by Leslie North
“That seems a little…sudden,” Mila forced out.
“It’s how I’ve felt all along—I just didn’t have the courage to admit it. I was scared of my feelings, mostly because I grew up poor. I mean, poverty changes you.” He gnawed at the inside of his lip, watching her. “And I probably won’t ever stop being scared about being a bad father, and not being able to provide enough for the people I love.”
“Never goes away,” Mila’s father quietly confirmed.
“Reassuring,” Grayson said.
“That’s all well and good,” Mila said, swallowing a knot in her throat, “but we can’t try for a real relationship if you’re working eight hundred hours a week.”
“That’s why I’m postponing my IPO,” Grayson said quietly. “Indefinitely.”
Mila’s eyes went wide. The words refused to make sense in her brain. “What?”
“Don’t get me wrong. I love my business. And I’m not giving it up completely. But my obsession with making it grow as quickly as possible, doing everything myself and not delegating anything, is…just not right anymore. It’s not healthy for me. I don’t need that, but what I do need is to be a part of your life, and a part of my baby’s life. And I will spend years proving this to you, if that’s what it takes.”
The tears were flowing now, and Mila couldn’t even hope to stop them. “Are you serious?”
“Extremely so,” Grayson said with a laugh. “That’s exactly what my investors asked me earlier this week when I told them I’d changed my plans.”
Mila clamped a hand over her mouth. Suddenly, all of the pieces had fallen into place. Her entire body was buzzing and warm as she beheld this man, excitement and joy coursing through her so intensely she felt like she could faint. Her mother steadied her after she’d accidentally stumbled, and Grayson stepped forward, touching the sides of her arms.
“I love you, Mila,” he said quietly, searching her face. “You helped me realize there’s way more to life than I had planned on. And I’ll be forever grateful for that. I wasn’t looking for it, but I’m glad it happened. I want to do this. With you.”
A sob escaped her and she threw her arms around him. He pulled her into a hug, his big arms squeezing around her waist, lifting her off the floor.
“I love you too,” she whispered into his ear, her voice tear-choked. “And I’m so happy you chose us. Our little family.”
“How could I not? I want to do things right with you. I was going to suggest meeting your parents, but…”
Mila laughed into his chest as he gently lowered her to the ground. “Oh, right. Mom, Dad, Philip, meet Grayson. The man I’m hopelessly in love with. The father of your grandchild and niece or nephew.”
Philip clapped a hand on Grayson’s shoulder and reached the other out to shake. And while her parents looked a little distrustful, it didn’t matter. They’d come around in time.
Because with Grayson at her side now, they’d have all the time in the world to make things work.
Exactly how they wanted.
For their little family, and whatever else that awaited them on this journey through life.
Epilogue
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Mom, calm down. I’m fine. I can be in the same restaurant as raw fish; I just can’t consume it.”
Grayson grinned to himself as Mila and her mother argued about the menu items. He’d reserved a table for ten, since he’d invited Mila’s family, his best friends, Lainey, and his mother to dinner to celebrate some very important news: he and Mila had chosen the date for their wedding.
He’d popped the question last month. There had been some back and forth over whether they wanted to wait until after the baby was born, but Grayson had pushed to have it as soon as it could reasonably be planned. He wanted her to have the beautiful wedding of her dreams, of course, with the clothes and flowers and guests-who-need-advance-notice and everything else that couldn’t be planned overnight, no matter how much money he threw at it—but he just couldn’t wait to be able to call her his wife.
Now that he’d made his family his priority, he was discovering new levels of excitement practically daily. It was like all the fantasies and plans that he’d avoided having related to family life were hitting him all at once. Sometimes, he could barely breathe for how excited he was to meet their little one. Which just astounded him. A year ago, he would have laughed in anyone’s face who suggested this would be the Grayson of the future.
And now? He was 100% ready to be a baby carrier-wearing daddy.
Philip and Daniel were already deep in conversation about something probably accounting related, since Philip always found a way to talk accounting, and Daniel always found a way to talk business. He could see Philip becoming quick friends with his trio, and he was glad for the chance for their two worlds to formally meet.
Grayson’s mom leaned across the table to address Mila’s mother. “Grayson gave me terrible heartburn. Did Philip do the same for you?”
Mila smirked as their mothers compared notes about the pregnancies of their sons, up to and including comparisons of labor length and when their mucus plug came out, whatever the hell that meant. A shiver raced through him. It sounded gross, but it all related to the pending most beautiful moment of his life: meeting his baby. Grayson squeezed Mila’s hand under the table.
“I think everyone loves each other already,” she said, palming the big baby bump. At five months pregnant, she was beginning to show. Grayson loved every minute of watching her expand as she grew their baby.
“I expected no less,” Grayson said, pressing his lips to her temple. He couldn’t get enough of kissing that spot. He kissed it damn near a hundred times per day. He’d call off work just to kiss her there if he had to. He’d done it once before—yet another example of how different his life was now that he’d slowed the roll on the business expansion. Mila was the only reason he’d ever call off work—both pre- and during pregnancy.
“Wait, Mila, you said your new boutique is on Fulsom Ave?” Blake asked suddenly, turning toward Mila. He and Lainey were seated next to each other, which Grayson couldn’t tell if it was a great or horrible idea. On the one hand, he was worried Blake might do something to outrage Mila’s creative and progressive best friend. Blake was an incorrigible flirt and knew how to make some serious moves when he wanted to get laid, but Mila was confident that Lainey knew exactly how to handle those types. Still, Grayson was waiting for an explosion between them.
“It’s on Fulsom,” Lainey confirmed.
Blake turned back to her. “Okay. So what size did you say you wear?”
Mila turned to him, angled away from Lainey and Blake so that only he could see her widened eyes, as if to say did you hear that?
“I’m a size small undies. 34C bra. And a size ‘go fuck yourself’ in T-shirts, if that’s what you were wondering.”
Mila clamped a hand over her mouth and Grayson laughed out loud, even though he was trying desperately to hide it.
“Oh, my God, guys,” Mila groaned. Slowly, the attention of the rest of their group focused on that end of the table. Lainey smiled sweetly out at all of them.
“We were just talking about what size thongs he might be buying for himself. For the wedding,” Lainey explained with a clearly fake smile. Blake smirked, settling back into his seat with a defeated air. Yep, this was the outburst Grayson had been expecting. At least it had played out with humor rather than with any yelling. Noticing Blake’s woebegone expression, Grayson mused that it was too bad Lainey had a new boyfriend, or Grayson might have tried fixing the pair up. Blake was in desperate need of a woman who knew how to put him in his place. But no, it was probably for the best that nothing happened there. He wouldn’t want hurt feelings or awkwardness when it ended—and all of Blake’s relationships ended quickly. When it came to romance—or cars, or gadgets, or…well, anything, really—his buddy had the shortest attention span known to man.
“You can come on into the shop,” Mila
said, trying not to burst into laughter. “I’m sure an XL would fit you fine.”
The table burst into laughter as she and Grayson shared a knowing smile. Mila had found a new spot quickly, and as soon as she’d opened, her customer base seemed to triple from the peak of what it had been before. Which meant that she’d also been able to heavily expand her product lines—all the way up to and including men’s thongs. It was a good thing that she’d picked an expansive gallery for her new boutique—she needed the space to accommodate all the customers and new racks of clothing.
Now she employed three other people, full-time, allowing her boutique to be open seven days a week. At Grayson’s urging, she was training a new manager who would take over for her temporarily while she went on maternity leave. He was thrilled with the success of her boutique, and it seemed her parents were also finally accepting the fact that success could come in unexpected packages. Even when it strayed from accounting. Though it probably helped that Philip was Mila’s accountant.
“Mila has so many amazing products, not just lingerie-related either,” Mila’s mother butted in. “Did you know she was recently featured in Oprah’s magazine? You should go in there sometime.”
Blake grinned. “Thank you, Mrs. Tomlinson. Mila has dressed me before. But I was asking because I wanted to pick up some gifts. Not because I was looking for a thong for myself.”
Grayson rolled his eyes. “Gifts, plural, not because you’re getting several things for one special woman, but because you want a range of things for your next set of flings?”
Blake shrugged with a grin. “It’s always good to be prepared. You never know when a lovely lady might pop into your life. But hey, at least I’m better than this one,” he said, gesturing toward Daniel. “The only way he’d find a date would be if he tripped and fell over a woman. Probably while reading work emails on his phone.”
“Hmm…what was that?” Daniel said, looking up from his phone where he had, no doubt, been checking his work email at that very moment. Everyone laughed as Blake and Daniel devolved into a playful shoving match, acting like little boys instead of billionaires.
Mila grinned, nuzzling into Grayson’s side.
“I wouldn’t mind your best friends finding something like what we have,” she said quietly, snagging his gaze.
“If they found even half of what we have, they’d be lucky,” Grayson said, nuzzling his nose against hers.
“All right, all right,” Daniel interjected. “Enough canoodling. We’re going to be eating soon.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Grayson warned.
“I’m not jealous,” Daniel clarified. “I’m happy for you. There’s a big difference.”
“Mm-hmm. Admit it. Now you want to get married,” Grayson went on, a shit-eating grin on his face.
“I’ve literally never considered marriage a possibility in my life,” Daniel answered.
“But once you see what we’re cooking up for our wedding…” Grayson said.
“I’m sure I will have a wonderful time at your wedding and leave there still single and dedicated to my career,” Daniel said, lifting his glass in a mock cheer.
Grayson smirked, watching his friend. Now that he’d given into the possibilities of love, he wanted his friends to hop on board too. It wasn’t just that he thought they were missing out—he believed it would change their lives.
And he never would have dreamed this about-face possible, if it weren’t for Mila. The woman who had served as a beautiful inspiration since day one. The woman who had completely changed his life, without even meaning to.
But that was how true love worked. It snuck up when you were least expecting it. And wreaked havoc in all the best ways.
Grayson’s throat tightened as he turned to his fiancée. “You’re the love of my life, Mila. You know that?”
Mila’s eyes shone with tears and she pressed her lips to his in a sweet kiss. Because that was the truth. She was the love he’d never been looking for. The love he’d been needing all along.
And if he had his way, they’d be together forever.
End of The Billionaire’s Pregnant Competition
The Billionaires Club Book One
Blurb
Billionaire Daniel Trent needs a date for his best friend Grayson’s wedding, but he’s got a bit of a problem. His current closest relationship is with his house sitter, Jackie Stone, who he’s never actually met. Their flirty notes about his beloved tankful of exotic fish are the only fun part of his busy work-only life. When he comes home early after a business trip to find Jackie naked in his bathtub, Daniel is pleasantly surprised to find the woman he likes is absolutely adorable. Grayson, assuming Daniel and Jackie are a couple, suggests Daniel bring her to his wedding. Teasing Daniel over his commitment issues, he even bets that Daniel will end things before the wedding is over. After all, Daniel rarely gets past two dates with any woman. Daniel takes the bet, hoping that Jackie agrees to be his fake girlfriend. The worst thing that could happen is he’ll lose the bet. He certainly won’t lose his heart...
Though Jackie agrees to go as Daniel’s wedding date, it turns out the man is the worst boyfriend. Ever. There’s no way they’ll convince anyone at the pre-wedding festivities that they’re a couple. And she really, really wants Daniel to win that bet because he promised to pay for her final year of graduate school if he does. If she wants any chance of that happening, she knows they’ll have to practice acting like a couple, which leads to…the kiss. And then more. Which is bad. The last thing Jackie wants is for this business arrangement to get complicated, and it’s definitely getting complicated. But it’s also getting harder and harder to remind herself that falling for Daniel would be a colossal mistake. A mistake her heart, unfortunately, seems more than willing to make…
1
“No, no, no. I’m coming up with you.”
Daniel smirked as his best friend Grayson defiantly closed the door of his car, and then tapped on the driver’s side window. Daniel’s driver rolled down the window, and Grayson told him to ‘wait right here’.
“I said I’ll hurry,” Daniel protested. But there was no point. Grayson was already leading the way to the entrance of his skyscraper residential building. “It’s our monthly dinner—I don’t want us to be late.”
“But you’re always late,” Grayson said as Daniel hurried to fall into step with him. The two headed for the private penthouse elevator tucked into the far corner of the lobby, Daniel’s rolling luggage making soft clicks across the immaculate white tiles. Daniel rolled his eyes as the elevator doors shut.
“I’m not always late,” Daniel said, but he had no other argument to follow.
“You are,” Grayson insisted, “because you always find ‘one last thing to do’ before you leave, which means you always hit dinner right as we’re ordering dessert.”
Daniel tried to hide the exasperated sigh, but it was no use. He gripped the handle of his rolling carry-on. He and Grayson had managed to fly into the San Francisco airport at the same time this evening from their very different business meetings, which meant their other best friend—Blake—was waiting impatiently for them at Starbrite Diner, their time-honored college watering hole on the campus of Stanford University.
“I made it on time to dinner earlier this year,” Daniel muttered, checking his reflection in the mirror-lined private penthouse elevator. He raked his hand through his dark blond hair, which stood up at awkward angles, somewhere between intentionally messy and too distracted to remember a haircut. As an international investment banker, his job kept him running enough to forget plenty of things, even though he had enough money to buy a thousand haircuts.
But as his father always said, time equals money. And Daniel didn’t have a second extra of that lying around. He monetized his life down to the millisecond, because that’s what he’d always known. It’s what he’d grown up with, and he didn’t know how to live any other way.
It wasn’t exactly a barrel of laughs. Stress was
one thing, but the constant creeping fear of having everything collapse around him with nothing but an ulcer to show for it? Not fun. Lucrative, yes—but he didn’t really have any free time to spend all the money he made. Fortunately, he didn’t have the spare time to worry much about it, either. Daniel had convinced himself that this was just part and parcel of being months away from hitting thirty. This is life, he told himself damn near every morning when he woke up and looked at himself in the mirror. It’s like this for everyone. You’ll enjoy it someday.
“Dude. Are you even listening?” Grayson’s voice broke through his stewing misery, and Daniel jerked his head to look at his friend, blinking.
“Sorry. Was just thinking about this account I almost closed.”
“See? This is why I needed to come up with you. I know the second you get inside your place, you’re going to open your laptop.”
“I’ll be quick,” Daniel assured him as the elevator doors opened, revealing the grand foyer of his penthouse. He strode purposefully over the distressed gray flooring of the entrance hall. He’d personally picked out all the details of the design here, so he could always count on at least a momentary sense of relief when he came home to his haven. But even here, in his sanctuary, more work awaited. It always did.
His footsteps echoed through the spacious entry hall as he headed through the living room and toward the master suite. Grayson flopped onto the enormous black sectional in the two-story great room, which faced a black brick-lined fireplace. Grayson’s sigh of relaxation followed Daniel as he dumped his suitcase and briefcase onto the puffy gray comforter of his bed.
“Why don’t we just have Blake come meet us here?” Grayson asked, his voice faint across the distance. “Now that I’m sitting on your incredible couch, I’m not sure I can get up.”
