Pretty Woman: Mia (The Billionaire Bachelor Series Book 2)

by Jamie Brook Thompson

  He nods, but doesn’t say a word.

  Mia begins to shake. “So this is it? My husband shakes your hand and you don’t say a damn thing to him? Nothing’s changed.” She flips around to start walking back to the vehicle, but not before he catches her shoulder.

  “What do you want me to say? I just want to make you happy,” he barely chokes out the words.

  “Nothing. I don’t want you to say anything.” She rips her arm from his grasp and starts heading towards the car. “Tino, this was a bad idea.”

  “Bashful, hold up. He’s just trying to be cool.” I narrow my brows. She’s never this insane. Nothing rocks Mia’s boat.

  “I’m not staying here another minute and wasting the emotional energy I let him take from me everyday.”

  “Baby girl,” I soften my tone, and set Lucas on the floor. “I ain’t gonna let him hurt you. I just want to figure this out so you ain’t gotta hurt anymore.”

  She wipes at her forehead. The heat mixed with emotions is a smoldering combination. I ain’t sure what to do.

  “Please, don’t go,” the old guy mumbles. “I need to apologize.”

  She startles. I ain’t so sure she was expecting him to tell her that.

  “If I could go back I’d do everything so different.” He reaches up to squeeze my shoulder. “I can’t thank you enough for bringing her here. I came to see you a few times, but you weren’t home.”

  “When?” Her eyes lower.

  “A few times over the years. It took all my strength to sit in the car and watch your son play at the park, you know.”

  Mia stands there with a blank stare.

  “Look, I ain’t sure what to say, but family is all we got.” I reach down to grab Lucky’s shoulders, leading him to his granddad. “This is your grandson.”

  The old man presses his hand against his eyes.

  He can’t get a grip so I help Lucky grab his other hand.

  “Little man, this is your granddad.” I kneel down and look at the kid. “You understand what I’m telling you?”

  His little head nods.

  I straighten my legs and spin around after Lucky leans in to hug his granddad’s leg. “I got some grub in the Bentley. I’m gonna grab a few of the bags so we can all have some supper. If that’s alright with you?”

  Mia’s father smiles.

  I take that as a yes.

  I run to the back of the vehicle and pop open the back door. I ain’t sure if Mia knew it was back here with the barbeque smell and all, but she didn’t seem to mind. I’m guessing this is the last place in the world she’d think we’d break bread tonight.

  As I walk back into the house, I notice another man has joined them on the couches. He’s a bit darker than Mia’s dad, but they look so much alike I’d dare bet they’re brothers.

  “Tino, this is my uncle,” Mia welcomes me inside and jumps up to help with the bags of food in my hands.

  She rushes back to the kitchen while I stand there and shake her uncle’s hand. He’s a funny guy, cracking jokes and naming all the opponents I’ve had. I don’t think he’s missed one of my fights since I started at eighteen.

  “I’m afraid I don’t remember that one.” I joke with him. “The blood was rushing that night.”

  He fakes a few jabs to my abs.

  “Papa, do you have a baby staying here with you?” Mia’s voice is alarmed when she comes back into the room where we’re being guys.

  Her dad tosses his arms in the air speaking a slew of frantic Spanish, and her uncle follows him out of the room. I ain’t sure where they’re going, but the situation doesn’t look good with Mia tilting her head so hard I’m afraid it will break.

  “Everything good?” I ask, hoping she’ll let me in on what’s happening.

  “He’s freaking out about leaving his granddaughter in the bedroom that long. We took him by surprise and he forgot about her.” She scrunches her face. “Tino, I’m his only daughter.”

  I don’t have time to respond before the old guys are back out front with a baby girl in their hands.

  Mia covers her mouth.

  Her father holds up the baby. He’s gesturing for Bashful to hold the little one.

  “Who does she belong to?” Mia doesn’t wait a second before grabbing the baby from him.

  He shakes his head and stares at the floor.

  “Papa, I think she’s hungry.” Mia looks back at him.

  “You know how to make a bottle?” he asks.

  “Of course I know how to make a bottle.” She hands the baby to me and heads for the kitchen. “Where’s the formula?”

  I stand there and hold the little thing wondering if heaven could feel this good. She’s about the smallest bundle of blankets I’ve ever had in my hands. The men head to the kitchen. I turn to Lucky and smile at him.

  “You ever seen a baby?” I ask.

  He shakes his head.

  “How ‘bout we sit on the couch and I’ll let you hold her.” I wink.

  His eyes grow as big as apples. “Can I?”

  “Just don’t tell Mom.” I hold out the baby and make sure he holds the neck real good. “You gotta be careful when girls are this little. They’re real fragile.” I chuckle at the words coming from my mouth. This is probably a good teaching moment. “The funny thing about girls…it don’t matter how much bigger they get you always got to be fragile with them. You understand what I’m sayin’, kid?”

  He nods, but doesn’t take his eyes off the little pink bundle in his arms.

  I stare at the two of them and quickly make a promise to God that if he’d let me have a family like this I’d never let him down. I give my word to provide for them until the day I take my last breath.

  “Papa, I can’t just take another woman’s baby.” Mia waltzes into the room and stares at us sitting on the couch. “Maybe she wasn’t hungry after all?”

  “She just needed some of Lucky’s magic touch.” I grin.

  Her dad claps his hands together and starts with the Spanish again. Mia shakes her head. She’s rattling along in the same language. Her eyes are so wide I think they might burst.

  “What’s going on?” I burst into their Spanish conversation.

  Mia folds her arms over her chest. “My dad got remarried shortly after Isabella’s wedding and wasn’t aware the woman was a crack head with a junkie daughter. She passed away about six months ago, and her daughter just went to prison. Tino, they don’t think she’s going to get out. They had someone from the state bring the baby to him. He’s the only relative she wrote down. And now he has twenty-four hours to sign the papers for adoption, or they take her back and put her in the foster care system.”

  This is the part where I want to tell her how good God is to us.

  I take the baby from Lucky and walk next to her.

  “Bashful, this is our little girl,” I whisper the words with the best show of reverence I can give the man upstairs. “I ain’t leaving without her.”

  “What?” she gasps.

  My lower lip trembles. “I’ve waited my whole life to have a family of my own. Please don’t make us wait any longer? This is the baby for us. I can feel it.”

  “But—”

  “She’s mine.” I lift her delicate neck to mine and take in a deep smell of her sweet baby scent.

  “Tino, this is a long process. My dad said I’d have to get a home study, and a case worker, and we’d have to take a ton of foster care classes.”

  “Where do we sign up?” I look at her dad.

  “Oh, she said she is coming back tomorrow to come in and check how the night went,” he has a clueless expression on his face as he responds.

  “Then is it alright if we stay the night?”

  “Tino,” Mia puffs. “We’ve got to talk about this.”

  “Bashful, I’ve made pretty good decisions most of my life. I ain’t leavin’ without this little girl. I’m not tryin’ to be a hard ass, but I won’t leave here without her. I got money to take care of thi
s.” I stare down at her brown skin and instantly bond because she’s a bit more of my coloring. So I’d like her named after me.

  “But the press will have a fit with this. How is her mother going to have a normal life if they won’t leave her alone?” Mia crinkles her brows.

  “I don’t know. How you going to handle that?” I joke. The press ain’t gonna take this child away from me. “I figure they don’t need to know personal details.”

  The two men stare at us.

  “Mia, we’re not sure her mother is going to make it. They took her to the hospital last night because her body can’t handle the withdrawals, you know. This is when they brought little Anna to us.”

  “We ain’t callin’ her that.” I bounce the baby in my arms as I stand next to Mia.

  “And what are we callin’ her?” Bashful nuzzles into my chest.

  “Well, I haven’t talked to the little man yet, but I was thinkin’ Tia.” A heavy breath releases from my chest. “It’s after me and you.”

  “Oh, Tino, that’s basically perfect.” Mia’s eyes fill with tears and she covers her mouth to hide the trembling of her lips.

  “God has been good to us. I’m tellin’ you that, Bashful. You just gotta believe.” I wrap my arm around her shaking body. “I’m here to take care of you and the kids. I’m always gonna be here for you guys. Always. You just gotta trust me.”

  “I do.” She looks up at me through bloodshot eyes. “I promise with all my heart. I do. From now until forever.”

  Pretty Woman, Nikki:

  The Billionaire Bachelor Series Book Three

  Country Boy. Jake Scott is everything Nikki has ever hoped for. A footloose and fancy free kind of guy with a hint of twang that makes him irresistibly delicious. But will his true identity of being Mr. Uptight William Scott Fitzgerald, heir to a billion-dollar Oil Corporation run her off? Or could he be the only southern gentleman under that big Texas sky with the power to tame her wild heart.

  Nikki

  CHAPTER ONE

  I

  ’d sleep with Jake even if he had his boots on. A shiver crawls up the back of my neck at the thought of how ridiculously handsome his dimples are under all that scruff. How does a country boy have so much sex appeal? That only happens in trashy novels.

  “You ‘bout ready for me to come pick up that mutt?” he asks on the other line of my phone.

  I reach down to pet Louie’s head. “He says he wants to stay here and work with me a little longer. There’s a hot standard poodle in the back he’s got his eye on.”

  The bell rings at the front door of Carol’s Pooch Parlor.

  I wipe my hands against the black smock Carol has us wear, and head to the front.

  My heart drops.

  Jake?

  “I thought you weren’t coming back for a few more days?” I smile at the man standing in the doorway looking like heaven is about to break my heart. “Do you ever take off those dirty ball caps?”

  He smiles.

  It’s the kind of smile that lights up his entire face.

  “And did you ever thank your mama for those perfect pearly whites?” I say in the best southern drawl I can muster up to tease him. I’ve never met his mother, but I’d personally shake her hand just to touch the woman who personally made such a delicious creation. Something like that deserves an award.

  He moves in quick. Grabs me around the waist and presses his lips against mine. The cinnamon flavor teasing my tongue only reminds me how much I’ve missed him.

  My feet lift from the floor as he clutches me tighter.

  “Woman, you feel like an easy Sunday morning driving down a back road.” He takes a deep breath of the skin on my neck. “And ya smell better than a warm peach pie cooling off on the counter after a long day’s work.”

  “That good?” I laugh. The image isn’t as sweet in my mind as he’s describing. “A peach pie, seriously?”

  “Don’t care what ya are as long as you’re mine.” He sets me down.

  I hedge, thinking of Xbox. She’d have a fit if she ever caught on. Three months. That must be a record for the longest relationship I’ve ever been in. “Did you call in and reserve an appointment?”

  “I’m fixin’ to take a shower first.” He turns his head and smells himself. There isn’t a man alive that could make what he’s doing sexy, but Jake. “I thought I’d drop by, pick up the dog, and take you for a steak.”

  Nasty. I pucker my lips in disgust.

  He chuckles. “I’ll get the steak. You get the salad.”

  “You could eat a few more salads yourself.” I poke his abs, wondering how I ever ate crap like that in the past. “Leafy greens are good for the digestion.”

  “Woman, this boy is just fine with a heavy load of meat.” He wiggles his brows. “I ain’t never seen a black angus that doesn’t have my name written on the hind quarters.”

  “You’re awful.” I roll my eyes and head back to get Louie from the area filled with grooming stations. Jake follows like a lost pup. “I didn’t have a chance to bathe him because we’ve been so swamped.”

  “I’ll just toss him in the shower with me when I get back to the apartment.”

  “He hates that.” I turn around to see if Jake’s being serious.

  “Nik, he’s a mutt. He don’t care much where he gets his washing.”

  Louie wags his tail when he sees me walk through the door.

  “He totally cares.” I reach down to pet his ears. “How would you like getting the cold leftovers? It’s freezing down there by your feet.”

  Jake chuckles and shakes his head. “Whatever happened to dogs thrive on discipline? Isn’t that what you’re always telling me?”

  “Jake, this dog hasn’t even noticed you’ve walked into the room. You need to spend a little more time with him.” I think of how many weeks he’s spent at the cage-free kennel with me.

  “Course he does. Come here, boy,” Jake calls.

  Louie sits at my feet.

  He isn’t going to move.

  Jake reaches into his pocket and pulls out a treat he brought to coax the animal into his truck. “Louie, come here.”

  I raise my brows and shake my head.

  “Louie,” the pitch of his voice lowers to a snarl.

  The poor dog places its tail between its legs and sits there, wiggling around.

  “Jake, he isn’t going to come to that.” I grab Louie’s collar and pull him over to his daddy. “He needs some attention on a regular basis.”

  Jake grabs the fluffy fur of his golden doodle and begins to lighten his approach. “I ain’t got time, buddy. Most people go to bed when the sun goes down. I’m lucky to get a nap in before it’s coming back up.”

  I hate that he’s reminding me of how much he works. I’m starting to think he has an addiction to tractors and sprinkler pipe. I shake my head and reach up to smooth my ponytail. Five minutes to six. My shift is almost over, and after grooming ten dogs I’m ready to go home, put on my jammies, and go to bed. But I can’t complain. I need the money. X hasn’t had anything since the last time Jake filled a spot on her little black book.

  “You want me to pick you up around eight?” Jake tugs Louie to the front door.

  If I can stay awake that long. “Sounds good,” I sigh, stifling a yawn.

  My phone buzzes in the pocket of my smock. I reach in to fish it out.

  You have an appointment in 30 min. Be ready. He’s coming to the office to pick you up. Something about a dog show. I quickly read the text.

  I hold up one finger to Jake. “Hold on just a sec.”

  With who? I text back.

  Eric Loveland

  R U Serious? I almost can’t believe what I’m reading. Eric Loveland, or better yet, Erica Loveland. I glance at the counter just to make sure I shoved my latest romance novel he wrote into my cubby before Jake gets a peek at it and teases the hell out of me.

  I never joke around. Black dress. Hair pulled up.

  Got it. I text back
and let out a sigh of relief. Finally. Some money coming in. A good day of grooming doesn’t always make rent when you live in a high rise near the ocean.

  “You finished with that?” Jake’s playful annoyance rids me from my thoughts.

  I shove the phone in my pocket. “Yes. Sorry, I just got a text from—my sister. There’s been an emergency and she needs a babysitter.”

  “Is she okay?” his voice is full of alarm.

  “Oh, yeah, she’s probably having another false alarm.” I let out a breath of guilt for how awful I feel, but I really need the money to keep me afloat this month. “I swear she’s had about a gazillion kids by now. You would think she’d know the difference between real labor and false Braxton Hicks.”

  “You want me to come with you?” The disappointment creeping into his eyes is enough to stab a fork in my heart.

  “Um—no. I’m not sure how long it’s going to be. I might have to spend the night.” I grab Louie and pull him out the door next to Jake’s giant, white truck with the Texas long horns strapped on the grill over the Texas license plates. At least the conservative color isn’t as gaudy as the rest of it.

  “But I can keep you warm since you won’t have Louie in your bed.” He tickles the side of my waist. “We’ll just snuggle.”

  “Sure we will.” I lift the oversized furball off the ground, and Jake quickly grabs the dog to put him into the passenger side. Please don’t make this harder than it has to be. I’m only going for the money. And maybe an autograph. “I can’t sleep with you in my sister’s house full of all those rug rats.”

  “Last thing I knew, she’s only had three.” He raises a thick brow.

  “Three too many.” I glance at the slobbery window and try to ignore the sad look on Louie’s face. “And she’s about to have her fourth. So I don’t need a lecture on being anti-kids tonight. I’m going to have so many nieces and nephews I don’t need any of my own.”

  He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

  My tummy tingles.

  “I would’ve picked up the dog,” he whispers into my ear sending shivers down my spine. “I was hesitatin’ a little because I wanted to be with you a little longer. You’re sure you don’t want me to come?”