Boss Daddy: Naughty Daddies Series Read online

  “Thank you, rabbit,” he told me with a dazzling smile. “Sophisticated sounds much better than old.”

  “You’re not old,” I argued, and he chuckled as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. It amazed me how comfortable I was around him. I should be shitting bricks over waking up with a man I’d known for a day, but everything felt...right.

  “How did you sleep?”

  “So good,” I moaned as I stretched my arms up again. “What time is it?”

  “Nine thirty.”

  “Really? I don’t think I’ve ever slept that late. You could’ve woken me up.” I flinched. “I mean, obviously you could have; you’re in charge. I just meant…”

  Daddy cut me off with a deep laugh. “You needed your rest; we have a big day ahead of us.”

  “We do?”

  He nodded. “And I think we should start out with a good breakfast.”

  “That sounds great. I’ll just get dressed and-” I started to peel back the blankets, but Daddy put his hand on my knee to stop me.

  “You’ll stay right where you are.” He leaned over and pressed the button of the intercom next to his bed. “Angelo?”

  “Yes, sir?” crackled over the speaker.

  “Lucas and I are ready for breakfast.”

  “I’ll be there shortly.”

  When Daddy sat back upright, I gave him a curious look. “Is Angelo part of your...syndicate?” For some reason, I whispered the last word even though we were alone, making him smile.

  “No. He’s just a good friend and my employee.”

  “So, he’s kind of like your Alfred?” When Daddy cocked his head in confusion, I explained, “You know; like Batman. Bruce Wayne? Alfred is his butler and go-to dude.”

  Goosebumps exploded over my arms when he gave a deep, raspy laugh. “Yes, I suppose he is.”

  “Awesome.” He laughed again as I tucked myself under his arm and looked at his newspaper with him.

  At the top of the page was a story about a downtown home burning to the ground the night before; it started from a faulty outlet and nothing could be saved. It was horrible, but luckily no one was home at the time. “That’s so scary,” I said, tapping the printed words. “I’m glad no one was hurt.”

  Daddy sighed and pulled me closer. “Oh, my sweet boy.”

  Just then, a knock sounded on the door. Daddy placed his newspaper and glasses on his nightstand before pulling the blankets up and tucking them around my neck. Once everything was covered except my face, he called out, “Come in.”

  Angelo entered the room carrying a large silver platter. He pursed his lips when he saw me bundled up, but he didn’t say anything. Maybe it was a little silly for Daddy to be hiding my body, but it was also very sweet; he wasn’t shy about being territorial over me.

  “Here you are, sir,” Angelo said as he passed a domed dish to Daddy, who lifted the lid to reveal a plate full of bacon, scrambled eggs and toast. It looked delicious and smelled even better. “And for you, Lucas.”

  I had to take my arms out from under the sheets to take my plate, though I tried to stay covered as much as possible. I balanced the dish on my thighs and gasped when I lifted the lid, finding a huge stack of pancakes smothered in butter and syrup.

  “Ah man, these look great! I haven’t had pancakes forever.” I wasted no time in cutting off a hunk of syrupy goodness and shoving it in my mouth. “Oh my god,” I moaned through my cheek-bursting bite. “These are incredible.”

  “Thank you,” Angelo told me with a slight bow of his head.

  I swallowed my mouthful and turned to Daddy. “How are you not as big as a house?”

  He and Angelo both laughed at my question. “Trust me, I’ve put on quite a few pounds since Angelo came to work for me.” It was no wonder; I’d never tasted food like this.

  “Here is your coffee,” Angelo said as he handed Daddy a steaming mug. “Lucas, I brought you orange juice unless you’d prefer coffee as well.”

  “Orange juice is great,” I replied, taking the offered glass. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate the meal.”

  “You’re very welcome.” Angelo gave another bow of his head and offered, “I hope you both enjoy,” before leaving the room.

  “He seems great.”

  “He is.” Daddy gave my head another kiss. “And so are you.” I stretched my very full lips into a smile and he snorted a laugh. “Eat up, rabbit.”

  I destroyed my stack of pancakes and sucked down every drop of juice until my stomach begged for mercy. I was full and warm, and wanted nothing more than to snuggle Daddy until lunch (yes, I was already dreaming of eating again), but he reminded me that we had a busy day ahead.

  Unfortunately, all I had to wear was my tattered jeans and t-shirt from the night before; they were the only clothing I owned, and what I had been wearing for the past three days. At least I got a shower last night.

  But Daddy told me not to worry; he said that I looked lovely and that he’d take care of everything. Then he held my hand as we walked outside to his shiny black Navigator with tinted windows and chrome rims.

  “Oh wow,” I exclaimed as Daddy helped me inside, and I gawked at all the space around me, and the plushness of the leather seat beneath me. “Now this is a car I could live in.” Daddy didn’t laugh at my stupid joke. His expression dropped and I mentally kicked myself for upsetting him. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry.” He cupped my cheeks in his hands. “I’m sorry that you went through that. But I promise you that things will get better.”

  “They already are.” He smiled and gave me a gentle kiss before climbing in behind the steering wheel.

  Daddy let me pick the radio station as we drove into town. I scanned the channels until I came to upbeat pop music and bobbed my head along with the rhythm. Even though he didn’t say anything, I could tell he didn’t like the station after a few songs. When I switched it to classic rock, he smiled and reached over and held my hand, so I didn’t touch the dial again. I liked that he was happy, and as it turned out, I liked the music too.

  Our first stop was to a men’s designer clothing store. When a sales associate hustled up to me with a huge smile and asked if there was anything he could help me with, Daddy cracked his knuckles and glared at him until the man slowly backed away and left us alone. It cracked me up to see the salesman’s reaction because to me, Daddy was just a big teddy bear.

  Daddy led me around the shop and piled his arms full with the clothes he wanted me to try on. I tried to argue with him when I saw that one pair of jeans cost over four hundred dollars, but he reminded me that he made the decisions.

  I didn’t argue anymore once I tried the jeans on. They felt like butter against my skin and hugged my frame perfectly. I didn’t know denim could be so comfortable. Daddy inspected each piece of clothing I put on my body, making sure they fit properly.

  He chose what colors looked best on me and what fit me best. I wanted to look good for him and was happy that he was making the decisions; he had a great sense of style.

  In the end, he dropped nearly five thousand dollars on new clothes for me. He gave me a stern look that said not to argue about the price, so I just kissed him instead. I still thought they were too expensive, but I appreciated him with my whole heart.

  I wore my new butter jeans and a navy blue and white striped sweater out of the store feeling like a million bucks. Daddy said my new look of confidence was worth every penny, and I gave him another kiss.

  "We've got one more clothing stop," Daddy said once he had all the shopping bags loaded into the trunk and we were driving down the road again. "Have you ever had any bespoke outfits?"

  I thought hard before shaking my head. "I'm not familiar with that brand."

  Daddy squeezed my hand and gave me a sweet smile. "My god, you're adorable. Bespoke means that it's made just for you; constructed specifically for your body."

  "Oh. Then no, definitely no bespokeness."

  He snorted a laugh as he pulled
along the curb outside of a tailor's shop. "You need a few nice suits to wear to classy events."

  "Ooh, fancy. What types of classy events?"

  "Well, next week I'll take you to a black tie art auction that benefits the local police department."

  I was thrilled to accompany him somewhere so upscale, but I was also confused. "Why would you want to be in a room full of cops? Isn't that dangerous? What if they figure out who you are?"

  "I’m sure they already know," he shrugged. At my look of bewilderment, he explained, "I've been in this business a long time, and as good as I am, it's impossible not to make a slip up every now and then. That's why I go to the benefits or make large donations, making sure the police know where the majority of their funding comes from. If I ever get myself in a bind, those donations can loosen the ropes."

  I blinked wide eyes. "The police take bribes?"

  "The world isn't black and white, rabbit. Not all 'good guys' are lily white saints, and not all 'bad guys' have blackened souls. The world exists in layers of gray, and it's in those shadows that I thrive. The trick is finding balance; discovering just how dark you're willing to go, and drawing that line."

  It was that moment when I realized how intelligent Daddy was; not just because of his understanding of the world, but because of his work as well. It wasn't all about strength or intimidation; to survive, he had to be calculating and even manipulative. He was very clever.

  "But those worries aren't yours," he said with a gentle squeeze to my knee. "Let's see about those suits."

  He led me inside the shop, where a white haired man was scribbling in a notebook behind a long wooden counter. When he noticed us entering, he hustled over to us wearing a wide smile.

  "Vinny! I haven't seen you around for a while." Daddy let go of my hand to shake the old man's, but then gripped mine again. "What can I do for my best customer?"

  "I need three suits for my boy." The pride in his voice over introducing me as his own made my stomach warm.

  "Wonderful." The man smiled at me and held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr…?"

  "Birch, but please just call me Lucas." It was just a handshake, but I still wanted to check if it was okay, so I looked to Daddy for permission. At his nod, I shook the man’s hand, and he gave me a knowing smile.

  “And you may call me Ray. Now follow me and we’ll start with some measurements.” Daddy and I followed Ray into a back room, which held a circular platform in the center and mirrors all around. “Please stand up there on that circle for me.”

  I did as he asked, and Ray pulled a measuring tape from his pocket. “Raise your arms to your sides.” Once I held them out, Ray wrapped the tape around my chest and did a double take at the number. “You’re just a little slip of a thing, aren’t you?” He gave me a playful smile and added, “Is your Daddy feeding you well?”

  Okay, so he knows. I didn’t care; I was proud to be Daddy’s boy and wanted everyone to know. Ray’s words did make me wonder if Daddy had ever brought another boy here, but I pushed that thought away. I didn’t want to know and honestly, it didn’t matter. I was here with him now, and he promised I was his one and only.

  “Oh yeah. He and Angelo are going to fatten me up for sure,” I replied, making Ray and Daddy both laugh.

  Ray jotted down some numbers on a notepad in his pocket before measuring my waist and giving his attention to Daddy. “What colors are you wanting for the suits?” It was obvious who was in charge.

  “Black, gray and navy blue will do for now, and I’ll contact you when he needs more.”

  “Very good. And I’m assuming that you want the same fabric I used for your own suits?”

  “Yes. I want nothing but the best for my boy; price is no object.” My stomach tingled again; Daddy wasn’t kidding about spoiling me. I’d never felt more important or treasured in my life.

  Ray went about his business, measuring my neck, waist, and the length of my arms, jotting down numbers as he went. “Okay, I just have to get your inseam and we’re all set.” When he knelt in front of me, Daddy gave a sharp whistle, making both of us jump.

  “I’ll do that,” Daddy insisted in a gruff tone.

  “Of course; I apologize.”

  Ray handed over the measuring tape and I understood what all of the commotion was about when Daddy held the end of the tape against my upper thigh, brushing his knuckles over my balls. Ray stretched the other end down to my ankle before nodding, writing down another number and standing up again.

  “Okay, I’ve got everything I need. I’ll get to work on these right away and have them ready in about a month.”

  “I need the black one by next Friday,” Daddy insisted. When Ray’s eyes bulged, Daddy held up a hand and added, “I’ll pay double.”

  The tailor let out a long breath and finally gave a nod. “It’ll be ready.”

  “That’s why you’re the best.” Daddy shook Ray’s hand again before settling his palm on my lower back. “Come, rabbit; we’ve got more things to take care of today.”

  “Yes, Daddy.” I stepped off of the platform and turned to the tailor. “It was nice to meet you, Ray. Thanks for your help.”

  “It was my pleasure.” I bet it was, considering how much money he just made. I didn’t know how much a bespoke suit cost, but it couldn’t have been cheap; let alone an order of three and a rush fee.

  After another quick drive through town, we made another stop at a barber shop. Everyone greeted Daddy with smiles when we walked in. He had many friends, or at least people who respected him and didn’t want to be on his bad side.

  A barber named Jack put me in his chair and placed a cape over me as Daddy told him exactly how he wanted my hair to look. He watched with a close eye as Jack trimmed my shaggy brown locks into a sleek style; shaved close on the back and sides, with a little length left on the top which he gelled and combed to the right.

  I was slightly concerned (okay, I was terrified) when Jack retrieved a straight blade razor and asked Daddy if he should trim up my cheeks and neck, but luckily it was deemed unnecessary since my face was already baby smooth. I’d never been happier about being unable to grow a beard.

  After generously tipping the barber and repeatedly telling me how handsome I looked, Daddy drove me a few blocks down the road to a brick restaurant with a green awning over the door which read Maria’s.

  “This is one of the businesses I own,” Daddy explained as he parked the car.

  “Really? Then who’s Maria?”

  “My mother,” he replied with a smile. “She was a very talented chef, and she always dreamed of running her own restaurant, but we never had the resources. When I found success and a steady cash flow, I bought this place for her. I told her that the world needed her food. I never saw her happier.”

  “That’s really beautiful.”

  “She built this business into one of the most popular restaurants in town. People would travel for hours to eat here; still do.” Daddy’s smile turned sad. “But the place lost some of its charm when my mother passed away a little over a year ago.”

  I reached across the console to take his hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thanks.” He blew out a breath and studied the front of the building. “I eat here often; the chefs still use all of her recipes and…” He shrugged. “I don’t know. It helps me feel close to her even though she’s gone.” Daddy looked at me from the corner of his eye. “Does that sound crazy?”

  “Not at all; I think it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. And thank you for bringing me here. It means a lot to share somewhere that’s so special to you.”

  His pretty smile returned and he lifted my hand to kiss my knuckles. “You really are my perfect boy, aren’t you?” I shook my head no; I was far from perfect, but Daddy just laughed and squeezed my hand. “Come on, I’m sure you’re starving after our busy morning.”

  The restaurant was cozy but busy; nearly every table was full of happy diners, and waiters in black ties and
vests zipped around the space. Daddy greeted the hostess Cassie with a kiss to the cheek, which ruffled my feathers right up until he introduced her to me as his cousin. Turns out I was very territorial over Daddy as well. Maybe he noticed, because he tucked me under his arm and gave me a kiss of my own.

  “You can head back to your usual spot if you’d like,” Cassie offered, eyeing the line of people waiting behind us. She was too busy to take us herself.

  “Not a problem.”

  Daddy kept me close as we weaved through the tables in the dining area, and then he led me through a door which opened up into another, smaller dining room. It held two empty tables which would seat four people, and a large semi-circular booth in the back where we sat down.

  “This is a pretty cool usual spot,” I said as I looked around at the warm red walls and the paintings which hung on them.They looked similar to the ones at Daddy’s place, making me wonder if he decorated here. “Do they always leave it empty for you?”

  He nodded. “Like I said, I eat here a lot. Sometimes I bring friends, and occasionally I do business here.”

  My eyes widened. “Wait, did your mom know what kind of business you did in her restaurant?”

  Daddy tipped his head back and laughed. “She didn’t know specifics, but she knew enough.”

  “Woah.” She had to be the most understanding mom in the world. I turned my eyes from him and twisted my fingers as I asked, “So, can I ask you some things about your business?”

  “I won’t tell you everything.”

  Even though my stomach dropped, I replied, “I understand.” I didn’t mean to upset him; I was just curious about his life.

  Daddy put his finger under my chin and lifted until I looked at him. “I don’t think you do. The more you know, the more trouble you can get into. Anything I keep from you is to protect you. It’s my job to keep you safe, remember?”