The Billionaire Bachelor's Surprise Baby: A Billionaire Romance (13 page)

“What is it you’re getting at?”

“I’ve learned a thing or two about you since I’ve been back.”

“I don’t know how because you’ve never said more than three words to me.” Not that it mattered because I didn’t have much to say to her either. We’d have to come to some sort of agreement if we were going to be around Mason. As he got older he would begin to understand the dynamics of his family and Kyler, Aimee and I would all have to work at making sure he never ended up in the middle of any animosity.

“We don’t have to talk for me to know about you.” When she smiled I got a bizarre sensation that something was off. “I have other sources.”

“Why don’t you come back when Kyler is home? I’m sure he’d love to hear all about your ramblings.” I opened the door for her, but she just kept staring at me with that smackable smug smirk plastered across her face. “You need to leave.”

“You’re not the least bit curious about what I have to say?”

“Not really.” I grew tired of this conversation.

“Even if I know that I’ve already given your boyfriend the one thing you’ll never be able to give him?”

No she didn’t... she couldn’t possibly know. Could she?

I
hit the garage door opener, intending to pull in, but Aimee’s presence on my porch caught my eye.
What is she doing here?
As she made her way over to the car, I realized I would have to grant this impromptu visit with her and Mason. As much as I hated it, she was his mother. I had to play nice if I was going to win in the end.

“I didn’t expect you today.” I got out of the car and opened the back driver’s side door, unbuckling Mason and resting him on my hip. He was growing so fast. I smiled at his alert face, willing myself to remember I had to keep myself in check for him. “Is there a reason you’re here?”

“I wanted to see my boy.” She stepped forward, holding her arms out for him. “Please.”

Reluctantly, I handed him over. How much damage could she do in a few supervised minutes? I noticed Jenna’s car wasn’t in the garage. Maybe she had taken advantage of the alone time while I went to visit my parents and went shopping. She deserved a few hours to herself.

“I stopped by earlier.” Aimee walked up the path to the front porch. “I spoke to your girlfriend.”

Lovely.
That was the reason I didn’t want Aimee showing up unannounced. Jenna didn’t need the unnecessary aggravation. Neither did I.

“She really does care for Mason, but I couldn’t help but notice how taken she is with you.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I just find it funny.” She sat on the porch swing, gently rocking Mason in her lap. He focused on the butterflies fluttering around the window, reaching for them with his curious hand. “How she’s like every other woman who crosses paths with you. Attractive, young, sexy and a body made for your gym. Will she be featured in your next DVD?”

“What does this have to do with anything?” My patience wore thin each time I saw her. Today was no exception.

“I had secretly hoped you would ask me to be in one of those fitness videos.”

Didn’t every girl I dated want that?

“You’ve been a player a long time. You use women, get them into your bed and when you’re done you move on. Sometimes you don’t even wait to end things with one girl before you start with another.”

“I’ve never pretended to be exclusive, not even with you.” I leaned against the railing, blocking the sun from Mason’s delicate skin. “You don’t know anything about what I have with Jenna or how I feel, so don’t start analyzing my relationship. You don’t know anything about me.”

“That’s the amusing part.”

I grew tired of this surprise visit quicker than I thought I would. I wanted to work things out for Mason’s sake, but Aimee made it more difficult than it needed to be.

“You had no interest in settling down until you needed help with Mason. I forced your hand to take responsibility and instead of stepping up and doing the right thing you’re using Jenna.”

“Are we done now because Mason needs a nap?”

“I haven’t had enough of my son today.”

“What about those eight weeks when you were missing in action?”

“Why are you dodging the topic? Am I right about you using her?”

“It’s a bullshit topic. Just because we had a baby together doesn’t mean you know anything about me. I’m not using Jenna.” Why was I even defending myself?

“She didn’t see it that way.”

“What?”

“I was here earlier.” When she smiled a pool of dread flooded my veins. What had she done? “We had an enlightening conversation. All about you.”

“There’s nothing you could have told her she didn’t already know about me. We don’t have any secrets.” I made it a point to let Jenna know who I was before I met her. I told her I couldn’t change my past but I could be a better person in the future. She never judged me about anything I told her.

“It’s all about perception.”

“What are you babbling about?”

“Sometimes all you have to do is plant a seed of doubt in a person’s mind and their own insecurities do the rest.”

“What did you do?” I didn’t believe for a second anything Aimee said could threaten Jenna. She was too confident a woman and she knew what we were to one another.

“All I had to tell her was I could give you something she never could.”

“There’s nothing you could give me...”
Fuck!
There was no way Aimee could know about Jenna’s infertility issue. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know.” She cuddled Mason. “Your
girlfriend
will never be able to give Mason siblings.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“I don’t think she cared that I knew. It was the fact that you had betrayed her confidence and shared her medical information with me. That was the part she couldn’t get over. I don’t think she ever will. I wouldn’t.”

“I would never do that.” How the hell had Aimee found out about Jenna?

“She doesn’t know that. Imagine how she reacted when I told her you had opened up to me and realized it might be better for Mason if we raised him together. We could give him siblings. Make his world complete.”

“Listen, you bitch.”

“Hey.” She met me with an intense gaze. “Don’t talk to me that way in front of my son. I’m calling the shots now. I don’t care how much money you have or how many resources you utilize. I found a way to outwit you and now you’re going to give me full custody.”

“You’re delusional.”

“I guess we’ll see who is more important. Your son or his infertile nanny.”

Clenching my fists at my side, I tried not to freak out. “What do you want?”

“A life with you.” She nodded with such certainty. “The three of us and all that comes with being your wife. I gave you a child now it’s time I get the perks.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that, so for now, until you come around, I’ll settle for custody. You call your mother off. Tell the judge you changed your mind and you realize Mason is better off with me. You’re far too busy with your career to raise a child.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I know the most intimate details of Jenna’s medical history. From her poor ruptured appendix to her endometriosis. Think of the scandal I could create when I give the papers an exclusive. How you tried to steal my child to give to your nanny. They may even turn it into a movie,”

“How could you know any of that?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She smirked. “Jenna will never believe you didn’t tell me.”

I didn’t know how she found out about the things she had, but I would do whatever it took for Jenna to believe me. She had to trust I would never betray her like that.

“Like I said, it didn’t take long to play on her insecurities especially when I pointed out what an amazing father you are and how you’ll never be satisfied with just one baby. You’d want a whole house full of kids and she would never be able to deliver. In more ways than one.”

“Give me Mason, right now.” I held out my arms, trying not to imagine the look on Jenna’s face when Aimee spit such bile at her. “Then I want you out of here. You can take your blackmail and get the hell off my property. All visitations are over until you hear from my lawyer.”

“I’ll tell Jenna the truth once you sign the custody papers and then the two of you can go off and live the life you’re so used to. Kid free, spending your billions traveling the world, hitting the clubs and screwing anything that moves. I’m sure it won’t last with you and your princess. You’re not wired that way. You can either join me and Mason where you belong or maybe you’ll knock up some other unsuspecting woman who doesn’t know who you really are.”

“Give him to me, right now.” I stepped forward, gently prying him from her arms. “Don’t show up here again.”

“You don’t want me to assist you with Jenna?” She stood. “You’d risk losing her?”

“The only person who is going to lose here is you. When I find out how you obtained confidential medical records you’ll be done. That was the last nail in your coffin.” I headed for the house. “Get a good look at him because when I’m done you’re not even going to have unsupervised visits.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Watch me.” I entered the house and shut the door, locking it behind me as Aimee stomped down the porch steps screaming obscenities at me. Did she really think her blackmail was going to work? Jenna would never...

The envelope on the foyer table caught my attention. My name was written in Jenna’s frilly handwriting. Why would she leave me a note? As I reached for it a knot formed in my stomach as my heart raced with a dark anticipation. I took the paper from the envelope and quickly read her simple but direct note...

I can’t play house with you anymore.

“
You’re
making a mistake,” my mother said as I brought my suitcases into the house. “I don’t care what that little witch knew. Kyler would never betray you like that.”

“It’s kind of hard to believe he wouldn’t.” Aimee knew details that I had only shared with Kyler. “I don’t understand why he would tell her any of it.”

“That’s what I’m saying.” She stared at my bags that filled the foyer. “It doesn’t make sense and for you to just pack your things and go without an explanation, well, it was a bit impulsive.”

“You’re supposed to be on my side.” I placed my hand on my hip. “Remember?”

“I am on your side. You finally found a way out of the darkness that consumed you ever since you found out about your diagnosis. Kyler and Mason are good for you. I know he cares for you. I’m having a hard time believing he would do anything to intentionally hurt you.”

I didn’t want to believe it but I didn’t stick around and wait for an explanation that I was afraid would hurt me.

“Why don’t you call him?”

Before I could answer there was a knock at the door.

“Maybe you won’t have to.” My mom headed for the door as Kyler called my name.

“Wait!” Panic set in. I didn’t want to end this face to face. I didn’t have that kind of resolve. “I don’t want to see him. Tell him I’m not here,” I whispered. “Please.”

“I’ll do no such thing. If you’re so sure he wants to be with Aimee, you tell him it’s over. I’ll support you, but you can’t treat this like medical school.” My mother stared me down. “You can’t run away from every problem. You have a wonderful life with so much promise. You always have. It’s time for you to see the opportunities in front of you for what they really are.”

Damn!
I hated when she was right. I didn’t need to drop out of medical school. If being a pediatrician was too much for me to handle I could have switched fields instead of running away. I couldn’t run from Kyler. I had to hear him out and after I did if my gut told me he was lying at least I’d have closure. There was only one way for me to find out.

“I’ll get it.” I turned toward the door, trying to steady myself. “Can you give us a minute?”

“I hope you’ll take more than a minute.” She hugged me. “Trust your heart. Even if he did tell her there must be a good reason.”

I nodded as Kyler knocked on the door again. I couldn’t think of one good reason for him to betray me.

“Jenna,” he called. “Please give me a chance to explain.”

My mother headed toward the kitchen as I answered the door.

“You’re here.” Relief dominated his expression when I opened the door. “I wasn’t sure if this was where you went.”

“You should have called.” I stepped out onto the porch, shutting the door behind me. No need for my mother to hear what was coming next. “You could have saved yourself a trip.”

“When I got home from visiting my mom, Aimee was waiting for me. She presented quite an ultimatum, but I called her bullshit bluff and told her to leave.”

“I’m supposed to be impressed?” I crossed my arms over my chest, looking anywhere but in his concerned blue gaze.

“She told me what she said to you and I would have bet my billions you would have shot her down and kicked her to the curb.”

“Because I should ignore what she told me?”

“In my mind there was no way you could believe I would hurt you after everything we’ve been through these past few months. I have so much faith in you. In us.”

“Don’t you turn this around on me. You’re the one who violated my confidence.”

“That’s the thing.” He reached for my hand and I wanted to be so strong, but my instincts were telling me to stay and listen. “I didn’t.”

“What do you mean? You told her something about me that was private. I trusted you with a piece of me that I haven’t fully come to terms with.”

“Don’t you think I know that? I was just as shocked as you must have been when she announced that she knew you couldn’t get pregnant. I don’t know how she found out but I would never tell her that. There would be no reason for me to share our private life with her.”

“If you wanted more kids, like she said, then you would. Maybe she’s the better choice for you.”  I didn’t really mean that, but I was hurt.

“You can’t be serious.” He let go of my hand and turned toward the front yard. “You’re the only choice for me.”

“Then what reason would you have to confide in her?”

“Don’t you get it? None. This doesn’t seem off to you?”

“What seems off is that you’re always so honest so why can’t you just tell me you told her instead of lying about it after the fact?”

“I’m not lying.” He spun around to face me, desperation clouding his eyes. “Aimee told me she would tell you the truth after I signed custody of Mason over to her.”

“What?”

“She wants to blackmail me for my kid. She thinks that driving a wedge between us would make me so crazy that I’d give Mason away.”

“You would never do that.” I would never want to be the reason he lost his son.

“You’re right, I wouldn’t.” He took my hand again. “She’s unstable and this stunt proves it. I never thought you’d be gone when I came inside. When I saw that note, well, that’s what made me crazy. I didn’t expect you to walk out on me. I can’t lose you.”

“You really didn’t tell her?” Why did I run? Why didn’t I trust him?

“I would have no reason to tell her.” He shook his head. “None. Don’t you know that?”

“I’m sorry.”

“What happened?” He pulled me into his chest. “To make you doubt me.”

“It’s such a sensitive subject with me. It makes me vulnerable and knowing that she...” Why was I going there?

“Don’t say it.”

“I’m sorry, but it hurts me more than it should that she gave you Mason and I’ll never be able to.” How could I have let Aimee manipulate me so easily? “I should have never believed her.”

“I get why you might have but your note.” He dropped his head in defeat. “That really got me. After everything...”

My breath caught in my throat when he stared up with a wounded expression. I had been so focused on my own pain I acted in haste.

“I wasn’t playing house with you. This is all very real to me. You’re real to me.”

“Kyler...”
How could I make this right?

“I love you.” His gaze didn’t waver when he said the words I had been thinking for quite some time. “Maybe I should have said it sooner. Perhaps I took you for granted. With all the shit that Aimee has thrown at me I didn’t focus on the right things.”

“Yes, you did.” I rested my palm on his cheek. “You’re focused on Mason and that is the most important thing in your life.”

“One of.” He nodded. “You’re the other.”

“I love you too.” I smiled because saying the words filled me with relief. “That’s why I ran. I couldn’t accept you would do such a thing. I’ve been so cautious and I wanted to trust you because it felt right. When Aimee told me you wanted more kids and that wasn’t going to happen with me I let her get inside my head and play on my worst fears. Before I met you, well, I wasn’t in a good place.”

“You don’t have to be afraid with me.” He wrapped his arms around my waist. “Whatever the future holds for us will be perfect. It doesn’t matter how many kids we have.”

“Because we have each other.”

“Exactly.” He stroked my cheek. “I really want to kiss you right now.”

“What’s stopping you?”

“Your mother has been peeking out the side window for a few minutes.”

“Oh God!” I turned and motioned for her to move. “She’s worried I screwed this up.” My mother gave me the thumbs up and stepped out of sight. Silly woman.

“I would never let that happen. That’s why I left Mason with Caden and came right over here. I don’t know how Aimee found out about you but when I find out how she did there will be hell to pay.”

“I don’t want to think about that right now.” I brushed my lips along his stubble. “I’d really like that kiss now.”

“Would you?” He grasped my cheeks in his hands, holding me still. “It should have been the first thing I did when you opened that door.”

“You could make up for it now.” I pressed my mouth to his, taking a relaxing breath for the first time in two hours. The twisting in my stomach subsided when we connected. Kyler was right. This was real.

When he pulled away he smiled at me. His blue eyes sparkling and his dark hair dancing in the breeze. The contented look on his face was contagious. So this was how love felt.

“Can we go in and get your things?” He nodded toward the house. “I know Mason will be happy to see you.”

“I’d like nothing more.”

Just as I reached for the door handle, Kyler’s phone rang. He retrieved it from his pocket. “It’s Caden,” he said. “Mason probably pooped and he doesn’t know what to do.”

“Hey,” Kyler answered. “I’ll be home in a...”

Kyler stopped and listened, leaning against the railing the color drained from his complexion. “What do you mean he’s not in his crib? Stop fucking around.” He shook his head in disbelief over whatever his brother was saying on the other end of that call. “He was asleep when I left him with you. Where the hell is he?”

That wretched knot in my stomach came back with a vengeance as I stood in horror over what was unfolding in front of me. Mason...