The Prince's ASAP Baby

by Holly Rayner

  Did he just offer to rent out my uterus?

  It was worse than that. He wanted to buy her baby. It was like something out of a bad movie. She couldn’t even begin to think about the implications. She would have to be impregnated one way or another. Who would take care of her during her pregnancy? Would it be anything more to him than a business arrangement?

  Enough. You aren’t going to do it, so it doesn’t matter.

  But one million dollars was a lot of money, and the thought made her stomach twirl. She’d never have to go crawling back to her parents. She could go back to school for whatever she wanted—no debt necessary. She could take online classes. She could move to another state. She could move to another country. There would be no limits. She could start a new life.

  But you’re not doing it.

  No. She wasn’t doing it. Eva wasn’t that desperate. Not yet.

  To her shock, the chauffeur who’d driven her was waiting outside.

  “Ready to go home?”

  “No,” she said calmly, though her voice still shook. “I don’t want anything else from Filipe di Benici. Thank you.”

  Eva passed the chauffeur and began walking down the sidewalk. She had no idea where she was going, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to get as far away as she could.

  She pledged never to set foot in another bar again, especially a bar like Oasis. No more living the high life. She just wanted to live her life. The high life was too complicated and twisted for her to even begin to understand.

  Eva found a subway station, swiped her card, and headed home—where strangers didn’t ask for babies.

  On the way, she prayed she would never see or hear from Prince Filipe di Benici again.

  Chapter Ten

  The next week was perhaps the worst of Eva’s life.

  It all started with a closing shift at Gustavo’s on Wednesday night. Now that Chris knew her schedule was wide open, he took the liberty of giving her more opens and closes (for experience, he told her).

  He’d been training her around seven o’clock in the evening, helping her make drinks for the first time, when things started to go wrong. In the past, she’d only been allowed to work the register. Making drinks was entirely new. She was nervous and vulnerable. It didn’t help that she couldn’t shake Filipe from her mind.

  Everywhere she looked, he seemed to be there. That afternoon, her first customer ordered a caramel macchiato in a voice that sounded like Filipe. She knew it wasn’t him, but the thought made her body feel weak. Eva dropped the man’s change all over the floor. She was so flustered that she didn’t even offer to help pick it up.

  Now, she was running in circles trying to make drinks for the evening rush. Chris talked her through each order, but it wasn’t enough. She made mistake after mistake.

  “You’re going to fire me,” she said after her eighth remake. “Aren’t you?”

  Chris shook his head and continued to teach. It seemed like nothing could phase him. Even if she poured an entire pot of coffee on his head, he would give her another chance. She wondered if this went beyond a crush. Maybe he was determined to make his new hires last. Upper management would be watching, after all.

  Besides, Chris wasn’t flirting. He was completely focused on the craft, giving her tips and tricks to make the job easier. He didn’t ask her out once—nor did he mention the things he knew about her. It was nice. For the first time in a long time, Eva felt like she had a friend.

  But she was still a terrible barista. And she was alone.

  To her great surprise, Eva found herself longing for Filipe. She pushed the thought away. He didn’t care about her. He just wanted a baby.

  “I’m going to run to the restroom,” Chris said. “It looks like things are dying down, at least for a minute. You’re doing great. I’ll be right back.”

  Before Eva had a chance to protest, he was gone. She was alone behind the counter. The shop was empty. At first, she waited for someone to come. Then, she took to cleaning the coffee machine, letting her mind wander and ultimately settle on Filipe.

  Why couldn’t she get him out of her head? There was clearly something wrong with him. Who asked a stranger—okay, maybe not a stranger, but a woman he barely knew—to have their child? And it was even worse than that. He wanted to keep the baby for himself. What kind of woman would agree to those terms?

  A woman who has never wanted children in the first place.

  But Filipe didn’t want a woman like that. He already had Luiza.

  To be fair, it wasn’t the horrid conversation about buying babies that made Eva think about Filipe. Quite the opposite, it seemed to block any memories she tried to bring to the surface.

  Eva thought about Filipe because he was gentle and kind. Despite everything he’d said, his heart was in the right place. He understood her. In fact, he supported her—even though she was a college dropout two months away from being homeless. That didn’t seem normal for a prince, not that she had a frame of reference.

  That realization made her miss him desperately. Chris was decent to her. He trained her and accepted her. But Filipe understood her. She wondered if she’d ever find anyone else like that.

  But then, whenever she thought about meeting someone new, she remembered the kiss they shared on the balcony of his hotel room. She thought about the way his hand felt against hers, and the way he ran his fingers through her hair.

  The thought was almost enough to loosen her resolve, but Eva stood strong. She wasn’t going to endure nine months of pregnancy and a tragic separation just to get closer to a man she couldn’t have.

  But maybe he’d fall in love with you.

  It didn’t matter. He might fall in love with her, but he would still take the baby and leave. Of that, she was certain. He was stuck in whatever lie of a life he’d created for himself. There was no escaping now. And she knew, even if he offered, that being his permanent mistress wouldn’t be enough. She couldn’t be the woman who waited on a man, especially not while he raised her child.

  The whole situation was a complete mess. She didn’t even know if Filipe felt as strongly about her as she felt about him. Sure, they’d had some deep conversations. And yeah, he’d said their night meant something to him. He’d even said that she was special. But she’d heard all of that before. It didn’t mean anything. Not until he actually did something to prove it.

  Which he won’t, Eva reminded herself, because you’re never going to see him again.

  “Excuse me?”

  Her head snapped up. There was a man standing at the counter, ready to order.

  Great. Chris leaves me alone for five minutes, and I’m going to blow it.

  “Can I help you?” Eva asked.

  She recognized the man. He was a regular at Gustavo’s. He liked wearing plaid shirts, black jeans, and designer shoes. Eva thought he was probably a college student. He spent a good portion of his time in the coffeehouse, typing away on his laptop. She guessed he was twenty-four or twenty-five, maybe working on a graduate degree. He was cute—the kind of guy she might have dated in high school, if he’d been nice enough.

  “I’d like an espresso,” he said.

  Eva smiled, partially for customer service purposes and partially because she was relieved. Espressos were easier to make than any other drink on the menu. Take a shot glass, shove it under the machine, and voila! Done.

  “No problem,” she said. “I’ll get that for you right now.”

  “Thanks,” the man said.

  Eva started the process, trying not to think about Filipe as she went.

  Focus on the guy in front of you.

  When she handed the espresso over, the man smiled.

  “I like your style,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” Eva asked, caught off guard.

  “The way you dance around back there,” he said. “I think it’s cute.”

  Eva was taken aback. She wasn’t aware that she danced while she worked. She was a little loose with he
r feet, but she wouldn’t call it stylish.

  “Thanks,” she said. “That’ll be two dollars, even.”

  The man handed her a credit card. She swiped it and passed it back.

  “My name is Nick, by the way,” he said. “What’s yours?”

  “Eva,” she answered.

  “That’s pretty,” he said. “Do you think I could take you out sometime, Eva?”

  Normally, Eva would have said no. In fact, she wouldn’t have even considered it. She’d promised never to use her customer base as a dating pool. But she was so desperate to erase Filipe from her mind that she was willing to see just about anyone. She would have said yes to Chris, had he asked again.

  “I don’t see why not,” she said, offering a wider smile. “I get off at ten.”

  “Know any nice places around here?”

  “There’s a pizzeria around the corner,” Eva said. “It’s open late.”

  “Nah, I meant a place where we can get some drinks.”

  Eva was tempted to tell him about a sleazy bar two blocks away, but she bit her lip. She’d promised herself she’d never set foot in another bar, and she meant it. She couldn’t handle another Filipe. She wasn’t even sure she could handle this guy.

  “They have drinks at the pizzeria,” she said. “The only bar in the area sucks, and I have an early morning tomorrow. Besides, I haven’t eaten all day. You wouldn’t have me starve, would you?”

  She was trying to be playful, but her voice caught in her throat. Something about Nick made her nervous—and not in a good way.

  Nick looked slightly put off, but smiled back all the same.

  “Of course not,” he said. “I’ll meet you there. Ten, right?”

  “Right,” Eva said.

  He took his espresso and left the shop without saying another word. Eva was relieved. She wasn’t sure how long she could keep up the playful banter.

  A few seconds later, Chris returned. He was holding two water bottles in his hands.

  “Thought you might be thirsty,” he said, passing one over. His voice was strained.

  “Parched actually, thanks,” Eva said. She opened the bottle and took a long drink. When she finished, she noticed how pale his face had become.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” Chris said, not looking at her. “Who was that guy?”

  “That?” Eva asked, gesturing toward the door. “It’s no big deal. He’s a regular.”

  “I know he’s a regular,” Chris said. “But who is he?”

  “Is this a quiz?”

  “Did he ask you out?”

  Eva didn’t say anything. She had no idea what to say. Chris looked angrier than she’d ever seen him—even more than when he’d caught her former coworker stealing money from the register.

  “Did I do something wrong here?” Eva asked. “Is there a policy that says I can’t date customers? If there is, I’ll blow him off. I don’t mind. I wasn’t trying to break any rules.”

  “You’re unbelievable,” Chris huffed, turning toward the staff room.

  Eva’s heart was racing. Was he jealous that she’d accepted an invitation from someone else? If so, he was overreacting. She would happily have ditched Nick. If he was so upset, why didn’t he just ask her out himself?

  He did, nitwit. You said no. About a million times.

  But she would have said yes, now.

  No. You aren’t interested in him romantically. You’d just hurt him.

  Still, she didn’t want to lose Chris as a friend. She needed him now more than ever.

  “Chris,” she said. “I can explain.”

  “Not here,” he grumbled without turning around. “Not in front of customers.”

  “Then talk to me in the staff room.”

  “Fine.”

  Chris placed a break sign on the counter. The place was beginning to clear out. She doubted anyone would notice.

  They retreated to the staff room. Everyone else had gone home, taking their belongings with them. It was oddly empty now.

  “All right,” Chris said, shutting the door behind them. “What?”

  “I want to understand,” Eva said. “Why are you so upset?”

  “Don’t do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “Start acting helpless,” Chris said. “You do it whenever you want to be let off the hook. But this is your fault. I have every right to be upset.”

  “Can you please just tell me why?”

  “Are you really this stupid?” Chris asked. “Or do you just want other people to think so?”

  “What are you—”

  “You know I have feelings for you, Eva,” Chris said. “You’ve known since I hired you. And I tried not to let them get in the way. I even trusted you when you lied to me. Then, when you finally came clean, I did my best to help you. I’m trying to train you and make you more comfortable. And this is how you repay me.”

  “If you’re talking about Nick—”

  “Oh, it has a name?”

  Eva was shocked. She’d never seen Chris act this way. He was sarcastic and bitter and spiteful. It scared her. She didn’t want to believe that someone so kind could be turned so quickly.

  Maybe she’d screwed up. Maybe she hadn’t considered how Chris would feel. But he was acting like she’d cheated on him, and she hadn’t promised him anything more than a working relationship.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Eva asked. “I thought we were starting to be friends.”

  “Friends? I never wanted to be friends.”

  “Do you realize how awful that sounds?”

  “Do you realize how awful you’ve been?”

  Eva was in tears.

  “I can explain,” she said. “I can explain about Nick.”

  She was prepared to tell him everything. She would tell him about her weekend with Filipe and the insane offer he’d made. It might not make Chris feel better, but at least it would make sense. At least he would understand why she’d agreed to go on a date the first person who’d asked.

  “Explain what?” Chris spat. “That you’d rather go out with a stranger than me? That you’ve been lying to me from day one? You told me you weren’t ready to date. That you had too much going on. That you wanted to get to know someone first. And yet, here we are.”

  “But I can explain that,” Eva said. “Chris, please, you’re my friend. I want you to be my friend. I need you to be my friend.”

  “I’m not your friend,” Chris said. “Friends don’t lie to each other.”

  “You’re the only person who knows the truth about me,” she said. “I don’t have anyone else. Not in the city. Not in Brooklyn. Nowhere. I can’t risk losing you.”

  “You haven’t known me that long,” he said. “You’ll get over it.”

  “Chris, please.”

  He opened the door and left. Eva sunk down onto one of the wooden benches and began to sob. She’d never been so miserable. Everything with Filipe had gone wrong. Now, she’d hurt Chris. Depending on how badly she’d hurt him, she might be losing her job. It was all going south.

  Eva wasn’t sure how long she sat there crying, but when Chris came in again, it was nearly nine.

  “I can finish the close,” he said, not making eye contact. “You should go home and get some sleep.”

  “No,” Eva said, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “I’m not doing that to you. We need to talk.”

  “I’m not letting my customers see you like this,” Chris said firmly. “We aren’t going to talk. There’s nothing to talk about. Just go home, okay?”

  He shut the door. Eva began to cry even harder. How had she reached this point in her life? Was there a way back to where she’d been? If there was, it was probably too late to use it.

  Still crying, she changed into street clothes and shoes. She rinsed her face in the corner sink and took a few deep breaths.

  Her “date” wasn’t expecting her for another forty-five minutes. She didn’t have any way to cancel. He had
n’t left a phone number. She could go home. Nick was a smart guy. Or, at least, he seemed like one. He would be okay. And, if she saw him again, she would explain.

  But she couldn’t do that. She knew how it felt to be abandoned—to look forward to something, only to have it taken away. Miserable or not, she would meet Nick for their date. Maybe he would be able to turn her night around.

  Somehow, she doubted it.

  Eva shoved her uniform into her locker and grabbed her purse. She wasn’t going to sit there crying until Chris came back. She could, but it wouldn’t do any good. They would just fight more. Maybe, if she left him alone, he would calm down. Her father had that kind of temper. It was something she could understand.

  If he refused to talk to her by Friday, though, she’d have to start looking for a new job. She couldn’t continue working in this kind of environment. She’d been through enough already. She’d find something else, put in her two weeks, and make a swift transition. But only if Chris made it necessary.

  Eva pulled herself together and left the staff room.

  Outside, Chris was closing the store early. The doors were already locked. The lobby had completely emptied. It wasn’t even nine-thirty.

  “What are you doing?” Eva asked, genuinely concerned. “We’re only supposed to close early in emergency situations, right?”

  “Yeah,” Chris said, not looking up from the register. “I need to leave. That’s emergency enough.”

  Eva debated over what to do next. She could try to reason with him, or she could walk out. If she walked out, he might think she didn’t care. If she tried to reason with him, he might start yelling at her again. Either way, she stood to lose.

  She chose the course of action.

  “Chris, I really think you need to hear what I have to say.”

  “I’m done,” Chris said. “I’ve heard all of your stories. I know every single one of your excuses. If you weren’t interested in me, you should have just said so.”

  “Fine,” Eva said. “I don’t like you that way. But I want to be your friend, Chris. And if you ever want me to feel something for you, you need to think about the way you treat me. I’ve never seen you be this mean. I didn’t think you were capable of it. I don’t know that I’m ever going to look at you the same way again. You’re a different person to me, now.”