Bringing Home Daddy Read online

  Bringing Home Daddy

  A DILF For Father’s Day Book Nine

  Elisa Leigh

  Copyright © 2020 by Elisa Leigh

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

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  About the Author

  Also by Elisa Leigh

  Chapter One

  Magnolia King

  My nerves are shot, my hands are shaking, and my heart hasn’t quit racing since I got in the car this morning. What I have to do today has been a long time coming. I thought I had at least a year or two before I’d have to make this trip. That was until I heard that War’s getting out early. Some guy that Birch is seeing works at the courthouse and told him that War’s sentence had been reduced and he’d be getting out soon. I’m not really sure how War got out of his seven-year prison sentence after less than two years. What I do know is that I have to be the one to tell him about Walker before anyone else does and he gets the wrong idea. That’s what happens when you live in a small town with people who have nothing to do but gossip about everyone’s lives.

  The truth is, I should have told him before now. The guilt has eaten me alive since I found out I was carrying his child. I even went to see him once, but they wouldn’t let me in. They said he wasn’t allowed any visitors at that time and I should come back in a few months. I never went back. I considered writing him a letter to let him know, but after all of my other letters to him went unanswered I didn’t have it in me to tell him something this important. Can you blame me for being a little salty? Telling Warren ‘War’ Hayes that he has a son is something I need to tell him face to face, not in a letter that he might not even read. For all I know he saw my letters and tossed them in the trash. I stopped writing to him after a couple of months of hearing nothing back.

  Here I am on a Thursday morning, making the almost two-hundred-mile drive to the prison. I had to beg one of the girls I work with to switch shifts with me at the diner just so I could come today. No one wanted to switch with me since I’m the pariah around town. I was out of options, so I asked Parker if she would mind switching. I was ready for her to tell me to fuck off since that’s what she says when anyone talks to her, but surprisingly she agreed.

  I check the rearview mirror to check on Walker and see his chubby little cheeks and blue eyes that are the same shade as his father’s staring back at me. He’s smiling, playing with one of his toys, and is happy as can be. Walker has always been a happy baby. Sure, he gets a little fussy when he’s hungry or tired, but for the most part, he’s all giggles and smiles. God, I love that little guy so much it hurts. He’s turning one in a couple of months and for the first time in my life, I have someone who loves me unconditionally. I don’t take that lightly. I’ll do anything for my baby, even if it means doing something that pushes me out of my comfort zone.

  It took me twenty minutes to decide on an outfit to wear today. I tried on dress after dress, but nothing fits the same since giving birth to Walker. I’m no longer that slender college sophomore with dainty features. My hips have widened and my breasts have filled out. Not to mention I have this mom pooch that no matter how much I’ve tried, I can’t get rid of. I settled on a dark blue maxi dress that hugs my boobs just right and hides some of my imperfections. Even though I shouldn’t care, I wonder what War will think of me now that I’ve changed so much. Rocking my mom bod, I’m on my way to see the only man I thought I could love. I did love? Shit, I do love. I haven’t stopped loving him, but apparently whatever we shared didn’t mean the same to War as it did to me.

  I check my rearview mirror and for the fourth or fifth time this trip, I see a black SUV a few car lengths behind me. I should have let my cousin Birch come with me as he suggested, but I told him this was something I had to do on my own. Now I’m regretting it. I tell myself the SUV isn’t following me, but I can’t help wondering if it is.

  Everyone in Jefferson county knows I was seeing War before he got arrested on the best and worst night of my life. They also know that my daddy is the county judge that oversees all of the important cases. Half the town snubs their nose at me for getting pregnant and then raising my child with no daddy. Hell, my parents haven’t even talked to me since I moved out of their house when I was four months pregnant. The other half of town think I betrayed War and I’m the reason he’s gone. I guess I sort of am. If that guy wouldn’t have been flirting with me outside the diner none of this would have ever happened. I would have handled it better, maybe ignored him from the start. I thought I was just being nice. When War came out of the diner and saw the guy in my face, he lost it and beat him within an inch of his life.

  I see the sign for the prison and take the next right, the black SUV still following. Maybe they are picking someone up as well. I pull in and park in the waiting area. Even though there are a ton of empty spaces, the SUV parks beside me, ratcheting up my nerves. I keep my eyes trained on the prison exit, though I can’t help but cut my eyes to the left so I can get a look at who is in the SUV. Unfortunately, the windows are tinted so darkly that I can’t see who’s inside, damn.

  Ten minutes later Walker starts fussing. The poor thing is ready to get out of his seat and probably needs a diaper change. I get out of my car and open the backdoor to get him out of his car seat and see that he’s soaked.

  “I’m so sorry little man. Mommy will get you all cleaned up.” I coo to my son. My hands are shaking, my nerves getting the better of me as I lay him down and peel the wet clothes from his body.

  After changing his diaper and putting him in a clean outfit he’s still a little fussy. When he starts pulling at the top of my dress, I realize the little cutie wants to nurse. Figuring we still have a little time before War is released, I get into the front seat and put one of the nursing blankets over us to give us some privacy from prying eyes.

  Twenty minutes later Walker has finished nursing but still seems a little fussy, which isn’t like him. I get out of the car and start walking around the parking lot patting his back hoping to soothe him. It doesn’t happen often, but I hate it when he gets upset like this. I’m sure it has to do with the fact that he’s never been stuck in the car for this long before. “It will all be over soon. I’m sorry love.” I say as I turn to walk back to my car.

  That’s when I see him. War Hayes is walking out of the prison gates, his eyes firmly on mine, and he looks pissed.

  Chapter Two

  Warren ‘War’ Hayes

  I’ve been locked away for over eighteen months. My life was stolen from me but starting today I’m getting it back. I’m going to make the people who put me here pay for what they’ve done and I’ll make them wish they never made an enemy out of War Hayes. First things first, I need my queen by my side, whether she likes it or not.

  As soon as I got in here, I started making plays I promised myself I would never make. Being the son of Judd Hayes comes with certain expectations and the people in prison know all about my father. He’s been the king of the underground in the southern part of the state for the better part of thirty years. Me going away presented my father with the opportunity he needed to gain alliances and take care of a few problems he was dealing with. He promised he’d get me out if I came back to the family and took my rightful spot as his se
cond in command. The family I swore off when I was seventeen and looking at five to ten for crazy shit I had gotten into under my dad’s watch.

  It took me a little over a year to get through the long list of things dear old dad needed me to do, then a little longer since he was adding more to the list as things came up. But true to his word he finally pulled some strings and got me out.

  I tasked my best friend Tucker with keeping an eye on my girl while I was in here. He was supposed to make sure nothing happened to her and help her if need be. Being linked to me and the Hayes’ name came with dangers she had no idea about, ones I’d hoped wouldn’t surface until I figured out a way to get out of here to protect her myself. When Tucker told me my girl was with someone new, I didn’t believe it. I wouldn’t. The bond my sweet Magnolia and I shared was something people could only dream of finding. Then he brought me pictures of them to prove it. I refused to believe it until the day Tucker told me she was pregnant and they were playing house together in some rundown townhome in the bad part of Jefferson County.

  The one and only time we were together, I pulled out before coming on her thighs. The pullout method isn’t the best way to prevent pregnancy, but she wasn’t on birth control and there was no way in hell I was wrapping up. I’m not an asshole. I’ve used condoms with every other woman I’ve been with, but it had been years since I was with anyone so I knew I was clean. I knew without her even telling me that she was pure as freshly fallen snow. I also knew that she was mine and always would be. There wasn’t any point in using a condom.

  The thing is, I’m not one hundred percent convinced the baby isn’t mine. The timing of her pregnancy and the child’s birth has me questioning this fact. If the baby is mine, then why didn’t she tell me about him, or is it her? Better yet, why didn’t Magnolia answer any of my letters or come see me while I was in here? Not that I would have wanted her here, prison is no place for my woman, even on the other side of the bars.

  If it turns out the kid isn’t mine, it will be once I have Magnolia right where she belongs. Things went south so fast I didn’t have a chance to tell her who she could trust. I wish I would have thought to introduce her to my people before all this shit went down, but I was selfish and kept her all to myself. I doubt she would have gone to her parents for help seeing as that fucker is the reason I’m in here to begin with. The events of that night have played over and over in my head, and none of it makes sense. I’m pretty sure I know what happened, but I want to be sure before I do anything that’s permanent.

  It kills me to know she didn’t wait for me, and trust me, she’ll be punished for it. As much as she’s hurt me, living without her isn’t a choice. Magnolia King is my queen, and no other woman can fill the void she’s left inside me. My first stop after getting out of this hell hole is Magnolia.

  I’ve had a year and a half to cool off and think through everything. I don’t blame Magnolia for moving on to someone else. A seven-year sentence can seem like forever and with a kid on the way, she probably thought she needed someone to help her raise the kid. Whatever relationship she has with the douchebag is simply a placeholder until I get out, whether she knows it or not.

  The warden personally sees to my release by walking me to the small building in the back of the prison where I sign my paperwork and get my possessions back. I go to a small room to change into my own clothes and come out feeling more like myself than I have in the last eighteen months.

  “Keep out of trouble. I don’t want to see you back here again.” The warden tells me as I walk towards the door.

  “Don’t plan on it, but you never know,” I turn around to say, smirking.

  The warden shakes his head and holds out his hand. “You’re just lucky I owed your dad a favor. Next time you won’t get so lucky.”

  Shaking the warden’s hand, I look him in the eyes and get serious. “I won’t ever be back here again Warden. I’ve got too much to live for on the outside.”

  He nods and I get the feeling we understand each other. “You shouldn’t have been here in the first place Hayes. Just know, not everyone is sucking at the Judge’s teat. You helped me out a lot in here. If there’s ever anything you need, let me know.”

  “Now I thought you were done with the favors?” I laugh.

  The warden slaps me on the back. “Get the hell out of my prison.”

  I nod and leave through the door that leads out to the free world. There are two vehicles in the parking lot. I know the dark SUV is Tucker waiting to give me a ride home. There aren’t any other releases scheduled for today, so I’m curious as to who the other vehicle belongs to.

  As I get closer to the parking lot I spot a woman out of the corner of my eye, walking around bouncing something in her arms. What the hell? I can’t see her face, but her long dark hair looks very familiar. Could it be her?

  The woman turns around walking towards the car parked beside Tucker’s and her eyes go wide when she sees me approaching. I don’t know if it’s the shocked look she’s giving me or the fact that she’s holding a baby that I don’t know is mine or not, but I’m pissed instantly. Magnolia stops in her tracks, wearing an expression I’ve never seen before. She’s scared shitless, and I hate myself immediately for putting that look on her face.

  I school my expression, not wanting to scare her before I’ve even got the chance to hold her in my arms. Tucker gets out of the SUV stealing my woman’s attention from me as she looks at him. She looks back and forth between us and backs up against her car, watching me as I get closer.

  “This was a mistake.” She mumbles, holding the baby close to her chest as I stop a few inches in front of her.

  Dressed in a navy blue shirt, jean shorts, and brown sandals, the baby turns around and looks up at me. Staring back at me are blue eyes that match my own and facial features I would recognize anywhere. Another man’s kid my ass, this child is a Hayes through and through. “No baby girl, this was destiny.”

  Chapter Three

  Magnolia

  Holy fucking shit. I take a deep breath as he walks closer. It’s been a year and a half since I’ve seen War and the time away has been good to his body. So. Fucking. Good. He was tall and muscular before going away, but now he’s a beast. He has muscles in places I never knew could have muscles and he’s thicker than before. The t-shirt he’s wearing is stretched tight across his chest and biceps, pulling at the seams. Jesus. With the possessive look he’s giving me and the size of him, I know I’m in trouble. So much trouble.

  “This was a mistake,” I mumble, backing away from him so that my back is pressed against my car. At that moment, Walker turns around in my arms and looks up at his daddy. I hold my breath hoping this moment is a happy one.

  War studies his son for a few seconds before looking into my eyes and smirking, “No baby girl, this was destiny.”

  I let out a shaky breath as I stare between Walker and War. This is what I’ve wanted since I found out I was pregnant so many months ago.

  “Dada! Dada! Dada!” Walker squeals throwing his body towards War, holding his arms up to him.

  As if he’s held his son a million times, War holds out his hands and takes Walker out of my arms to hold him. “That’s right buddy, I’m your Dada,” War says in a warm, soothing tone, looking into his eyes.

  “I’ve been showing him pictures of you since he was born. That way when you finally met he’d know who you were.” I manage to say in a trembling voice.

  “Good. Don’t want my son thinking that douchebag you’re with is his father.” He sneers.

  Douchebag I’m with? What the hell is he talking about, I’m not with anyone. “War, I don’t-”

  “Save it Magnolia.” He says holding his hand up to stop me from speaking.

  “Excuse me?” I say

  “Whatever happened while I was away is over now.” He says in a tone that leaves no room for questions.

  “Tucker get the car seat and all of… my son’s things. Move the car seat over to the SUV
and everything else into the back.”

  “You got it, boss,” Tucker says pulling open the door to the backseat of my car.

  War looks back at me. “What is my son’s name?”

  “It’s Walker.”

  “Walker what?” He asks in a severe tone.

  “Walker Anthony Hayes,” I answer, folding my arms across my chest and staring him down.

  War shakes his head. “You dance with the devil baby girl and you get burned,” War says walking around to the other side of the black SUV.

  The devil? Is he the devil? What the hell is going on and where is the War I fell in love with? “Don’t think you’re just going to take him away from me!” I shout, following behind.

  War turns and faces me. “You want to argue, fine, but not in front of Walker. Once we’re safe at home and Walker is asleep, we can have this conversation. Right now, you’re going to hop your sexy ass into the SUV so we can get going.”

  “Why can’t I take my own car and follow you?” I grind out between my teeth.

  “That deathtrap? No. No way in hell am I letting you drive my son around in it anymore. And what the fuck happened to your BMW?”

  “I had to sell it.”

  War studies me for a long moment before he continues. “I can tell a lot has happened since I went away, but right now I need to get my son and you somewhere safe.”

  “Safe from what?” I ask, throwing my arms into the air.

  War’s face darkens. “Something else we’ll need to talk about,” He says ominously before opening the door to the back seat.