Billionaires and Baby Rattles Page 2

  “If you say it that way, I can see how you’d be insulted,” he said.

  “Ya think?” She gave him a cold look. “I think I want you to leave.”

  “Oh shit, this is going all wrong,” Ethan muttered and took a deep breath. “Mya, I’ve had a thing for you. From the time you walked into my office in that blue pinstripe skirt. It fit you like a second skin, and you wore glasses that have been a part of my fantasy from the first dream. I knew you were working your way up, and I heard you say you’d never date a boss, so I stepped back.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “I count this as fate putting you in my path and we’re on the same road for the right reasons. We’re friends, and I want more than that, but if it has to be that way, fine. But at least if we get married and the baby has my name, then you’d lack for nothing.”

  “My child would lack for nothing regardless, Ethan,” she pointed out.

  “I know you’d put sweat, blood, and tears into providing for the baby,” Ethan answered. “But after one year, if you’re not happy with me or you want to move on, I’ll make sure you have the money to get your business started and off the ground the right way, without a loan or struggle. The baby would still be considered mine, and I’d love him or her still. I won’t let a child know me as a father and then drop out of its life. My parents raised me better, and I’m not callous or cruel. Just think about it, please. By no means do I want to insult you. I’m trying to look out for all of us.”

  “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” Mya said.

  Ethan smiled. “Reality is, it’s win-win for you. Regardless of what happens with us, you’ll be taken care of.”

  “But this won’t be a marriage in name only, will it?” she asked. “You want more, and I don’t know if I want to give it. Kyle, with his boorish ways, taught me thinking with my girlie bits can get me in trouble.”

  “If you never want me to touch you, I can live with that.” He gave her a seductive smile, and her heart leapt. “But I’m hoping you’ll give me the chance to show you how much I care and to watch the baby grow inside you, to have you sleep in my arms.”

  “God, why do you have to say all the right things?” she moaned. “It would be so much easier if I could punch you in the throat and kick you out.”

  “Um, okay, I don’t know how to take that. I really don’t want to be throat punched,” Ethan said hesitantly. “Is this a hormone thing? I read that you could have mood swings.”

  She got up and paced the floor. “See, there it is again. Why did you have to read the book or ask about my hormones? Why did you have to say all those great things and make it hard to resist you? God, you’re hot, and I’m attracted to you…” She glared and pointed at him. “Don’t say a word. I’m just pointing it out. I’m very bad at picking the right guy. Look at Kyle. You may start out great and turn into a beast.”

  “I can have a contract drawn up with a no-beast clause,” he teased.

  Mya sighed. “You are right about one thing—I need to think.”

  “How about we go out to dinner tomorrow night?” Ethan asked. “Red meat, excellently cooked and very healthy, no greasy fast food.”

  “I don’t know, Ethan. Thinking generally means alone and not out on a dinner date,” she said.

  “Steak, hot spinach salad, maybe pie for dessert, or Oreo cheesecake.” He was tempting her.

  “Damn, that sounds good,” she said. “Ramen noodles are getting old. Okay, fine, dinner at eight.”

  “Wonderful. Do you need anything before I go? I can go get ginger ale or crackers, maybe soup?” Ethan asked.

  “No, nothing. I’m going to eat some ice cream and go back to bed. I’m always tired lately, so I’ll watch a movie till I fall asleep,” Mya explained.

  “Oh, okay.” He sounded disappointed. “I guess I’ll head back to Castle de Tremaine and find something to do.”

  “Are you trying to wheedle out of me an invite to stay?” She smiled.

  “Now Grandfather is gone, that place sits like a monolith on a hill, and it’s empty,” Ethan said. “I think I’ll take one half of the house, and Easton will take the other. The servants are all gone. I want to hire a whole new staff that aren’t in their golden years. I swear Maddie the housekeeper was ninety-five. We plan to redecorate and renovate it, but for now, it’s still huge and empty. Or maybe we won’t. Who knows what his plans are? But I’ll be living there, that’s for sure.”

  “Fine, you can stay for ice cream, but we’re watching TV in my bed because I’m comfortable there, and don’t get any fresh ideas,” she warned.

  He held up his fingers. “Best behavior, Scout’s honor.”

  “You’ve told me stories of your Scouts days. I should be worried,” Mya retorted cheekily. “Grab the spoons and the ice cream. I’ll go clear some of the pillows off the bed.”

  “Wait,” he said and stood from his position on the sofa.

  “What?”

  Ethan closed the distance between them in two short steps before wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her closer.

  “You’re attracted. I’m sure as hell attracted. Let’s see if we got the chemistry to back it up,” he said.

  His voice was a low baritone that made her insides tighten pleasurably. She answered with a simple nod, and his lips pressed against hers. Slowly, and with gentle pressure, he created friction while rubbing his lips against hers. He gave her time to refuse, but all Mya felt was the need to have more. She reached up and slipped her fingers into the dark hair at his nape, and her nails gently scraped his scalp. Ethan gave a soft growl against her lips and pulled her closer before devouring her lips. She opened her mouth, and he took the invitation, sliding his tongue inside to taste her. Just as quickly as he’d started, Ethan stopped the kiss and looked down at her.

  “Definite chemistry,” he murmured. “I’ll go get that ice cream now.”

  He moved past her to the kitchen, and she walked to the bedroom. Mya sat on the side of the bed and pressed her fingers on her tingling lips. Lord, she was in trouble because her mind was going toward saying yes to his proposal at sixty miles an hour. Could this even work? Ethan was a billionaire, and she was just plain Mya.

  He came to the door holding two spoons and her pint of Cherry Garcia. She threw some of her body pillows off the bed, and he kicked off his shoes and settled himself against the headboard. Somehow she ended up snuggled against him and looking at the TV as sleep set in.

  “Yes,” she said sleepily.

  “What?”

  “I’ll marry you and give my baby your name,” she said.

  “You were going to answer tomorrow. Are you sure?” He laced his fingers with hers and brought her hand to his lips to kiss it.

  Mya closed her eyes but kept talking. “I’m sure. We’ve known each other for two years, and you treated me like a friend, not an employee. So my answer is yes, but we’ll take it slow.”

  “As slow as you need it, Mya. I promise you won’t regret this,” Ethan said.

  “I still want my steak dinner. The baby demands it.” Mya yawned.

  Ethan chuckled. “Then it’s a no-brainer. The baby gets what she wants.”

  Mya smiled and let sleep overtake her, hoping tomorrow and any of the days after she wouldn’t regret her choice. Ethan was offering a solid foundation for her and the baby. If it didn’t work out, her broken heart would be the only casualty. She could trust Ethan to be a good father no matter what happened in the future.

  Chapter Two

  Ethan left after breakfast. He had to go home and change for work. He’d made her hot tea and bland toast before promising to pick her up at seven thirty for dinner. In between those times, and in her usual logical fashion, she wrote down the pros and cons of being with Ethan. By the end of her list, the benefits outweighed the risks. Being attracted to him was a definite plus, but he was Ethan Tremaine, billionaire and on the eligible bachelor list. Women who were throwing themselves at him were throwing themselves at Easton, his twin brother, like they were one and the same. When wind of their marriage and subsequent baby hit the news, reporters and cameras would be in their faces constantly. Did she want to subject her child and herself to that kind of press? Doubts swirled in her mind, but Mya knew she wouldn’t back out of the promise she’d made.

  Twenty minutes before he was picking her up for dinner, she still couldn’t find anything to wear. Week seventeen, and she had only one tiny rise beneath her belly button to prove she was pregnant. Yet everything felt tight, and she wanted to live in her yoga pants and sweatshirts. She made a mental vow to buy maternity clothes if she could find only one thing to wear. In the end, she settled on a purple cardigan dress and strappy heels to match. It was still early fall, and she didn’t want to wear boots quite yet. She accented the dress and shoes with simple silver earrings and a necklace before putting the finishing touches on her hair. She gave herself a once-over in the mirror just as the doorbell rang announcing that Ethan had arrived. When she opened the door, he gave a low whistle and stepped inside.

  “You look amazing.” Ethan took her hand and pulled her against him. He gave her a soft kiss and whispered against her lips, “Hello, wife and mommy-to-be.”

  She pulled away feeling suddenly embarrassed. “Stop that.”

  He gave her a curious glance but kept to his word and didn’t push. Instead he pulled a box from his pocket. He opened the velvet box to reveal a stunning engagement ring. Mya couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her as the light caught the diamond and sapphires in the platinum setting.

  “I picked up something for you today,” he said with a grin.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” she said.

  “Great Caesars’s ghost, look at that rock!”

  Ethan’s mood soured quickly, she could tell, as he looked at Robin. She got that gaping reaction a lot when they went out together. The guy could be a model for one of those Calvin Klein ads. He was blond, tall, and tattoos covered the expanse of his arms, from where the sleeves stopped at the tight T-shirt he wore down to his wrists. Mya could attest to the fact that the art went under that shirt as well. That and the wide, toothy bright smile that practically sparkled made people look at Robin twice.

  “Who’s this?” There was open jealousy in Ethan’s voice.

  “Oh, this is my best friend, Robin.” Mya supplied the answer easily. “Robin, meet Ethan, my new fiancé.”

  “With a rock like that, you can be my fiancé too.” Robin grinned and winked. “Don’t Hulk out, dude. I’d more hit on you than her.”

  “So you’re gay?” Ethan asked.

  “As a rainbow-colored feather duster.” Robin stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, and you didn’t think you’d propose to Mya and I don’t know?”

  “I’ve heard her speak to you on the phone or talk about you but just assumed you were a girl the way the conversations went,” Ethan said.

  “Well then, buddy, ask a question next time.” Robin waved his hand airily as he passed by and sat on the couch. “Just because I like boy bands and various activities I cannot speak of doesn’t mean I won’t kick your ass if she gets hurt. This little deal seems too good to be true, and you know what they say about that.”

  Ethan bristled in anger, and it showed on his face. She knew the look. “I don’t plan on any of us being hurt, including the baby.”

  Robin raised an eyebrow. “Money does strange things to people.”

  “I’ve had it all my life, and it hasn’t done shit to me,” Ethan retorted.

  “Uh-huh.” Robin covered his mouth with his hand and gave a fake cough while muttering, “Playboy.”

  Ethan let loose. “You don’t know anything about me except what was printed in the tabloids. So how could you think I’d hurt Mya? I don’t care if you’re her best friend or not. You don’t get to judge me. You can take your assumptions and shove them up your—”

  Mya intervened and pointed at Robin. “You, stop instigating and trying to pick at a sore spot. Ethan is a great guy and has been since I met him.”

  Ethan gave Robin a smug look, but lost it when Mya turned on him.

  “You need to get a thicker skin if we’re going to do this because we’re going to get a lot of attention, and you can’t punch or fight everyone who will come at us wrong,” she snapped. “And Robin has been my best friend since we’ve been fourteen and we were cheerleaders together. He is going to be in my life, and the baby will call him Uncle. That’s not up for negotiation, it’s a fact, so get used to him now.”

  “You tell him, Mya.” Robin gloated.

  “Do you want to go home?” She had her hands on her hips.

  “No, my parents are in town. I need to hide here,” Robin answered. A sulky pout formed on his face.

  “They know my address, Robin,” Mya said gently. “Tell them to butt out of your life and let you be you.”

  “Yeah, that worked the million times I did it before. They’re here for six long weeks while Dad does his Bible ministry thing.” Robin sulked. “Go eat dinner and stop starving my niece or nephew.”

  Ethan spoke up. “I know how it is to be expected to conform to a role that isn’t the one you want. Hey, when Mya moves into the Monolith, you can come with her. Call it my version of witness protection, with tall gates, indoor heated pool, and sauna.”

  “On the real?” Robin gasped and clasped his hands.

  “What?” Ethan said in confusion.

  Mya sighed. “It’s slang for ‘do you really mean it,’ and you don’t have to impulsively offer him a visit to the mansion. I told him he could stay here.”

  “Stop trying to talk him out of it.” Robin gave her a withering look. “So you’re not kidding, right?”

  Ethan nodded. “Oh, okay, yes. I don’t say things I don’t mean. We have to discuss when you’ll be moving in so we know when he’s more than welcome to come.”

  “I’d kiss you if Mya wouldn’t deck me,” Robin said. He stood, put his hands on their shoulders, and practically pushed them out the door. “Go! Plan and discuss the future! I’ll be here with my feet in the foot spa and watching Dancing with the Stars.”

  He closed the door before either of them could answer, and Ethan stared at the barrier for a moment.

  “Do people actually watch that?” he asked curiously. “I’ve been bored as hell and surfed the channels. There’s never been an inclination to watch retired athletes and movie stars dance around.”

  “Well, for one, I don’t think there’s a straight guy who doesn’t think the same thing. Apparently there’s a following, or so Robin says.” Mya put her hand through her coat, and Ethan helped her get it on and buttoned. “I did his taxes, and there was a marathon of it on—well, he’d DVRed it. I almost went insane.”

  Ethan laughed as he took her hand to help her as they walked down the steps. He stopped and pulled the ring box out of his pocket and opened it. He took the ring from the velvet cushion it sat in and took her hand to place it on her finger.

  “Do we have to do this now?” she asked.

  “Well, when we step out tonight, eyes will be on us. I want them to see the ring on your finger,” Ethan said. “I think a whirlwind wedding in Vegas or Hawaii will make it seem like we’re too in love to wait.”

  “Oh, I understand. It’s for publicity’s sake,” Mya said and pushed disappointment aside. She was starting to believe, and she had vowed not to do that too quickly. Even though she’d decided to marry him, she still was very uncertain about how things would play out.

  “No, it’s more than that—”

  She didn’t let him finish the words. “It’s fine, Ethan. I knew what I was getting into when I said yes.”

  He used his finger to lift her chin so he could look into her eyes. “Did you forget about our talk last night? Mya?”

  “I know what was said, but I also know why we’re doing this,” Mya said firmly. She plucked the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. “It fits, and it’s pretty. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  “Mya, this isn’t just a business arrangement for me. I care for you. I hope you know this,” Ethan said seriously.

  “I know, and I care for you too, but I also know I have to protect my heart because no one else will,” Mya answered. “We’ll be late for dinner.”

  He took her hand and waited until she locked the door. He led her to a sleek black luxury car and helped her inside. The seats were already warm, and as he pulled away from the curb, the OnStar system began talking to give directions to the restaurant.

  They were going to Bellisimo, one of the hottest, most exclusive restaurants in Boston. If Ethan wanted to be seen, this was the place to be, because as expensive, sleek cars pulled up, the paparazzi was there to see who would be dining that night. When he stepped out of the car, the shouting began, and when he helped her from the car, they fired at her in rapid succession. The flashes from the various cameras almost blinded her, and Ethan pulled her close to his side. As he walked up the red carpet that led to the door, he handed his keys off to the valet, who scurried away to move the car.

  Mya had never stepped foot in Bellisimo before now. She could never afford to eat there on her salary. Dinner there could cost more than her monthly rent. She preferred to have a roof over her head as opposed to a one-time food experience. Still, she took everything in as she walked into the main room. It was all Italian marble and amber colors set off by candlelight and ornate chandeliers. There were booths along the walls, with real leather in the seats and carved mahogany, to offer privacy and seclusion. She’d read about this place in a local magazine. The booths had their own personal waiters who catered to the diners’ every need. The host seated them in one of those booths before hurrying away to get the waiter for their table.

  “What do you think of this place?” Ethan asked.