A Baby for the Billionaire Read online

  “Maybe he’ll settle down himself.”

  The wailing got louder.

  “Or maybe he’ll shout the whole building down,” she said.

  With a sigh, he pushed himself up.

  “I guess that’s that,” she said, smoothing her dress back into place.

  He arched a brow right before wrapping a hand behind her nape and pulling her in for a last, heated kiss.

  “To be continued,” he said against her lips.

  “I like the sound of that.”

  He gave her a half smile before rising to his feet. Draping herself over the back of the couch, she watched him walk away.

  “Are you going to work tomorrow?” he asked when he reached the doorway.

  “I have to drop off my article.”

  “All right then, how about you come straight home after.”

  “Why?

  His smile turned into a full grin. “Because I’m taking you out.”

  “You are?”

  “Hurry home.”

  With a wink, he disappeared up the stairs to take care of Hunter.

  Clara flopped back down on the couch, touching her fingers to her lips.

  A date with Walker. Now that was an excellent idea.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What do you think a first date with a billionaire is like?” Diane asked.

  Clara leaned back in her chair, looking around the small office. “I haven’t a clue.”

  “Helicopter tour of the city?”

  “Plane ride to Rome for authentic Italian?”

  “Ooh unlimited Sephora shopping spree.”

  “And we have our winner.”

  Diane chuckled. “I’m just amazed this is really happening.”

  “Me too. Though who knows. I might get home tonight to find he’s changed his mind again.”

  “Do you think he would?”

  Clara shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. He was pretty clear that if we did start this, there were no guarantees.”

  “Is that okay with you?”

  She held up her hands. “What are my options here? I don’t need him to give me a ring in order to go out on a date. We can start slow. Keep things casual.”

  “You don’t have a casual bone in your body, and even if you did, this is your best friend we’re talking about here. Nothing will be slow or simple.”

  “Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe this will all work out for the best.”

  Diane sighed. “Not to be a pessimist but I think I’d want a little more to go on than, ‘Hey baby, let’s hop into bed together, but wait, don’t read too much into it.’”

  “He’s a brand-new dad. Somewhere out there is Hunter’s mother, and that’s a shoe just waiting to drop. There’s a lot going on in his life right now.”

  “Yes, there is all that.” Diane leaned forward on the desk. “But there’s also the fact that Walker has never been serious with a woman in his life. All I’m saying is be careful and make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.”

  “I promise,” Clara said, pushing to her feet. “Walk me back to my desk. I need to finish the last paragraph of my article and it’s all yours.”

  “Music to my ears.”

  Together they left the office and started down the hall that led to the open cubicles Clara worked in.

  “Do you really think it’s a good idea to start a relationship right now?” Diane asked as they walked.

  “No,” she replied. “But if I keep waiting for the right moment to see if we will ever be more than friends, I might wait the rest of my life. Isn’t it better to take a shot, even if it ends poorly?”

  “I don’t know. You’re not exactly a leap-before-you-look sort of girl.”

  “I am this time.” She smiled at one of their passing coworkers. “I’ve got next week booked off with vacation days. I’m sorry about the timing. I know I was just off for a few days when my sister visited. I don’t mean to leave you hanging twice.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Diane said with a wave of her hand. “It’s not like this is a usual situation.”

  “Do you have anything else you need me to work on before I head out today?”

  “Nah, just the article and you’re free to go on your ill-conceived yet probably incredible date with the hunky CEO. I expect full details tomorrow.”

  “I will give you a call,” she promised.

  “Once the sheets cool, right?”

  Clara rolled her eyes. “It’s just a date. Who knows where it will lead?”

  “Bed. It will lead to bed.”

  “Or maybe we’ll take it slow.”

  “It’s been ten years. Any slower and the two of you would be glacial.”

  “I love our chats. So motivational.”

  “Just put a condom in your purse is all I’m saying.”

  They reached Clara’s desk, and she patted her friend on the back. “I’ll be fine however this shakes out. Promise.”

  “You’d better be. I can’t hunt down a billionaire. Can you imagine the jail time?”

  “Don’t worry about that. We can always hide the body.”

  “See? This is why we’re friends.”

  Clara laughed. “Go away and let me get to work, or I will have nothing to tell you tomorrow.”

  “Fair enough. Good luck tonight.”

  “Hopefully I won’t need it,” she said, dropping into her chair. She pulled up her draft as Diane walked away, but it was hard to concentrate on the task at hand. All she wanted to do was hand her work in and rush back to Walker. There was no stopping the silly smile on her face when she thought about last night.

  And when she thought about tonight, the smile just got wider. For better or worse, it was finally time to open the Pandora’s box they’d been avoiding for years.

  Despite her words to Diane, she really hoped she knew what she was doing.

  “You’re not going to give me a hint about where we’re going?” she asked Walker as they sat in the backseat of his car, his driver taking them downtown.

  “You’re really struggling with this idea of a surprise.”

  “I like having all the facts.”

  “You get this is supposed to be fun, right?”

  With a smile, she leaned over as far as her seat belt would let her. “It is fun.”

  He pressed a light kiss to her lips. “Just wait.”

  Sitting back in her seat, she grinned out the window. When she’d come home from work, Walker had been waiting. He hadn’t tried to get out of their plans as she’d half expected but had ordered her upstairs to change as fast as she could. He’d ushered her out the door, past the excited Emily who’d agreed to stay late to babysit, and down into his waiting car.

  “We should probably talk about this. Lay some ground rules. Figure out how this is going to work.”

  “Or,” he countered, “we could go out and have a good time together. Order some drinks, make out like teenagers, and stop worrying about the future.”

  “Doesn’t sound too bad,” she agreed as the car slowed.

  Getting out, she looked up at one of the most popular jazz clubs in the city.

  “But you hate jazz,” she said when he came around beside her.

  “I do. It’s just noise as far as I’m concerned.”

  “And you hate to dance.”

  “Those of us born without a sense of rhythm usually do.”

  She turned to him. “Then why are we here?”

  “Because,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You love jazz and I love any excuse to hold you.”

  Her heart fluttered. “Do lines like that normally work for you?”

  “What lines?” he asked, dipping his head. “I’m just being honest.”

  She sighed as he kissed her, smiling against his lips.

  “Come on.” Catching her hand, he led her into the bar.

  As soon as they stepped inside, the music swept over them. A live band played while a crowd already gathered before
them. Some people swayed to the music while others filled the tables edging the perimeter. Waitresses dressed all in black rushed about collecting orders and waiting tables.

  “Dance or sit?” he asked.

  She grinned. “You should know the answer to that.”

  With a mock groan, he allowed her to tug him into the crowd.

  “Thank you,” she said as bodies danced around them.

  “I know what you like,” he replied.

  “This is your version of hell.”

  “Not really.” He spun her into his arms, one hand going to her back while the other clasped her hand. “I think jazz is growing on me.”

  “Oh, it is, is it?”

  His gaze dropped to her lips. “Mm-hmm.”

  A lightness filled her as they danced to the music. It wasn’t like this was their first time spending an evening together. As much as he loathed dancing, she’d even managed to get him on the dance floor every few years. Usually on her birthday when he couldn’t say no.

  But it wasn’t two friends hanging out this time. It might be the start of an actual relationship, and that knowledge had her heart racing in her chest.

  “You know why I don’t mind dancing tonight?” he asked her.

  “Why?”

  “Because now I can do this.” The hand on her back slid lower as he pulled her in close. She stared up at him, his mouth tantalizingly close.

  “It’s a nice new perk,” he said.

  “Gotta say I’m a fan.”

  “Yeah?” He danced them in a circle.

  “We might be making a mistake, you and I,” she said. “But it feels good for the moment.”

  His gaze caught hers. “I’m sorry I can’t give you the promises you deserve.”

  “I’m not asking for any.” They swayed together. “I know you never expected to have a family, and now Hunter is in your life. You never thought to settle down, and now our friendship is morphing into something we’ve avoided for years. A lot is changing and while you run headlong after new technological advancements, you’ve never been good with big adjustments in your own life.”

  He looked away.

  “See?” she breathed. “I know you, too.”

  “And you’re still standing here,” he teased.

  “Always.”

  The humor slid off his face.

  “Whatever happens with us, we can’t lose what we have.”

  She smiled at the serious tone. “I’m not sure we can control that,” she replied. “But we can try like hell.”

  “That’s a plan I can get behind.”

  “Then dance with me,” she said. “Let’s worry about the rest later.”

  The music changed, and with a grin, he spun her out onto the floor and then back into his arms. Tossing back her head, she laughed. No matter what came next, in this moment all she felt was joy.

  …

  “I didn’t think you had it in you,” Clara said as they unlocked the front door. “Dancing for hours. Look at you.”

  “I couldn’t disappoint on our first date, could I? Besides, I had to make you forget about Tim.”

  “Poor Todd. I’ll have to let him know there won’t be a second date.”

  “No?” he asked, kissing her neck from behind.

  “Though maybe I should thank him. A little dose of jealousy seems to have done wonders for you.”

  “I wasn’t jealous.”

  “Sure.” She glanced over her shoulder.

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not much.”

  “Uh-huh.” She pushed the door open and walked inside.

  “Welcome home,” Emily said, coming into the hall. “How was your night?”

  “Very fun,” she replied. “How was Hunter?”

  “Good as gold and now sleeping like an angel.”

  “Thanks for watching him,” Walker said.

  “It wasn’t any trouble.” She glanced at her watch. “Though I should be off. The baby monitor is on in the living room.”

  “Thanks again for the help,” Clara said as Emily tossed her coat on and opened the door.

  “Anytime,” she said before slipping from the penthouse.

  Clara stared at the closed door behind her for a moment. With Emily gone and Hunter settled, there was no one to interrupt them again.

  Take things slow. This is all new territory. You don’t have to rush into anything.

  Except she really wanted to rush with every fiber of her being.

  Walker leaned back against the hall table, watching her.

  “We should probably, uh, go to bed,” she said.

  The corner of his mouth quirked. “No arguments here.”

  “I meant our own beds.”

  “Did you?”

  She opened her mouth and closed it, feeling adrift. As if sensing her unease, he took pity on her and pushed himself off the table. “The way I see it we have two options.”

  “Which are?”

  “Option one, we say good night, go to our separate rooms, and take this slowly.”

  “Or option two?” she whispered.

  He reached out to cup her face, pulling her close for a searing kiss. “We do that. A lot. Personally, I vote for option two,” he murmured against her lips.

  “You’re a persuasive negotiator.”

  “It’s how I made my millions.”

  She pressed her hand to his chest, feeling the hard planes beneath her palm.

  “Grab the baby monitor,” she said.

  His grin widened as he left her long enough to get it from the living room. Returning to the hall, he stopped at the foot of the stairs and held out a hand to her.

  Make your choice. Do you want to jump down the rabbit hole? It might lead to heartbreak.

  But some things were worth a little pain.

  Crossing to him, she slipped her hand into his.

  Together they climbed in silence. When they reached the upper landing, she pulled him toward her room and away from the sleeping baby.

  She backed into the bedroom, pulling him with her. Moonlight streamed through the wide windows she hadn’t drawn the curtains over, so she didn’t bother with the light switch. As much as she wanted this, darkness gave her confidence.

  Walker closed the door behind them and set the monitor by the bed. When he turned back to her, she couldn’t hide the shiver that raced down her spine. There was no denying the naked lust on his face, and she could barely believe it was for her. All her.

  His gaze ran down her body with a slow thoroughness that left her breathless.

  “See something you like?” she asked.

  “Sweetheart, you have no idea.”

  “Just so you know, the feeling is entirely mutual.”

  “Really?” With a grin, he reached for the hem of his shirt and tugged it over his head. “How about now?”

  Her mouth went bone dry at the sight of his naked chest.

  “Oh yeah,” she purred. “Much better.”

  In fact, the sight of him went a long way toward banishing her nerves. Walker never hesitated to go after what he wanted. Maybe tonight she could take a page from his book and just enjoy the ride, to hell with the consequences.

  If all they’d get was one night, she’d make the most of every second of it.

  “Two can play this game,” she said.

  And reached for the zipper at the back of her dress.

  …

  Had he ever seen anything as beautiful as Clara?

  She pulled her hair over one shoulder to unzip herself, and Walker could barely hold still as the material around her shoulders gapped.

  There was no uncertainty as she wiggled her curvy body and sent the navy dress he’d drooled over tumbling to the floor.

  “Damn,” he breathed as her body came into view for the first time.

  A black lace bra cupped the full breasts he couldn’t wait to taste. Matching panties completed the set and left her naked of anything else. She put a hand on one cocked hip and waited for h
im with an arched brow.

  But he was not a man to be rushed. Giving himself a moment to enjoy his first sight of her, he let his gaze wander over her luscious body. His mouth watered at the thought of all the things he couldn’t wait to do to her. All the ways he’d make her scream out his name.

  He barely realized he was smiling when she let out a little laugh. “Should I be worried about the way you’re staring at me?” she teased.

  “Worried? No.” Giving in to his desires, he drifted closer to her. “Should your toes be curling in anticipation? Absolutely.”

  “Someone’s confident.”

  “I’m not just a genius when it comes to computers.”

  She laughed, her expression wide and open. “Big words.”

  He reached her side. “I’ll prove them.”

  The humor slid off her face. “Please do.”

  Loosening the reins on his self-control, he cupped her cheek and drew her closer.

  Clara’s breath hitched as her palms touched his chest. Her fingers fluttered over his bare skin before she ran them down the muscles of his abdomen.

  Christ, do it again.

  He wondered if she heard how hard his heart pounded when she touched him. If she had any idea of how he was fighting against his instincts to toss her backward onto the bed.

  He’d had this dream dozens of times over the years, and now the reality was so much sweeter. Bending lower, he ran his lips down her throat, gratified to hear her breath come out as a quiet gasp. The small sound had him hard as iron in a second. A fact that wasn’t helped by the delicate touch she ran along the waistband of his trousers.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered against her skin as he guided her backward.

  “See now, that’s just what I was thinking,” she said, sliding her hands back up his chest as he waltzed her toward the bed. “How could you keep all this from me?” She drew little circles around his chest as she spoke.

  “Sorry,” he said, unrepentant.

  Rising to her tiptoes, she brushed her lips over his. “Make it up to me.”

  With a growl, he threw away any desire to be a gentleman and encircled her waist with his hands. She let out a little squeak as he tossed her onto the wide mattress. Her hair flew around her face as she bounced on her landing. Had he ever seen a sexier sight than Clara batting back her curls to look up at him with surprise in her eyes, clad in nothing more than some black lace he couldn’t wait to shred?