Alpha's Secret Baby: Poppy Field Mpreg Series, #4

By Beau Brown

Fireman Garrett Livingston could probably have any omega he wants. The problem is he isn't out of the closet yet. Anyone he beds has to promise to keep his secret. That works out just fine so long as he just wants to sleep around and have fun. But nothing is ever that easy, right?

When Garrett meets Chip Sorenson, he falls hard and fast. The problem is, Chip isn't going to waste his time on an alpha that doesn't know what he wants. Chip is ready to settle down and have babies. But if Garrett can't admit to his family and friends who he really is, they have no future.

As heartbreaking as it is, Chip breaks things off with Garrett. But just as he thinks maybe he's ready to move on and start a life with another alpha, he discovers he's pregnant with Garrett's baby.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beau Brown
• Release date: Jun 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386837893

Book preview

ALPHA’S

SECRET

BABY

By Beau Brown

C:\Users\Pamela\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE\TGC9DZN0\Baby5[1].jpg

Chapter One

Chip

I’m going to leave a little early tonight, I said.

If you tell me you’re meeting Garrett, I swear, I’m going to scream, Peter scowled as he slipped a shirt on the mannequin. I mean how many times are you going to go back and forth with him? Either he’s worth your time, or he’s not.

I told you about his autistic brother. He has his reasons for being in the closet. I clamped my teeth, trying not to lose my temper with my friend.

He’s thirty-six. When is he going to strap on his balls?

You know what, Peter, it’s easy for you to act like I should just dump him. But I care about him. I have actual feelings for him.

Peter snorted. Since when do you catch feelings for a guy?

My face warmed. He’s different from a lot of the men I’ve dated in the past.

Yeah, he’s stuck in the closet.

No. I mean he’s sweet, and he treats me well. I stomped on the empty shirt box and folded it so that it would fit in the trash bin.

He treats you well when he bothers to see you, muttered Peter. You turn down dates with guys who actually want to be seen with you in public, just so you can meet up with Garrett. It’s foolish, man.

I’m not interested in those other guys.

Yeah, you’d rather waste your time with a guy who doesn’t deserve you.

How about you back off and let me run my own life?

It’s painful to watch you crash and burn like this over and over. He gave me a frustrated look.

It has nothing to do with you. I went into the back and I stuffed the box into the trash. Then I leaned against the wall, feeling anxious and depressed. Peter was right on one level, I didn’t just catch feelings for guys. But Garrett had captured my heart the first time I’d met him.

He’d been the instructor for a CPR class I’d taken on a whim. At first I’d thought he was straight, but he’d given off just enough signals I’d decided to push it and see if I was maybe wrong. I’d asked him out for a drink after the class, and he’d accepted. When after a few martinis he’d offered to show me firsthand how good he was at CPR, I was hooked. We’d been meeting secretly for the last year, sleeping together when he could find the time. It had been a hard twelve months, and I’d tried many times to break it off. But I always ended up calling him because I missed him so much. We didn’t just connect sexually, we also connected emotionally.

Peter came into the back room and I guess he noticed I looked demoralized. Sorry. I know I’m putting pressure on you that you don’t need. He sighed, studying me with a frown. I just worry about you.

You don’t need to.

Someone needs to.

I rolled my eyes, and moved to grab my jacket from my locker. I can handle my own love life just fine. I can keep my heart safe.

He chuffed. I know you really like this guy. That’s why it worries me that you think you can just keep having sex with him and not get your heart crushed.

Hey, I like fucking him. I don’t have anyone else I’d rather be with, so why not sleep with him?

Because I know you well enough to know that isn’t what you’re looking for. What about Ryan? You said he was a great guy. He’s the kind of alpha you should be seeking to settle down with.

I sighed. Ryan is great. But he’s no Garrett.

I say, instead of hooking up with Garrett tonight, you should give Ryan a call. He wants a family, he’s got a good job and, most importantly, he has a crush on you.

If I wanted to see Ryan tonight I wouldn’t have made plans with Garrett, now would I? I gave him an impatient look. I’m a big boy. I can control my feelings toward Garrett. At this point he’s who I go to when I’m horny. But I don’t expect anything from him.

Words. Those are just words, Chip. I see the look on your face right now at the idea of seeing him. It kills me because he’s just using you. If he loved you he’d want to see you openly. You’re the last guy I ever thought would let himself be treated like a piece of ass by some closeted asshole.

Anger flashed through me. He’s not an asshole.

Peter held up his hands. Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Oh, you warned me all right. Every fucking shift for the last month you’ve told me how you feel.

Peter exhaled roughly and walked over. He put his arm around my shoulder. Yep. And I’m going to keep on doing that too. Because I love you, and you deserve better. Eventually you’ll see the light.

I shrugged off his arm and moved to the door. I’m glad I have a day off tomorrow, so I don’t have to hear your annoying lecture on the evils of Garrett.

You know you love me, he called after me, sounding amused.

I left the shop, anxiety filling my gut. I didn’t want to let Peter’s negativity get to me, but it was hard not to when deep down I knew he was right. I did deserve more than Garrett was willing to give me. But I couldn’t seem to bring myself to just cut him off completely.

I drove the short distance to the bar he always met me at. The Yellow Tail was a kind of divey place, but none of his friends or family would be caught dead in it, so he felt safe meeting there. When I entered the building it took my eyes a minute to adjust to how dark it was. There weren’t many patrons yet, but later it would be hopping busy.

Garrett was in our usual booth. He smiled when I approached, and little shivers went through me from my finger tips to my toes. Something just seemed to come alive inside when he looked at me.

He stood and kissed me quickly, giving an uneasy glance around. I noticed he made sure he sat on the side that didn’t face the main room. He’d also been careful to take the booth farthest from the door. None of those things would probably bother anyone else, but I knew why he did them, and they always made me feel like a dirty secret.

Aren’t you?

It’s good to see you again, he said softly, his eyes lit with barely disguised lust.

You too. My pulse raced as I struggled to calm my nerves.

He signaled the waitress, and she came over. Her hair was done up in a sloppy bun, and she looked bored as usual. I ordered a beer, and she wandered off to get it for me.

Garrett’s knee bumped mine, sending a spark through my leg. So how’s life? I asked. I needed conversation to distract me from how much he affected me.

Lonely.

Whose fault is that?

He sighed. I was surprised, but happy when you called to get together.

I shrugged. I was bored.

He grimaced, his mouth turning down at the corners. Okay. Well, at least you called. He covered my hand that lay on top of the table. His thumb brushed sensually over my tingling skin. You stayed away longer than usual. What’s it been, two weeks since I last saw you?

Two weeks, four days and eight hours. But who’s counting?

I don’t know. I wasn’t keeping track.

Seemed like a long break this time. His expression was wistful.

I have a lot of people telling me I’m wasting my time with you. I nodded my thanks when the waitress set my beer down.

I’m not interested in what other people think. Only what you think.

Well, sometimes I think maybe they’re right.

He chewed his lower lip as he watched me. You know it’s mostly because of Simon that I can’t come out yet.

Mostly.

I took a long pull from my cold beer, and then I sighed. I know you love your brother. But you can’t live your life for him.

It would kill him if I just disappeared from his life. He’d blame himself. I know he would.

Do you really believe your parents would keep you from seeing Simon just because you’re bisexual?

Yes. Of course I do or I’d never have put either of us through the last year of sneaking around.

You’re sure Simon isn’t just your excuse? It’s not easy coming out when you’ve spent your whole life building a certain persona. Maybe you just don’t want to give up your macho straight dude rep.

He leaned against the back of the booth, little lines under his eyes. Well, yeah, coming to grips with my sexuality has been, and still is, a struggle. You know the way I was raised.

I know God doesn’t hate gay people.

He winced. I’ve just had an earful my whole life. It’s been tough letting that shame go.

You haven’t let it go.

I’m trying, Chip. His eyes were filled with guilt.

I know losing contact with Simon is a concern. But it’s your ambivalent feelings about your bisexuality that’s destroying whatever this is between us.

He hissed in a sharp breath. Don’t say that, Chip.

I’m sorry, but what we have is crumbling, and there’s no point in pretending it isn’t. Simon is simply the excuse you hide behind.

No. He’s a big part of this problem.

I just stared at him, feeling conflicted.

Look, Simon is seventeen. When he turns eighteen, he’ll be an adult, and legally they won’t be able to keep me away from him.

But because of his autism, won’t they still be his legal guardians?

He’s a functioning autistic.

Meaning what?

He can take care of himself for the most part. He wants independence from mom and dad. He already has a part-time job at a pet store and he says the pet store wants him full time once he graduates from high school. He plans on moving out when he’s eighteen. If that happens, then mom and dad can’t keep me out of his life.

So, I’m supposed to wait until your brother turns eighteen? Then at that point you’ll be living out and proud? I lifted one brow, fully aware I looked like I thought he was full of shit.

His face was flushed as he held my skeptical gaze. That’s the plan.

Just like that? You’ll suddenly embrace your bisexuality?

He winced. Well, I mean, not immediately.

I hardened my jaw. Yeah, that’s what I thought; Simon is an excuse to stay in the closet.

He swallowed, his eyes burning into me. I’m not just using you. I know you think I am, but I swear I’m not. I’m miserable, Chip. Fucking miserable without you in my life.

I leaned toward him, frustration clawing at me. I can’t fix this for you. You have to do it yourself. You have to man up.

I know, he groaned.

God, you’re a fucking mess. Why am I wasting my time with you? I took a big gulp of beer, feeling depressed and confused. Why did I have to care

Reviews for Alpha's Secret Baby

[L'eau · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was sweet, but using the wrong character's name (even once) is a turn-off for me.