He looks a little shell-shocked seeing us together. It makes sense, really. If I saw him with a woman half his age, I’d be taken aback too. But it must be twice as strange for him to see his daughter and best friend getting out of a car together.
To his credit, he holds it together pretty well. I haven’t really spoken to him for the past eight months, though he and Sydney chat a lot. It feels like it should be awkward, but I feel okay as we approach him.
“Hello, Sydney, darling,” her father says a little stiffly, kissing her cheek. His eyes drift to her swollen stomach. “And hello baby girl. Any ideas on names yet?”
“Not yet,” Sydney squeaks. She’s clearly nervous. “It’s good to see you, Dad.”
He gives her a tight smile. “It’s good to see you too. Why don’t you head inside and give me a moment alone with Austin?”
I’m prepared to be defensive if I need to be. Sydney shoots me a glance as she heads inside, but she doesn’t need to worry about me. I can handle him.
There’s a brief silence between us. I wait for him to speak and he takes a deep breath.
“I’ll admit, I wasn’t happy about this when I heard,” he tells me. “I felt betrayed by your choices. But seeing you together now...I can see that you’re a good couple. You’ve made my daughter happy. I tried for so long to make her chase dreams I had as a young man...to attend college and prepare for a good career. But now I know...she was born to be a mother, just like her own mother was. I know that you’ll provide for her and your family. And I can see that she adores you.”
“I adore her too,” I growl. “I never intended to hurt you...but you know how it feels to meet the love of your life. It’s instantaneous. It’s overpowering. I knew I loved her right away. She’s an incredible woman. You should be very proud of your daughter, even if she hasn’t followed the path you chose for her.”
His eyes soften and he smiles for real now. “I know. I’m extremely proud of her. It took guts for her to go against my wishes. Now, look at her. She’s thriving. I have you to thank for that.”
He reaches out his hand for me to shake. I’m a little shocked. I guess I expected more resistance from him on the matter, but this is perfect. I’ve never wanted to lose him as a friend. Now, he’s going to be family too. As we shake hands, he offers me a smile.
“Step inside. I’ve set up the guest bedroom for you both to stay for a while. I’m looking forward to reconnecting. Plus, I’ve been saving an incredible whiskey for a special occasion.”
“Actually, I haven’t been drinking the past nine months,” I admit. “I pledged not to drink until Sydney is able to drink too.”
He looks at me in surprise, not sure what to make of my declaration. Then he smiles. “You’re even better for her than I thought.”
We head inside together and find Sydney waiting for us. She glances between us nervously, clearly thinking that something bad occurred while we were outside.
“Everything okay?” she asks, and I smile. It’s an easy question to answer. I have my best friend’s blessing. A beautiful fiancé and my child growing inside her. I have a good life and everything seems to have fallen into place. What else could I possibly want?
I meet her eye as I smile. “Everything is perfect.”
My Hot Hotel Owner (SS#3)
My Hot Hotel Owner
AN OLDER MAN YOUNGER WOMAN ROMANCE
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SHORT STORIES, 3
FLORA FERRARI
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 book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
The following story contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers.
My Hot Hotel Owner
Faith
I’ve never fallen asleep on the job before, and I was certain I’d get fired when I woke up and saw the boss. But there’s a chemistry with Chase I can’t deny, and he seems to want me as much as I want him.
Chase
The moment I lay eyes on Faith, I want her badly. I can’t imagine life before or after her. I’m going to have to make sure there’s no chance she’ll ever walk out of my life.
*insta-everything standalone with an HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.
Chapter One
Faith
This shift seems to be dragging on forever. I yawn as I strip yet another bed, preparing it for the next guest at the hotel. I’ve been working for the past five hours, straight after a morning of college lectures that have frazzled my mind. It seems like these days I don’t get a minute to rest.