Bedding the Billionaire (Book 3) (Legacy Collection) (15 page)

“Great,” he
said,
throwing his jacket across the back of the couch
and settling himself back onto its thick cushions
. “By then I’ll be a pro.
Set up her things over here and you can use th
at table
.” He pointed to the
one in the
adjoining dining area.

“Sure,” Lil said and felt a bit like she
m
ust be dreaming.
She gathered Colby’s toss
blanket
and a few of her toys and set up an a
rea on the floor near Jakes feet
.
She also readied a bottle.
The main desk rang up to say that a few boxes were being sent up.
Lil spread her books across the table and looked across the room at Jake who was still reading something on his phone.

A wail from the bedroom announced the end of Colby’s nap and the smell that
assailed Lil’s
nostrils when she entered the room almost
convinced her to change
Colby
in the bedroom
,
but then a wicked thought came to her and she
brought the
diaper bag and changing pad with her to the living room instead.

Let’s see what Jake is really made of.

She chose an area on the floor
just past the blanket she’d put down earlier for her daughter.
Lil
positioned herself on the opposite side of Colby.

Jake
put his phone down, his expression devoid of the distaste she
’d
expected.

Taking nothing for granted, she explained each step from wipe to paste, periodically peering up expecting a reaction that never came.

He simply asked, “Do you use the paste every time?”

Lil closed
adjusted the
new diaper and placed the soiled
one
in a sealable, disposable baggie.
“She is just starting with cereal and snacks, so I do right now.
I didn’t have to as much when she was only on formula.”

Positioning Colby in the middle of the blanket with some toys, Lil gathered up the supplies and went to wash her hands in the pantry.

On her return, she saw
Jake lean down and move
a toy just
beyond
Colby’s reach.
He must have seen the question in her eyes, because he said, “Research says that if you place things just out of
a baby’s reach
, they are more motivated to move.
It also lays a found
ation for
problem solving.”

Emotion constricted Lil’s vocal cords, making a nod her only response. She wanted to hate Jake or at least to find a reason to dislike him.
Dear Universe, you already tempted me with him and I failed
your test–
must you rub it in?

Lil returned fro
m the kitchen with a bottle
and a towel for
Jake’s
sh
oulder.
She was going to hand
Colby to him, but he moved down onto the floor and rested his back against the front of the couch.
He lifted
Colby
easily until she was eye to eye with him and said, “I will pay you a thousand dollars if you don’t spit up on me.”

Colby grabbed his nose
and pulled.
He smiled and said, “You’re a hard bargainer, but you won’t get a penny more.” He settled her into the crook of one arm and held up a hand to receive the bottle from Lil.

Lil
knew her mouth was open in the most unflattering way, but she couldn’t help it.
She handed him both the bottle and the towel.
He
placed
the towel over one shoulder
like he’d done
it a hundred times before
.

“Do you have children?” she asked.

He shook his head and looked down at Colby
who was now happily
guzz
ling
her formula
. “
No, but I have friends who do.”

“And you babysat for them?”

He shuddered.
“God no, I don’t like children.”

Colby twisted his bottom lip between her little fingers. He pulled back to escape the pinch, but didn’t look bothered.
When Lil cont
inued to stand over him
–
staring
, he said, “Go study.”

As she headed across the room, she heard Jake say to Colby, “I don’t do Peek-a-boo even if it’s developmentally appropriate for you.
However, when you finish your bottle, we can look at your toy portfolio and
determine if it
is
adequately diverse.”

Impossibl
e as the task appeared at first,
Lil lost herself in her class
notes and test prep questions,
allowing herself no more than quick glances to ensure that Colby and Jake were still fine.
After the first run through, she made the mistake of allowing her attention to linger on them.

Colby was on her stomach on her throw blanket and
Jake
was seated next
to it,
talking in t
hat even tone
.
Lil
only caught a word here
and
there
–
all of which
sounded like he was explaining investment strategies
, but
since her daughter appeared to be enjoying the undivided attention of an adult
,
Lil didn’t comment on his choice of discourse.

“
I don’
t like kids,” he’d said.

Oh, how much easier all of this would be if that were
true.

Jake didn’t know it yet, but
one day
he was going to be a wonderful father
to
some lucky woman’s child.

Just not mine.

Lil stood and closed her book.
She was as ready as she’d ever be.
Time to release Jake from his
obligation.
Walking over, Lil picked her daughter up and cuddled her against her chest.
“Thank you,” she said.

Jake slowly unfolded himself from the floor and stood, stretching when he reached his full height.
“Did you get everything done that you wanted to?”

“Yes.”

Jake stretched again and reached for his jacket.
With quick precision, he adjusted his clothing, tightened his tie, and ran a smoothing hand through his slightly disheveled hair. In a matter of moment
s
, he was back
–
the perfectly groomed, perfectly in control man whose mere existence made her a bit defensive.

He handed her a card. “If you need help for tomorrow morning, call this number.”

It was the nanny service.

“I should
be fine.
I lined up a sitter a while ago.”

“Yes, of course
. Then
I should be going.”
He looked around as if assuring himself that there was nothing left undone.
Their eyes met and for just a split second Lil thought she saw a spark of desire in their dark depths, but it passed and might easily have only been in
her
imagination.
“A limo will come for you on Friday.
A jet will take you and Colby to a private airport
in New York
.”

Her heart missed a beat.

Was it possible that he was inviting her to join him in New York?

She couldn’t do that.

She shouldn’t do that.

But for just a moment, she wanted to agree to go wherever he wanted to take her.

What am I saying?
She gave herself a mental shake.

Jake said,
“Dominic and your sister are having a large party this weekend.
They said it was important for you to attend.”

Lil’s stomach lurched painfully and she bit her lip to hold in her thoughts.

Dominic and Abby.

Of course.

“I’ll think about it.”
She walked with him to the door.
Please just leave.

“I believe it’s related to their engagement. This is one you shouldn’t miss.”

A part of her wanted to believe that
he was saying that because he wanted to see her again.
Don’t be a fool.
She asked sarcastically,
“So,
Dominic told you to
make sure I went?”

The slight incline of his head was
all the
acknowledgement she required.

I might be sick now.

“Goodbye, Jake.” Baby in one arm, she held the door open with her other.

He stepped
through
the doorway
and
paused. “You were right, Lil.
This afternoon doesn’t have to change anything.
We’re going to see each other at events. It doesn’t have to be awkward.”

Sure, only listen when I’m talking out my ass.

She closed the door in his face and leaned her back against it.
Looking down at her daughter, she said, “
Don’t look at me like that. I know he’s not coming back. I’m just being stupid now so that I’ll be more sympathetic when you’re older and dating.”

Colby
smiled.

“I know. I like him, too.” Lil pushed away from the door and
carried her daughter back into the living room, their new living room.

Another day, another story I can’t share with Abby.

Later that night, back in his home, Jake sent Dominic a quick text. “It’s done.
She’s in her new place.
Meet tomorrow morning?”