Baby By The Billionaire - A Standalone Alpha Billionaire Secret Baby Romance (New York City Billionaires - Book #3)

by Alexa Davis

  “Oh, you’re that, too!”

  As he chuckled at me, those butterflies started flapping all over again. He was still teasing me, that much was clear, but I felt like the compliment was genuine, too. And, I didn’t think he said things that didn’t need to be said, or that he didn’t mean, so how the hell was I supposed to take that?

  I wanted to ask him more, to press him to tell me what he thought, but I couldn’t. Not without sounding like a crazy person, so I simply slid back further into the couch instead, ready to watch the movie.

  ***

  This was absolute torture – hell, in fact. Sitting that close to Milo without being able to reach out and touch him damn near killed me. I felt acutely aware of his every single movement, every shift, every time he brushed my arm, even every breath. I was so involved in him, it totally distracted me from the movie, but luckily I’d seen it before. It was a simple enough plot so when he asked me a number of questions about it, I could answer them, making my very clear attraction less obvious to him.

  “So, why did her best friend say that thing at the end?”

  “Weren’t you listening? Because of the diary she found at the beginning.” My heart was pounding in my chest, my mind whirring, but on the outside, I hoped that I looked normal... or as normal as I could be.

  “Oh, right. So, she did want them to end up together? I thought that bit was confusing.” I felt like it said a lot that he was so closely watching, even though it clearly wasn’t his thing. It made me feel... Well, like the mess I’d already become.

  “Of course, it’s a happily ever after. Everyone always wants everyone else to be happy in movies. It isn’t like real life at all.”

  “And, who was the guy with dark hair? The one who walked her down the aisle?”

  “Are you kidding?” I all but screeched. “That was her stepdad, the man who raised her. She asked him to walk her down the aisle because... Oh, you know why. You’re winding me up now.”

  “Oh, right... so...” He wouldn’t be derailed by my accusations, which made it very hard for me not to burst into hysterical laughter.

  “Will you stop?” I chuckled, pushing him playfully. “The plot was so obvious; don’t be so crazy. Plus, it’s late. My eyes are tired. I need to sleep!”

  “Oh, right,” he pouted jokily. “Okay, well, I’ll store up all the questions and ask you them in the morning.”

  “Sure, sounds good.”

  I had to tear myself away to move toward the bedroom, but I just couldn’t sit there anymore. Everything was so confusing; everything was so hard to resist. I was scared that if I didn’t make my escape soon, I would end up doing something that I regretted. I shot him one last, lingering look as I walked away, desperately wishing that things could be different.

  That I could just jump on him and kiss him all over.

  I let out a deep sigh and rested my back against the door while everything ebbed away from me. Having Milo open up to me more than he ever had before, even if I didn’t get any of the real in-depth information that I wanted, had made me feel incredibly special. It made me feel like he liked me, possibly in a way that wasn’t just about friendship.

  Laynee kept telling me not to be so serious, to actually have a bit of fun with Milo, but I just couldn’t do that. Even if I wanted to. There were too many potential complications...

  He would be gone soon enough.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Milo – Friday

  “No, stop it,” I mumbled as the whining sound got increasingly louder. I was in that weird place between dreaming and awake, and I wasn’t quite sure what was real. “Be quiet now.”

  It took me far longer than it should have to recognize that noise as Veil wanting to go outside. He never messed in the house, for which I was obviously extremely grateful, but sometimes, like when it was far too early in the morning, I found it a massive pain.

  I slid my weary body out of bed and grabbed a nearby pair of sweatpants. I wasn’t usually comfortable with wandering around with no shirt on, despite the fact that I’d worked hard for my body, but judging by how the last few days had gone, Eliza would already be on her way to work.

  I sighed deeply and rubbed my sleep-filled eyes, but Veil was becoming more and more insistent, which meant that he was desperate. I shoved the door open and watched him race away but instead of heading straight for the door like I expected him to, he propped himself up by the window instead.

  What is that crazy dog doing? I shook my head bemusedly and followed him, wanting to see what had him so fascinated, expecting to see some form of animal, but what I actually noticed was Eliza’s car slowly moving out of the driveway.

  Shock tore through my body. Is Veil that attached to her? I knew he liked her more than most people, and I was sure that she felt like they had a bond... but did they?

  That was so bizarre, it actually made me feel bad for the fact that eventually, we would have to return home, and I’d be forced to tear them apart. Worrying about the impact that would have on Veil was preferable to thinking how the whole thing would affect me. I had no idea how I was going to take it.

  “Okay, buddy.” I patted Veil’s head, trying my best to do what Eliza did. If it had made Veil like her so much, then maybe I was the one in the wrong. Maybe I should have spent the whole time talking to him, however dumb it made me feel. It wasn’t going to be easy to totally change my habits, but it had to be a start. “She’ll be back soon.”

  I heard a strange tinny sound coming from the bedroom, and in my still sleep-deprived state it took me far too long to recognize that it was my phone ringing, trapped under the sheets somewhere.

  “Fucking hell,” I muttered to myself, racing back into the room. Who the hell is calling me at such a ridiculously early hour? If it was someone from the security company again, I might just lose my mind. I would have to scream at them all over again.

  But it wasn’t; it was Justin. As I looked at his name, I felt bad for abandoning him for so long. Sure, I knew that he wasn’t exactly sitting by the phone, waiting for me to phone, but I probably should have put in some sort of courtesy call. We could have met up for drinks or whatever.

  “Hey, how are you?” I asked, happy to be answering the phone now that I knew it was someone I wanted to talk to.

  “Good, good, just wanted to give you a call... see how things are going in Florence?”

  “Unexpected,” I replied with a small smile playing on my lips. “But good. Are you here at the moment? Did you want to hang out?”

  “Not now, I’m in Portland, but I’ll give you a call when I am. Have you had a chat with Landon yet, seen the fishing company?”

  Oops, I’d been so distracted by Eliza that I honestly hadn’t thought about it. “Actually, I was going to give him a call today,” I bluffed. “I just haven’t had a chance yet.”

  “Things have been good, though, yeah?” He sounded genuinely concerned. He was a good friend, and I felt bad that I’d ever doubted him, even for a second. He did seem keen on this fishing business idea, so I was going to have to do him the decency of at least taking a look. “You’ve been, you know, feeling okay?”

  “I have,” I told him honestly. “I had some bad days when I first started to recover, and it made me wonder if recovery was worth it, but now I barely notice that I was ill at all.”

  That was at least true physically; of course, the mental side effects were still there, but there wasn’t any reason to bombard Milo with that information. “It’s good, and Florence was a good idea, so thank you for that one.”

  “Well, I’m glad. Now, you keep me up to date with Landon, and I’ll give you a call when I’m around, okay?”

  “Yeah... Thanks, man, bye.”

  As I hung up the phone, I felt chastened. I hadn’t bothered with the fishing company at all, and for some of the days I’d been here, I hadn’t done anything. If I didn’t start taking action, then I wouldn’t get anything done, and I’d end up back where I started. I needed to at
least give this Landon character a chance.

  I gripped my phone between my fingers, deciding whether or not to actually call this guy right now, before another idea hit me. I would just go and see him; why the hell not? That way I could get a real view of how his business worked.

  If I gave him notice that I was coming, then I would be presented with the version of it that he wanted me to see. I needed to fully know what I was in for.

  So, with a newfound burst of interest, I made my way toward the bathroom where I could get ready for what the day held.

  ***

  As I parked my car and walked down toward the harbor where I knew the company was located, I felt warm and positive inside. Speaking to Justin had given me the kick in the ass that I so desperately needed, and now I was looking forward to getting started.

  This was definitely the best way, too. I would get to see the business owner and the company without anyone trying to impress me. They would just treat me like any other client.

  Eventually, I spotted the sign for “Landon’s,” which was very basic and gave me nothing, but I wouldn’t judge based on that. I’d been around for long enough to know first impressions weren’t always exactly correct.

  I pushed the front door open with a loud click, and the intense scent of fish filled my nostrils. I didn’t mind the smell exactly, it wasn’t unbearable, but I just wasn’t used to it. I had to try hard to keep my expression blank as I spoke to the casual-looking guy sitting behind the desk.

  “Hi, my name is Milo.” As I said that, I hoped that Justin hadn’t mentioned me coming. “I just wanted to speak to the owner of the place – Landon, I assume?”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s me.” As he stood up, I felt shocked. He was in his early twenties, far too young to be running such an empire. Then I recalled the fact that I was doing much bigger things at his age; it just seemed different when it was me. “How can I help you?”

  “I want to know a little bit more about the place. I’m new in town, and I’ve heard that your fish is the best.” I said this as smoothly as I could, hoping and praying that he would just accept that excuse.

  “Oh, sure.” He grinned brightly at me, and my instincts were instantly drawn to him. I started to remember a time when I did whatever my gut told me – and it was mostly right; it got me far in business.

  If I were to go with that theory again, then Landon would be a very investable character. I got a sense that he treated his customers very well, and that he felt an incredible passion for the job.

  “Well, depending on how much information you want, we actually run tours every so often. They cost a bit, but are good. I can schedule you for Monday, if you like?”

  Well, I wasn’t going to get a better offer than that! I didn’t mind paying to get to know the ins and outs of this place. Landon might have been very investable, but I was brand new to the game this time around, and I wanted far more information.

  “Yeah, sounds great. Thank you. So, how long have you been here?” I leaned on the counter and smiled serenely at him. “It’s a great town, and everyone seems to know each other well. I’m just hoping I’ll fit in.”

  “Oh, you’ll love it. I’ve lived here my whole life and started the company as soon as I left school. I always knew that I’d end up out on the water in some way, but I didn’t want to work for someone else.” He smiled, almost as if he was sharing a joke with himself. “I was never the sort of person who could have a boss.”

  “Well, you’ve certainly done well for yourself. This is impressive,” I indicated around the place. “And for such a young person, too.”

  “Well, work hard, and you’ll go far.” He shrugged as if it was obvious, an attitude which I liked. It was the people who wanted to get rich quick that I didn’t trust so much. They were the slacker types who would fail when things didn’t quite go to plan.

  “Well, I certainly look forward to learning more on Monday!” I exclaimed, wanting to back away toward the door. If I didn’t leave soon, I would end up asking too many in-depth questions, revealing the truth of where my interest lay.

  “See you at seven a.m.”

  As we shook hands and I walked outside once more, I still felt good about the whole thing. Maybe I would decide to invest, maybe I wouldn’t, but I was sure it would be a good experience either way. Especially when I thought about the way that I heard him talk to a member of his staff as I edged my way out the door. He knew people, he had his head screwed on, and he seemed very aware that a happy workforce was the best way to get any productivity.

  I just hoped it would be enough. I didn’t like the idea of seeing something that put me off Landon, not when I thought so highly of him and his business.

  I didn’t used to have a big involvement with the companies that I invested in, aside from the money side of things, but if I did pick Landon as someone I wanted to give money to, then maybe I would have to make the odd visit. I could even get my hair cut while I was here...

  Oh God, what is wrong with me? I couldn’t come back for fleeting visits with Eliza. I didn’t think that she was that type of girl at all. Plus, someone would snap her up soon enough; she was awesome and it was a miracle someone hadn’t realized that already. And there was no way that I could suffer the indignity of being her friend while she fell in love with someone else. I figured that I would always feel that spark between us.

  No, one trip to Florence was, unfortunately, going to have to be enough. Once I went back to Vegas, that would be where I’d have to stay.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Eliza – Friday

  I had the envelope clutched tightly between my fingers as I walked into the salon with a big smile on my face.

  Milo had paid me the rent for his time in Florence, and it was a crazy amount. I had added it up a few times and insisted that it was too much, even if he was overpaying the asking price by three times just to have Veil stay, but he kept telling me that it was right and that I was wrong.

  It wasn’t though, and I didn’t know how to thank him for it. I wanted to find a way, the best way, but I had some red bills that desperately needed paying first. This would help me to catch up. I would finally be on top of things for the first time in forever, and there was no better feeling in the world than that.

  I would always feel grateful to Milo for that: he’d practically saved my life! He’d certainly rescued my business for the time being.

  I made a few phone calls, stuffed a few envelopes, and sorted out a few things online while I waited for Laynee to join me. By the time she walked through the door, I felt lighter than air. It made me realize how heavy the weight was on my shoulders, how hard I’d found the struggle with money. The idea to rent out the cabin had been the best one yet.

  “Hey, how are you?” I grinned brightly, my cheeks flushing with excitement. “It’s great to see you.”

  “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, looking at me suspiciously while she dropped her bag on the nearest chair. “Why are you all happy? Oh, my God!” Her expression lit up as if a realization had just hit her. “Did you get some last night? Are you and Milo finally hooking up? Thank God! How is he?” She slid into the chair and leaned on her elbows as she waited for me to tell her a sordid story.

  Feeling wicked, I leaned in closer and stage whispered my reply. “You wouldn’t believe it. He’s incredible; we did it all night long. He gave me pleasure like I never knew existed; my body opened up like a flower...”

  “Oh, stop it,” she hissed, hitting me on the arm, seeing right through the façade. “You did not. I wish you would, though. The sexual tension is driving me mad, and it isn’t even mine!”

  I considered that for a moment, thinking about the overpowering atmosphere that Milo and I always found ourselves in. It was hard to deal with. Not that I would admit that aloud, especially not to big-mouthed Laynee! If Milo ever did come in here for a haircut, she would tell him for sure, trying to be helpful.

  “No.” I forced a bland smile on my face, t
rying to cover up the truth of my feelings. “Nothing happened, but he did give me some rent money, so I have been able to pay some stuff off. It feels good to be back in the black with everything now; it makes me feel more positive for the year. If things keep going well, then we can start expanding like we so desperately want to.”

  “Do we have many in today?”

  “Nope,” I replied. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to let anything get me down today. We’re just going to keep on being positive, and things will start looking up. While we wait for everyone to rush in here demanding to get their hair done, why don’t you tell me a little more about what’s happening with Marc?”

  From the way that her face fell, I could tell that it wasn’t going to be great news and guilt washed over me. Why did I bring him up when I knew that it was going to end up this way soon enough? I should have just waited for her to tell me when she felt ready.

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged, crestfallen. “He just doesn’t seem as into me as he once did. I can’t help wondering what I’ve done wrong.”

  I grabbed her shoulders and stared deeply into her eyes. “If the guy isn’t falling at your feet, then he’s an absolute idiot. You have done nothing wrong. You’re incredible.”

  “If that were true, then he would want me, wouldn’t he?” I hated this guy – what the hell was his problem? If he wasn’t careful, I would march down and have a very unpleasant word with him. “I just don’t get it.”

  “I know it’s hard now – just remember how I was about Josh and I didn’t even care about him that much – but someone will come along soon enough, someone who is actually worthy of your time. There isn’t any point in worrying over someone who is so worthless.”

  “Like Milo, you mean.” Oh great; we are back to that. “Are you going to give him his money’s worth now that he’s paid the rent?” She winked and shot me a wicked smile, but I only scowled back.