Page 32 of The Billionaire's Christmas Baby Surprise

“There’s something that’s bothering me a little. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Max’s mind went immediately to the night they’d spent together, which was whathecouldn’t stop thinking about. “What is it?”

“I don’t think I bought enough gifts for the parents for Christmas,” Billie told him. Max immediately felt like a fool. Of course Billie wasn’t thinking about their night together. She was focused on her work — which Max should be, too. It was inappropriate for him to remember how it had felt to kiss her and hold her in his arms when she was clearly not interested in repeating the experience.

“Hmm, maybe not,” he said instead. “Maybe we can have another shopping trip to pick up a few more things.”

“Good idea. Good thing we still have a week and a half until Christmas.”

“Good thing indeed. All right. Good night.”

“Night.”

But Max lay awake for a long time after that, his mind spinning in circles with thoughts of Billie.

CHAPTER 13

BILLIE

Billie folded a set of pajamas and added them to the pile of donated clothes. Today was laundry and sorting day, a once-a-month event when she washed and went through all the clothes that had been donated. It was always a big job, and she usually had lots of help from her staff, but today she’d decided to do it on her own. Billie didn’t feel like talking to anyone, and she needed time to think. She was alone in the center’s biggest room with piles of clothes spread on the long table in front of her.

Last night, she and Max had spent the night together. Nothing had happened beyond sleeping in the same room, but still, the memory was strong in Billie’s mind. They’d shared a lovely dinner at Max’s diner in Colorado Springs, and the snow had forced them to stay in the city overnight. When Billie had found out that they were sharing a room, she’d half considered the idea that it might be fate. Perhaps the universe wanted her and Max to spend one more night together. She’d had visions, very clear visions, of Max pressing her gently against the hotel room wall and kissing her until her knees went weak. Memories of thenight they’d spent together had come flooding back, and Billie had known that another night would be even better.

When they’d slept together the first time, she’d been certain that it was nothing but a one-night stand with a man she wasn’t all that fond of — and it had still been magical. Now that she knew Max better, now that she respected him and even admired his dedication to his restaurants, it would be even better.

But it still would have been a terrible idea. After all, Max was a major donor. And he wasn’t interested in Billie. He’d clearly thought of her as a one-night stand and nothing more, just as she had. After all, he’d seemed relieved and very quick to agree when Billie had told him that she wanted to keep things professional.

Even though being professional was the last thing she wanted.

Billie examined a white shirt with a spaghetti-sauce stain down the front and shook her head. Why did people donate things like this? She tossed it into a pile of unusable clothes that she’d recycle into rags or crafting material and reached for a small pair of jeans with appliqué flowers on the legs. Better. She folded the jeans neatly and put them on a pile of preschooler clothes.

When they’d gotten back to Denver this morning, Max had dropped her off at home so that she could change, then bid her a polite goodbye. It had all been so… ugh… professional.

Billie almost missed the days when she’d thought that Max was nothing but a self-centered, entitled jerk. Things had been simpler then. She’d known that she needed to keep her distance, which had been easy to do despite his attractiveness. Now that she liked him as a person, it was much harder to ignore her desire to be close to him.

Just then, there was a knock. Billie looked up from a green T-shirt with a T. rex on the front and called out, “Come in.” It was probably one of her employees with a question.

“Hi, Billie.”

Billie was beyond startled to see Max standing in the doorway. He wore a different suit from the one he’d slept in —why had he slept in his suit, anyway?— and he looked refreshed.

“Hi, Max.” Billie frowned at her phone, where she kept her calendar app. “Did we have an appointment?”

“No. Sorry for dropping in.” Max looked around at the piles of clothing on the table. “Is this a bad time?”

“No, it’s fine. Um, why are you here?” That had come out a little harsh. A traitorous part of Billie’s brain suggested that he might be here because he wanted to spend a little more time with her, but that probably wasn’t it.

“I was hoping you might be able to help me.” Max crossed to the table and picked up a small pink sweater, which he folded messily. Billie gently took the sweater from his hands and refolded it.

“With what?”

“I overheard one of my employees talking. Apparently, she and her husband are foster parents, and a sibling group of five kids was dropped off at their house last night with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their social worker is trying to get some clothes from their house, but my employee, Janet, wasn’t feeling optimistic. I felt so bad for those kids. It’s almost Christmas and they don’t have anything. Not clothes — and definitely not presents.”

“Max.” Billie tilted her head to the side. “Are you overcome with a charitable urge?”

Max chuckled. “Yes, it seems like it. I’d like to get Janet a few things for the kids, but I’m not sure where to start. I was hoping you could help.”

“I’d love to. We should start by calling Janet and asking if it’s okay for us to help — and finding out a little more about the kids.”

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