ROMANCE: Billionaire Romance: Tantalizing Temptation (New Adult, Short Stories, Billionaire Romance, Contemporary BBW Romance) (3 page)

“Are you okay?” Kale asked, interrupting my thoughts.

We’d arrived at my apartment complex, and I hadn’t even noticed. “I’m fine.”

“It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?” he said.

“Yeah, it is. Kale, I care about you more than I can even say. But I’m going to need some time to think things over.”

He took my hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed my fingers. “I understand,” he said, his voice hollow. “Take all the time you need.”

*

I threw myself into work. I was a slave to my computer, doing lightning quick editing on the nonfiction titles on my list, as well as the odd novel. Nothing else mattered except saving enough time at the end of each day for working on His Mistress’s Arms. The author’s agent had been in touch, antsy for news, and I gave her a curt response: Still working like crazy on this, but the edits will be worth it. I had all the faith in my editing abilities. It was just my love life I was unsure about.

I could hear Kale go into his office every day, I could hear the gentle snick of his door closing when he wanted to concentrate, and I could identify the rhythm and tone of his footsteps on the hall floor as he walked in and out. Every day, he left for a long lunch, which was unusual. Had he met someone else? Had I been so easily replaced? The thought filled me with a cold fury.

After two weeks of his long lunches, I couldn’t stand it anymore. As soon as I heard his footsteps go down the hall, I followed him, taking three flights of stairs down so he wouldn’t see me at the elevators.

He didn’t take a car, but instead walked. There was a chill in the late October air, and I pulled my cardigan closer around me, wishing I’d brought my coat. My heels, too, weren’t up to the trek, but at this point I was driven by something stronger than pain—I was driven by a breaking heart.

Kale’s long strides kept him well in front of me, so there was no risk he’d see me following, especially not with the crowds on the sidewalks. I narrowly missed running into a food cart because I was looking at him instead of where I was going. Suddenly, he turned to the left and went up a set of stone stairs and into a tall stone building. Was this where his new girlfriend lived, or maybe where she worked? I got closer to the building until I could read the sign: NYC Montessori Preschool.

As I stared at the sign in wonder, the doors opened in front of me, and out stepped Kale, holding the hand of…Nadia.

Of course. I wanted to kick myself for all of my suspicions and jealousy.

“Angie?” Kale said, confusion in his voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I was…just out for a walk. Needed to get my blood pumping. Hi, Nadia. It’s nice to see you again.” Nicer than she’d ever know, because the relief that she wasn’t a woman with her claws sunk into my boyfriend’s hide was so immense I couldn’t stand it.

Kale cleared his throat. “There’s a hot dog vendor up the block. Nadia and I were going to get some lunch. Would you like to join us?”

“Oh, no, thank you,” I said. “I should, uh, get back to the office.”

My face felt like it was on fire. Turning, I rushed back the way I’d come.

*

Back at my desk, I slipped off my heels and tried to concentrate on work. I felt like the biggest idiot, chasing after Kale and thinking he’d been seeing someone else. Of course he was spending time with Nadia—he’d just met her for heaven’s sake. I picked up His Mistress’s Arms and scanned the pages. The words blurred as my eyes filled with tears. Why couldn’t I believe that Kale wanted me? He wanted me in his life, and I kept looking for ways that I didn’t belong, instead of looking for ways that I did belong.

Wiping my eyes, I read over the editorial letter I’d compiled for the author. Everything was here. My notes in the margin, my overall notes in the letter. The book was ready to be edited, and I was hanging on to it, waiting for perfection.

Perfection would never come. I was doing the best I can on my end, and I knew this author would do her best, too. I dug in a drawer for an envelope and slid the manuscript inside, then took the package to Nate’s desk. “Mail this for me?” I asked.

“Oh, is it finally time to let this one go?” His eyes glinted with amusement.

“Yes,” I said. “Yes, it finally is.”

Kale walked in just then, a tiny smear of ketchup on his collar, no doubt left there by Nadia. If I hadn’t seen him with her, would I have believed the ketchup to be lipstick? I turned, hiding my face from him.

“Angie, my office, now,” he said, his voice cool with authority.

Nate gave me a questioning look, and I shook my head, shrugging. Kale wasn’t waiting for me, though; he’d already walked ahead with his powerful stride, so I followed behind, wondering what he’d say. Would he break up with me? Fire me? I couldn’t believe he’d put me out of a job—he wasn’t ruthless.

Whatever he wanted, I’d face it like a woman. Squaring my shoulders, I entered his office.

“Close the door, Angie,” he said.

So he was no longer worried about what others would think of us being in here with the door closed. Now I knew for sure—he was going to break up with me.

As soon as I closed the door, though, he rushed forward and took me in his arms, crushing my lips to his. Surprised, I didn’t even allow myself to think. I kissed him back, pouring all of the heartache and longing I’d been feeling into our kiss.

He slid my cardigan from my shoulders and fumbled with the buttons on my top. “Kale?”

“I love you, Angie, and I want to show you now. Please, let me show you.”

“But…what about being here? What will people think?”

“I don’t care anymore, if you don’t care.”

In answer, I kissed him again, and when he leaned me against the edge of his desk, I decided then and there that this was my perfection. This was my life, with this man, and everything that came with him.

*

The following week, we went to dinner at Kendall and Gabe’s house. Nadia had fallen asleep against Kale’s shoulder, and I offered to take her upstairs and tuck her in. Kendall nodded, smiling. She and Kale now needed to talk about custody arrangements. I’d balked at first, thinking that I didn’t really belong here for the conversation, but Kale had kissed my hesitance away, saying, “You belong with me, and I want your input.”

As I walked back downstairs, I could hear a little bit of their conversation. “Are you even able to take off time for work?” Kendall had asked.

“I own the company, Kendall, of course I can take off as much time as I need and even work from home when I have to,” he replied kindly.

I was now in the living room, and walked up next to Kale as he took my hand. Kendall was watching us.

Kale then looked at Gabe. “Thank you for stepping in when I wasn't here. Nadia really seems to be attached to you, and I don't want to take that away from you.”

“She's a good kid,” Gabe smiled.

Kale continued, “I don't want to go to court for any custody situations, because I think we’re adults and we can do this ourselves, especially because you and Kendall have taken amazing care of her without me.”

Kendall smiled brightly.

Gabe spoke. “Thank you. That really means a lot that you approve of me. You’re Nadia's father, and we’re co-parenting now so it’s only fair to Nadia that all of us get along even when we don't want to at times, so she sees that even in the toughest times of her life, she has support from all of us.”

“Does us include Angie?” Kendall suddenly spoke.

“Yes,” Kale replied. “Without a doubt. Why don't you guys come over tomorrow for dinner, you, Gabe, and all three children?”

“We’d like that,” Kendall said, grabbing Gabe’s hand. 

*

Kale and I drove home, and this time the car ride didn't feel so tense. In fact, with some of the custody arrangements made, Kale seemed lighter and more carefree. Instead of driving to my apartment, he drove me to his penthouse building. He unbuckled and leaned over to kiss me on my lips. I could feel his lips crushing mine, rough with need. I moaned softly, then after a few minutes, I pulled away.

“Everything’s changing for us now, isn’t it?”

He rested his forehead against mine and spoke with a whisper. “I hope so,” he said. Then he pulled a small box out of his pocket. “Angie, will you marry me?”

“I—yes. Yes!” I laughed, and happy tears rolled down my cheeks.

He placed the ring on my finger, and the diamond sparkled like a star.

He smiled, looking at it, then took my face in his hands. “I love you, Angie. Thank you for making me so happy.”

*

That night was wondrous, and our lovemaking was infused with something even more special, a notion that this was the beginning of a new phase of our lives—our lives that would be linked together always.

*

A year passed, and life was great for us. We saw Nadia every week and she came over every other week, and Kale was a wonderful father.

He said goodbye to me at the door. “I'm heading to work, I'll be off at six, and I’ll bring Nadia home after.”

We kissed, and then he headed out the door.

I hadn't told him yet because I wasn't completely certain, and I wanted to be sure first, but I thought I was pregnant. I had quit going to the office, but I continued to take in projects for his company. These projects, though, were novels that I’d fallen in love with, novels that I wanted to see succeed.  When I moved in with Kale, he had set up an office for me, so I could pursue those projects.

Nadia and I had become very close, and Kendall and I got along better than we both had thought we would—we text and talk like close friends; in fact, I would call her my best friend.

As soon as Kale left, I walked to the doctor’s office. I waited in the exam room for the doctor to come in and share the test results. A part of me really wanted to be pregnant, because then Kale and I would have our own family as well. But if I wasn’t, we were still very happy with Nadia.

Someone knocked on the door, and my heart skipped a beat. “Yes?” I called.

The door opened and the doctor came in, closing it behind her. “Congratulations Angie, you are pregnant,” she smiled.

My heart melted with joy, and I couldn't hold in a few happy tears. I couldn't wait to tell Kale. He’d be home in a few hours with Nadia, and I knew he's just going to be excited.

*

I was home. Nadia and Kale had arrived a few hours after me, and I already had dinner made. Nadia had run to me, and I picked her up, giving her a tight hug.

“I missed you Angie,” she said with a smile on her face.

“I missed you too, kiddo. Did you have fun with your mom and Gabe?” “Yes, Gabe took me to the zoo last week, and Mama took me to the park.”

“The zoo sounds like fun,” I said. “Are you hungry?”

Nadia nodded her head excitedly. “Yes!”

I chuckled. “Why don't you go wash your hands and you can help me set up the dinner table.”

“Okay!”

Kale put his arms around me as Nadia left, and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him. I couldn't help but smile at him, and I saw the look on his face.

“You're smiley today,” he said.

“That's because life is really good right now.”

“Is it?” he asked.

“Yes, It is,” I replied.

“How so?”

I studied his face, and then I spoke. “Well...” I said. I’d thought I was going to be able to come out and just say the words I'm Pregnant, but I was wrong. I took a few deep breaths. “I'm pregnant,” I said.

His face went slack with shock, but he wore a huge smile, too. “How far along?”

“Well, doctor said I'm just five weeks along.”

“When did you go?”

“Today,” I said. “I’ve suspected for a few days, but today it’s confirmed.”

“Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone with you to the doctor.”

“I wanted to be sure myself before I told you, because if it was just a mistake, I didn't want you to be disappointed, not only that but I wanted you to focus on Nadia, and work.”

“And I will,” he replied, gently kissing my cheek.

Nadia came back out, holding up her hands. “All washed, Angie,” she said happily.

I kissed Kale once more, and then Nadia and I set the table.

*

As we had dessert, Kale told Nadia that she was going to be a big sister. She jumped in excitement, and I was relieved because Kale had just come into her life and I didn't want her to feel like he was going to leave her again.

“Is it a boy or girl?” Nadia asked.

I chuckled at her question. “I won’t know for a few more months, but I promise when it’s time to find out, you will be right in the room with us.”

“I will?”

“Of course you will,” I said. “You are going to be a big sister and I want you there with me.”

*

My stomach was large as I sat in the rocking chair with Nadia on my lap. We were watching Gabe and Kale trying to put up the nursery, and Kendall was downstairs starting dinner for us. As odd as it was, it was nice having them around for support and comfort and just as friends.