taking, and I do the only thing possible with my antsy fingers.She gasps. "Oh, my God. You ripped it-oh, my God."I smirk when those words turn into a moan as soon as I sink my cock inside her. But my smirk soon dies when we're rocking into each other with no pause, already too turned on to take it slow. I've been hard since I first saw her in her wedding dress, a lovely creature who got me harder with every smile and happy look she sent my way.Don't get me wrong; standing in front of the altar with her, exchanging the most intimate and heartfelt vows, was awe-inspiring. But a man has his lim
God. It's like getting whiplash. "You what? Luke..."He shrugs. "It's the best hospital in the state for me, but I'm fine working in other places since they also offer great facilities. I have connections and I can still land on my own two feet. That's what power does and I've decided to wield it. But that power, it doesn't matter, Liv. I could have no hospital accepting me right now, and I would still choose to step back.""Luke..." Because he loves me. But I still ask, anyway. "Why?"Just like that, the intensity in his eyes magnify into such pure light, the love clear and bright. I stagger from the emotions brimming from him and sweeping me off my feet, even more so when he finally answers."Because I don't mind losing the job, Liv, or my career. But I can't stand the thought of losing you."I open my mouth, but no words come out. Luke doesn't seem to mind as he ambles closer until there are only inches of space between us. I know the moment he inhales my scent because it sets my s
And her text makes so much more sense now.Still, I can't stop staring. Neither can Luke as he shoots up from his chair at my entrance, those dark eyes trailing from my head to toe-no, devouring me. My heart spikes and my breathing stutters, trying to comprehend his presence and the pure magnetism that I've been absent from in...gosh, has it only been two weeks?It feels longer. It's my first time seeing him since our confrontation at my apartment door, where he was brimming with outrage and despair. But all I see now, aside from those devouring eyes, are the bags under them, the hollowness of his cheeks, the gauntness of his features.Worry sweeps in. I take a step closer before I can think about it. "What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"He blinks. "Like what?""Like you haven't gotten any sleep and..."I trail off when his jaw clenches and his muscles tense, disbelief sparking on his face. "You really have to ask?" A short laugh comes out, jolting my stomach before he's back wi
Olivia"Mom, will Dad no longer come over to spend the night?"I've been waiting for Riley to ask that question and the day has finally come. I close my eyes briefly, gathering strength behind my lids before I open them and face her curiosity. There's no sadness there-thankfully, because Luke has been doing his best to call her whenever he can and assure her how excited he is over their next playdate.And me?Let's just say I've been trying not to listen in and hear his voice because hearing his voice sends a deep ache inside me that practically turns me inconsolable. Especially at night.But Riley's no fool. We might be shielding her as much as we can, but she still picks up on things, much like she picked up on Luke being her father before we were even ready to tell her. She studies me now, waiting for my response and probably prepared with more questions."I'm afraid he's very busy lately, sweetie, so he might not spend the night here as much. Or at all. But you can spend the night
He means it in a work-related manner, I think, but my heart sees it differently-and just like that, it cracks again, reality hitting me so hard that my knees almost buckle. I manage to control myself in front of Kyle, though, and jerk toward the door."Stop gossiping and go do your thing.""If you mean charming the hospital staff and other patients, sure. By the way, just because I can't stand your patients doesn't mean they hate me. On the contrary...""Steal them all you want."He chuckles, understanding I don't mean that. Despite what he says, I do like most of my patients. But the memory of the patients that I don't like reminds me of the patient who was rude to Olivia-and just like that, she's in my orbit again and I'm a miserable fool.I strap it all down and get to work. My mood doesn't improve when I find out that James isn't in today and all HR can say is that Olivia's resignation was cleared by the director before it even got to them. When I reach one of the staff lounges an
If her first words hit me hard, the next ones hit me harder."That you are too much. That I'm not ready for whatever this is. That I want to chase my dreams and you are kind of?-"She stops, but it's too late. I rear back, hearing what she's not saying, and punched with the truth I hear in it. But it's the detached way she handles the aftermath that truly sinks in for me-like she's gotten over it already.Like she's gotten over me.A cold sensation wraps around my spine before it spreads throughout the rest of my body."So it was just sex to you?"She opens her mouth, then closes it. I latch on to the movement, an ache pulling at my system before I get hit with reality."We had an attraction, Luke. It's not your fault that I want nothing to do with it anymore."Had. Past tense.God. She sounds fucking cold."And the resignation?"She shrugs. "I got a good offer elsewhere. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but it's a good thing. We both get a clean slate.""And you fucking decided al
LukeIwish Olivia would answer at least one of my texts. I know she’s probably busy with work already, but I miss her so much and would like some time with her before my schedule today swallows me up. Because fate seems to be working against that little reunion, I hurry to the hospital instead, comforted with the knowledge that at least I’ll get a glimpse of her—maybe even steal a kiss or two—before I head to my first surgery assessment of the day.But I’m stopped short when I don’t find her in the office. Instead, I find Wanda seated in Olivia’s chair and typing on the keyboard.“Wanda? How can I help you?”She shoots up at my presence, attempting a smile but not quite genuine with it. She studies my confused expression and looks confused, too, before that disappears and she clears her throat.“Dr. Jennings. I’m just finishing up a report that you’re tasked to read later—additional notes for your patient appointment this afternoon…”I shake my head, not quite understanding. “No, I me
OliviaI’m still on a high from a rather successful weekend, one that I didn’t expect to turn out the way it did. Not only did I secure four of the six clients, all of whom don’t care how long it will take me to paint them a piece of my artwork since they’re casual collectors, but I’ve also secured a deal with Jennifer, who agreed to display my sketches in the meantime until I can provide her with paintings. It still feels surreal, but I’m no longer nervous or hesitant about this.I’m excited. I didn’t think I would get this excited over a side gig, but it’s like a distant dream making its way to the center of my life and reminding me that it’s still achievable even if I’m already achieving another dream. It makes me feel invincible—because if I can conquer this, I can conquer anything.Like telling Luke how you truly feel about him.Yes. Exactly that.“Liv? Good, you’re early. I’ve been told you need to go to the director’s office right away. Something about your tenure.” Rose Sutton
In fact, quitting her seems impossible and I can almost say with certainty that I want to keep her for as long as possible. Our relationship is progressing nicely and we're starting to fit perfectly into each other's lives. No, we already fit, like two people who seamlessly click like a puzzle piece. Sure, it took a while to get us there after our rough patch, but after that..."I'm happy, too." She sighs. "But I'm also trying not to hope too much. I want this to be an inspiration, not a distraction, so I hope the clients will make reasonable demands.""Just remember that at the end of the day, you're the one in control, not them. Give them your timeframe. You'll be surprised how patient people can be."Just like me with her. Except my patience is wearing thin.I know I said I don't ever want to commit again after the failure that was my relationship with Carol, but Olivia is right. I'm not the same man I was before-and Olivia is different. At the end of the day, I have to ask myself