Billionaire Baby Daddy: A Second Chance Romance

by Lara Swann

  Enough that I know how to work the fancy, high-end coffee maker. That I didn’t really feel intimidated entering the towering glass skyscraper yesterday. And that I can mostly shrug off the insane things Alistair does as standard as just…Alistair.

  But not enough that it doesn’t feel like some weird through-the-looking-glass moment. Or that I don’t feel just a little bit like an imposter.

  After the coffee finishes brewing and I’m pouring out a couple of cups, the game seems to come magically to an end and Alistair deposits Maddie into one of the high seats at the kitchen island.

  “Breakfast, little lady?” He asks her with a smile, taking the coffee with an appreciative look in my direction.

  She giggles and nods, looking up at him with something close to adoration - and my stomach does a little flip-flop. I have no idea how long they’ve been awake and playing together while I slept, but it’s obvious that even in just these two days…they’re bonding. The kind of thing I was hoping for, but never thought would happen this easily. But then, Alistair has been…just incredible.

  I’m not sure I ever thought of him as father material, before. I think I struggled to think of him as anything other than a sophisticated, workaholic billionaire. But after this morning…

  I look at Maddie again. At the light shining in her eyes. And I have to hold back the sudden, inexplicable wave of love I feel for her - my little girl.

  She’s never had this before, and I don’t think I even realized how much it was missing.

  But it’s what I want for her.

  A Daddy.

  “I’ve got pancakes.” Alistair announces with a grin

  “Mommy, this is the best place EVER.” Maddie tells me, and I chuckle, ruffling her hair.

  “I didn’t take you for a pancakes-for-breakfast kind of guy.” I say, as Alistair starts rummaging in cupboards.

  “I might have called down to get some in after you decided to stay last night.” His eyes sparkle as he looks over at me, and I just shake my head.

  Of course. That’s the sort of thing rich guys do, I guess.

  “You’re going to spoil her so badly.” I mutter, but I can’t bring myself to stop him.

  There’s a part of me that wants that for her - even if I can already see her turning into the most demanding little madam, with this kind of treatment.

  But he’s missed out on four years of spoiling her…he can have a few free passes for a while.

  “I’ve decided that’s the kind of d—” He drops the pan, and the clattering noise makes us all jump as he clamps down hard on that word.

  Shit.

  “Person.” He corrects, clearing his throat and picking up the pan. “That’s the kind of person I want to be.”

  I look over at Maddie, but she’s still staring at the pan and clutching her chest in a sweet childish imitation of a heart attack.

  “That was loud!”

  “Yeah, sorry baby.” Alistair agrees, then looks at the bottom of the pan, then at the floor. “Looks like stone floor beats pan.”

  He shows us the dent in it, and Maddie giggles, before rooting around for another one.

  Neither of us look at each other, and I try not to notice the tug of guilt in my chest. He is her father. He should be able to say dad. And the way he’s been with her…he’s earning it in spades.

  But…it’s still only been two days. And either way, that was not the way for her to find out - we can both agree on that. Even if I can practically sense how much he wants to tell her.

  Soon.

  I promise us both, even if I don’t say it out loud. We’ll tell her soon.

  Instead, I help him with the pancakes and after a few minutes - and a fresh bout of teasing from Alistair - the air starts easing between us again.

  Maddie and I linger longer over breakfast than we probably should, and then I give in to her request to play for just a little longer. We’ve stayed here far later than I was planning - but I don’t want to go, either. And from Alistair’s side - it seems the longer he can entice us to stay, the happier he is.

  Eventually, though, I put my foot down.

  They both look up at me with disappointed expressions, and I roll my eyes, wondering whether this is what it’s going to be like now - even if it does leave a smile tugging at my mouth. One I’m careful not to let them see.

  It’s not until I turn back to the hall towards the room we stayed in, wanting to pack up everything we brought - that I finally notice the wall there. And the very obvious, very bright scribblings up the sides of it.

  I almost drop the coffee I’m holding.

  “Madison!”

  Alistair and Maddie freeze in the middle of the room, where he’s entertaining her before we leave, and they both look over at me.

  “Mommy?”

  I can’t even answer her for a moment. She’s never done anything like this - and at someone else’s apartment. I can feel my cheeks burning up in embarrassment, but as I swirl to confront her - and start teaching her a lesson in respect for other’s property that she obviously seems to need - Alistair jumps up and walks over to me.

  “It’s okay.” He says, glancing over at the pictures that caught my eye.

  “It is not okay.” I say emphatically. “My god, I am so sorry Alistair.”

  “Don’t be - I was thinking this decor was a little too stark for my liking, anyway.” He jokes, but I’m not in the slightest bit receptive. “It was my fault, anyway. I gave her the pens before I found the paper.”

  I look at him, disbelieving.

  “That’s absolutely no excuse for anything, Alistair. Really. I appreciate you being nice about this, but I can’t have Maddie thinking that she can—”

  “Leave it, just this once, okay?” He says, bringing a hand up to my arm in a quelling gesture. “I talked to her about it - I told her that she shouldn’t do it again. And if she does, sure - we can let all hell break loose on her. But…this has been such a good time. Can we leave it at that? Please.”

  I look up at him - meet the strength of his gaze. And take a deep breath. He doesn’t want to upset her, not when this has all gone so well for him.

  For a new Dad, I get that. But as her Mom…

  I glance back at the drawings - and sigh. He is her Dad. And he said he talked to her…he should be allowed a say in parenting her, I guess. I look between them and shake my head as I finally relent.

  “Okay. Just this once, though.”

  He smiles at me, a reassurance and warmth there that I can’t help but match.

  “Mommy?” Maddie is still looking at me, an uncertain look on her face.

  I walk over and crouch down beside her, tucking her hair behind her ear.

  “Alistair said he talked to you about the drawings on the wall over there.” I say, speaking softly and pointing. “What did he say?”

  She shifts where she’s crouching, looking between the both of us. “That…it’s a bad thing to do.”

  “Mmhmm.” I nod. “So you’re not going to again, are you, sweetie?”

  She shakes her head from side to side.

  “Okay then. Mommy will forget about it this time - but I don’t want to see it again. Okay?”

  She nods, and then I ruffle her hair again, still wondering what the hell has gotten into her.

  But I exchange a small glance with Alistair, and then leave her to him as I get everything together. I’m ready far sooner than either of them probably hoped for - but we have to leave sometime.

  A small part of me questions that, just to be contrary, but I shoot it down.

  “Thank you, Alistair.” I say with a smile, stood with Maddie and hoping I’ve remembered everything. “We’ve had a great time.”

  “So have I.” He smiles back at me, then crouches down next to Maddie and holds out the soft toy horse we were playing with last night. “Would you like to look after this one for me, Maddie? I think he likes you.”

  I swear my heart just melts in my chest.

&nbs
p; I’ve never seen Alistair so tender or affectionate in my life, and with my daughter, too? I have to swallow every feminine instinct to jump him right here and now.

  Maddie looks up at him, suddenly shy again for some reason, and nods.

  “Thank you.” She mumbles, leaning into my legs.

  But the moment she takes the horse, she crushes it to her, and I have to swallow a slight lump in my throat.

  This is ridiculous. But, hell, the whole pregnancy thing made me sentimental, and I haven’t been able to shake it since - not when it comes to Maddie.

  And maybe not when it comes to her father, either.

  He stands up and we share a look. The kind of look I didn’t think I’d ever end up sharing with someone…the joint feeling of ‘this is our kid, this is what we created’ - and isn’t it just so fucking special.

  Then he goes and ruins it.

  “And this is for you.” He hands me an envelope, and I frown.

  “What is it?” I ask, opening it immediately to find a credit card inside.

  It’s black. And it has my name on it.

  “It’s unlimited - straight to my bank account. I want you and Maddie to have everything and anything you need, Leah.” He smiles at me, that same caring expression he’s worn this whole time together - but my heart drops into my stomach.

  “No.” I say, before I even have a chance to think about it.

  I push the envelope back against his chest and let go as if it’s burning me.

  “I can’t take that, Alistair.”

  His smile fades, and I can see the moment he works it out.

  “Leah—”

  “No.”

  I don’t want to hear it. I’m not taking his fucking card.

  The strength of my reaction surprises me - almost as much as it seems to surprise him.

  “It’s for Maddie—”

  “It’s too much.” I insist, then gesture around the apartment. “This. This was for Maddie. It was insane and extravagant and ridiculous, maybe, but that was okay. But…no. I’m not taking your money, Alistair.”

  “Mommy?” Maddie looks up at me, hearing her name repeated and not understanding at all.

  I try and give her a small smile. “It’s okay, sweetie. We’re just having a grown up talk.”

  “Leah—”

  I meet his eyes, and shake my head ‘no’. He looks like he’s going to object again - but neither of us want to argue in front of Maddie, and after a moment he sighs.

  “I am going to take care of you.” He mutters.

  I have a moment to feel a flicker of guilt - of uncertainty. I think about what I’m turning down - for my daughter.

  And I don’t know why I refused point-blank.

  It was what you came for.

  Some support. Help. The kind of chance that I felt Maddie should have as the daughter of a rich-as-hell executive.

  And it was right there - freely offered, the answer to every problem I’ve had over the last four years. And a week ago, it’s exactly what I would have taken.

  But…I don’t know. Maybe I’m starting to see the other kind of support. The kind I hadn’t expected to get from Alistair at all. Maybe, suddenly, that matters more.

  And after everything that happened last night - the way I feel now, the hope I don’t want to acknowledge…I don’t want it. I don’t want his money - and I don’t know what it would mean, for us. But however he intends it, I can’t leave here feeling bought.

  There are already too many confusing things between us. I don’t want that to be another one.

  “You did take care of us.” I say instead, softly. “Thank you for dinner, Alistair. And breakfast.”

  Then I give Maddie’s hand a little squeeze, and turn around to leave.

  * * *

  “And you said no?!”

  Emma doesn’t quite share my opinion. We’re sitting on the couch as she insists on hearing every little detail - and of course, I start with what’s right at the top of my mind. Maddie is playing in front of us, appearing content to make her new soft toy horse bounce all over Emma’s sitting room while she mumbles and hums to herself.

  “I couldn’t do it, Em. It was too much - just think about it. It’s insane.”

  “I am thinking about it. And yes, girl, it’s insane. You’re insane.” She gives me a pointed look, and somehow I feel like we’re not quite thinking of the same thing.

  I sigh.

  “It was all going so well, too. I was really starting to think…” I cut that off. “But then he goes and does that. Money and power. All over again—”

  “He was trying to provide for your kid, Leah.”

  “An unlimited credit card isn’t providing for my kid - it’s a dramatic gesture, a statement, something with so much more behind it.”

  Emma shakes her head. “For an average guy, maybe providing for a kid means clothes and food and toys…a few hundred a month. But for Alistair Sinclair? Hell yes, Leah, maybe it means an unlimited credit card.”

  I hesitate, her comments making me doubt my already questionable decision.

  I look at Maddie again.

  Am I doing the wrong thing?

  Like I did when I refused to tell Alistair years ago?

  We haven’t talked about it since that first, painful meeting - but every time I see the way he looks at her, I feel it.

  Everything I spent years justifying to myself…was wrong.

  He’s nothing like the overbearing, demanding father I was expecting. No, instead he’s giving Maddie everything I’ve always wanted for my little girl.

  And I could have been here four years ago. Everything could be so different right now.

  “Jeez, Leah…a black card. I’ve never even seen one of those. Which one was it?”

  I blink at her. “I don’t know - checking it out wasn’t exactly a priority.”

  “It really should’ve been.” She grins.

  “Do you think I did the wrong thing?” I ask, sighing.

  “Yes.”

  Direct and unhesitating as ever.

  “Thanks.” I say dryly.

  “At the very least, you should’ve taken it and bought a house.” She points out. “You could always tear it up after.”

  That startles a laugh out of me.

  “I don’t think you can buy a house with a credit card, Emma.”

  “Who knows - neither of us has ever had one of those cards. Nor will we now.” She says mournfully. “You could’ve at least let me see it.”

  “Em. You are so not focusing on the right thing here. I need to work out what the hell to do about Alistair, and his crazy money, and all the things he keeps trying to do and…and just everything.”

  She rolls her eyes at me.

  “Okay. Let me get this right…you have a crazy-rich, hot-as-sin—”

  “You’ve never even met him.” I interrupt.

  “It’s Alistair Sinclair. I’ve seen the pictures.” She gives me a pointed look. “So, this smoking hot bazillionaire is offering to buy you and your kid anything you want. Yeah…um, sorry, what’s the problem again?”

  “Emmmma.” I drag her name out, complaining, and she laughs at me.

  Sometimes, it’s almost impossible to get her to take anything seriously. Or maybe this is just her way of trying to put things in perspective for me, just a little. She does that too.

  And…maybe it’s working. Just a little bit. When she puts it like that, it does seem ridiculous.

  But I’ve got this distinctly uncomfortable feeling for a reason. And I need to talk about it. With my best friend, damn it.

  “Okay, okay.” She finally relents. “So go on, then. I’ll play the therapist for a bit. Tell me - why didn’t you take this too-good-to-be-true offer? And don’t give me some bullshit about thinking it’s a controlling a-hole move, because I know that you know better than that.”

  She mouths the curses, the way we’ve gotten used to when Maddie is in the room, but the fact she’s using them at all tells
me she’s not about to accept any deflection from me.

  And she’s right. I know I’m over-sensitive as hell about the money-and-power thing - I just can’t seem to shut off that overriding need not to fall into the same patterns as last time - but I didn’t turn Alistair down because I thought he was trying to use that card as a way to control me. I’d have to be a complete idiot to think that was what it was about.

  I’ve seen the way he looks at Maddie, the way he seems determined to take every opportunity to spoil her. Even if I told him to go to hell and did the exact opposite of what he wanted in every possible situation…he’d still be looking for a way to take care of her.

  And, fuck it, I can’t blame him for that. Who the hell could?

  But I refused the card anyway. And, honestly, I’m not even sure why. Especially after talking to Emma - it makes no sense…but I still feel the same way. And I can’t explain it.

  I open my mouth to tell her that. But that’s not what comes out.

  “I kissed him.”

  Her head swivels around, and she stares at me - then the excitement that springs into her eyes makes me immediately regret saying it.

  Unsurprisingly, she doesn’t seem to read complications and mess into that statement - no, I think she’s too caught up in the kissing a billionaire thing.

  “Oh. Em. Gee. Leah, how was that not the first thing you said?” She pauses, then frowns. “Actually, a black credit card…you know, that’s a tough one. I can probably forgive you for that. So, go on, tell me everything. Was it stars exploding in your vision? Fireworks and magic? The moment of reunion you’ve been waiting for, for five years? And how was it only a kiss - if it’d been me, I would’ve been all over—”

  “Emma.” I hiss at her.

  Maddie is still in the room, even if she doesn’t seem the slightest bit interested in our conversation. Thank god.

  “Aw, c’mon, Leah. You can’t tell me that and then expect me to behave. Especially since I haven’t been getting any since I’ve been trying to set up this damned business.” She grins at me.