Seal Daddy (The Single Brothers Book 4)

  Seal Daddy

  By

  Stephanie Brother

  © 2017 Stephanie Brother

  All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the author's imagination.

  Please note that this work is intended only for adults over the age of 18 and all characters represented as 18 or over.

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  Seal Daddy is a 30,000 word novella, suitable for 18+ readers.

  About Seal Daddy…

  My mom had died and my dad was acting like a loose cannon. I shouldn’t have left Ginger behind, but I couldn’t help myself. I was a mess. Joining the Navy felt like the perfect solution, but it just fucked me up even more.

  I knew Ginger wouldn’t wait for me. I knew she would move on. I didn’t blame her. Now she has a little girl and I can’t help but wonder if the little girl is mine. I want to ask her, but I know I have no right to do that. With time on my hands, I have no intention of forcing her hand, especially since I broke her heart. Something that I have no intention of doing ever again, if only she`ll take me back.

  Author's Note:

  Ben is Scarlett's brother from the novella, Accidental Daddy. Book 1 doesn't have to be read to enjoy Book 3. Book 1 is free at all leading e-stores. They are all standalone novellas. This novella is short and steamy with enough sexiness for you to enjoy.

  Chapter One

  Ben

  I snapped awake in my bed, and for a moment I was confused. I didn’t know where I was. My heart was beating too fast in my chest, but my breathing was coming out calm. Then I looked around and remembered.

  Right. Shit.

  I was back home, in my little place at the hotel. Still, I didn’t calm down immediately, and I closed my eyes to take a few deep breaths, getting my heart to return to normal.

  I shook my head and got out of bed, heading for the showers. It took exactly five minutes before I was done and drying myself out. I picked an outfit for the day, then debated whether or not I should leave my room.

  You should, I thought to myself. You can't keep yourself locked in here forever.

  But the thought of leaving had my heart beat coming up again, and I knew I needed to stay calm.

  I wasn’t quite fresh out of the Navy. I’d been back for some time, though I mostly kept to myself, shit, I barely left the hotel. The only reason I even came back here instead of drifting, was because of my injury. When I’d returned, I’d found the hotel closed. Dad had left it to my sister, but she was in the middle of remodeling. Things had been going slowly, with her having just had my nephew, Makas, so she needed someone to look after the hotel. I didn’t know a whole lot about running the place, but Scarlett had hired a girl from town to manage the place and report to me.

  The few times I’d left the hotel was when I went to see my dad. Besides that, I’d been adamant about not going into town. Because I didn’t want to see her.

  “Just go down,” I sighed to myself. “Get something to eat, see Scarlett for a few minutes and come back up…”

  My sister, Scarlett, worked around the hotel. Instead of going to college, like both Dad and I had insisted, she’d instead taken a few online courses in hotel management, and some culinary classes so she could stick at the hotel. Before I came back, she and one other guy who worked part time were usually at the reception, save for the times she was in the kitchen, helping out because they were understaffed when there hotel received too many guests.

  After a few more minutes of talking myself into it, I walked out of my room and headed for the lobby.

  When Trisha left to go back to college, I hired a new manager, Ken. He was in the lobby when I arrived downstairs and I gave him a wave on my way to the dining hall.

  I headed to the dining room and sat down. She must have noticed because moments later, Scarlett was coming out of the kitchen with a plate of food in hand. She looked like me, all tall, dark haired and blue eyed, with lightly tanned skin. She grinned at me, stopping at my table. She didn’t do a lot of work at the hotel anymore, because she had a family of her own. Her husband, Dan who`s nothing like the kinda guy that I thought she`ll settle down with, he`s a lot older than her, but he makes her happy. So, she comes once in a while to help out and I know that it´s mainly to check on me.

  “Eggs, bacon and toast,” she listed off as she set the plate down in front of me. “Do you want coffee or pancakes to go with it?”

  “No to the coffee.” I was going to say something to her, about the fact that she owned the place. She really didn`t need to come in and cook, but I needed someone to talk to and there was no one else I trusted or could confide in as much as Scarlett. I decided not to back her away as I said, “But I wouldn’t say no to the pancakes. And a cup of tea, please.”

  “Right away, sir,” she chirped, then whirled around and walked away.

  I tucked into the eggs as I waited for her to get back. The food was good, as usual, and one of the things I loved about being back home and out of service. She didn’t take that long before she was back with a stack of pancakes on a tray. Then, she brought the tea.

  I expected her to walk back to the kitchen, but instead, she sat down across from me, watching me eat.

  “Would you like some?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “Nope. It’s just that it’s not often you come out of your room. I was going to drag you out today if you didn’t come on your own, which is why I’m here so damn early in the morning, leaving Dan to look after Makas. I wanted to talk.”

  That had me pausing, and I pushed the food away so I could focus on my sister.

  “What, is it something to do with Dad?” He’d been acting like a loose cannon, ever since Mom died. It was annoying, and another reason why my sister had never left the hotel, until recently. Because neither of us had thought Dad could properly look after it with all the other shit he was messing up. Though it only made me feel doubly guilty for leaving when I knew the situation was bad.

  But again, she shook her head, only slower. “No, Ben. This is absolute to do with you. And Ginger.”

  Shit. The one person I was avoiding by not going into town.

  “Look, I don’t know exactly what happened between the two of you before you left. But I think, instead of hiding, you need to face it head on and talk to her. It’ll only get worse the longer you wait, and you’ve done enough of that already. I won’t pry, but I know you’ll regret it later. So, see her today. She’ll be at work.” Scarlett said her piece, then left me alone to think.

  I finished breakfast in a thoughtful mood. My sister must have grown sick of me hesitating if she’d brought herself to speak up about it. And the regret, I felt it already.

  She’s right. I need to go. Ginger…

  Ginger would be pissed as fuck at me, but it would be better to go before she gave up on me completely, if she hadn't yet.

  So after eating, I left the hotel. My heart started beating too fast again when I did, but I would not run away this time. I got in my car and drove into town, headed for the hair stylist salon, where Ginger’s mo
m used to work, and where she now did.

  I parked the car and stepped out, then walked over to the door. The door was made of glass, and a big portion of the front wall was also made of glass, so straight away, I saw Ginger.

  She wasn’t the little girl sitting around the salon and watching her mom do hair anymore. They were working side by side now, and I could see the smiles on both their faces at being so close. It made me miss my mother, but she’d been gone for a while.

  My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I took a couple of deep breaths. I mustered up enough courage to walk the few steps toward the door, then reach over to open it. When I did, there was a light ringing sound from the bell above the door. Ginger didn’t look up to see the new entry, though. Because at the same time, a little girl ran up to her and knocked into her legs.

  Ginger looked down at the little girl, stunned at first, but then smiling. And the little girl was grinning up at her. Then she opened her mouth, and the word that left her mouth had my heart thumping in my chest.

  “Mommy!”

  Mommy…

  My eyes darted from the little girl to Ginger, then back again. She looked just like her mother. I stepped into the salon, the door closing behind me causing the bell to ring again. This time, she did look up, and her expression froze when she caught sight of me. I didn’t let it deter me, though, not outwardly. I raised a hand up and gave a tiny wave.

  “Hello, Ginger,” I said, my first words to her in years.

  She didn’t look happy with me at all.

  Chapter Two

  Ginger

  “Hello, Ginger.”

  Those were the first words Ben said to me, and all I could think was this bastard.

  How fucking dare he!

  I glared at him because he fucking deserved it, and he just stood there, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot, looking at me.

  It had been months. He’d left a few years ago, but he had been back in town for several months. It had been big news when he came back, after all, everyone made a big deal about it. The rumors going around started to die down when people rarely saw him come out of his family’s hotel, but he did come out sometimes, usually to see his dad.

  But…not once. In all those months, not once had he come to see me. Or tried to call me, or sent a message to me through his sister, or made any effort to try and contact me.

  The first thing he said after we finally saw each other was ‘Hello, Ginger.’

  In the beginning, I’d been anxious to see him, too. I was still mad, but I knew he’d enlisted. I wondered the kind of person he’d be once he’d come out because I knew all about how people could be different when they were discharged. I’d gone to the hotel a couple of times, feeling worried, even. But I’d been too chicken every time to go inside, and I’d scurried back to the salon.

  I had wanted to talk to him. We had plenty to talk about, after all. But I never dared to try and initiate it, until I started to wonder why I had to be the one putting in any effort, feeling so fucking awkward and even stalkerish, listening to rumors for any news of him. Gradually, my anger had grown.

  Now, he turned up at the salon. After all that shit, here he was, and he was acting as if we were long lost best friends or something when we’d been so much more to each other. Acting as if he’d never walked out on me and left me to deal with hell on my own.

  Acting like we ever meant anything to each other, when he could have come to see me the moment he got back and didn’t.

  Well, I wasn’t going to be nice about it. I turned my back on him and ignored him. I reached down to pat my daughter’s head and gave her a strained smile, but she was still too young to notice it, or so I hoped.

  “I’m sorry, honey,” I said quietly, leaning down so my voice wouldn’t carry. “But Mommy’s busy right now. You know you’re not supposed to bother Mommy when she’s working, right?”

  She pouted up at me. “But Mommy, I’m bored! I’m done with the coloring already.”

  I glanced over to the corner she’d been relegated to, where some books, crayons, and toys were scattered. She was good about sticking to her space and not bothering everyone while they were working. It was the only reason she was allowed in the salon at all. It’d been the same for me when I was younger, and when I sent an exasperated look at my mom, she just returned it with a smile and a knowing glance.

  “Just give me a few more minutes then, okay?” I said, carding my fingers through her hair, the same blonde shade as mine and Mom’s. “Give me a few more minutes to finish up with this customer, and I’ll come give you a juice box, okay? Can you do that for me, baby?”

  She still looked unhappy, but she nodded. “Fine,” she muttered, then sighed. “I’ll just go and draw something.”

  I smiled at her back as she trudged back to her corner, then turned back to the client, my smile dropping when I caught sight of Ben in the mirror.

  He’d moved closer when I wasn’t paying attention, and I just barely stopped myself from jumping at the sight of him. Instead, I focused on my client, forcing my mind to completely ignore his presence.

  It was hard, as it had always been. Ben just wasn’t the kind of guy that could be ignored. Tall at six feet, with those broad shoulders and wide chest, that he had on full display in a tight, black t-shirt. His dark, luscious hair, deep blue eyes, and naturally tanned skin. He was as gorgeous as ever, if not more so because being in the Navy had increased his muscle mass so that he looked slightly bigger than before.

  Also, in the short moment I’d caught sight of him in the mirror, I’d noticed the shadows hidden in his eyes, like he’d seen things in the Navy that had left scars. That look had pierced right through my chest, but I did my best to ignore it.

  You do not care about this man, Ginger. You cannot.

  I chanted the words in my mind on repeat, but I still noticed when he shifted closer and automatically turned my head toward him before I stopped myself.

  Shit.

  “Sorry to bother you at work,” he finally said after standing there like a lost puppy for several minutes. “But I wanted to ask if we could talk after you’re done here?”

  My lips flattened. This bastard!

  “Could you please tilt your head a little,” I said to the client as I nudged them a little with my fingers, my voice a forced calm. “Just like that, thank you.”

  I went on with my work, forcing my mind to focus on the task at hand. I was styling the woman’s hair, and she was one of those particular clients that would make a big fuss if I ever make a mistake. Ben was a distraction, but I wouldn’t let him mess with my work.

  In a few more minutes, I was done, and I stepped back to let the client admire her hair. I put my tools down on the counter and wiped my hands down on my apron. Ben was still standing there, staying quiet again, and I glared up at him.

  “I’m busy today, so I don’t have time for you,” I said with forced politeness. “Please, leave.”

  I made the dismissal clear. The only reason I wasn’t cursing him out was that we were at my work, and I was pretty sure all the ears in the room were focused on us, ready to start new rumors to spread. I turned my back to Ben and went to where I’d left my bag. I’d promised my daughter a juice box. I picked it up from my bag, and took it to her. She looked up at me with a happy grin as she grabbed it.

  My eyes were stinging, and I turned away from my daughter quickly. I didn’t want her, or my mom, or Ben, or our clients see me cry. So I fast walked to the back of the salon, and as soon as I was out of sight, the dam broke. The tears I’d been holding back for the past several months overflowed and spilled.

  Why was I crying over a man that had left me years ago, and reappeared only to take months even to see me? Because as much as I would love to lie to myself, and pretend I didn’t care, I was mad at him and completely hated him. However, I couldn’t deny that it was good to see him again.

  That I loved that man, and it hadn't changed for me.

  Chap
ter Three

  Ben

  I watched Ginger walk away from me, my hand rising automatically to hold her back. But I stopped before I could touch her.

  She was doing her best to act strong, to act like she wasn’t bothered. But it was hard to miss how tense her shoulders were, and it was enough to let me know she was putting up a brave act, not feeling brave. My heart ached that this was what our relationship had come to, but I had no one to blame but myself.

  So I just watched her walk away until she disappeared into the back of the salon, and I turned around to leave without a word to anyone else.

  Shit.

  I walked slowly back to my car, opened the door and got inside. Then I just sat there for a few minutes, fighting the urge to cry.

  “That could have gone better,” I muttered to myself, rubbing my eyes.

  I drove back to the hotel, back to hiding away. On the drive, I debated about whether I should bother going back. Ginger was mad at me, obviously, and she had every right to be. The only question was whether I had the courage to keep going back and facing that anger until I could get her to talk to me, or not.

  By the time I arrived at the hotel, I still hadn't come up with an answer.

  I parked the car and walked inside.

  “Hey, Ben!”

  I looked up at the call of my name.

  “Dan, hey,” I murmured listlessly. “I didn’t know you’d be here. Are you looking for my sister?”

  Dan and Scarlett were engaged, though from what I’d heard from my sister, they’d had a son together long before that. That little tid bit hadn't exactly endeared me to the guy, until I met their son Makas, who I sometimes got to babysit because I rarely left my room, anyway. He was such an easy kid to love, even though he could sometimes cry through a whole night when he was being particularly fussy. I could see clearly that Dan cared for the both of them, so I was relatively okay with their relationship together.