Page 17 of Secret Baby With Daddys Best Friend

“Okay,” I said. “So, you can leave now. Huh?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I guess I can.”

He left, stalking out of the room, leaving my heart pounding and my senses torn to shreds. There was a lot about Eric Slade I didn’t understand, but I knew two things for sure.

First, I hated him.

And second, I was hopelessly attracted to him.

Thatnightwasn’teasy.I tossed and turned, lying awake in the four-poster bed. I opened every window, and soon the white damask drapes were fluttering in the breeze. It was almost Summer but there were still strong winds outside, and despite the sunny warmth the next day I couldn’t see much of the sky beyond the dark clouds in the bay.

I’d gone down to the beach and was sitting by myself, feet on the pebbled shore, watching the boats drift by in the marina, when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“You’re Jamie Reed, right?” said the tall, blonde woman next to me.

For a moment, I gasped. Then, slowly, the light faded as I shielded my eyes. I saw that the woman in front of me, while she might have blue eyes and blonde hair, was short and skinny.

“Yeah,” I said, standing up. “Do we know each other?”

“Not personally,” she said, “but I’ve heard all about you. I’m on the PR team atPlatotech.”

“No way!” I said. “I did some consulting for them last year. It was great. It’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

“Julia,” replied the blonde lady, sitting down next to me. She was smiling at me as she did, an enormous grin on her face. She wasn’t dressed like an executive, wearing a pair of jean shorts and a white shirt.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said.

We chatted for a while, and it helped to take my mind off things. Eventually, I found myself gathering my tote bag and following her along the shore, as we discussed working in Boston for tech companies and other tedious corporate things. Eventually, Julia stopped and pointed at the harbor.

“See that yacht?” she said.

“How could I not?” I replied. The boat was enormous. It was a beautiful, white superyacht,

“Wanna take a ride?” she said mischievously.

“Come off it,” I smirked.

“Are you sure?” she said. “The guy who owns that thing is offering to take people attending the convention out for a ride.”

“Oh, that sounds cool,” I said. “But I think I’ll pass.”

“Comeon!” said Julia. “After all, what’s the point in coming out here to Cape Cod unless we do something fun, right?”

I sighed. I hadn’t had a lot of fun in the last few years. My early life with Cassie had been a nightmare: underslept, trying to make ends meet, focusing on just getting through every day. And while I might have been working a lot more now and making more money, my days still revolved around Cassie. Caring for her, putting her before my career, and my interests, was the norm for me. That was what I thought made a good mother. But when was the last time I’d taken a vacation? Or done something that didn’t involve ponies and coloring books on my days off?

Had I become boring? I’d never been the most exciting person in the world—you wouldn’t think so from my social media, but it was true.

Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to say no.

Besides, the photo would be pretty cool.

“You know what?” I said. “You’re absolutely right.”

“That’s amazing,” she said, laughing as we bounded towards the quay. “I was hoping you’d say yes. I met this guy this morning who wants to take a bunch of people from the convention out on his yacht.”

“Yacht?” I said, dumbfounded.Who at MEC would be riding around in a yacht?

It was too late by the time I realized it. As we went down the quay, I saw a group of people from the convention. There were bigwigs there—at least two of the major CEOs who were attending and chairing the convention. All too late, I realized that only a few people were attending the conference who owned a yacht.

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