Page 2 of Daddy's Naughty Author

“Sure, why not?” I shrug, trying to appear casual, like my heart isn’t about to beat out of my chest. “It’s not like we actually have to date. Just pretend for a weekend. Besides, I could use some excitement in my life. As long as I could use it as inspiration for one of my novels, it’s a win-win. Your mom gets off your back and I get some real-life fake date experience.” And I write enough fake love stories to know exactly how to pull it off. My mind races. This is insane. But… the image of KC cowering under his mother’s matchmaking onslaught was… kindof tempting. Besides, I always secretly enjoyed a challenge. Who knows, maybe it would inspire another book.

KC stands there for a second, looking at me. “I couldn’t let you do this without there being something in it for you, too.”

“Ummm.” I bite my lip. What could I possibly get out of this that would be appropriate to vocalize? Before I have a chance to think of something, his face lights up.

"I know! I'll take you to that used bookstore you love. The one with the rare first editions. I'll even let you pick out whatever you want. A book shopping spree." He looks so proud of himself for coming up with the suggestion. So, he does listen to me…

My pulse quickens at the thought of a book shopping spree. "The Book Nook? Seriously?" That bookstore is my weakness. A true weakness. Like… somewhere between an addiction and obsession.

"Seriously," he confirms, looking relieved.

"You know I'm going to milk this for everything it's worth, right? Like, I can do some serious financial damage in that store.”

“I’m not hurting for money.”

“Okay…I would have done it for free, though.”

He throws back his head and laughs. “Well fuck, this just might work.”

“I mean, you said you modeled your fake girlfriend after me, so I’ll fit the bill,” I add.

“Are you sure? We are going to have to get together, and get our stories straight, and get to know each other. Like a crash course or something. You should know, it would require you to kiss me…my mom thinks we’re practically engaged at this point.”

Kiss him? It would be such a burden to kiss the sexy as fuck special forces operator next door.

Such. A. Burden.

“I guess I can tolerate a kiss or two.” Or ten. “No, but really. I think we can pull it off. We can fake a break up, if you want.”

“Hell, what am I doing?” he scrubs his face with his hand again. I wouldn’t blame him if he changes his mind. Not one bit. “I have to run to work. Can we get together tonight and hash out the details? I’ll take you out to dinner or something.”

“Sounds like a date—” I giggle. “See what I did there? A date? Since we’re pretending to date?”

KC laughs. “I got it. See you at seven?”

“Seven works for me.”

I watch as KC disappears into his house before heading back into mine. Collapsing into my desk chair, I pull up the Discord chat with my Naughty Girls’ Book Club.

“You are not going to believe what just happened!” I type furiously.

“What?”

“Tell us!”

“A new idea for a book?”

The responses come in fast. I have to admit, when another author had suggested I set up a Patreon, I scoffed. I’m not a big-name author. Sure, writing romance novels pays my bills, but there's not much leftover for fun. In fact, I had picked up a second job just for spending money. But, she’d finally convinced me to try it out, and at the time, I fully expected to have zero subscribers.

When I launched, I’d included a private book club tier where members would get a secret book only available to subscribers. I’d capped it at twenty, thinking no one would join. But then—boom. Twenty subscribers at a hundred bucks a month. Now, I have superfans who have become friends, and I can concentrate on writing books and ditch my second job.

“SoldierDaddy just asked me out on a date!” I type.

“What?”

“No way!”

“We need all the deets, ASAP!”

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