Page 53 of Secret Baby for the Bad Boy

To be honest, I’m thrilled. Honored. But the sting of possible rejection waters down those emotions and leaves me unable to fully enjoy the moment. Am I miscalculating things?

“It’s a big decision, so you have as much time as you need to decide.” Shana says, and I can’t help but wonder if she knows the extent of mine and Lara’s relationship. Fling? Whatever we call it, there’s something there, and I worry it might cause problems later if she doesn’t know. But I can talk to Lara later, in private, about all of that.

“Thank you,” I say with a nod of my head. Over the years, I’ve learned to never take a deal without sleeping on it, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. Well, that and have a conversation with Lara.

Because deep in my mind, there a cautionary whisper, a sliver of doubt that worms its way into the forefront of my thoughts. Is this a good choice?

The lines between personal and professional have always been clear-cut, like the sharp angles of the skyscrapers outside the window. But now, as I sit here in front of Lara, the woman who's come to mean everything to me, who is so much more than just my boss, those lines blur.

This is a step beyond mixing business and pleasure. It's a leap into a possibly devastating place for both of us if one or the other – our professional or personal relationships – don’t work out.

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Shana says, standing up. But she moves to my side, offering her hand. I stand and take it, accepting her shake and her softly-spoken congratulations. With that, she’s out the door and gone, and I turn back to Lara.

“Would this change…” My voice trails off, unsure how to phrase the question that's burning inside me. I don’t want a wedge between us, or to risk losing my son or her if things go south.

“Change what?” Lara asks, her expression softening just a fraction, as if she understands the fear I’m facing and wants to meet my concerns head on.

“Us,” I say simply, because there's no other word for the tangled mess our lives have become. We’re lovers, friends, coworkers, I’m her baby daddy, and I’m in love with her. It’s a mess, and one that could be made more complicated by this move.

“Only if we let it,” she says, lifting her shoulders like she’s already considered every avenue and thinks the benefits outweigh the risks.

Only if we let it.

I turn the phrase over in my mind, trying to find comfort in her certainty. My heart thunders, my mouth feels dry, and I suddenly realize this would shorten my plans to grow my wealth, possibly by several years.

The thought of mixing personal desires and professional goals on this level is intimidating, but I can’t help wonder what’s the worst that could happen… and what’s the best that could happen?

“Like she said, you have time. There’s no need to make a decision now. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have, though.” Lara sounds calm, but there’s an undercurrent of excitement in her tone that splashes over me.

“I don’t make deals like this without sleeping on them,” I say, just to let her know that I’m not about to jump into anything before I’m ready or have considered every possibility of how things could go well…. Or terribly.

“Well, I did draft this up,” she says, sliding a packet of papers my direction.

It’s an offer, and I plan to read every single letter, cover to cover, and take the contents to heart. I trust Lara, but when it comes to business, protecting ourselves is the only sane move. And while I don’t make the most sane choices all the time, this time I will.

But even as I take the packet, I already know I’m going to say yes.

This is a risk, but life's full of risks, and this one—this one feels right.

Chapter Twenty-One

Lara

The yacht rocks gently as I lean against the railing, salt spray misting my skin.

“Beautiful, isn't it?” Lark's voice pulls me from my thoughts. He’d accepted our proposal, and now, things seem so much more complicated even though I’d been sure they wouldn’t be.

“Stunning.” My voice is soft. The warm metal railing under my elbows digs into my skin and the wind whips stray strands of my hair about my face as I stare out over the open ocean.

He stands beside me, close enough that our shoulders brush. His gaze, fixed on the horizon, is filled with a contentedness I wish I shared. As I blink up at him, I notice how the sunlight plays across his features, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the soft curve of his lips.

Lips I wish I could feel against mine.

“This never gets old,” he says, but his eyes tell me he's somewhere far away, in a thought or a memory.

“Hey.” I nudge him gently, watching him snap back to the moment, to me. “You with me?”

“Of course.” A smile tugs the corners of his lips, but I can see something is bothering him. The intensity of his stare sends a thrill through my veins and has my heart picking up speed.

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