Manny Problems: Poppy Field Mpreg Series, #5

By Beau Brown

Omega Con Fletcher is a manny who has trouble keeping his opinions to himself. That character trait doesn't always make him popular with his clients, but he always has the best interest of the children at heart. When he's sent to alpha Rex Bronan's home to care for his four year old son, Con immediately spots a loving father who has trouble showing that love. Most people would probably keep their mouths shut so they could keep their job. But Con doesn't always do things the way other people would.

Rex has raised his son alone for three years. His wife dumped him a year after his son was born because he was such a workaholic. He knows he isn't the best father in the world, but he didn't really think he was the worst either. Not until that mouthy omega Con started pointing out all his flaws.

Rex has always been with women, and he hasn't really noticed another guy sexually since college. Even then he'd never acted on anything with a guy. Finding Con attractive is confusing for Rex, but the biggest issue he has with this new found attraction to his manny is the fact that he's twenty years older than Con.

This is a sweet and sexy, bi-for-you contemporary, non-shifter love story with mpreg and a HEA ending. Though part of the Poppy Field Mpreg Series, this standalone story does not need to be read as part of the series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beau Brown
• Release date: Jun 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386432531

Book preview

Chapter One

Con

I needed this job. I really, really needed it, and I hoped the people who answered the door needed me just as much. I knocked on the door and waited, glancing around the neat porch and admiring the pots filled with yellow daisies and white baby’s breath. Somebody at this house had a green thumb.

When the door opened, the air was sucked from my lungs when I met alpha, Rex Bronan’s blue eyes. They were the color of the sky after a good hard rain. His woodsy cologne filled my nostrils, and I tried not to stare at his full lips. Jesus, he was hot. I hadn’t met a dad this sexy in three years of being a manny for Keep the Child.

Hi, um… I’m Con Fletcher. I stuck out my hand, hoping it wasn’t as sweaty as it felt.

Rex frowned, pulling his smooth brows tight, and ignoring my hand. You’re the nanny?

I pulled my hand back. Yep. I’m what they call a manny. I smiled, hoping it would make his grumpy look disappear.

It didn’t.

I was expecting a girl.

You were?

They emailed me your name, and it was Conny Fletcher on the form.

I winced. Oh. Sorry. Yeah, I usually go by Con, but my legal name is Conny.

That’s an unusual name for a guy. He lifted one brow.

My face warmed. It’s Irish. I know it can be confusing which is why I always go by Con.

He rubbed his lightly stubbled chin. I really thought you’d be a girl.

I frowned. Does it matter?

I… guess not. He didn’t look convinced with his own response.

I just stared at him, hoping he wouldn’t send me away merely because of my gender.

You look kind of young. He ran his uneasy gaze up and down me.

His intense scrutiny definitely made me uneasy. But I fought off the weird feelings of inadequacy. I didn’t need to feel like I was unqualified. That was silly. I’m an experienced omega. I’ve been a manny for three years and I have excellent references.

Yeah. I have them. The agency emailed them to me.

Cool. I wince inwardly. Cool was exactly what someone too young would say.

He sighed. Well, you’re here now. I guess you should come inside and meet Riley. He sounded so unenthusiastic it was a little disheartening.

I hesitated. Look, if you’d prefer, I can just take off and you can call the agency and tell them what happened. They’ll understand, and they’ll send a replacement ASAP. It wasn’t like I had any desire to work for someone who didn’t want me around. I needed this job, but taking care of someone’s kid was hard enough without them disliking you on sight simply because of your gender.

He sighed again and stepped back. No. You’ll do.

Thanks a lot.

Regardless of my irritation, I kept my expression pleasant, and I followed him into the house. It was bigger on the inside than it appeared from the front. The living room was wide open and nicely decorated in clean gray tones and a simplistic style. In the middle of the space a child sat on the floor watching a big screen TV. He didn’t seem to notice when we came in the room.

Riley, there’s someone here to see you, Rex said stiffly.

I found his introduction a bit odd, seeing as he was speaking to a four-year-old. But I just plastered on a friendly smile and crouched down so I’d be on the same level as Riley. Hello, Riley. I’m Con.

The child got slowly to his feet, and he approached me cautiously. Riley didn’t really look like his dad, he had corn yellow hair and big brown eyes. Perhaps he took after his mom physically. When the child was about two feet from me, he stopped and held out his hand.

Nice to meet you. His little voice wobbled.

I shook his tiny hand and smiled encouragingly. I’m going to watch over you for a while. Does that sound okay with you?

He nodded, but he looked uncertain. Are you going to play with me?

If that’s what you’d like.

Rex shifted uneasily behind us. Well, it’s not good to play all the time.

I glanced up at him. Not all the time. But children learn a lot while they play.

He crossed his arms. If you say so.

I laughed. What I mean is we can make learning fun too. It doesn’t have to be a serious thing.

Uh, huh. Rex sounded distracted, and he glanced at his watch. Your hour of TV is up, Riley. Time for your picture books.

I stood, feeling bad when Riley’s face dropped. Oh, daddy, can’t I watch a little bit more? the child asked hopefully.

Nope. One hour only. You know the rule.

Riley’s mouth drooped, and he moved to grab the remote. He held it out toward the TV and switched it off obediently. Yes, daddy.

Rex returned his blank gaze to mine. Did you bring a suitcase? He glanced at my empty hands.

I laughed and slid my backpack off. I keep everything in here.

You travel light, I see.

Yep. I kept my eyes averted. I move around a lot because of the work I do.

Hmmm. Rex nodded. Yeah. I guess that would be true.

I have everything I need.

His gaze flickered. Sure. He cleared his throat. I’ll show you to your room.

I followed him down a long hallway to a small, sunny room. There was a queen sized bed and a white dresser. While the room was rather barren, it looked like it would do the trick. I was scheduled for a four week trial run with this family. If we all got along, the position might become permanent, but since that was undetermined, there was no need for anything too fancy. If I stayed on, I could always make this room more homey in the future.

I set my backpack on the ground next to the bed. Thanks. This looks awesome.

A line appeared between his dark brows. You really do seem too young for this sort of work.

I needed to keep my adjectives in a more mature lane if I was going to earn this guy’s respect. Riley’s in good hands, sir. No need to worry.

Exhaling roughly, he said, I hope you’re right. I’ve been through three nannies in the last six months. I don’t have time to coddle you. You’ll need to hit the ground running.

I laughed, half thinking he might be joking. Was something wrong with those other nannies?

Well, let’s see… the first one was an older woman, and she had a bad habit of falling asleep while she was supposed to be watching Riley. Then there was one girl who was on her phone nonstop, and another girl who looked like she was ten, and she acted like it too. He shook his head. She burst into tears every time I talked to her.

Were they from Keep the Child? I asked, feeling positive they couldn’t have been.

No. All three were recommended by friends. He rolled his eyes. I should have known better, I guess. His gaze became more intense. I decided to go with a professional agency this time around.

I lifted my chin. I’m sure you’ll be glad you did. Everyone at Keep the Child is very experienced and professional.

He smirked. Cool.

My face warmed. Regardless of my age and gender, I’m an excellent manny.

I guess we’ll see, won’t we? He gave me another one of those long, searching glances, and then he left the room quietly.

I stared after him, feeling conflicted. A part of me wanted to quit because I had a feeling he’d be a hard man to please. But a part of me also wanted to show him that I really was good at my job. Plus, I did need the money. So instead of giving into my pride and telling Rex Bronan to stick his judgmental attitude up his ass, I began to unpack my clothes and prepare for the job I’d signed up for.

Chapter Two

Rex

I’d definitely been thrown when that omega, Con showed up on my doorstep. Not only was he way younger than I’d expected, but I’d assumed he’d be a she, and the fact that he hadn’t been a girl had rattled me. I liked things to be as expected. I liked control and stability. That was one reason I’d picked a professional agency this time around. I wanted to know that Riley was in good hands when I was at work.

I was the CEO of a flavored water company called Juicy Drops. We were trying to expand our distribution, and that required me to travel way more than usual this year. I hated leaving Riley in the hands of strangers, but I didn’t have any alternative. I couldn’t drag a four-year-old to my business meetings in China, and my wife had bailed on me and Riley when he was just a year old. She’d decided she needed to go find herself, whatever the fuck that meant. So it had been just me and Riley for the last three years.

I glanced down at my son who sat beside me on the couch. The book on his lap was almost bigger than he was. I resisted the urged to rub his little head and tell him what a good boy he was. I loved my son more than life itself, but I’d always had trouble showing affection. That was why Shelia had left us. She’d screamed how cold and horrible I was as she’d packed her suitcase and abandoned us. I couldn’t really blame her for wanting to ditch me, but leaving Riley was unforgivable in my opinion.

I actually had tried to be who she’d needed for a while there. Obviously, it hadn’t been enough because she fallen for some other alpha and never looked back. But I felt bad that Riley had lost his mom just because I couldn’t be enough to keep her with us.

Con walked into the living room and I tensed. There was something about the guy that seemed to get under my skin. Maybe I was jealous of his effortless warmth with my son. Riley had liked him immediately, while I usually had to work hard to get people to like me. They generally respected me, but liking me was a harder sell. But I’d been able to tell Riley had warmed to him right away.

Con stood in the center of the living room, looking a little unsure of what to do. I studied him under my brow, trying to get a sense of him. It was an odd thing having strangers live in your home. It worked best for Riley though because my hours were so erratic. His life was more stable if there was someone always here with him. Then when I went away it was less traumatic for him.

Would you like me to cook dinner? Con asked suddenly.

I frowned. Is that part of your job description? I’d asked the agency for an omega that was excellent with kids. I’d never mentioned other domestic duties.

He smiled. It can be. I don’t mind cooking. In fact, I enjoy it.

I hadn’t even thought about dinner yet, which was kind of stupid seeing as it was six-thirty in the evening. I can just go pick something up.

Of course. Whatever you prefer. He nodded pleasantly.

Riley lowered the big picture book. You cook food?

Con’s lips twitched. Yep.

I like food, Riley said softly.

Me too. Con moved closer and he knelt in front of us. What’s your favorite food?

As my son tried to find an answer to Con’s question, I ran my gaze over Con’s smooth tanned features, noticing how thick his dark lashes were. His clean cologne reached my nose and my pulse fluttered oddly. I’d always been with women omegas, but there was something about Con that had affected me the first moment I’d laid eyes on him.

When I was in college, I’d wondered if maybe I was bisexual simply because I noticed guys a lot. But I’d found women easier to connect with. I’d never had any trouble attracting them, and they did most of the emotional work in the relationship. Plus, my parents probably would have had a heart