The Billionaire's Accidental Daddy Duty

by Diana A. Hicks

Isla
He’s a genius. A billionaire. And the total bastard who fired me.

My dream job in NYC went up in smoke
the second I met Declan Noble.
He's a famously grumpy tech CEO,
and my boss for all of one day
before he kicked me to the curb.
Then a tiny, unexpected baby showed up on his doorstep.
Suddenly, the arrogant genius who dismissed me needs my help...
Not to debug code, but to change diapers.

He’s offering me a
Nanny his surprise baby, help uncover the truth,
and the Lead Programmer position is mine.
I just have to keep my eyes on the prize
and absolutely,
positively,
not fall for the man
who is suddenly as irresistible as he is out of his depth.

Declan
I don't do chaos. I do code.

My perfectly engineered world imploded
the day the baby arrived.
I’m a computer genius,
not a dad.
Isla is the only person I can trust to fix this mess.
Unfortunately, she's also the sharp-tongued programmer
I wrongfully dismissed.

I hate that I need her.
But she’s capable, she’s calm,
and she's entirely too beautiful
to be working this closely with.
Now, with every late-night smile,
I’m realizing this isn't just about a baby or a bargain.
It's about a connection I can't debug,
and a daddy duty that might be a lot less accidental,
and more like kismet.

A note from Diana; This title was previously released as Irresistible Bastard with Cocky Hero Club Production

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2025

About the author

Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of contemporary romance that's sometimes dark, sometimes suspenseful, but always steamy. Her upcoming release, Empire of Ache & Ruin coming May 6, 2025!

When Diana is not writing, she enjoys hot yoga, kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband. Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.

Available now:
The Crime Society Series
Lost Raven (FREE)
King of Beasts, Book 1
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Wolf's Lair (FREE)
Big Bad Wolf, Book 1
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Once Upon a Christmas (FREE)

Dark Beauty (FREE)
Wings of Ruin, Book 1
Wings of Silence, Book 2

Wicked Seduction, Book 1
Wicked Temptation, Book 2
Heartless Vow (FREE)

Steal My Heart Series
Entangle You
Unravel You
Ignite You
Release You

Cole Brothers Series
Unleash You
Defy You
Provoke You
Escape You
Escape My Love (FREE)

Cocky Hero Club
Irresistible Bastard


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Reviews

[autwenreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read by Diana A. Hicks, and honestly… I didn’t quite enjoy it. The story felt too rushed from the plot to the romance and even the ending. Everything just happened so fast.

It was also a bit confusing, and for such a short book, there were too many spice scenes and not enough plot. I usually don’t mind spice, but I wanted more emotional buildup or depth.

That said, I did love their relationship with the son — it was adorable and added a sweet touch to the story.

Thank you to Wildfire Marketing Solutions and Diana A. Hicks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Fun love story between Isla and Declan, though it all started so wrong! ❤️

[Eclectic Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit, my motivation for picking up this book was purely my admiration for Diana A. Hicks. I didn’t really care that it revolved around the classic “accidental baby” theme. I hoped it would deliver the magic I usually find in her writing, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Isla is fresh out of college and clearly searching for her place in the world, specifically, a job with “the fixer.” Along with this career drive, she’s eager to connect with a half-sister who’s holding some serious resentment toward her. Isla’s character came off as a bit immature, and honestly, she felt too young for Declan. It seemed like she had some serious self-discovery to do before diving into relationships, whether with her sister or a man with some pretty manipulative tendencies.

Now, Declan. Yikes. Not my favorite MMC by a long shot. He gives off this entitled vibe and doesn’t fare much better when he decides to fire Isla for not being able to control his urges. Then, to top it off, he wants her to transform into a nanny for his kid? Come on! And the classic third-act breakup? Don’t even get me started. Although I will say, he surprised me a little by stepping up as a father.

One of the things I love about Diana’s books is her character development, but I felt like I needed more depth from both Isla and Declan, especially in their family backgrounds. She touches on them but never really develops them. Declan’s story felt like it was missing critical pieces, especially given the themes explored in the book.

Also, let’s talk about that sex club subplot. Did it even need to be there? This book is a quick read, and while the pacing was fast, I really think the story warranted a deeper dive. The character dialogue? Meh. It was uninteresting enough that I seriously considered DNF’ing it a couple of times.

That said, it wasn’t all bad. It was a quick read, and despite my misgivings, I enjoyed witnessing the new family dynamics unfold.

Thank you to Ms. Hicks for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review.

[Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was an okay read for me. I enjoyed the sass and take no prisoners attitude she had. Declan was a lady’s man a grump and a workaholic. He was good with one-night stands and that’s it.

Meeting Isla unexpectedly was not what he was expecting, so was becoming a dad unexpectantly. Isla was the one person he could reach out to for help, no matter that he just fired her a few hours ago lol

I loved their chemistry and their banter. The story was a quick easy read, with characters that you get hooked on from the start. For me everything happened a bit too quickly, but all in all I enjoyed it.

Read on behalf of
Fay’s Corner

[Zoey’s Review Corners❤️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 actually. Hey I ended it but damn their story was crazy fast paced the romance needed to marinate a bit but what can I say hey. Joey being a c**kblocker the whole story was the highlight of my read. The breakup was unnecessary honestly they should have just had a conversation about it. I mean I get that Isla was heartbroken but her assumptions that Declan didn’t want her when he made it very clear she’s the one for him is crazy. Harper coming to him expecting then to get married just coz they have a kid and she’s sick was also crazy business. I also feel like Isla should’ve said no to the proposal because they knew each other a full month when he proposed which is also crazy business

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star Review The Billionaire Accidental Daddy Duty Diana A. Hicks

This author is relatively new to me but what I have read I have enjoyed.

This is Isla and Declan’s story and it was well written and entertaining.

I enjoy single parent stories and when billionaire Declan suddenly finds himself looking after a baby, he needs help and turns to the woman he unfairly fired.

What follows is a book that ticked numerous boxes for me. From start to finish I was drawn in to Declan and Isla’s story. The chemistry between them was intense, their banter witty.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

***ARC Provided by the Author***

There were a lot of things I liked about this book, but ultimately I couldn't stay invested in it due to the writing style.

It felt choppy to me, and like it went from telling and not showing to skipping things that mattered and focusing on things that felt unimportant. As a result, the book felt like it jumped from scene to scene without any kind of transition. Being unable to connect with the story made me feel that I was unable to connect with the characters of the story.

I am not able to recommend this title.

[Diana Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm excited to share Declan and Isla's heartwarming love story with you. This book was part of the Cocky Hero Club world and was inspired by Stuck-Up Suit. I'm re-releasing it under a brand new title to start a new single dad series that will connect to my other series. If you've read any of my Ruthless Billionaire Society books, you'll recognize The Crucible, the exclusive club where Declan and Isla meet.

Upcoming titles in this series:
Book2: The Billionaire's Accidental Matchmaking Kid

Book3: The Billionaire’s Accidental Marriage Vows


Happy Reading!

Diana

[Jackie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Billionaire Accidental Daddy Duty is Declan and Isla’s entertaining journey. I haven’t read much by this author but what I have read I have enjoyed.
Billionaire Declan finds himself needing help when he suddenly finds out he is a daddy and the only person he knows can help is Isla the woman he unfairly dismissed…..so will Isla come to his rescue.
This is a well written, entertaining, witty read that I quickly became invested in.

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun! I adore a grumpy billionaire who gets his life tossed around, only to find that the upheaval was everything he ever wanted, but could never have believed was meant for him!

The spirit and sass of Isla is soo entertaining, and I really enjoyed watching her become the thing Declan can't live without. The chemistry between them was steamy, and certainly kept the pages turning. While there are bumps in their road, and emotions to work around, the HEA for this couple was everything I wanted.

I look forward to the next in this series, and recommend you grab this one today. Fortunate to receive an ARC, I happily leave my thoughts.

[Myeshia Cole · Rating 1 out of 5]

No Clear Direction

This book was all over the place. It didn’t really have a clear plot line, and it really wasn’t well developed. If it had been more flushed out with more background, it may have been a great book. The premise was great. The actual book fell flat. There were too many moving parts.

[Radio 1 Silence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know based off the title that I wouldnt enjoy it but I read it anyway. Umm maybe I'm not the target audience but this book is so painful to read why are the characters so horny they only think about sex like where the plot

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect

Another hit. A very good read. Not to long not too short. Very little drama. A bit complicated but good.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, quick and easy read. Moved a bit fast and was pretty predictable, but a good palate cleanser between heavier reads.

[Carmen Iofcea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un 2,5 ⭐️

[Reading In the Red Room · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5….A laugh out loud read with an adorable story. Declan is a grump who happens to be a bit of a lady’s man. Isla is a total hot mess and I loved Her!!! One thing leads to another and the job she wanted is short lived…and turns into a temporary nanny position…which turns into sooo much more. Declan finds out he is a father and his life changing in soo many ways. Together these two are full of sassy banter, an undeniable pull and crazy fun chemistry. This is a quick paced read that was extremely entertaining and had me wanting more. These characters were full of life and their personalities literally jumped through the pages. I really enjoyed this quick read and can’t wait to see what this author brings us next.