The Billionaire's Baby Arrangement (8 page)

“I don't know about him, Leah,” she said, sweeping up her daughter and planting kisses on her cheek. Leah was fascinated by her new surroundings and had been quietly curious since they'd arrived, letting Brooke make her phone calls without interruptions.

By mid-morning, Brooke had accomplished what she'd hoped to and decided a trip into town was necessary. She packed up Leah and made their first stop at a hardware store to pick up cleaning supplies, some small appliances and a beginner's tool kit. Next she went to Baby Town to purchase a new playpen for Leah that she could keep in their house, eliminating the need for her to continually cart it back and forth. After picking out a jungle-themed playpen, she drove to the grocery store and bought beverages and food to stock in the kitchen. It was a funny thing, just having milk and bread in the refrigerator made her happy. She smiled the entire way home.

Hours later Brooke glanced at her watch to find it was time to head back to Nick's house. The time had flown by and she was extremely happy with her progress. She'd managed to clean up the refrigerator, wash the kitchen floors and counters and arrange a new toaster, food processor and coffeemaker in strategic places in the kitchen. She'd had a full day and now was off to make dinner for Nick.

She arrived a little later than she'd planned, so dinner was a rush of getting Leah nursed and down for a nap, and creating something wonderful to eat. The something wonderful ended up being a quick stir-fry with shrimp and scallops, scallions, and veggies over brown rice.

“I know I must look a mess,” she offered when she heard Nick walk into the kitchen, precisely at seven. “And dinner's going to be a little late today.” Steam from the wok rose up
and heated her face. She wiped her forehead with her arm, feeling like a slug from the earth. She hadn't had a chance to change her clothes or clean up before starting dinner. “Give me a second and I'll have it all ready.”

Nick approached her in a slow easy stride. “Why, do you have somewhere you need to be?”

She snapped her head up. Heavens, he looked like a zillion bucks today. His tan trousers and a chocolate brown shirt brought out the bronze of his skin and accented those dark blue eyes. His appearance made her feel even more a mess, if that were possible. She caught the subtle scent of his musky cologne and knew immediately it probably cost more than her entire wardrobe at the moment. “No, of course not. I'm sorry I'm running late.”

She took the wooden spoon and stirred, as if that would make the dinner cook faster.

Nick sidled up next to her and covered her hand with his. Stir-fry steam continued to drift into her face, but that wasn't what caused her body to flame. Having his hands on her was doing a great job of that.

“There's no rush,” he said quietly and her heart pounded in her chest. He stroked her gently and she didn't dare look at his face and show him the turmoil he caused her. Instead, she focused and took a deep breath.

“Brooke?”

“What?” she barked out and Nick smiled.

He took the spoon from her and shut off the burner on the stove. “Don't make yourself crazy about this, honey. If you're running late, just tell me. I'm a big boy, I can wait for dinner.”

“You said seven.”

“Or later. Today it's going to be later. Go up and take a minute for yourself.”

“Is that your way of telling me I look like something the cat dragged in?”

“You look fine, Brooke. You've had a busy day. And I want to hear all about it.”

“You do?”

He nodded.

She glanced at Leah asleep in her little playpen. “But Leah's down here.”

“I've got some reading to do. I'll stay in here and watch her.”

Nick had a determined look in his eyes and she decided to take him up on his offer, rather than argue about it. “Okay, I'll be down in a few minutes.”

She raced upstairs and tossed off her clothes, jumped into the shower and reveled in the refreshing spray that not only cleansed her, but relaxed her as well. She changed into a pair of clean jeans and a black sleeveless tunic and brushed her hair back, away from her face, letting it fall in curls down her back. Taking a look in the mirror, she liked this image reflecting back at her much better than the harried, uptight woman she'd been just twenty minutes ago.

When she entered the kitchen again, she found Nick standing over Leah's playpen, watching her sleep. The moment caught her by surprise. She walked over to stand beside him and they stood there silently like that for a few seconds.

Finally, Nick looked at her. “She made some sounds. I thought she was waking up.”

“Those are her baby noises. She's not a quiet sleeper. You'll get used to it.”

Nick glanced once more at Leah, then took a long assessing look at her. “Feel better?”

“Much.”

The appreciation in Nick's eyes told her he liked what he
saw. Her nerves went raw and she resumed her position at the stove to finish cooking the meal and ignore the flutters threatening to ruin her dinner.

Nick set the table, putting out plates and utensils and Brooke opened her mouth to stop him but then clamped it shut again. He'd said it point-blank tonight—he was a big boy. If he wanted to set his table who was she to tell him not to?

So she sliced bread and stirred the meal as Nick set the table and Leah slept. For anyone walking in on the three of them in the kitchen, they'd think it a homey domestic scene. Only it wasn't, and Brooke had to remind herself that Nick was her employer and she was leaving him as soon as humanly possible.

 

Nick ate every bite on his plate and went to the stove to get a second helping. When he sat down again, instead of diving into his food, he leaned back in his seat looking her over. “So how did it go today?” He poured himself a glass of wine and gestured for her, but she shook her head. She couldn't drink alcohol while nursing her baby.

“You really want to know?” She didn't think her day would be of any consequence to him, but if he'd rather make small talk than eat then she would oblige.

“I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know.” He sipped his white zinfandel thoughtfully.

“I got a lot accomplished. Actually, I'm feeling pretty good about things,” and Brooke went on to explain the details of her day. To her surprise, Nick asked quite a few questions and seemed genuinely interested in her progress. In fact she felt so comfortable discussing the subject with him, she asked him for advice. “I was hoping you could help me figure out a good promotional plan to advertise and attract guests, once I get my place ready.”

Nick thought for a second, scratching his jaw. “I've made a lot of contacts in the area. I'm sure I could call in some favors.”

“I wasn't asking for your help, just a point in the right direction.”

“Right, heaven forbid I should help you.”

Nick focused his attention on her face then lowered his gaze to her chest and the hint of cleavage her top revealed. He didn't seem to mind that she'd caught him in the act. He merely sipped his wine and continued to look at her until heat crawled up her neck.

“I appreciate you will—”

“Get your place registered with tour books and guides. You'll need a Web site. You'll also need to work out arrangements with other bed-and-breakfasts so that they refer tourists to you if they can't accommodate them. Initially, I'd say to visit local wineries and make your place known. Carlino Wines will put you on top of our referral list for visitors.” Through tight lips, he added, “Unless that's against your rules too.”

Brooke took offense to that. “I don't have rules, Nick.”

He finished off his wine and poured another glass. “Sure you do. You don't want anything from me.”

“I don't want anything from any man,” she said, her anger rising. She was sorry she'd asked him for advice. “It's not personal.”

His brow furrowed. “Is that because of what happened between us in high school?”

Brooke had heard enough. She rose from her seat and took up her plate, unable to hide her annoyance. “Maybe you don't know this, but there is
life
after Nick.”

Nick shot up and followed her to the sink. “What is it then? Why are you so damn stubborn? Is it your ex? Did he do a number on you?”

She winced at the mention of her ex. “I don't want to talk about it.”

“Hell, maybe you should. Maybe it'll knock off that chip on your shoulder.”

She whirled around and faced him straight on. “I don't have a chip on my shoulder. I have a baby to raise by myself and I'm trying my best not to get hurt again. That's all, no chip, just survival. But you wouldn't understand that.”

“Yeah, because I've got everything I want.”

“Hell, it looks like it from where I'm standing!”

Nick ignored her accusation and wouldn't let up. “Tell me. What did he do to you, Brooke? Why isn't he around for Leah?”

Brooke's defenses fell at the mention of her daughter. Emotion roiled in the pit of her stomach making her queasy. Her heart ached for Leah and all that she'd lost. Dan's betrayal had cut her to the core, because it meant her daughter wouldn't know her own father. It meant, when she did tell Dan about his daughter, he might not care to know her. He might abandon Leah, the way he'd abandoned Brooke. And that would be too much to take. Too hard to deal with.

Brooke lashed out at Nick because he was there, and because he'd asked for the truth. “He isn't around for Leah, because he doesn't know about Leah! One week before I found out I was pregnant, Dan came to me with the news that he was having an affair. She was pregnant with his child. He left me and the child he'd didn't know about. And,” she said, her tone and bravado fading, “my beautiful baby girl isn't anyone's castaway. She isn't.” Tears spilled down her cheeks and she let them fall freely, shedding her heartache with each stinging drop. “She'll never be. And when I tell Dan about her, it'll kill me if he hurts her the way he hurt me.”

Nick ran a hand through his hair. “Christ, Brooke,” he said in a low rasp.

“I know,” she said, between sobs. She swatted at her shoulder. “Knocked the chip right off.”

Nick closed his eyes briefly, then grabbed her around the waist and drew her into his chest. She wound her arms around him and sobbed quietly while he held her, making her feel safe and protected.

“Damn him,” he muttered. “The jerk.”

“I know,” Brooke replied over and over again. “I know. I know.”

“Want me to have him killed?”

Even through her heartache, she chuckled. “How would you do it?”

“He would just disappear one day, never to be heard from again.”

Brooke nestled into his chest a little more. “I appreciate the thought,” she whispered.

“I'm a helluva guy.”

“Don't be nice to me, Nick,” she pleaded.

“Don't be so damn brave and beautiful and sexy.”

“I'm none of those things.” She wasn't. She was just muddling her way through life, making mistakes and trying to cope the best way she knew how.

Nick lifted her chin and met her eyes. “You're all of those things, Brooke.” Then he lowered his head and kissed her.

It wasn't a consoling kiss, but an all-out Nick Carlino kiss filled with demand and passion. He cupped her face, weaving fingers into her hair and tilted her head to get a better angle, then he kissed her again, his mouth hot and moist and intoxicating. Brooke fell into the sensations swirling down her body in a spiral of heat.

He pressed her mouth open and drove his tongue inside,
taking her into a more intimate place—a place Brooke hadn't been in a long time.

She wanted more. She wanted
him
but she knew it would have to stop. She couldn't do this. Not with Nick. Those thoughts turned to mush when he drizzled kisses down her throat and cupped her breasts with his hands. He groaned with need and backed her up against the counter, their bodies hard and aching for each other. His thumbs stroked over her blouse, making her nipples peak, tormenting her with slow circles that sent shockwaves down her body.

It felt good to be kissed this way by Nick, to have him desire her, and she would die a happy woman if he made love to her now. But Brooke thought about Leah again, and the mistakes she'd already made in her life.

Nick would be another one. And she couldn't afford that luxury.

“No, Nick.” She broke off his kiss, and regretted it immediately, but she was determined to stop him. “We can't do this.”

He gazed at her with smoky eyes that promised a hot night between the sheets. His hands were halfway up her blouse. He removed them and waited.

“I haven't had sex in a long time,” she confessed.

“You haven't forgotten anything.”

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. “You're good at bringing it all back.”

“Somehow I don't think that's an invitation.”

“It's not. It's an explanation of why I let things get out of control. My life is complicated right now.”

Nick sighed. “Sex doesn't have to be.”

She breathed in deep and his scent on her lingered. “I'm not ready.”

Nick backed up and gave her breathing room. “When
you are, you have an open invitation. You know where my room is.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded.

They stared at each other a long moment, then Nick turned away, picked up his keys and walked out the front door.

Brooke stood there, bracing herself against the granite counter, her body aching for completion. She needed the physical act, but she also needed the intimacy of being held and loved and cared for. She wanted the bond and connection that lovemaking at its finest could bring. Knowing she had an open invitation with Nick rattled her nerves and made her imagine things she shouldn't be imagining.