Page 8 of The Billionaire's Christmas Baby Surprise

“What are your plans for Thanksgiving?” Billie asked once they were on the way. Then she stopped herself. “Wait, I know. You’ll be working, right?”

“You got it. I’ll have a nice quiet day at the office, maybe with some good takeout for lunch. What areyougoing to do?”

“I’ll go to my parents’ house. I always do for the holidays.” Billie had a sudden urge to invite Max, which she pushed aside. He wouldn’t have fun at her family Thanksgiving.This is a one-night only… friendship.

“That sounds nice. Do you have a big family?”

“Yes. Two brothers and a sister. All married. My brothers both have kids, one newborn and one toddler, and I wouldn’t be surprised if my sister has an announcement to make sooner or later. Plus, I still have a couple of living grandparents and some cousins who will probably be there.” Billie paused. “Do you have siblings?”

“No. I’m an only child.”

“Somehow, I feel like I knew that already.”

The cab pulled up outside Billie’s apartment. Max paid, sending another wave of guilt through Billie, and they both got out. It was icy cold on the sidewalk, so Billie didn’t want to linger outside. She suspected that Max would feel the same way.

“Would you like to come up?” Billie asked before she could think better of it. “I can offer you something to drink, as thanks for ‘walking’ me home.”

“I’d be happy to.”

Max waited patiently as Billie unlocked the entry door, and they climbed the stairs to her apartment. She unlocked her apartment door and let them in, then gestured for Max to have a seat on the couch while she crossed to the fridge to survey the drink options.

“I can offer you another beer, some water, or orange juice.”

“I’ll take a beer.”

Billie took a beer for Max but poured orange juice for herself. Back on the couch, he clinked his bottle against her glass and they each took a sip.

“Nice apartment,” Max said.

“Really?” Billie looked around skeptically. Her studio was small and old, but tidy and covered in pictures as well as a small seasonal pumpkin.

“Really. I like how you decorated the place.”

“Thanks.” They were sitting close together on Billie’s couch now. Every time Billie lifted her glass to drink, her arm brushed Max’s.

Billie wasn’t one for relationships, not really. She’d never had the kind of serious relationship that her mother so desperately wanted for her. Yet she wasn’t the kind of person to pursue a fling that she knew would only ever be short-term, like thisone. With Max so close by her, though, all her usual practicality seemed to wash away.

Max was incredibly attractive. She didn’t usually fall for the cocky, self-assured billionaire type, but something about Max’s easy conversation and the way he held himself made attraction stir in her stomach. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to feel his broad hands on her hips and his lips on her own.

And why not? It had been a bad day. She didn’t need to worry that Max had strong feelings for her that would complicate things. Maybe, just this once, Billie could let herself be caught up in a moment and let go of the walls she usually kept around herself.

Slowly, Billie set her glass of orange juice on the table, then took the beer from Max’s hand. He sat up a little straighter, his blue eyes darkening to the color of the sky at dusk.

“Are we done drinking?” he asked, his voice low.

Billie felt a sudden wave of shyness, but took a deep breath and let the wave wash over her and fade away.

“I thought we might be.”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you all evening,” Max continued, his voice still low and intense. “Ever since I saw you across the room.”

“I think we could do something about that,” Billie replied. Her voice came out a little higher than she’d intended. She leaned closer, then Max closed the distance between them and brushed an achingly slow kiss across Billie’s lips. All her nerves seemed to stand to attention at his touch. Max sat back and smiled. It was the slow, satisfied smile of a man who had found something, or someone, he wanted.

Billie ached to feel his touch again, and Max must have felt the same way, because they were kissing again in an instant. This time, the kiss was deeper and a little more urgent. Billie wrapped her hands around Max’s shoulders, and he slid his hands around her waist and drew her towards him. Billie wanted more of this man. She kissed him back, her hands tangling into his hair as his five-o’clock shadow brushed against her cheek.

“Do you want me to go home?” Max asked. His voice was a whisper against her ear, making her shiver with anticipation.

“No. Stay.” And Billie shifted until she was sitting across his lap. Max pulled back and looked at her for a long moment with those intense blue eyes. He smoothed a hand across the curve of her cheek, along her shoulder, and down her arm to her hand. He placed her hand against his chest, where she could feel his heart beating.

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