Firefighter Baby Daddy: Baby Daddy Romance Series, #2

By Lexi Banks

I was young when I met Brianne. She was everything I wanted in a woman, driven and confident, not to mention older and more experienced. Let's just say she wasn't shy and awkward in bed.

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't some stupid teen carving "Jordan + Brianne" on a tree, but she was my first experience with a passionate, self-assured woman.

Then she dumped me. I never stopped loving her, not really, which made me both curse and bless fate the night my fire station responded to a fire and I found her inside.

There was another surprise though: a young boy. I couldn't help but notice he looks a lot like me, and he's young enough that he would have been born shortly after I broke up with Brianne.

There's no way I could have a son and not know, though. That's totally ridiculous. Right?

The whole thing wouldn't be so bad if I still didn't want Brianne so badly. Oh, and there's the little complication of her being accused of arson.

Well, damn. Nobody ever said love was easy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DM
• Release date: Aug 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386747451

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Christmas Day: a joyous holiday. Right? A day meant to spend time with family and celebrate, cherishing the ones you love. A time intended to gather together with the people you love and enjoy one another's company. Beautifully wrapped gifts are handed out, and you watch the smiles on your loved ones’ faces as they tear into the colorful paper. You share a meal as the year comes to a close and reflect on the memories you’ve made. A day to put aside everything else in your life and focus on the people who are the most important.

But despite all of what Christmas Day is supposed to be, there I sat on my couch with a glass of wine, pouring over work emails and annual sales report data.

Breanne Thompson, work-a-holic extraordinaire and CEO of Lux 21st, the most upscale lighting company in all of Seattle. Work never took a day off, not even on Christmas, and I had worked my ass off for a lot of years to get to where I was now. I’d started at the bottom of Lux and earned my place through hard work, dedication, and a no-nonsense approach to business and life. If I wanted something, I went for it — and I usually got it.

My gaze shifted from the fire that roared in the fireplace of my townhouse in the affluent Queen Anne neighborhood to the gorgeous view of the bay from my living room window. Lying on the carpeted floor was my five-year-old son, Aaron: the light of my life and an absolute bundle of energy that never ceased to put a smile on my face. I took a minute to stop and watch him play before immersing myself back into work, thinking about the best ways to expand our brand outside of Seattle and penetrate new, untapped markets. Of course, a five-year-old with new toys meant only ten minutes of work at a time before he wanted my attention.

Mommy, he said, tugging at my arm. Come play with me.

I’m sorry, baby, Mommy’s working. But I’m right here, watching you play, I told him.

He puffed out his bottom lip dramatically. But I need someone to play with me. I don’t have anyone to play with. You need to get me a brother.

I laughed and ruffled his hair. That’s not quite how that works, my sweet boy.

Johnny has a brother that plays with him.

The comment made me think that maybe I needed to be more proactive in finding Aaron a few more friends to have playdates with. Granted, Christmas Day wasn’t the day to start, but still. Johnny was one of the other little boys in his class, but he was the only kid Aaron had actually had any playdates with. He lived nearby, and his mother had helped me out a few times by picking Aaron up from school when I had been caught up at work. Come to think of it, Johnny was the only one of his classmates I actually knew by name.

Truth was, I didn’t even remember what Johnny’s mom’s name was. That’s why I had it in parenthesis as Johnny’s Mom in my phone with her number. I mostly just thought of the other moms according to their physical descriptions. Blonde yoga mom. Blonde yoga mom with nose ring. Brunette socialite mom. Brunette yoga mom with buzz cut.

I wrinkled my nose. Maybe I needed to get out and be proactive about making friends for myself, too, I thought.

Aaron tugged my hand, and I set down my work and my wine glass and crawled to the floor with him. He explained to me the intricacies of the scene he was playing out, which mostly involved the action figures strewn about the room facing off in an epic good guys versus bad guys battle. I was given the bad guys while Aaron tended to the heroes, who were in this case, his new favorite toys that he’d unwrapped just a few hours earlier in the morning: a set of real life hero action figures, including a police officer, firefighter, paramedic, soldier, and a doctor.

We played for nearly forty-five minutes before I could no longer find a comfortable position to lie in on the floor. I moved back to the couch and took a long sip of wine as Aaron continued with his dialogue.

Do you have a favorite hero, Aaron? I asked him.

He looked at the figures, contemplating them for a moment before holding the firefighter aloft. This one, he declared. I want to be a fireman.

I felt a pang in my heart at his answer and a bit of something else I really couldn’t explain, as well, but I did my best to keep it hidden. That’s nice, sweetie. I’m sure you would be a terrific fireman.

And not just because it’s in your genes, I thought to myself. I shook the thought from my head. It was just a coincidence. There was no way that Aaron liking a firefighter toy and saying he wanted to be a fireman had anything to do with his father. What little boy doesn’t want to be a firefighter when they’re five years old?

I shook the thought away, telling myself it was just the holiday giving me a case of nostalgia or something, and I took another long swig of wine.

Christmas for Aaron and me was a low-key affair. Always had been. There was the opening of presents in the morning, followed by breakfast and playing with all of the new toys. Then there was lunch and a nap, before more playtime with toys and then dinner, which was takeout from a nearby restaurant where I had placed my Christmas Day order for weeks ago.

Growing up, family holidays had always been an ordeal. Thanksgiving and Christmas had been massive family events that had always felt very formal and stodgy. There were my parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Everyone always put on these airs and really just sucked the fun out of the entire holiday. I didn’t want that for my son and had made a promise to myself that holidays would be relaxed and easygoing days for us.

My parents had passed away a few years before Aaron was born, and I had long ago removed myself from my extended family's messy lives. My mother’s sister had died, and her husband had remarried. I had never been close to any of my cousins since the only time I had ever really seen them growing up had been those family holiday dinners. It was part of the reason why I had settled in Seattle so many years ago. Seattle meant I was thousands of miles from anyone I was distantly related to, and I liked it exactly that way.

Of course, there was also a nagging feeling in my gut that it was just Aaron and me. I loved our little family, just the two of us, but sometimes I wished that he had a father figure to look up to and learn things from that I couldn’t teach him. On days like Christmas, I sometimes found myself wondering if I had made a mistake.

I had been the one to decide that things were better off if I didn’t tell Aaron’s father about him. I was thirty-two when I had gotten pregnant, and my biological clock wasn't just ticking — it was my own personal doomsday clock just waiting for the end of time. And by end of time, I mean my uterus shriveling up and drying out. I wanted desperately to have a child of my own and would stop at nothing to have one. I had gone after what I wanted in business for a long time, and I figured it was high time I did the same in my personal life.

I had been dating a really incredible guy, one I could picture a future with. The only downside was his age. He was seven years younger than me, barely twenty-five back then. After my first doctor’s appointment to confirm my pregnancy, I broke things off. I reasoned to myself that I was doing him a favor by not forcing him into fatherhood, but now I found myself wondering more and more if I had done Aaron a disservice by keeping my secret. Not to mention myself.

Sure, I was woman enough to be both parents for Aaron, but there had been times I had seen the way he would follow some of the other dads around when he was at preschool or birthday parties. I could see the look of envy when he saw other kids playing catch at the park with their fathers. Try as I might to be everything my little man needed, I had become painfully aware that I was always going to fall just a little short.

I pushed the thoughts aside and stood to refill my wine glass. What was done was done and there was no going back now, I told myself. Onward and upward, I always said. There was no use to getting stuck in the past and playing games of what ifs. I had made a choice, and I was sticking by it. Not that I really had much other option. Besides, it wasn’t like the guy was going to show back up in our lives. It had been five years. I didn’t even know if he still lived in Seattle. For all I knew, he had moved across the country and had a happy life of his own, just like Aaron and I had our happy little life. I did hope he was happy, though.

Aaron, time for a bath. Come on, I said.

Mo-om! he whined. I’m playing.

Your toys will still be here tomorrow, sweetie. We’ve been up since six thirty. It’s time to get washed up and head to bed.

Fine, he sighed, setting the toys aside and heading up the stairs. We grabbed some pajamas from his room, and I ran a bath for him. I sat on the closed lid of the toilet seat, sipping my wine while Aaron splashed around in the tub. After he’d played for a bit, I washed his hair and body, we drained the tub, and after he was dried off, I helped him into his pjs. Back in his room, I let Aaron pick out two books before climbing into bed. I tucked him in under the covers and read the two stories to him. I was halfway through the second one when I saw his breathing even out and his eyes flutter closed. I finished the story anyway and set the books back on the shelf before kissing his forehead and leaving the room.

I changed into comfortable jammies after leaving Aaron’s room and then headed back to the kitchen to pour myself one last glass of wine. I would rather have been turning in myself, but I had an early morning meeting the next day while the rest of the world was going to either be sleeping in or shopping. I needed to feel prepared for it, which meant I still needed to tackle some more number crunching and data analysis before going to bed.

With my glass of wine in hand, I dived back into brand penetration scenarios, determined to find the best way to launch Lux 21st into the next stratosphere.

Chapter Two

Jordan

Working on a holiday in a firehouse could go one of two ways: smooth and easy or completely chaotic and crazy. There wasn’t usually much in between. We were either on the go from the minute the day started or twiddling our thumbs waiting for a call to come in and playing stupid games to pass the time.

And if you were like me and single, then chances were if it wasn’t already your regularly scheduled shift — you were covering for a fellow firefighter with a family and picking up some overtime.

I had been with the Seattle Fire Department going on ten years, having graduated from the academy when I was twenty. After my first year as a probationary firefighter, I received my appointment as a full-fledged firefighter and was assigned to a station. After a couple years there, I transferred to my current house, station eight. There were a little more than thirty fire stations in Seattle, all with different trucks and crews. At my first station, I had been on a hazmat crew. Never a dull moment on that one, but for totally different reasons that what you face on an engine crew. It was a welcomed change when I was assigned to the engine company at station eight. Our house also had a ladder truck, and one of the dozen paramedic units in the city was stationed there.

I loved working on the engine, so I didn’t mind at all picking up an extra shift so someone else could spend Christmas with their wife and kids. Every day was different from the next. Some were quiet, some were busy. Some were filled moments of great tragedy while others were filled with great joy. I didn’t by any means thrive on other people’s misfortune, but the job itself, the rush of a call, the warm fuzzy feelings of a job well done...that made my life feel worthwhile and impactful.

Of course, on days like today — Christmas — I was painfully aware that there was something missing. I hadn’t thought that at thirty years old I would still be single and looking for love, but that’s exactly where I was. Jordan Smith: career firefighter, solid dude, good enough looks, and yet...still single. It wasn’t that I didn’t date. I did. Plenty of it. I just hadn’t found the right one. And as mushy as it might sound coming from a guy, I was really ready to find her.

I knew what I was waiting for. I thought I had found it once years before, but she broke it off abruptly and disappeared from my life. The truth was, I still held a bit of a flame for her. She was what I found myself judging every relationship on. I wasn’t pining over our failed relationship like a lovesick puppy, but she had been the first time I’d had what I would consider a real adult relationship. She was older than me, confident and driven, and naturally a bit more experienced. She was a self-assured woman who knew what she wanted out of life and knew her way around the bedroom. Finding that in someone else had proved a fruitless task so far. No one had quite measured up to her, and truthfully, I was getting to the point where I was over the whole dating scene.

Hey, man, Michael, my best friend, said as he took a seat beside me on the couch. Pretty quiet day, huh?

Michael, known as Mikey around the station, had picked up the extra shift that night, as well, to cover for another fellow firefighter. He had been at the station house for two years before I arrived, and he had taken me under his wing when I joined the engine company. Mikey was four years older than me and also single, but the difference was, he was pretty happy to keep it that way. He liked the easy-going life when it came to women and dating. He wasn’t looking for anything long term and was pretty up front about that with the women he dated.

Yep, I agreed. We’d had only four calls all day: a minor traffic accident, a medic call for a bicyclist who had taken a tumble along the waterfront, and two smoke alarm calls.

At least dinner smells good, he said with a grin.

We were having a big Christmas dinner with all the people on-call at our station. Those who had to work and had families had invited them to the station for Christmas dinner, so there were a lot more people milling about than usual. It was nice, though, and I kind of wished I had someone to invite to share it with. I had my mom, of course — who happened to be helping set up the dinner — but seeing the other guys with their wives or girlfriends just made me wish for that kind of someone, too.

I must have sighed because the next thing I knew, Mikey was giving me a weird look. Did you just sigh?

No, I answered quickly.

Dude, you totally just sighed.

I was just thinking.

About what?

That it might be kind of nice to have someone other than my mom to invite to these things.

He rolled his eyes. Why, though? Nothing wrong with the single life. Besides, have you seen your mom? She’s pretty hot, he joked.

Shut up. You don’t ever wish you had someone to come home to and talk about your day with? Someone intelligent who you could connect with?

Not particularly. I’m here for a good time.

Yeah, well, I’m kind of over just having a good time.

He grimaced. Hard pass, man.

Whatever. Your new year's resolution is probably to get laid six out of the seven days in the week.

Well, that’s where you would be wrong. It’s five out of the seven. He smirked. I’m not a robot. I need to rest, too. I shoved him good naturedly. Seriously, though, Mikey started. My new year's resolution is to finally take the leap and take the engineer's test. There’s been a lot of talk that Greenie is going to get that promotion to lieutenant soon, and they’re gonna need to fill the engineer slot on the engine. I know the ins and outs of our truck and the ladder better than anyone except Greenie. Besides, I’m not getting any younger. It’s probably about time I do something to advance my career, you know?

I think you’d make a great engineer, man. If you need any help studying, let me know. I’d be happy to help you.

Thanks. What about you? Made any resolutions yet?

I paused to think about it. I hadn’t really, but there was a pretty obvious one staring me in the face at the moment. I guess I want to be a better man in the new year.

A better man? What does that even mean? Mikey gave me a strange look.

You know, like learning new skills, being a better version of myself. I’m not a very good cook; maybe I could take some cooking classes. Or socialize more. I’ve always wanted to join a bowling league. That could be a good way to meet some new people.

Why do you need to meet new people? I’m all the people you need, man.

I chuckled. While you might be pretty decent in the people category, it’s the caliber of the people you bring around I question. The last time you made me go on a double date with you, the girl was nineteen and popped her chewing gum the entire night.

But she would have fucked you, he insisted.

I rolled my eyes at him. I’m not interested in an easy lay. That’s kind of your thing.

And, why not? Women are nothing but trouble.

Not all of them.

The ones I’ve met that want long term? Yeah, they are.

Well, I wouldn’t mind long term except all the women I’ve met in the last year are too freaked out by my job. The novelty of dating a firefighter wears off pretty quickly it seems, and they’re more worried about the danger that comes with the job and put off by the weird, long hours.

Which is exactly why a long-term relationship isn't worth it. Just enjoy the ride, man. Ain’t nothing better.

I want something solid in my life, though, Mikey. I’m over the flings.

Not me. I’ll take all the fun I can get. Personally, I think you should make a resolution to be a worse man and sleep around a little more. When was the last time you got laid, anyway?

It’s been a few months.

A few months?! What the hell, man? Are you telling me you haven’t been with anyone since that Nikki chick?

Nikki was my last girlfriend. When I first met her, I felt a spark and things seemed pretty promising. She didn't seem to mind my weird schedule and loved introducing me to her friends as her hot firefighter boyfriend who saved people's lives. And then I had to miss the wedding of some sorority sister of hers at the last minute because a guy’s kid got pretty sick, and she flipped out because I had offered to cover the guy’s shift. She slept with a groomsman at the wedding, and naturally, that was it for us.

Yeah, no action since I broke it off with Nikki, I admitted.

Dude, that’s been more than just a few months. Mikey shook his head. Women are nothing but trouble, and trying to be a part of any sort of actual, long term relationship is nothing but a headache that I don’t want. Frankly, I don’t get why you would want any part of that. Enjoy it while you can. He glanced around the room. Then again, eighty percent of us working tonight are working because we’re single with no one to spend the day with, so what do I know? You do you, buddy. Hope it works out for you.

That's a damn lie, and you know it, I laughed.

He shrugged. Yeah, but it sounded pretty sincere, didn’t it?

Fuck off, man, I laughed. Come on, it looks like dinner’s ready, and I’m starving.

I hope we don’t get interrupted in the middle of eating for a call, Mikey mused aloud as we made our way across the bay where several tables have been setup.

Don’t jinx it, I told him.

My mom waved to us as Mikey and I made out way to her. Merry Christmas, boys, she said warmly.