Page 32 of The Baby Contract With My Hot Billionaire Boss

‘Is there someone special for our favorite playboy?’

And another after that.

‘Just Who is Christian Warren Living With?’

“Looks like the local rags are trying to make a mint off making up stories about me again.”

“Are they made up?” Matt asks and I stay silent. I don’t want to say too much about what’s going on with Emma. I don’t want them to know what the truth of the matter is. That’s between just me and Emma. But also, I don’t want them to think I’m in some kind of serious relationship with her either.

“It’s just some girl I’ve been spending time with,” I say finally.

“And you moved her into your house?”

Again I pause. What can I tell them that doesn’t overstate what’s going on? Or understate it? Or cause more problems for me or Emma in the future? “She’s staying at my place right now, yes,” I admit. “But it’s not like … it’s not some super serious thing.”

“You moved a woman into your house and it’s not that serious?” Tony replies, raising an eyebrow at me. “Come on. We want to know what’s going on with you.”

“She’s staying at my place short term. But not like … with me. She’s got her own part of the place.”

“Okay, but if you’re not moving her in to have her with you then why move her in at all?”

“There’s some extenuating circumstances. You’ll find out about it all when it’s time.”

I can tell they’re not really happy with that and I’m not exactly thrilled about keeping secrets from them either. But as far as I know she hasn’t actually told anyone yet and me telling my whole crew before she even gets to tell her family doesn’t seem like a good idea.

Finally, with some grumbling, they accept it and Ethan pulls out a bottle of the good scotch.

“Here we go. A toast to another great year.”

“I think we’re a little late on that,” I reply wryly.

“I think we did a toast to a great year on New Year’s Eve,” Tony adds.

“A few of them!” Matt calls back and we all laugh. Yeah, we did have a little more than we should have. But everyone was having a good time.

“But this is the start of our best part of the season. Time for Mardi Gras. That’s going to be one heck of a party.”

“Hell yeah,” I agree. I’ve been planning this one for a while now, which is good because if I hadn’t, things with Emma would have certainly derailed my plans. But now, all I have to do is sit back and let it all happen.

With a couple shots under our belts everyone heads out, except for Ethan, who remains in his seat.

“What’s up?” I ask, knowing he’s not going to leave until he gets whatever he has to say out.

“These magazines. They’re not all junk. And if you’re moving someone in,” I can tell he’s hurt not to have been told about that, “then I think I know who it is, too.”

“It’s not important,” I say quickly but he gives me a skeptical look.

“It’s Emma, isn’t it? You moved her into your house? I mean, I know you’re constantly staring at the girl and I know you’ve had her up here several times, but … moving her in?”

“It’s … complicated,” I reply, glancing toward the window. I hesitate and then stand up, closing and locking the door before I come back. “All right, I need to talk to someone about this. And you’re … well, you’re the best friend I’ve got so, here goes.”

But I pause before I launch into the story. Ethan is just sitting there, staring at me with that same intense look he always gets when I’m going to lay out a plan. Like he’s actually interested and really listening. It’s one of the best things about him.

“I’ve got a contract with Emma.”

“A contract?” His brow furrows in confusion as he stares at me. “A contract for what?”

“A … baby,” I say finally and now his eyes widen and his mouth drops open.

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