Daddy’s Billionaire Doctor: Older Man Younger Woman Instalove Short Romance (Billionaires) Read online

  Daddy's Billionaire Doctor

  Older Man, Younger Woman Instalove Romance

  By Haley Travis

  Copyright 2021 Haley Travis. All rights reserved. Edited by Rosemary Stewart. Cover Design by Lexie Renard.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted or duplicated in any form whatsoever without express written permission of the author. This book is intended for sale to adults. All main characters are over 18. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual people or specific locations or details is completely coincidental, or intended fictitiously.

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  ***

  CONTENTS

  Chapter One ~ Lydia

  Chapter Two ~ Adam

  Chapter Three ~ Lydia

  Chapter Four ~ Adam

  Chapter Five ~ Lydia

  Chapter Six ~ Adam

  Chapter Seven ~ Lydia

  Chapter Eight ~ Adam

  Chapter Nine ~ Lydia

  Chapter Ten ~ Adam

  Chapter Eleven ~ Lydia

  Chapter Twelve ~ Adam

  Chapter Thirteen ~ Lydia

  Epilogue ~ Adam

  Other Stories and About the Author

  Chapter 1

  _____

  Lydia

  There was something slightly different in the air.

  Everyone was a bit on edge, as if on their best behavior because someone famous or powerful was about to arrive. The air felt prickly and thick, like before an electrical storm.

  Helping Dad into a seat in the doctor’s office waiting room, the beige and brown chairs and nature photos on the walls were all exactly as they always were. I went to check him in, and tried to figure what was different from the first two times I had brought dad to this clinic.

  The staff were wearing the same light blue smocks with name tags and bright smiles. But this time the ladies seemed slightly nervous.

  “James Murray, we have a ten o’clock appointment?” I said to the petite older woman at the reception desk.

  She gave me a bright smile, and pulled out a folder. “You must be his daughter, Lydia?”

  “Yes.”

  She leaned in, giving me a strange smile. “I know the appointment is with Dr. Smith, but we’re going to have Dr. Butler check on your father’s progress today.”

  I stared at her blankly. This meant nothing to me.

  “Dr. Butler is the absolute best specialist in the entire state. You’re very lucky. He usually drops by this clinic every other Tuesday, but he’s been traveling for the past month. Trust me,” she said with an odd twinkle in her eye, “you want to speak with him.”

  “All right. Thank you.”

  When I sat down, Dad grumbled, “What was that about?”

  I shrugged, hoping that this change wouldn’t put him in a bad mood. “Apparently there’s some super specialist in today who’s going to check your progress.”

  Dad grunted, going back to reading the news on his phone with his cast-laden foot stuck out to the side.

  We were called right on time, and ushered down the hall into an office. This room was much nicer than the last time we were here, with leather guest chairs, and a much higher quality medical table.

  Dad raised an eyebrow. “Maybe this guy really is good. He’s got a better office.” He leaned heavily on his cane as he maneuvered himself into a chair.

  I had barely sat down myself when the door opened. A tall man with short, almost black hair filled the door frame. He was staring down at the chart he held in one hand, while running the other over the edge of his square, sharp jaw.

  He didn’t look up as he shut the door behind him, then walked over to the desk, sitting down gracefully. Every single detail about him seemed powerful. Deliberate. From his precise short haircut to the expensive watch to his crisp dark gray suit that hugged his massive football player shoulders perfectly.

  He wasn’t wearing a white doctor’s coat. It wouldn’t have suited him anyway.

  He could model for a website that sold private jets to the extremely wealthy, but from the slightly furrowed brow and no nonsense attitude, he’d likely be the pilot.

  Actually, no. From the commanding bearing, he’d be the CEO of the airline. This man radiated power. He belonged in a boardroom, directing investors, or buying and selling small countries. He wasn’t just gorgeous, he was…striking.

  “Mr. Murray,” he began, his dark voice like shredded steel, “I’m Doctor Butler. Do you feel that your injury is improving quickly enough?”

  What the heck kind of greeting was that? Finally he looked up to meet my father’s gaze, and his eyes tracked to mine.

  Instantly his gruff demeanor changed. Something in those dark blue eyes lightened. “Wife?”

  I tried not to snort. Who was that direct? “Daughter.”

  Something about his prickly intensity softened.

  “It’s nice of you to take care of your father.” His thick fingers drummed on the wooden desk. “There are very few good girls left these days.”

  I had no idea what he meant by that.

  Yet as he looked directly at me, something shifted deep in my core, snapping into place. I realized that this man was important to me.

  Several thoughts flashed through my mind at once.

  I wanted those thick, strong fingers to touch me everywhere, and those beautiful, full lips on mine.

  I loved his directness, his intensity. Especially when it was focused on me.

  And above all else, I wanted to show Dr. Butler what a good girl I could be.

  For him.

  Chapter 2

  _____

  Adam

  Today was supposed to be one of my routine days. The kind that went perfectly to plan, from the moment my alarm sounded at five am to the moment I brushed my teeth and went to bed at eleven at night.

  So why was I loosening my tie instead of focusing on the task at hand?

  The young lady sitting in front of me was like something out of a dream.

  On the surface, she was pretty, with honey blonde hair and gentle blue eyes. Polite and proper. She must have a certain element of sweetness if she was caring for her father.

  But it was so much more than that. There was an unearthly glow that shimmered around her.

  She was more than beautiful. Lots of women were beautiful. Lydia was…exquisite. My hips shifted as I realized with some embarrassment how unbelievably aroused I was.

  For the first time in my entire life, I desperately wanted to be unprofessional. But then my work ethic kicked in and brought my wandering mind back to my patient.

  James Murray. 53. Divorced. Semi-retired construction manager. One break and two fractures in his left foot.

  “So, Mr. Murray. I’ve reviewed the extent of your injury, as well as your x-rays and progress so far, and it looks like you would be an excellent candidate for an experimental treatment. Is this something you might be interested in?”

  Staring at me suspiciously, my patient leaned forward. “Is this one of your tricks to try to get me to spend more money? If it’s not covered by my insurance, I’m not interested.”

  Forcing a smile, I leaned back casually as I tried to divide my attention between them equally. “It’s a trial study, so it would be absolutely free.”

  I quickly explained how
the combination of protein drugs stimulated bone-building cells, and promoted bone regeneration. Although James didn’t look interested in the slightest, Lydia appeared fascinated.

  She turned to her father, and gave him a pointed look. “Dad, you should do this. Both to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible, but also you could help the scientific community.”

  His lips pressed together in a thin line. “Can I think about it?”

  “Absolutely.”

  I handed him a folder of material, and when he ignored it, Lydia took it and slipped it into her shoulder bag.

  “In the meantime,” I continued, “staying off of it as much as possible for the next three weeks is crucial.” I handed Lydia another small brochure.

  “There are nursing students and physiotherapy trainees who are looking for part-time work. It’s incredibly affordable, as they’re still students and are mainly doing it for the experience. I would strongly suggest that you set up a schedule to have them drop in to help you with the exercises, and make your life easier while you’re bedridden.”

  “You mean couchridden,” Lydia said with a saucy smile that lit up her eyes. “He has to stay in the room with the TV, of course.”

  James grumbled again, making me want to reach out and smack him. He should be grateful that she was here with him at all.

  “You’re very lucky to have such a lovely daughter who is so dedicated to your care,” I said.

  My right hand reached into my suit pocket to pluck out a business card, handing it to Lydia. I’d never given a patient my direct number in my life. “Feel free to call me if you have any questions at all about the treatment.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  I stood and opened the door for them, managing to brush Lydia’s elbow lightly as she passed by.

  “Nice to meet you,” she said politely, but I thought I detected a bit more than good manners in her eyes.

  It wasn’t the same smoldering look that desperate women usually gave me. She was looking at me with an unusual curiosity. As if she wanted to figure me out.

  I reluctantly watched them walk down the hallway, and couldn’t stop myself from blatantly staring at Lydia’s mouthwatering curves.

  She was natural. Sexy. I loved that she wore a little flowered dress instead of the jeans and baggy hoodies girls her age tended to throw on. Yes, Lydia was a bit more proper.

  That must have been the reason my heart was thrashing in my chest, and my left ring finger wouldn’t stop tapping against my thumb.

  I hadn’t been interested in women for so long that I’d forgotten what my type was. Now I knew precisely what I’d always been dreaming of. Somehow, I would find a way to ask Lydia out.

  I’d never felt this deep need for anyone before, a need far beyond the sense of touch. I needed to know her secrets, her dreams. How I could help make them come true. What I could do to make her life be everything she ever imagined.

  The beautiful young lady didn’t know it yet, but she was going to be mine.

  Chapter 3

  _____

  Lydia

  Staring around the gallery at the breathtaking paintings, it was hard to focus. It had been three days since I met Dr. Butler and had that strange fluttery reaction, but I still felt strange, as if we had more to talk about, and I didn’t understand quite what.

  “Are you okay?” my friend and coworker Holly whispered.

  I gave my head a shake, staring into my half-finished plastic cup of wine. “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not. It’s a lovely painting, but you’ve been staring for five straight minutes.”

  Stealing a look around the gallery, I was glad to see that her brother’s opening was going so well. Dozens of people were milling around, and several paintings had red dots to indicate they were already sold.

  I just couldn’t stop thinking of Dr. Butler, and the strange way he had looked at me.

  It was likely my imagination running overtime, but he had just seemed…possessive. Hungry for me. It didn’t make any sense. A man like him would never usually want a plain girl like me.

  Holly was smirking. “You have a crush on somebody. Who is it?”

  I shook my head again. “It’s so…I can’t even talk about it.”

  “Inappropriate?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Is he married? Or like…a biker guy, covered in tattoos? Ooh, is he a criminal?”

  “Nothing like that,” I said quickly. “I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

  “That’s all right,” she said, patting my shoulder kindly. “As long as you promise full details as soon as possible.”

  “Sure.”

  After making one more slow lap of the gallery to take a last look at the paintings, I set my unfinished wine aside and waved goodbye to Holly from across the room. She was posting yet another round of selfies with all of the paintings and guests, as she had been all evening.

  As I left the gallery, I looked up and down the street, just to double check that it was safe. Holly had driven me here right after work, and I didn’t know this area terribly well. It was a strange neighborhood full of industrial buildings that had been turned into galleries and high end fashion shops.

  There weren’t any taxis out front, but I couldn’t really afford one anyway. I began walking toward a larger street, where I knew the bus ran every ten minutes.

  “Lydia?”

  I turned to see someone getting out of a fancy black town car. My mouth fell open in shock as I took in that cut jawline, huge shoulders, and smoldering eyes.

  “Dr. Butler?”

  “Adam, please,” he said quickly. “Do you need a ride somewhere?”

  On one hand, he was barely more than a stranger. On the other hand, he was a doctor. That had to make him safer to travel with than a bunch of strangers on the bus.

  “That would be lovely, thank you.”

  He held the door for me, smiling politely. As I bent down into the car, his hand fell to my shoulder to guide me, sending a strange tingle right through my thin sweater.

  I moved over to the other side of the leather bench, as he slipped in beside me. “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “I was headed for a burrito place right near my house. You could just drop me there, if it’s not out of your way.”

  Adam turned to face me, then reached out his hand, palm up. Without even thinking, I placed my hand in his. Such a tiny gesture should not have made my heart thump as loudly as it did.

  “If you’re hungry, Lydia, may I take you for something more than a burrito?”

  I automatically shook my head. “Thank you, but I wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble.”

  His thumb began to caress the back of my hand. “Lydia, what if I told you that I would really enjoy spending some time with you? That having dinner with you would be the highlight of my year?”

  Who spoke like that? Was he for real?

  I examined his face again in the dim light of the car, trying to look past how gorgeous he was. Adam was definitely in his mid to late thirties. Perhaps he was old-fashioned, and preferred a little formality?

  He gave my hand a slight shake. “Lydia, may I take you to dinner?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “Ben,” he called through the inch-wide gap in the partition. “Ferndale Supper Club.”

  There was a tiny murmur, then the partition raised completely as the car smoothly glided away from the curb.

  “What were you doing in this neighborhood?” I asked.

  He slid a bit closer, still holding my hand gently. “Looking for you.”

  “You had me…tracked or something?” I sputtered.

  Adam laughed, a dark, rich chuckle that made my belly do somersaults. “Not exactly. I asked my assistant to skim social media for you. Your friend Holly was posting photos of you tagged at that gallery barely half an hour ago.”

  It was so strange. Here we were, absolute strangers, yet sitting close together in the back of a car, with
this beautiful older man showing no intention of ever letting go of my hand.

  He seemed to realize I was rendered speechless.

  “I knew that you’d be too shy to call me, especially since I’m your father’s doctor. But you're not my patient.” He leaned a bit closer, then tipped my chin up with his finger.

  “Lydia, I don’t know how to explain it, but I’m absolutely drawn to you. I’ve never felt this way before. Please tell me that you at least feel a spark?”