Page 14 of The Billionaire's Secret Child

By his stern visage, the joke fell flat. “Driving through a storm is dangerous, and walking through one is worse. You could get in an accident or catch a cold. You should go home and change.”

She blinked. The man who had followed her hundreds of miles to investigate her, who accused her of the inexcusable, wasworriedabout her? “I’m fine.” She smoothed down her sleeves. “Hardly wet anymore.”

A droplet fell on the floor with an audible plop. His eyes darkened in dissatisfaction, yet before he could order her to write “I will not drive through a storm” fifty times, she pressed forward, “I need more information for my article. Would you like to meet this afternoon?”

He hesitated a moment more, clearly unsatisfied with her refusal to listen. Was he going to demand she leave? Finally, he gave a curt nod. “Yes, I would. I’ll pick you up at one.”

Laura exhaled slowly, relief and dismay tangling at his quick acceptance. Why did it feel like she’d just invited the fox to the hen house? “I live in the Pine Ridge Manor Apartments, on the corner of….”

“I know where you live,” he interrupted in smooth tones. “Among other things.”

She clamped her mouth shut. Of course, he had investigated his prey. She could chastise him, demand privacy, but the practice would be futile. What Aidan Bancroft wanted, he got. Hopefully the digging would end before it unearthed her little ray of sunshine.

She needed to get out of there, away from the wily nemesis who was also her child’s father. Yet as he turned to another adoring female fan, she couldn’t look away. For just a moment the likeness to her precious Jeanie was so striking, so clear, that she realized she could never hate or even dislike him. Albeit unknowingly, he had given her the most treasured part of her life, and deep down she would always be grateful. But something beyond that beckoned her, something she couldn’t explain. Some force at work that had nothing to do with Jeanie.

It took her a moment to realize that Aidan was staring back. “Is there something else?” he asked quietly. “Something you’d like to tell me?”

Her breath caught in her throat. Maybe she should just tell him, get everything out in the open. Let the truth forge their path. Compelled by his unspoken command, the urge was nearly insurmountable. "Yes," she choked on the admittance. "There is… something." As the people around them drifted off to the refreshment tables, she swallowed her fear. They stood in relative privacy, with no one close enough to hear.

He watched her with uncanny perception. "Tell me."

"I… That is…" She stopped. How do you tell a man he's a father? Someone this powerful, strong and intelligent? Someone you just met?

"Just say it," he prodded softly. "I can tell it’s troubling you. Tell me, and I'll take care of everything."

Laura steeled herself. This was it, the moment of truth. Aidan Bancroft was about to discover he had a long-lost daughter. She opened her mouth, yet couldn’t move, as if tangled in a spider’s web. The air suffocated her, heavy pressure smothering, restricting, choking. What had he said?Tell me, and I'll take care of everything.

No.

Her mind reeled. She couldn’t tell him, not before she learned his true motivations, before she ensured he wouldn't hire a million dollar lawyer and whisk Jeanie away. Not before she made certain he wouldn’t seize control of Jeanie – and her.

Far too quickly, she shook her head, backed away. “I’m sorry, I was mistaken.” Without another word, she pivoted and strode out of the room, away from her child’s father, the man who would seize control if she allowed it.

Perhaps he already had.

She had not been mistaken…and neither had he.

No, Laura Blake had something to tell him, something significant, something vital. What had stopped her from revealing the secret? Had his response triggered a reaction? Was it because there were too many people? She seemed frightened, panicked even. Did she think he would believe her secret suddenly vanished? No, something lurked between them, something that could change lives.

He would discover everything.

When she’d first entered the room, he’d forgotten his halfway uttered sentence. Preposterous, when he hadn’t flubbed a presentation since he made his first million, yet somehow she stole his attention and infiltrated his thoughts. The sight of the striking woman glistening with water droplets was almost too much too handle. She thought he was mocking her when he called her beautiful, yet every word had been sincere.

Something far beyond appreciation for her lovely features had sparked, an emotion that transcended objective observation. He hadn’t expected his emotional reaction or the deep concern to her being in danger, the need to demand she take care, or actually the desire to care for her himself. Of course, she’d resisted.

Of course, that made him all the more determined.

What was happening to him? Their connection belied their short acquaintance, ascending in spite of his investigation. If he felt this way after a few short meetings, what would happen when they actually spent some time together?

Soon, he would find out.

Thankfully,the rain eased as Laura navigated the wet roads home, as she pushed aside thoughts of Aidan a mere four hundred and fifty-two times. Unfortunately, four hundred and fifty-two of those times his image returned. After she arrived at the apartment, she moved in mechanical motions, showering and changing into a no-nonsense teal pants suit. Crafted of soft yet durable cotton, the tailored suit was chic and well-fitting, showing off her curves. Laura surveyed herself in the mirror and nodded. At least she looked like her old self again.

The same could not be said of her home, as she emerged from her bedroom to the disaster formerly known as her kitchen. She hadn’t time to clean the apartment, so she made a mental note to meet Aidan at the door so he wouldn’t see the mess. She had enough to lie about as it was.

She quickly drove to the office and wrote her latest story on the collaboration, before departing for the preschool. She embraced a smiling Jeanie and had just turned to leave when Ms. Caspian, the school administrator, stopped her. “Ms. Blake, can I have a word with you?”

Laura hesitated. It would take five minutes to get home and ten minutes to get ready for Jeanie’s tee-ball game. Then it would take fifteen more to drop Jeanie off at the game where she would spend the afternoon while Laura met with Aidan. She had just a few minutes to spare. “Certainly. Jeanie, why don’t you play with Sasha for a minute? Mommy will be right back.”

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