Pregnant by the Maverick Millionaire (4 page)

She needed him, right now. She had to have him—in her, around her, sharing this with her.

“Bed,” Kade muttered against her jawline.

“Too far.” Brodie managed to lift a hand and wave to the right. “Desk, over there.”

“That'll work.”

Running his hands over her bottom, Kade lifted Brodie onto the edge of the desk and pushed the files and papers off the table. They slid and tumbled to the floor. She didn't care. Part of her knew this was a mistake, but she didn't care about that, either. Nothing mattered but having him in her arms, allowing him to make indescribably delicious love to her.

Kade quickly stripped her of her clothing, while Brodie watched him through heavy, half-closed eyes. Keeping one hand on her breast, he reached into his suit pants and yanked his wallet out of a pocket. Scattering cards and cash, he found a condom and ripped it open with his teeth. He shed the rest of his clothes, and slipped the condom on. Brodie was not shocked when Kade grabbed the flimsy material of her panties and ripped them off her. His erection was hard and proud as he rubbed himself against her most secret places, seeking her permission to enter.

His lips followed his erection, and Brodie thought she would turn to liquid. Just when she could tolerate no more, Kade lifted his head to worship her breasts with his mouth, tongue and lips. Brodie closed her fingers around him and relished the sound of his breathing, heavy in the quiet of the early evening. Brown eyes met green as she tugged him toward her. Kade's one hand slid under her hip and the other cradled her head, both encouraging her to ride with him.

The desk felt like a soft bed. The cold coffee she'd left there earlier could have been the finest champagne, the mixed-up papers rose petals. They were locked together. Finally. Kade moved within her and Brodie followed. Kade demanded and she replied. Deeper, longer, higher, faster. She met him stroke for stroke, matching his passion, uninhibited, free.

On that thought Brodie fractured on a yell and a sob. Then Kade bucked and arched and collapsed against her, his body hot.

“Brodie?” he muttered against her shoulder. “You alive?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Desk survived?”

Brodie's mouth curved into a smile. She patted the wood next to her hip. “Looks like it. You?”

Kade kissed her neck before reluctantly pulling out of her. He straightened and turned away. “Yeah, I'm fine—”

Brodie sat up and frowned at his stream of curses. “What on earth...?”

Kade grimaced at the condom in his hand and then back to her. “The condom split. Dammit, it was brand-new.”

Brodie hopped down from the desk and looked around for her shirt, which had landed on the back of her couch. Well, that was a big bucket of freezing water. Dressing quickly, she thought about what to say, how to act. Expressing anger or disappointment was sort of like bolting the stable door after the horse had fled. It wouldn't help. So she decided to be practical.

“If you want to, uh...clean up, my bedroom has an en suite bathroom, second door on the right.”

Kade, utterly unconcerned with his nudity, stalked away. Brodie folded his suit pants, hung his shirt over the back of a chair and tucked his socks into his shoes. Picking up her ruined panties, she balled them in her hands before walking into her kitchen and throwing them into the trash can.

Putting her hands on her hips, she considered the angles. What were the chances of her becoming pregnant? She was on a contraceptive, which she took religiously. Was it even the right time of the month for her to be ovulating? Walking toward the calendar she kept on the side of her fridge, she tried to remember when last she'd had her period. Brodie counted back and pursed her lips. She'd be okay, she decided. There was no need to panic.

“And?”

Brodie turned to look at Kade standing in the square doorway, still naked, still hot. “It'll be fine. No need to stress, I'm on the pill.”

Relief, hot and sure, flooded Kade's face, his eyes. “Good.”

Brodie bit her lip, wondering how to phrase her next question. She didn't want to offend him, but... “Do I need to get myself tested for anything, well, yucky?”

Kade shook his head. “I had a medical three weeks ago and I always use a condom. This is the first time one has broken, I promise.”

Well, that was a relief and a less awkward conversation than she'd thought it would be. When Kade grabbed her shirt and pulled her toward him all thoughts of pregnancy and STDs evaporated. He kissed her, long and slow. “You have too many clothes on.”

Man, how was she supposed to resist when he made her feel all squirmy and hot? “You don't have any condoms left.”

“You do. I saw some in your bathroom cabinet.”

Brodie pulled a face. She'd bought them years ago, during her sleeping-with-the-IT-guy phase. “They've been in there for years.”

“I checked the expiration date, we're good to go.” Kade's lips nibbled her jaw. “You good to go?”

“Bed this time?” Brodie asked.

“And in the shower the next.”

Brodie glanced at the clock on her kitchen wall. Twice more in an hour and fifteen minutes?

Well, she'd heard about Kade Webb's ambition, but she'd never thought she'd see it in action.

* * *

Kade walked out of her bathroom dressed in his tuxedo pants, his white dress shirt hanging loose. While he was showering she'd run a brush through her hair, pulled on a loose cotton sweater and a pair of yoga pants and was now sitting cross-legged on her bed, trying to act like it was an everyday occurrence for Kade to be in her apartment, showering in her bathroom.

“Why aren't you going to the ball? Surely it's a good place to promote your business?” Kade asked as he sat down next to her to pull on his black socks. “After all, you came to the lunch.”

“I came as a sponsor, not to tout for business.” Brodie placed her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands. “I've got to be careful how I network. It's not like I can work the room, handing out business cards. My business is based on discretion and most of my clients come to me via word of mouth. Our website and contact numbers are on the program—if someone wants to talk to us they'll call. I only match guys and I can practically guarantee no man there will talk business to me at the ball, not when they can be overheard.”

“Would I know any of your clients?”

“More than a couple.” Brodie held up her hand. “And no, I'll never tell so don't bother asking.”

Kade sent her a quick, assessing look. “I bet a lot of the guys hit on you.”

Brodie cocked her head at him. “Why would you think that?”

“So they do, I can see it in your eyes. As for how I know...?” He shrugged. “Say I'm a guy and I'm looking for someone. Then I meet you and think, hey, she's gorgeous and nice, I don't need to look any further. Men are lazy.”

“It happens,” Brodie admitted.

“How do you deal with them?” Kade pulled on his dress shoes—hand-tooled black leather, Brodie noticed as she scooted off the bed and walked over to her dressing table. She picked up her diamond-and-emerald ring and threw it in his direction.

“Nice ring,” he commented and threw it back at her. “Except it's fake.”

“As fake as the fiancés I invent every week so I have a good excuse not to date,” Brodie replied.

“Ah.” Kade bent over to tie his laces and turned his head to look at her. “You've never been tempted?”

Brodie took a moment to consider his question. She was surprised when Kade's eyes narrowed. With jealousy? Not possible.

“My clients are successful, frequently really nice, quite rich men. They drive expensive cars, have gorgeous homes and are intelligent. All very eligible.”

Kade scowled.

“But they are also men who are looking to settle down and I am not.” Brodie placed her ring back in the shallow bowl holding the jewelry she most often wore. “Besides, becoming involved with a client, in any way, is very unprofessional.”

“Good thing I'm not your client, nor will I ever be.” Kade sat up and reached for the two sides of his shirt. “I'd rather shoot myself than allow a matchmaker, you or anyone else, to set me up.”

Brodie silently admitted she'd rather walk on molten lava than have him as a client.

Kade cocked his head. “So why don't you date?”

Brodie flushed. “Because there are two types of dating. People either date for sex or date for a relationship. I don't do relationships, as a rule. And I very rarely do—” she waved her hand at her bed “—this. I'm as virulently anticommitment as you think you are.”

“As I
think
I am?”

Brodie shrugged. She'd seen him with his friends, seen how much he enjoyed his connection with them. He'd be a great husband, a stunning father—if he ever moved out of his party-hearty lifestyle.

Kade held her eyes for a long moment before making a production of looking at his watch. He sent her a crooked grin. “I'm only in it for the hot sex, thanks.”

Brodie smiled back. “Then don't win the bid on my auction.”

Kade reached into his bag for his bow tie and draped it around his neck, quickly tying it without the use of a mirror. “I very definitely won't,” he promised her. “I've got to move or else Wren will have my head.”

“Have fun.”

Kade picked up his bag and jacket and walked over to her. He dropped a kiss on her temple, then her mouth. “I'd much rather be having fun with you.”

Brodie made herself smile. She was pretty sure he said that to all the girls. “'Bye. See you.”

“See you,” Kade said, walking out of her bedroom. Within seconds she heard her front door open and close and two minutes later, heard the roar of his sports car.

So that was that. She'd had the fantastic sex she'd been craving. But she'd forgotten how much she enjoyed talking to Kade, how easily they slid into intimate conversation. It was as if there were no barriers and it felt way more intimate than post-sex conversation should be. So why on earth was she craving more?

Four

K
ade reached for his glass and took a long sip of whiskey. How much longer could this damn ball last?

It was eleven now. If Quinn would move the auction along, Kade could be out of here by midnight. Was it too late to phone Brodie? Was she exhausted? Would he come across as desperate if he called her again so soon? If she was in bed, what was she wearing? A slinky negligee or a tank top and boxer shorts or just her golden skin?

He loved her skin. He loved everything about her body and when he'd held her earlier he'd felt... How had he felt?

Kade cursed the action in his pants. He needed more than a whiskey on ice, he needed a plunge into an ice-fishing hole. At this rate, when he got Brodie where he wanted her—under him—he'd last about two seconds. His reaction to her was ridiculous, insane... There had to be some sort of scientific explanation for why they wanted to rip each other's clothes off at the drop of a hat. Shouldn't the amazing sex they'd shared earlier have taken the edge off? Was it pheromones? Biological instinct? But why her and not one of the many, many good-looking women—many of them Mavericks groupies—scattered throughout the ballroom? None of this made sense.

All he was certain of was that he wanted Brodie again. Urgently. Immediately. Tonight.

Move the hell on, Rayne!

“And now, one of our more interesting donations,” Quinn announced. Kade turned his attention back to the stage. “Ms. Brodie Stewart, one of the city's best matchmakers, is offering the opportunity to bid on her matchmaking services. So if you are a guy and are looking for a good woman, Brodie can find one for you.” Quinn looked at the Mavericks who occupied the back tables and nodded. “I know one or two, or ten, of my men who should bid.”

“I'll bid on a date with Ms. Stewart!” someone shouted from the back. Kade looked down at the photograph of Brodie on the program and couldn't blame the guy for trying his luck. She was gorgeous...

But, for the immediate future, she was
his
.

“She's too smart to date you, Higgins,” Quinn warned. “A reminder, this is a matchmaking service for men looking for their perfect woman. So, who is going to give me a hundred dollars?”

Immediately a couple of hands shot up and Kade watched, astounded, as the bids flew up to a thousand dollars, then two. Bids were still bouncing around the room when a cool female voice cut across the hubbub. “Three thousand dollars.”

Quinn spun around and his genial smile turned to a scowl. Rory had her paddle raised and was holding his intense stare.

“On whose behalf are you bidding, Rory?” Quinn asked, his frown clearly stating her bidding had better not have anything to do with him.

Kade leaned back in his chair and grinned. Oh, this was going to be fun. Rory had been nagging Quinn about his ability to jump from woman to woman and hobby to hobby—skydiving, white-water rafting, and his obsession with superfast motorcycles—and was determined to nag him into settling down with a wife and two-point-four kids.

She didn't have a hope in hell of changing Quinn. He was even more entrenched in his bachelor lifestyle than Kade. But Kade would enjoy watching her try. He was also damn grateful she was nagging Quinn and not him...

He liked Rory, loved her even, but he wouldn't tolerate her interfering in his life.

Rory's smile was stolen straight from an imp. “Are you taking my bid or not, Rayne?”

Quinn held up two fingers, turned them to his eyes and flipped them around in her direction. “I'm watching you. McCaskill, make sure your woman behaves.”

“Yeah, right.” Mac leaned back and folded his arms against his chest. “This has nothing to do with me.”

“Three-five.” A voice from the back got the auction back on track.

“Three-seven,” Rory countered.

“Three-eight,” Wren calmly stated. She was bidding on behalf of the silent bidders, those who didn't want the room to know they wanted to use a matchmaker.

“Four.” Rory waved her paddle in the air.

Four grand? Wow, not bad. The audience obviously loved the notion of being professionally set up.

The bids climbed and Rory matched every one. As the bids went higher, Quinn's face darkened. Oh, yeah, he knew exactly what she was up to. She was buying Brodie's services to find Quinn a woman who would stick around for more than a nanosecond. She was playing with fire, Kade thought, but he couldn't help admiring her moxie.

“Rory,” Quinn warned after her bid topped five thousand dollars.

“Quinn,” Rory drawled and added another hundred dollars onto her bid.

“You can't bid against yourself,” Quinn snapped.

“I just did.” Rory's face was alight with laughter. “Oh, I am so going to enjoy this, Rayne. And so will you. So, be a darling. Bang your gavel and tell me I've won.”

Quinn looked at Mac. “Doesn't she drive you crazy?”

Mac dropped a kiss on Rory's temple and smiled. “All the time.”

Quinn smacked the gavel and told her she'd won the bid before pointing the gavel in her direction. “I won't use it. You can't blackmail me into doing this, Rory.”

Rory placed her hand on her heart and batted her eyelashes in his direction. “Quinn, you wound me. I would never dare to set you up.” Kade, along with the rest of the guests, leaned forward in their chairs, eager to hear more. “You keep telling me you're not ready for a relationship and I respect that. I do. Besides, wait your turn.”

Huh? If this wasn't for Quinn who was she setting up?

“It won't be my turn.
Ever
.” Quinn looked relieved and perplexed at the same time. “So then, pray tell, who is the sacrificial lamb to be led to slaughter?”

Kade smiled at his description as Rory stood up and walked around the table to his side. Oh, crap, oh double crap, he thought as she placed a hand on his shoulder. Kade felt his teeth slam together.

She wouldn't dare. She wasn't that brave.

“Why, who else but one of my favorite people in the whole world? I bought this for my very good friend, Kade Webb.” Rory sent Kade a huge smile. As if she could charm him into changing his mind about tossing her from the nearest balcony.

“I just know Brodie will find Kade a stunning woman. I'm counting on her to find someone who'll make him supremely happy.”

Dammit, hell, crap.

The room erupted into hoots of laughter and excited chatter. Dammit, hell, crap multiplied.

Kade met Mac's eyes and scowled when his friend raised his glass in a mocking toast. “Welcome to my crazy world, dude.”

* * *

Kade really liked his best friend's fiancée and thought it wonderful they were having a baby, but his anger over her stunt hadn't disappeared.

What the hell was she thinking? Had she been thinking at all? He didn't need anyone to find him a woman! And he certainly didn't need his current lover to find him a new love!

If he could get past Mac, he had very strong words for Rory. He didn't allow anyone to play fast and loose with his life and he allowed no interference when it came to his sex life. Rory hadn't just stepped over the line, she'd eradicated it.

From his seat in his low-slung German sports car Kade stared at the still dark windows of Brodie's apartment and ran a hand over his jaw. It had taken all his acting skills to breeze through the rest of the evening, to bat away the wisecracks, to laugh at the admittedly good-hearted banter. Well, everyone's banter except his partners' had been good-natured. Mac and Quinn had teased him mercilessly.

For that they would pay...

Kade was perfectly capable of finding his own woman and he didn't want to be in a relationship. Damned women and their meddling. He refused to have anything to do with Rory's scheme and he refused to feel guilty about her wasting her money. She shouldn't have pulled such an asinine trick in the first place!

And if he found out Mac had anything to do with this, then he and McCaskill would go a couple of rounds in the ring, no holds barred.

Kade massaged his temples. It was past 6:00 a.m. He'd had no sleep. He hadn't changed out of his tux. His head was pounding and he wanted nothing more than to climb into bed with Brodie and lose himself in her. He'd done that last night, he remembered. With Brodie the world had disappeared, and for the few hours they were together, he'd relaxed and forgotten. Forgotten about his responsibilities, his past. He'd stopped worrying about his future. With her he'd lived in the moment, something he usually couldn't do.

He wouldn't start to rely on her to feel like that, wouldn't enjoy what they had more than he should. He'd keep it light, he promised himself. This was a one-time, short-term thing. He wasn't looking for long term and neither was she.

All well and good, he thought, but how was he going to handle this stupid situation Rory had placed him in? He had to tell Brodie. That was why he was sitting in front of her apartment complex at the butt crack of dawn.

Brodie had said this—whatever it was between them—would probably be just be one night. And she'd also said something about sleeping with clients being unprofessional.

But if he didn't take up Rory's offer and didn't allow Brodie to set him up, then he wouldn't be her client. He knew their chemistry was combustible enough for more than one night. So everything would be fine. Either way, he had to tell her.

Rory Kydd, if you weren't a woman and if my best friend didn't love you so much, I would kick your very nice ass all over Vancouver.

Maybe he was overthinking this. Brodie was sensible. Kade felt a bit of his panic recede. There was no way she'd accept the challenge to match him. She'd just laugh off Rory's bid and the money would go to charity...no harm, no foul.

He'd call Brodie later, he thought, when he was rested and clearheaded. He lifted his hand to touch the ignition button. His finger hovered there but instead of allowing the powerful engine to roar to life, he instructed his onboard computer to call Brodie.

What are you doing, idiot?

Yet he allowed the cell to ring and eventually he heard Brodie's sleep roughened, sexy voice. “'Lo.”

“I'm outside. Let me come up.”

“Kade? What time is it?”

“Early.” Kade opened the door and climbed out of his expensive car.

He started walking to the front door and his heart jumped when a light snapped on in a corner room on the top floor. She was awake.

Kade flew up the stairs. As he reached her apartment the door opened and Brodie stood in the dark hall, her hair mussed, wearing nothing more than a hockey jersey. His number. Lust and warmth and relief pumped through him. Rory and her machinations were instantly forgotten; his world was comprised of this woman and how desperately he wanted her.

“What's wron—”

Kade cut off Brodie's words by covering her mouth with his. Without ending the kiss, he picked her up, kicked the door shut with his foot and carried her to her bedroom.

* * *

They were being perfectly adult about this, Brodie decided as she poured coffee into two mugs. Civilized. So far they'd managed to avoid the awkwardness that normally accompanied the morning after the night before.

He hadn't faked any emotion he didn't feel and she hadn't felt like she was being used. They'd made love, slept a little, made love again and then Kade asked if he could use her shower. She offered to make him breakfast. He declined but said he'd take a cup of coffee.

As extended one-night stands went, it was practically perfect. Then why did she feel like she didn't want it to end?

She was just being silly; she was tired and not thinking straight. After she'd had a solid eight hours of sleep, she'd be grateful Kade was so good at this. Brodie frowned. He'd obviously had a lot of practice.

“Are you going to drink it or just stare at it?”

Brodie turned slowly and sucked in her breath. Kade naked was a revelation, but Kade in a wrinkled tuxedo wasn't too shabby, either. Too shabby as in freakin' damn hot. “Uh...”

Kade walked over to her, lifted the cup to her mouth and tipped it. “Coffee, a magical substance that turns ‘uh' into ‘good morning, honey.'”

Brodie rolled her eyes as he took her cup and sipped from it. “I'd forgotten you were a morning person. It's okay to kill happy, cheerful morning people, I checked.”

Kade handed her cup back and walked over to the pot and poured his own. He leaned his butt against her counter and sipped. “You need a shower and six hours of sleep.”

“Eight.” Brodie pulled out a wooden chair from the table and dropped into it. “And you're the one who woke me up so early so it's your fault.”

Kade grinned. “I didn't see you fighting me off. Sorry about your panties, by the way.”

“You owe me a new pair,” Brodie told him, both hands wrapped around her cup. Such a nice tuxedo...and it fitted him beautifully. The bow tie was gone and his face was shaded with blond stubble. Then she sat up straighter, remembering why Kade was wearing a tuxedo. “The ball! I'd forgotten... How did it go? Did you manage to raise any money from my donation?”

“Uh, yeah. It sold.”

“You don't sound too enthusiastic.” Brodie cocked her head. “Didn't it make any money at all? I'm
so
sorry.”

“It made quite a bit of money. That's not the problem.”

“There's a problem? How can there be a problem with my gift? The guy comes to me, I set him up on three dates and hopefully there's a happily-ever-after.”

“It all depends on who the guy is.”

Right, now she was confused. “So who is the guy?”

“Me.”

She knew it was early and she wasn't a 100 percent awake, but she thought, maybe, Kade had said
he
was the one she would be working with.