The Billionaire's Unexpected Baby

by Kira Archer

  Chris looked back and forth between them. “What is it?”

  “It’s nothing,” Brooks said.

  Harrison shrugged. “Says you. But your opinion is a little biased, now, isn’t it?”

  Brooks glared at him, but that only made Harrison smile wider.

  “What?” he finally asked.

  Harrison shrugged. “Sorry, mate. Just never thought I’d see this side of you, that’s all.”

  “And what side would that be?” He picked up his beer to chug it down.

  “The whole domesticated-bliss-happy-monogamous thing. Don’t get me wrong. It suits you. Just not something I ever expected, that’s all.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Brooks said.

  Except that was a lie. He knew exactly what Harrison meant. Leah had been living with him for two months now and she had completely changed his world. Turned it upside down in a tornado of domesticity that would put Martha Stewart to shame. There was floral-scented shampoo in the shower, makeup everywhere, soft pillows on every available sitting or sleeping surface, candles on every other available flat surface, even curtains on his windows for fuck’s sake.

  And don’t even get him started on the books. The woman had stacks of them everywhere. She’d filled the two bookshelves in his apartment and still he swore every time she came home she had another stack. She was a total neat freak so it’s not like they were all over the apartment. But she had begun to stack them up against his walls so it looked as if one whole room was wallpapered in a book motif. How she found the time to read any of them, he didn’t know.

  Somehow she managed to work a full day at the school, come home and cook dinner, and she couldn’t seem to stop straightening up around the house. According to one of the books she’d left lying around, she was nesting, though instead of it being an end of the pregnancy thing, she was going full tilt all the way through. He wouldn’t be surprised if his poor housekeeper quit out of sheer boredom.

  He would never admit it to his friends, but he was happy, despite all of that. He hadn’t had a date with another woman, let alone anything else, since the moment she walked into his life, and he didn’t miss it. Oh, he had a massive list of things he wanted to do with her the moment the doctor cleared them, but other women hadn’t even crossed his mind.

  “See. There it is again,” Harrison said.

  Brooks looked back up at him.

  “What?”

  Cole chuckled. “You’re grinning like a…how did you put it when you first met her? A twitterpated Disney princess?”

  “I never said twitterpated,” he grumbled. “And I was joking.”

  Harrison shrugged. “I don’t think you’re joking anymore, mate.”

  He sighed. “Okay, fine. Yes, it’s nice to come home and have a home-cooked meal with a person who can hold an intelligent conversation. But other than that, the woman is driving me insane. I had the perfect bachelor pad and she is turning it into Mother Goose Central. I found a contraption the other day that I thought was supposed to be for some kinky game she wanted to play. Turned out the damn thing was a breast pump. I didn’t know you could even pump a breast.”

  Cole was full out laughing at this point. Brooks glared at him and he held his hands up in defense.

  “Sorry. I don’t mean to laugh at your pain, but it’s kind of nice to have someone else in the same boat for once. Just wait until she’s further along. Then things start to get real interesting.”

  Brooks could only imagine. Then again… “I’m not sure she’ll still be here by then.”

  Harrison frowned at him. “Why is that? You didn’t cock it up already, did you?”

  Brooks snorted. “Surprisingly, no. I don’t think. But even if I haven’t, this arrangement was never supposed to be permanent.”

  Cole frowned. “Have you two discussed her moving out?”

  “No.” He took another drink of his beer to hide his frown. The thought of her leaving filled him with emotions he didn’t want to look at too closely. All he knew was that he didn’t want her to go. “But we said we were only doing it to make sure she kept her job and things seem to be going well in that department. My place isn’t set up for a baby. She’s already almost halfway through her pregnancy. I’m sure she’ll want to be settled in her own place before the baby comes.”

  “Sure,” Harrison said. “Or you could make your place what she needs.”

  Cole pointed to him. “Now that’s what I call a good idea.”

  “What do you mean?” Brooks asked.

  “I mean,” Harrison said, “you said your place isn’t really set up for a baby. That doesn’t mean that can’t change. Go get what she needs. If your place won’t work, get another place.”

  “Are you serious? It took years to get my place to the perfect pad of perfection that it is. Besides,” Brooks said, shaking his head, “this is a temporary arrangement. I’m not going to change everything about my life to accommodate a woman who has no intention of staying in it. I like my apartment the way it is. It’s one hundred percent suited to my needs and it’s going to stay that way.”

  Harrison shook his head. “Well, not that my opinion counts, being the only single bloke in the bunch, but I think you’re an idiot.”

  That made Brooks raise an eyebrow or two. “Well, damn, don’t sugarcoat it for me or anything.”

  “Sorry,” Harrison said. “But I find it idiotic that you’ve got it all and you are totally willing to throw it away.”

  The unfairness of that comment sparked an anger in Brooks that he tried to keep a handle on. He knew Harrison didn’t mean anything by it and was probably even trying to help. But it pissed him off anyway.

  “The only thing I’ve got is a full house,” he said, throwing down his cards. “Pay up.”

  He grinned at the groans of his friends, though he knew the expression didn’t reach his eyes. He’d never felt less like smiling in his life. He excused himself from the table for a minute and went into the restroom. If he was honest with himself—something he rarely did as it never ended well—he would admit that Harrison’s comment stung so much because it was true. Only it wasn’t because he was willing to throw everything away. He just had no choice about it.

  They were getting along, great, yes, but she didn’t want to stay with him. She’d never made any mention of anything of the kind. And no matter what he thought he wanted, he wouldn’t be any good for her in the long run, either, let alone a baby. He’d never inflict himself on some poor defenseless child. Even if he wanted to, there was no way in hell any sort of relationship was going to work with Marcus in the picture. With him and Marcus playing Daddy One and Daddy Two? Marcus pulling his backstabbing snake routine every chance he got? Only with the baby in the middle? That kid would be in therapy before he hit kindergarten. And that was the best-case scenario. No way was that dynamic in any way, shape, or form healthy for the baby. Or anyone else.

  So no, he wasn’t throwing anything away, because he couldn’t throw away what he’d never had. It didn’t matter how much he wished the opposite was true.

  He rejoined the boys and waited for his new hand to be dealt.

  “So how are things going with Marcus?” Cole asked.

  “Marcus?” Chris asked.

  “Marcus Cassidy. The baby daddy.”

  “Wait, Marcus Cassidy as in the Marcus Cassidy? The guy who developed that designated driver taxi app and whose family runs half of the city?”

  “No,” Brooks said, tossing his chips into the pile with a great deal more force than necessary. “The guy who stole that designated driver taxi app after we developed it together and then used his family’s money to lawyer up when I was too poor to do the same.”

  Harrison’s eyes widened. “He’s the baby daddy?”

  Brooks stared at him and he whistled and threw his chips into the pot. “Damn. Brutal.”

  Brooks shrugged. “Doesn’t make any difference to me.”

  “How can that possibly
not make any difference?” Chris asked.

  “Why should it? It’s a fake marriage, remember? She’s free to do what she likes.” Though the thought of Leah doing anything, even speaking, with Marcus made Brooks’s blood boil.

  “Well, shouldn’t you warn her that the guy is a snake?” Harrison said.

  Brooks sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “My issues with the guy shouldn’t affect her. As long as he treats her decently, I’m going to stay out of it. She’s got enough to deal with.”

  Cole’s brows raised. “That’s mature of you.”

  “Yeah, who knew I had it in me.” He tossed down two pair. “Now, maybe you guys should pay more attention to the game before I walk out of here with even more of your money.”

  He grinned, grateful to the good hand for giving him a reason to change the subject. The truth was he didn’t want Marcus within a hundred miles of Leah. But what choice did he have? The guy was the baby’s father. He had more right to be in the picture than Brooks did, no matter how he felt about him.

  He’d just have to learn to live with it.

  Or move on.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Leah looked in the full-length mirror, turning from side to side with a grimace. Brooks had been doing an amazing job at keeping up his side of the bargain, more so than she’d thought he would, especially now that Marcus was back and making a concerted effort to insert himself into Leah’s life. It was something she could tell Brooks loathed, though he never said a word against Marcus.

  Instead, Brooks picked her up from work most days, making sure to wave to the nuns when he did so. He came to the school functions, helping her out with anything she needed, and even stopped by the school a few times to bring her lunch. As far as anyone at school could tell, he was a loving, devoted husband and excited father-to-be. The hope and longing that never seemed to disappear crept back into her heart but she squashed it viciously. There was no room for nonsense like that.

  Even if he were to do a total one-eighty and turn from the world’s biggest bachelor into a happy, devoted family man, it didn’t change the fact that Leah had no right to be by his side. She had no place in his world. He may have started with the same humble background as her, but that was a very long time in the past. He was a freaking billionaire, co-founder of some company that did things she didn’t even begin to understand. He wasn’t just part of some other world—he was in a whole different galaxy. And the gala they were going to that night only proved her point.

  She had to make a good impression for him. Cole was still on paternity leave with Kiersten and the baby, so it was the first event where Brooks would be representing their firm solo. He needed to prove he could be the responsible face of the company, and Leah needed to play her part by his side.

  She’d gone shopping with Kiersten to get a dress for the night. She had wanted to go to someplace like Nordstrom. Well, Target had been the first thought in her mind, but she knew something that off-the-rack wouldn’t cut it. But apparently even a store like Nordstrom, which she could never afford on her own, was still far beneath the realm of the people they’d be seeing that night.

  Kiersten had taken her to a couture shop where a woman had taken a one-of-a-kind gown and fit it to Leah’s body. Her bloated, pregnant, bulging body. Kiersten had assured her she looked beautiful in the midnight-blue floor-length gown but it was far too tight for Leah’s comfort. Not that she could show up in the baggy sweats that were all she wanted to wear after a long day at work, of course. But the revealing gown was something Leah would have never chosen for herself.

  The off-the-shoulder neckline showed way more cleavage than she had even known she’d possessed. Though, a few months ago she hadn’t possessed it so that could be why. Then, instead of flaring like the shapeless tent she wished it was, the material hugged her body, accentuating her baby bump and flowing to the floor in a river of sapphire satin.

  The heels that she had to wear with the dress were another problem. Leah loved a good pair of heels as much as the next girl and the shop assistants had kept them modest-sized just to be on the careful side. No one wanted her taking a tumble with the precious cargo she carried. But still, between her nerves and her changing center of gravity, Leah wasn’t sure her heel-walking skills were up to par.

  She stood staring at herself in the mirror, trying to think of an excuse that would get her out of going. But Brooks had done everything and more that he had promised. She had promised to help him at work, show that he could be a responsible, fully functioning adult that another responsible, fully functioning adult would choose to marry. She needed to suck it up and go.

  The door opened behind her and Brooks walked in, stopping short when he saw her standing there. She watched his eyes rove from her feet to her head, his mouth slightly open, then met his gaze in the mirror.

  “Is it all right?” she asked.

  He gave her a faint smile. “Woman, you are so far from all right it’s not even funny.”

  She frowned a little at that, trying to figure out what he meant.

  He came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “You are absolutely breathtaking.”

  She released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Thank you.”

  She smiled a bit as he continued to look her up and down. The stark admiration in his eyes went a long way to build her confidence.

  “You are missing one thing, though,” he said.

  She frowned. He pulled a long velvet box out of his jacket pocket and she couldn’t help but smile, flashes of scenes from Pretty Woman going through her head. She opened the box, her heart skipping with excitement, only to frown down into the empty velvet interior.

  “Really?” she said. She should have known he was going to prank her.

  He grinned and held up his other hand from which dangled a diamond necklace with a teardrop sapphire pendant. “Kiersten told me the color of your dress. I thought this might match well.”

  She sucked in a breath as he placed the gems around her neck, her hand trembling slightly as she touched the beautiful stones.

  “Brooks, this is incredible, thank you. You didn’t buy this, did you? It’s on loan or something?”

  “Don’t worry,” he said with a wink. “It was on sale.”

  She frowned a little, knowing she couldn’t accept something so extravagant. But before she could say anything else he pulled out another box from his pocket, much smaller this time, and placed it in her hands.

  “So were these.”

  She opened them to find a pair of matching earrings—small teardrop sapphires dangling from a short string of glistening diamonds.

  “Oh, Brooks,” she said, but he shook his head and pressed a quick kiss to her temple.

  “Stop complaining and put them on. Honestly, I’ve never met a more stubborn woman. A guy gives you jewelry, just smile and say thank you.”

  She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

  “See. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  She laughed and put the earrings on.

  “Are you ready?”

  She glanced at herself one more time and took a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be, I suppose.”

  “Don’t worry. It won’t be that bad. And we don’t have to stay long. Just enough to make an appearance, say hi to a few people, and show them that all their preconceptions about me were totally wrong and I am, indeed, the most awesome person on the planet.”

  She grinned. “So, we’re never leaving?”

  “Laugh it up, Mrs. Larson. You’re the one stuck with me. For the time being, anyway.”

  “Lucky me,” she said. And if she sounded like she meant that…well, she wasn’t going to examine that too closely.

  She picked up her velvet wrap and he took it from her, helping her drape it around her shoulders.

  “Shall we, Mrs. Larson?” he said, holding out his elbow for her to take.

  Those words always sent a little thrill through her heart no matter h
ow hard she tried to stop it. A meaningless title she wouldn’t have for much longer shouldn’t affect her so much. But it did. Every time.

  She took his arm and smiled up at him. “Lead the way, Mr. Larson.”

  Leah stood holding her glass of ginger ale, watching as some of the biggest movers and shakers in the city, hell, in the country, floated past her in gowns and tuxedos that probably cost more than she made in a year. And since her own gown fell into that category, she knew she wasn’t just being catty. She had never felt so out of place in her life.

  They had Bono on the stage providing the music, and she was pretty sure she had even seen Angelina Jolie chatting it up in the corner with a few of her celebrity friends. If Oprah showed up, Leah was going to call it quits then and there. Brooks, on the other hand, fit right in. Well, in some ways. In others, he stood out from the crowd. Literally. He stood head and shoulders above most of the men in there and his tux hugged every line and plane of his body as if it had been made for him.

  She took a sip of her drink, hoping it would calm her stomach. She had no idea what to say to these people. They had absolutely nothing in common. But she’d better figure it out quick because a small group of ladies were heading her way.

  “So,” one said, a blonde with hair so elaborately styled it had to be a wig and boobs that Leah would kill for. “You’re the one who snagged Brooks.”

  The woman looked her up and down, making it very clear what she thought about Brooks’s choice. Leah might have been more uncomfortable than she’d ever been in her life, but that didn’t mean she was going to stand there and let some woman walk all over her.

  “Yes,” she said. “Isn’t he lucky? I’m Leah Larson.” She held out her hand. “And you are?”

  The woman blinked, mouth dropped open in a little O, obviously surprised that Leah didn’t recognize her. And she should be—her face was plastered over most of the magazines and billboards in the city. Many of those pictures had been with Brooks, once upon a time. Leah knew exactly who she was, but she didn’t have any intention of passing on that knowledge.