Daughter's Best Friend Read online

  “I did, and no one has been fired. They probably should be, but I’m too nice. I can’t just get rid of people that piss me off.”

  She chuckled. “The staff at the restaurant, they are all amazing. They work so hard.”

  “Oliver told me that they all adored you.”

  “That’s good to know.” It filled her with warmth to know that her staff liked her. It was a tough industry. “A good restaurant is down to the team of chefs, waiters, barmen, you name it, all working together to be the best.”

  Jackson reached out, moving some hair off her shoulder.

  “I’ve only just got out of bed.”

  “I can see that.”

  “Have you ever thought about quitting?” he asked. “Opening up your own place, or turning that into your own place. Talking to your staff?”

  “My parents own that restaurant. This was their agreement. They would pay for my restaurant, but I had to follow their rules.” She had succumbed to their pressure.

  “You’re not happy. I really don’t like to see you not happy.”

  “Is that what you did? Pulled away from your father’s business, and made your own path?” she asked.

  “I wanted to be known as my own person. I’m not the kind of man who can take orders. I’m the one that does the ordering.”

  She laughed. “I can see that. You’re the man that always has to be in charge.”

  “Which I get from my dad. He was annoyed with me, I know he was, but I knew he was proud of me.”

  “Ah, you’re the son. To my parents, I’m supposed to love fashion, luncheons, and being a kept wife, while my husband has a mistress or something like that. You know, drama, wine, and more drama.”

  “You never wanted that?”

  “Never. It always seemed dull to me, and shallow. Either that or I’m the dumb, shallow one.”

  “You’re anything but shallow. I thought you were a bad influence on Bella, and I’m pleased you two got along.”

  Rebecca couldn’t help but smile. “Even though we got into some trouble?”

  “It was irritating, but I know for a fact it could have been worse. You were the one true friend to my daughter, so thank you.”

  “I adore Bella. She’s like the sister I never had.” She giggled. “I guess that makes you my daddy.” She winked at him, and he groaned.

  “That is wrong, so wrong.”

  “Why? You could be my sugar daddy.” She put her drink on the small coffee table, and took his from him. Straddling his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Don’t you want me to pay up, and show you how grateful I am, Daddy.” She wrinkled her nose, and laughed. “Wrong.”

  “Totally wrong.” He gripped her ass and pulled her close.

  She rubbed herself on his rock-hard cock, and they both moaned. “The last thing I think when I’m with you is anything parental,” she said.

  “The same applies.”

  She leaned down, and pressed her lips against his.

  Jackson ran his hands up her back, sinking into her hair.

  “Should you be at the restaurant?” he asked.

  “Yes, I totally should.”

  “Do you need to be there right now?”

  “I probably should.”

  “You’re late already. What’s another ten minutes?” he asked, to which she burst out laughing.

  “You think this will take ten minutes?”

  “The longest we’ve lasted has been thirty. I’ve not seen you for nearly a week, and right now, I’m ready to blow and neither of us are naked.”

  She kissed his lips, gasping as his cock pressed against her pussy, hitting a spot that aroused her even more. “I want you, Jackson.”

  Running her hands down his body, she cupped his cock. At the same time, he slid his hand into her pajama pants, and touched her pussy.

  She was on fire for him, and with how hard he was getting, he was clearly feeling the same.

  “The restaurant can wait. I need you.”

  It had been too long, and having him now beneath her was all that she could think about.

  ****

  Jackson sat in his office reading through a report. It had been two months since he’d come back from his trip, and all but ordered Rebecca to keep in constant contact with him. Every now and again, his cell phone would beep with a text, or a smiley face, or a picture of what she was doing.

  The recipe journal he’d gotten her seemed to have inspired her, which he was glad for.

  Rubbing at his temples, he stared at the words, and they all blurred together. Pushing back from his desk, he stood up, and stepped up close to the window. This had been his office for many years now. A lot had happened in these very walls. He’d discovered that he was going to have a daughter, had conquered more business deals than he could remember. He’d had a mental breakdown here not long after his wife had died.

  His entire world had been consumed within this one office. It was a large office as well, spacious as he loved to think. One of the reasons he’d kept the large house was because he liked space, and he liked to think.

  Rebecca’s place was a little on the small side for him, but he kind of loved it. The apartment was all her. Every single inch of space oozed Rebecca, and he found when he was there, he could forget about everything else.

  Sitting back down in his chair, he stared at the contract in front of him. It was for another takeover bid, and his heart wasn’t in it.

  Moving his mouse, he watched the screen of his computer go from black to his sign in page. Signing in, it showed up the last item he was searching for.

  The building was an old café that was across the city. It was in a thriving location. According to the pictures, he saw it was in need of some serious decoration, modernizing, but with the right touch, would be back to being perfect once again. This was what made him so good in business. He was able to see beyond the crap that everyone else saw.

  Something rundown that needed a bit of care, or something that wasn’t doing its best, and he knew how to bring it back up to being perfect.

  He had the money, the skills, and the people on hand.

  This would be perfect for the vision that Rebecca had admitted to him one night.

  Opening up his desk drawer, he stared at the drawing that she had made. They had both been drunk on too much wine and sex, and yet she’d been able to visualize her dream.

  The drawing itself was basic, just an overrule outline of the kitchen, the seating room, and what she hoped to create. He really thought it was a fantastic idea. He was surprised her own parents hadn’t seen the potential in her plans.

  Staring at the building, he saw there was a chance to view it. Picking up his phone, he dialed the number, and decided to make the decision himself. Once he’d arranged a booking, he got his PA to cancel his afternoon appointments.

  The real estate man, who told him his name was Ben, was waiting.

  “Hello, sir. You’re Jackson Reed?”

  “I am.”

  “Excellent. This is a fine establishment that with the right touch will bring so many fun memories.”

  Jackson listened to him prattle on as he looked at the outside. There was plenty of space for parking, and simply standing there, he felt that it had so much potential as a family spot. Rebecca said she wanted to create something for families.

  “Was this a family café?”

  “Yes, it was. I believe the main cook took ill, and no one could cook as well as she could, and after a few years of failing, they had no choice but to cut their losses and go,” Ben said. “I remember coming here as a child—”

  “I don’t need a fake story to try to sell me this.”

  “I wasn’t faking a story. My family booked a table every Sunday. They would make the most delicious pot roast, or even meatloaf. Even now remembering, my mouth is watering. I tried to come as often as I could growing up, but once the food was no longer the same, it lost that edge, you know?”

  “Yeah, I do.”
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  “So, will you be reinventing it? Do you have a cook in mind? Or are you thinking of knocking it down, and rebuilding it as apartments, which seems to be the in thing?”

  “I have a friend who loves to cook. She’s trained, and I think I’d like to find something that could inspire her. Right now, she is anything but inspired.” The moment he walked in the doors, he took a quick inhale. The air was musty but not damp. He’d hire a builder, and all the relevant people needed to get this place back to being perfect.

  This was going to be a surprise for Rebecca, so right now it was going to be top secret.

  “What is the state of the building? No bullshit either.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with the building. It looks a little rundown simply because it has been standing for a long period of time. By the time they closed, they were struggling, and keeping up the paint work, and other works didn’t make it into the budget.”

  Jackson looked at Ben. “Okay, you’re being really honest here, and I find there’s always a catch.”

  Ben held his hands up. “I guess I’m not doing my job properly. I’ve found that if I don’t lie, people have a tendency to come back to me, or to recommend me personally. I know this place. I have history here. Made out with my first girlfriend, all that kind of stuff. I want to see it go to a good person. Not all of us are after the bottom line, and yes, I will earn a killing from this place, but, I’m not someone willing to give in to greed.”

  “An honest estate agent, you should have that as your motto or something. It would work.”

  Ben lifted out his card and handed it to him. “Already have it.”

  Jackson laughed, and pocketed the card. They walked behind the counter, and then into the main kitchen. It would all need to be redone. He would find a way of getting Rebecca to tell him what she’d want without giving the game away.

  “When I sign the papers, how long before I can start getting work done in here?”

  “Everything is ready, and if you’re happy, it could all be processed within two weeks,” Ben said. “Another buyer pulled out of the venture.”

  “Any reason why?”

  “I don’t know. Does this mean you’re taking it?”

  Jackson looked around. He was getting a good vibe from the place. “Yeah, I’ll be taking it.” He shook Ben’s hand, signed the necessary paperwork, and gave him the details to be in touch with his lawyer.

  Heading back to the office, he felt good about doing something like this, doing something that would inevitably bring Rebecca happiness. She couldn’t stay working in that restaurant. He had seen her love for cooking in her own kitchen, and whenever she left the restaurant, she always looked depressed.

  The thought of her doing something she hated filled him with an anger that was rather unusual for him.

  Entering his office, he saw that Alaric was waiting for him. “You’ve not hurt my girl again have you? I can have you killed easily.”

  “Nothing like that. I thought it was time we got to know each other.”

  Jackson nodded, and then smiled at his PA, asking if she would mind bringing him coffee.

  “Not at all, Jackson.”

  Entering his office, he moved toward the sofa and took a seat. “I did wonder when you would pay me another visit. I hear everything is going wonderfully with my daughter.”

  “I want to marry her.”

  “That is a step up from wanting to break her heart.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “So, why are you asking me?”

  “I don’t want there to be any bad blood between us.”

  Jackson stared at the man that was pretty much the same age as he was. He didn’t like that his little girl was in love with this man. Alaric had a reputation for breaking things apart, not making them better.

  “I will always believe that Bella can do better. It’s her father’s prerogative. Kind of like no woman will ever be good enough for her son, you will never be good enough for my daughter. I have nothing against you, Alaric. Nothing at all. When you have kids, then you will understand.”

  Alaric agreed. “Again, I wanted to apologize.”

  “I find it … funny, that you for a second thought I was in a competition with you. I don’t run my business as such. Never have. This is my life’s work, and I pride myself on being a good, respectful, and reasonable businessman.”

  “I see that now. Let’s just say I let my emotions get in the way, and I only saw the competition. I wanted something, and you took it for me.”

  “Yes, the modeling agency, which I got as it was something my late wife would have loved, as I loved her.”

  “Why did you buy it?”

  “My wife was a full-figured woman. I like to think she was healthy. The modelling world back then wasn’t exactly welcoming to the idea of a woman with curves. Times have changed.”

  “Do you miss her?” Alaric asked.

  Jackson thought about his wife, and he shook his head. “I used to miss her, but that changed over the years. I can’t love a ghost, and one cannot keep me warm at night. I had a good marriage.”

  Rebecca got him fired up, yearning for stuff he’d thought was well past his time.

  “Do you think you’ll ever find someone else?”

  “Yeah, I hope I do.” He had a feeling that he may have already found someone.

  Chapter Six

  “You’re taking me on a picnic in the park?” Rebecca asked, folding her arms. Jackson was standing at her door, looking sexy as sin, holding a wicker basket in one arm, and in the other, he held a single red rose.

  She was totally smitten with him. Taking the rose, she pressed her nose against it and sighed.

  “A beautiful rose for a beautiful woman.”

  “You’re sweet.” She stared at the picnic basket. “You’re taking me out on a date?”

  “I think seeing as we’re fuck buddies and texting buddies, I think it’s only fair we become dating buddies.”

  “That’s boyfriend material, Jackson. Do you think you’re up for that?”

  “I’m still here.”

  She couldn’t stop smiling. “Okay then, I will get my jacket.”

  Spring was fast taking over from winter, but there were still moments where it was too cold to go without a jacket. The sun was shining, and a picnic would be more than lovely. She always found picnics to be utterly romantic. Jackson was still waiting by the door. “I can’t interest you in coming inside?”

  “If I come inside we’re both going to be naked on that bed, and I want this to be about something more.”

  “You’re not after my body?”

  “Oh, I’m after that as well, but I wanted to build up to it.”

  She stored some cash in her jeans, and followed him out of the house, locking the door behind her.

  “Can I ask why you brought the picnic upstairs?” she asked. “Why not leave it in your car?”

  “It’s heavy, and I was hoping you wouldn’t tempt me and of course, you did, so I didn’t have much choice. I wanted to show you that I want more than a fuck.” They entered the main parking lot, and Rebecca chuckled.

  “I don’t mind fucking though.” But I love this so much! “Been on many dates lately?”

  “None that are worth it.”

  “So what happened to the teenagers you were dating?” she asked.

  He burst out laughing, storing the picnic basket in the back of his car. As he opened the door for her, she went to climb inside the car, and he caught her around the waist, pressing a kiss to her lips.

  The moment his mouth touched hers, she lost all sense, all fight, and everything became about his lips. He pulled away, and she climbed inside.

  “The women before you meant nothing. They were just scratching an itch. I don’t see them anymore.”

  “I haven’t dated in a long time either.” She rested her hands on her thighs, trying to make her heart calm down. “This is nice, Jackson.”

  “You’ve not even got there
yet. It may suck.”

  “I doubt it.”

  “So, how is everything going?” he asked.

  “It’s going great. Mom and Dad were at the restaurant last night, and kept calling me to talk to their business guests. It was some kind of fleet owner. They own boats or docks. Anyway, the guy has a son, and of course they want me to meet him. Now they want me to get married to a man of their choosing.”

  She noticed his hands fisted the steering wheel.

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  “To live my life the way that I want to. I don’t want to feel pressured into marrying someone they pick out for me just because they think it’s right.” She leaned her elbow on the door frame, and rubbed at her temples. “You never forced this on Bella, did you?”

  He shook his head. “I always believed that Bella was old enough to make her own decisions. Of course, when it comes to Alaric I think I should have interfered, but there’s nothing that I can do. They do love you.”

  “I don’t know. You can say that my parents love me, but shouldn’t they love every single part of me, and not always think about what it would be like changing me? I’m a cook, but they wanted a chef. I’m happy being in a small apartment, and they’re trying to find me a bigger and better place.” She blew out a breath. “It’s tiring.”

  “I’m sorry, baby,” he said.

  He reached out placing his hand on her hand, and she smiled. “Thank you. For this, for trying to comfort me, I appreciate it.”

  “Anytime, and just tell your parents no.”

  “I’ve spent most of my life telling them no. They think I’m going through a crappy rebellious phase, and it’ll pass when I grow up.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m twenty-five years old. I’m twenty-six in a few months. Can’t they just leave me alone?” She sighed. “Sorry. I really shouldn’t be telling you all my problems.”

  “You can talk about your problems all day long with me. I love hearing them.”

  She chuckled. “You love hearing about my troubles?”

  “Yes, it means that I’m doing something right. I’m not very good at this dating game. Shouldn’t couples tell each other everything?”

  Couples?