My Young Rebel Daddy (The Young Daddies #3)

1. Nick

Chapter 1

Nick

‘Busy, busy, busy,’ I sing, my voice not exactly good enough for American Idol but not too shabby either. ‘I just love to be busy!’

Wow, is that really the time?

I’ve been at work since 6AM and it doesn’t feel like I’ve actually even made a single dent in my customer orders list for the day. That can’t be right. I’ve put together more bunches of flowers than I can even comprehend.

Triple rose arrangements.

Carnation collections.

Birthday bunches of exotic flowers.

It’s never a slow day at my florist, The Little Petal.

But with my stereo pumping out the tunes, and me singing along as best I can, I always have fun.

Sometimes I work so hard I forget to stop and smell the flowers. No, I’m kidding – I always smell the flowers!

But seriously, there will be mornings where I get into the store at 5AM and literally don’t stop moving until noon.

When I left my previous career as an investment banker, I really didn’t think that I would be taking my millions of dollars and actually finding myself in a more intense and hardworking job!

But this is the way I like it.

I may be forty-four and a former stock market wizard, but I’m not about to slow down yet. The only difference now is that I get to work with a vast array of the most beautiful flowers.

But have I gone from Wall Street to wallflower?

I wish I had someone to share my life with. The one good thing about working in the city and being around so many powerful men was that there was always a Daddy Dom around the corner. Well, that’s how it felt to me.

The only problem though was that so many of the Daddies I came into contact with just weren’t right for me. In fact, it felt like I was a Little magnet for exactly the wrong kind of Daddy.

Everything was all about money and climbing to the top.

And it seemed like the more successful I got in my career, the worse kind of so-called Daddy I was attracting.

Big Sigh!

I really need to shake all that off and forget about it.

I’m not a city banker anymore, those aren’t my people now.

I’m a beach town florist with a big round booty and the cutest dimples on the coast. It’s only a matter of time before I meet my dream Daddy, right?

There are so many advantages of my new life.

The fresh air, working solely for myself, and the fact that I can sing and dance as I work are all things that are positively superb.

No longer having to work with mean, cutthroat colleagues and clients is a bonus too. Being a florist definitely puts me in the realm of being one of life’s good guys and I certainly don’t miss all of the dirty dealing and double-crossing from the world of high finance.

Speaking of high finance… I need to pick up the pace if I’m going to get this larger than usual order finished in time for the courier. The arrangement is due to be sent for a new restaurant that’s opening on the beach front and if I don’t get it done in time it’s probably safe to say that the restaurant’s owner won’t be requesting my floral services again any time soon!

As I put the finishing touches on the elaborate arrangement, I do manage to take a moment to enjoy my creation. Full of color, a perfect combination of shapes and sizes too… I’ve outdone myself with these bouquets.

‘Go me!’ I giggle, taking a big breath of air and allowing myself a moment of pure satisfaction. ‘But now I need some caffeine!’

I bought The Little Petal when I decided to step away from finance and it was nothing but an empty shell of an old florist that had been dormant for nearly three years.

It was certainly a fixer upper.

But a few licks of paint and a new sound system later and I had it up and running. Located just on the corner and with a panoramic view of the ocean, it’s fair to say that I’ve probably got the most wholesome and life affirming florist in the whole state.

Well, that’s how it feels to me anyhow!

Sometimes, the view from my store window is so good that it actually distracts me from my work. Not today though. But that’s because I’m being distracted by something else…

A new dating app.

Yup, I took the plunge and put myself out there into the big, crazy, sometimes scary world of online dating.

But this website came with a strong recommendation from a friend of mine who is also of the same mind as me.

OlderLittles.com is for Littles who are of a more mature vintage and looking for a Daddy who is strong, dominant, and… younger than them.

With my smart, side-parted brown hair and teddy-bear brown eyes, I think I’m pretty damn cute – even if I do dare to toot my own trumpet!

I guess my sweet as candy dimples don’t hurt either.

When it comes to my physique I’m definitely on the soft, cuddly side and I’m totally cool with that. I’m me, and I’m happy.

Oh, and I’ve got what I’d like to call a showstopping booty too. It’s probably the roundest, plumpest butt in town and I don’t even train my glutes!

So I guess what I’m saying is that I’m a catch.

Hehe, but fooling around aside, I’m not an arrogant person. Despite being as cute as cotton candy and having millions in the bank, I’m actually a bit on the shy side.

I’ve been burned in the past and I think sometimes I give off that vibe to potential Daddies.

Or maybe I just haven’t met the right man yet.

Even as I take a minute to swipe through some profiles online, I’m seeing lots of good-looking Daddies who just aren’t quite hitting the spot for me.

Square jaws… yup.

Strong arms… hell yeah.

Beards… you got it.

But no one, and I mean not one single man , is making me come alive with desire in the way that I know is possible.

‘ Pffft ,’ I say, swiping away yet another handsome but not quite right Daddy. ‘I guess it’s time to get my booty back to work.’

With that, I put my phone back in my pocket and move on to my next order. But just as I’m making progress with a my latest bouquet, a new customer walks into the store.

‘Hey, how can I help?’ I say, looking up from the flowers and seeing a familiar face who I can’t quite place. ‘Wait, I know you?’

‘Yeah, you could say that,’ the man replies. ‘It’s Tim. Tim Rothwell. We met a few times at Merchant and Stack’s annual investment dinner.’

Yup, I remember this guy.

Tall, broad, with a face that wouldn’t look out of place on a Hollywood red carpet.

It doesn’t take long for me to figure out that Tim Rothwell is less interested in flowers and more focused on trying to ask me out for a date.

I mean, I’m tempted… kinda.

Tim’s hot, and definitely has the looks that most Littles would do anything for.

But… he’s just not the young Daddy I’m looking for.

I’m not being ageist, because Tim’s the same age as me.

I need a young Daddy, and I’m not about to compromise on that.

I’m sure Tim will find a baby boy that’s right for him, but I’m not going to waste his time and mine by agreeing to go on a date.

So I let Tim flirt for a little longer and then I let him down as gently as I can. Hell, he even leaves with a pre-made bouquet of flowers for his mom.

As Tim leaves, I notice his Armani suit and super-shiny shoes.

I remember how that used to be me.

But in my Little Petal t-shirt and chino shorts, I’m feeling a whole lot more comfortable.

I don’t regret walking away from my old life – I’m living my dream now and wouldn’t swap it for all the stock options and annual investor bonuses in the world.

Right now, I’m more than happy running my own business, having fun, and trying to figure out how I’m going to make my house build work.

I currently live in a small house on a wonderful stretch of the coast. I’ve got a big garden that I’m planning on using to build my dream home on, except it’s proving difficult to find a reliable builder to take on the job.

Speaking of which, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and as I take it out I see a message from my architect.

‘Woo-hoo!’ I say, my voice full of joy. ‘Plans are… complete!’

I’m so happy to see that my architect has finished the planning outline for the house. It really looks great, and exactly the kind of place that I can see myself settling down in forever.

I’m sure it won’t be long until I find a builder I can rely on, but for now I’m just happy to see these outline drawings and imagine what it will be like to finally live in the type of home I fantasized about as a child.

With that, I turn up the stereo and get my big booty shaking to the beat.

It’s time to power on through the rest of the morning’s orders and if I can do it to a soundtrack of some poppy hip-hop then that’s all the better!

‘ Mmmm , this is delicious!’ I say, chomping down on my big sandwich. ‘I know this place is called Baby Salad Café, but I think I’m eating enough carbs to get me through until next week here!’

‘Ha! I know, me too!’ Aaron replies.

Aaron is a Little like me and the pair of us are living our best lives and having a long lunch at the Baby Salad Café. It’s a pretty unique place, what with it being a café that also specializes and caters for Littles like us.

I mean, there can’t be that many places where you can grab a bite to eat while sitting at your colorful table in nothing but a romper, right?

The café is pretty full, and I love the fact that they’ve got remixed nursery rhymes playing on the in-house sound system. With the colorful Disney themed wallpaper, it’s a real treat to be here during the workday – LOL, just one of the perks of being your own boss I suppose!

Aaron is a great friend to me too.

Aaron is forty-two and found his Forever Daddy via OlderLittles.com too. He’s in town for a few days while his Daddy Rafa takes some business meetings in Europe.

‘So… how’s the app search going?’ Aaron says, his bright blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

I know Aaron wants all the juicy deets, but it’s just a shame I don’t really have anything to spill!

‘Well, I’ve seen some cute guys, but…’ I say, my words trailing off.

‘But just not the guy, right?’ Aaron says. ‘You haven’t seen the man who’ll make you stand to attention , if you know what I mean.’

‘Hehe, I know exactly what you mean,’ I giggle. ‘And no, I’m afraid I haven’t seen that man yet.’

‘Don’t worry, you’ll meet him soon,’ Aaron replies, sipping on his tropical fruit juice. ‘Once I saw Rafa, I knew he was the man for me. And guess what, that turned out pretty, pretty good!’

I smile in response to Aaron. It’s so good to see him happy with Rafa, and I’m sure I’ll have that moment one day – I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.

‘So what’s up with the house build?’ Aaron says, taking a bite of his sandwich.

‘All good,’ I reply. ‘Well, kinda.’

‘Kinda? Sounds like there’s a but coming, and I don’t mean your bubble butt either!’ Aaron says, laughing.

‘It’s my neighbor, Christopher Snoot,’ I say, grimacing. ‘He’s being so stuck up about my plans. Apparently, he thinks that my new house is going be some oversized monstrosity that will lower the tone of the neighborhood. It really won’t be that at all, but I think he just doesn’t like me and is determined to try and do anything he can to stop it happening.’

‘ Urgh , what a grump,’ Aaron replies. ‘But he can’t stop the build, right?’

‘He can make a complaint to the planning department,’ I reply. ‘I can throw money at lawyers to make sure I win, but I really don’t want bad blood with my neighbor. I just want to live a happy life in a nice new forever home.’

‘A forever home with… a Forever Daddy?’ Aaron says, a twinkle in his eye. ‘And if that Daddy is a young, strong stud with a cock of steel, that’s all the better, right?’

The two of us burst into laughter.

Having a friend like Aaron is so rewarding. And even though we don’t always get to hangout because he lives in the city, I truly relish his visits to me and my trips to see him.

That being said, I think it’s time to get back to work.

Oh, and my diaper feels pretty full as a result of all the tropical juice I’ve been sipping. I think it’s time for a change – I don’t want to be hitting the streets with a heavy diaper sagging down to the sidewalk!

The rest of the day at The Little Petal went as most days do – super-busy and with me ready to collapse into an exhausted heap by 6:00PM!

But I love it!

Now I’m back at home and ready to relax all the way through until bedtime.

The only question is… who left this note under my door?

There’s only one way to find out…

Dear Nick, I see from the online planning portal that you have submitted revised plans for your so-called ‘new build home.’ I wish to confirm again that I WILL be objecting with all of my energy. Furthermore, please can you ensure that you keep the volume of your monstrous music down to a decent level. I could barely hear myself think yesterday! Rap music? More like Crap music... Your neighbor, Christopher.

OMG, is this guy for real?

I mean, seriously, he must be joking. The thing is, I do sometimes play my music a little bit on the louder side. But that’s only because I’m enjoying it so much. And I never play it too late, or at any anti-social times.

The weird thing that Christopher doesn’t get is that in my new, bigger house the soundproofing will be so much better. I’ve tried to explain this to him but it’s like he just doesn’t want to listen…

Whatever!

I don’t have time for this right now. I’ve had a hard day making bouquets for my wonderful client base and now it’s all about getting some quality me time.

Oh, and not forgetting my partner in crime, Rosie.

‘Where are you pup?’ I say, walking back from the front door and into the kitchen. ‘Ah, there you are my fantastic friend!’

Rosie is the cutest, squishiest little red dog in the whole world.

She also happens to be my favorite stuffie of all time – and I’m not even joking when I say that I value Rosie at a billion times more than the several million dollars I earned as an investment banker.

Rosie has always been there for me, and I simply can’t imagine a world without her.

‘Okay, Rosie, let’s crack open a bottle of wine and check out some of these young Daddies,’ I giggle, opening the refrigerator and taking out a chilled bottle of white wine I brought back from a vacation in France. ‘I know I might be wishing on a star here, but I seriously could do with finding someone special soon.’

I walk with Rosie and my glass of wine and take a seat on the large, comfortable couch in the living area.

‘Okay, let’s see…’ I say, opening up the OlderLittles.com app.

SWIPE – Nice arms, but…

SWIPE – Smoldering eyes, but…

SWIPE – Damn, that’s a big bulge, but…

SWIPE – OMG! Who… in… the… heck… is THAT?

Am I drunk in love? And did it take less than a second?

Suddenly I feel like I’ve had three glasses of wine and not the single sip I’ve taken so far. This Daddy looks like he’s got everything I need and more.

Sparkling blue eyes and with a close blonde crop, he’s twenty-eight and looks like he’s more than strong enough to handle my full body.

I flick through his profile photos and I’m seeing the type of body that would put a young Brad Pitt to shame.

‘Rosie, are you seeing this?’ I say, my heart beating and my eyes glued to the phone screen. ‘I think I need to talk to this young Daddy. I think I need to do a whole lot more with him too…’

Whoever ErectionSpecialist01 is, I need to meet him and I need to meet him soon…