Baby, I'm Yours: Life, Love, & Babies

By Samantha Chase

One night. Two fake names. Three years later.

 

Nicole Taylor had no idea hosting a pre-wedding dinner for her best friend would result in a face to face encounter with the man she shared her one and only wild night with. The same wild night that resulted in an adorable little girl. All Nicole has ever wanted was for her daughter to have a family. But now that it's a real possibility, she'll have to take a leap and find out if she can trust in a man she barely knows with the most precious thing: her daughter's heart.

 

Three years ago, Josh Masterson lied, and he still has no idea why he did. He's spent every day since his one night with Nicole regretting that decision, and now he has a chance at a do-over. The one thing he never expected? To find out that he has a daughter. But now that he knows, there's no chance he's walking away. If Nicole is willing to give him a chance, there's nothing more he wants than to show her—and his daughter—what happily ever after looks like.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chasing Romance, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201750916

Samantha Chase

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well. When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Book preview

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It wasn’t often Nicole Taylor let her hair down or threw caution to the wind, but if ever there was a time to try, it was now. She’d spotted the perfect guy standing on the opposite side of the bar. Well, she didn’t especially know if he was the perfect guy, but for right there and then, he certainly was.

Picking up random guys in bars was so not Nicole’s thing. She had been raised in a fairly straitlaced, conservative home where she was taught not to chase men. Her focus had been on getting an education and a good job. Well, seeing as she had gone to school for what seemed like forever to get her master’s degree in education, and had graduated at the top of her class, she figured now was a good time to relax the remainder of those rules a little bit.

He was tall, easily over six feet, and had jade green eyes. Even from across the room, Nicole could feel the intensity of his stare. Not used to anyone looking at her with such carnal interest, she glanced over her shoulder just to make sure it was indeed her he was looking at. Lowering her eyes, she blushed and busied herself by playing with her bottle of beer. Normally she never drank the stuff, but it had seemed like the thing to do in a place like this.

On the other side of the room, some of her former classmates were either playing pool or dancing. She had no interest in either activity. Glancing quickly back to the guy, she risked a smile. He returned it with one of his own, and Nicole actually felt her insides turn to goo. He had a hint of a dimple, and before she knew what she was going to do or say, her mystery man was headed her way.

Uh oh. It was foolish to put any real effort into meeting anyone, Nicole reminded herself. Tomorrow she had an interview with a school back home, where she wanted to teach, and the day after that, she was moving. The closer he got, the more her mind spun.

People had one-night stands all the time, didn’t they? Why couldn’t she? In forty eight hours, she’d be six hundred miles away and beginning her new life. What harm could one little reckless night cause? Of course, with her strict upbringing, Nicole knew she wouldn’t be too reckless. She was a good girl, after all. Well, for the most part.

Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe Mr. Hot-and-Sexy was just going to come over and say hello, buy her a drink, and maybe ask her to dance. In the blink of an eye, he was standing right in front of her, and all Nicole could think was, he smells so good. Looking up into his lean and ruggedly handsome face, she smiled. Hi.

He returned the greeting with a sexy grin of his own. Hi.

Extending his hand to her, he took one of Nicole’s small hands in his and simply held it. In that instant, Nicole knew she would be as reckless and wild as he wanted, because someone who looked like that did not come around every day. For this one night, she would gladly walk on the wild side.

As long as this incredible man was right there, leading the way.

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The cellphone sitting on the kitchen counter might as well have been a hand grenade. Nicole certainly didn’t want to touch it and was frantically trying to come up with an alternative method for making the call she didn’t want to make.

Pacing back and forth next to it, she couldn’t help but frown. There was no way what she had to say was going to be well received. Tonight, she was due to go to a pre-wedding dinner for her best friend, Denise. As maid of honor, she had been wrangled into all sorts of wedding related festivities, and tonight’s dinner was supposed to be an intimate one with Denise, her fiancé, David, his best man, and Nicole.

Unable to find a replacement babysitter for her daughter, Nicole now had to call Denise and pull out of the evening. Sighing with resignation, she scooped the phone off the counter and scrolled through her favorite contacts until she got to Denise’s number. She hit it with all the enthusiasm of hitting a launch button that would start a war.

Please let it go to voice mail, please let it go to voice mail, she chanted softly.

Oh my God, Nic, I am so glad you called. You are not going to believe what just happened.

So much for going to voice mail.

Denise was rambling on about issues with linen colors for the wedding when Nicole interrupted. Look, Dee, I know it’s last minute, but my sitter canceled, and I can’t find anyone to stay with Ellie on such short notice. I’m so sorry, but I can’t go tonight.

But you have to! Denise pleaded. You’re my maid of honor, and David and I wanted you and Josh to meet before the wedding, and we had a heck of a time organizing this dinner. Josh’s schedule is crazy, and it’s the only time he was willing to take off to do this. There’s got to be somebody else you can call.

I’ve been through my entire list, and no one is available. I’m really sorry.

You could bring Ellie with you! she suggested, clearly pleased with herself for solving the evening’s problems.

Have you completely lost your mind? I am not bringing a toddler to a fancy French restaurant, Dee. Rolling her eyes in disbelief, she went on. I’ll admit my daughter is well behaved, but bringing her into those surroundings past her bedtime is just asking for trouble.

"But, Nic, you’ve got to be there!"

At this point Nicole was ready to bang her own head against the wall in frustration. I wish I could, but it’s just not possible tonight. Maybe some other time?

Maybe we can bring the dinner to you! Denise said excitedly.

What are you talking about? Please tell me you’re not going to bring me a doggie bag or something. Because seriously, I’ll survive without the French food.

No, no, nothing like that. I was just thinking maybe we can skip the French thing and grab some Chinese takeout or something and have a casual dinner at your place instead. That way, you won’t have to worry about a sitter, and Ellie will be in her own bed. What do you think?

I think it’s doable, but won’t David be disappointed to miss out on going French tonight? Nicole teased, knowing full well that David was more of a beer and potato chip kind of man than a fancy French restaurant one.

Please, he may very well leave me for you for getting him out of this tonight, Denise said flatly. "Excuse me for trying to introduce a little culture into our lives."

You’re lucky David loves you so much, you know. Nicole sighed wistfully. What she wouldn’t give to have a man who was as devoted to her as David was to Denise.

Unfortunately, Denise said, sighing dramatically, "I think he has feelings for another woman. A younger woman."

What?! How do you know? Are you okay? Why haven’t you said anything? Nicole asked.

Well, I was worried at first, but then I realized it would be a long time before Ellie is old enough to date, Denise chuckled.

"Ellie? My sweet baby girl? You nearly gave me a heart attack with that one!"

What can I say? David is a sucker for those big green eyes of hers and the way she laughs at all his corny jokes.

She’s a flirt, that’s for sure. She certainly doesn’t take after her mother. Maybe if I knew how to flirt, I would have had a date in the last year or so.

I have to agree with you there. And it’s been more like three years. You really do need to get out there more. It’s not good for you to be alone. You’re too young to just be sitting at home all by yourself. You should let me fix you up with someone.

And that was when it hit her.

"Oh. My. God. Is that what tonight is about? Are you trying to fix me up with David’s best man?"

Are you kidding me? Denise choked. Please, I love you and Ellie way too much to fix you up with Josh.

Why? What’s wrong with Josh? It was a reasonable question considering Nicole was not only going to have this man in her home for dinner, but that she was obligated to spend some time with him on the day of the wedding as well.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Josh. He’s a great guy, and he’s David’s brother. But he’s not a family kind of guy, you know? At all. I would never try to fix you up with someone who wouldn’t be good for Ellie, and unfortunately, that’s Josh.

He hates kids, huh?

It’s not so much that he hates them as it is that he has just made it abundantly clear he has no plans to settle down and have a family.

Oh. So he’s what, like a player?

"No one says player anymore, but no, he’s not. He was engaged once, and as soon as his fiancée started making plans for their future, he bailed. Denise paused as if trying to remember more. Actually, Josh had come to visit David up at school right after graduation, he had missed the actual ceremony because of a work commitment, just to get away from all of Erin’s wedding plans. After that weekend, they called it quits."

Wow. What did David say to him made him decide to call off the wedding?

Nothing! As a matter of fact, we never even got to see him. He showed up, but David and I went away for the weekend right before we all moved back here. We went to the Poconos. Remember I told you about the champagne glass bathtub?

Nicole had hoped to erase that story from her mind because Denise had given such graphic details of all the things she and David had done in said bathtub. Yes, yes, I remember.

Well, Josh showed up at the school, we played phone tag with him for the better part of the weekend, and by the time we got back, he had gone home. David felt bad about missing him, especially after Josh admitted he had come up to get his head together.

Clearly didn’t happen.

Or maybe it did. If he had really wanted to get married, then he would have. Personally, I think it’s great he didn’t prolong the inevitable. He didn’t really love Erin, so she was better off without him. I’m kind of glad we didn’t meet up with him. I would have felt partially responsible for whatever decision he made. I’m glad I have the memories of the weekend in the Poconos instead. Ooh, we have got to go back there and make some new ones!

While Denise’s reminder of the champagne tub story was enough to make Nicole feel extremely uncomfortable, her own memories of that particular weekend made her feel sick. That had been the weekend she had met Tyler. Closing her eyes, she could still see those green eyes and feel the touch of his hands on her skin. Their night together had been every fantasy she’d ever had come to life. Nicole had never told anyone the details of that night; she was ashamed to admit to having a one-nighter with a stranger. Of course, the fact that she had gotten pregnant with Ellie that fateful night meant plenty of people knew what she had done; Nicole just didn’t feel the need to share all the details.

After Tyler had walked over and introduced himself, they had talked for hours. The crowd at the bar and the noise level had done nothing to hinder them. By the time midnight had rolled around, Nicole had realized she really should be going, and Tyler had offered to walk her out to her car.

Which was where he kissed her.

Just the memory of that kiss brought a tingle to her body. They had kissed up against her car for long minutes before he’d suggested they go someplace more private. Saying no was never even an option. She had wanted him badly. And then, in an act Nicole regretted to this day, she had woken up while it was still dark out, slipped out of his hotel room, and gone back to her apartment to get ready for her job interview. And then she’d moved away.

They hadn’t even exchanged last names. Too ashamed to go back to the hotel and ask for his information, Nicole had figured it was all for the best. Until she found out she was pregnant. Never in her life had she been so scared or felt so alone. There had been no way to find Tyler to let him know he was going to be a father. It was a burden she’d carry for the rest of her life. Someday, Ellie was going to ask about her father, and Nicole had no idea how she was going to answer her questions.

Anyway, Denise said, interrupting Nicole’s wayward thoughts, tonight is in no way, shape, or form a setup. That baby girl of yours deserves a man who will love her and want to raise her as his own. You do too, you know, but you’ll never find someone if you don’t get out there and date!

I will eventually. Nicole sighed, anxious to change the subject. Anyway, back to the dinner plans. In the background, Nicole heard David’s voice as well as another man’s. It must be his