Page 36 of Next Door Billionaire's Surprise Baby

“I asked if you would be willing to take Skye and me to Fiona’s today. I want to head to the office to catch up on work, and since my car is still at the auto shop, I’m going to need the ride.”

Thinking out loud, I respond, “How about I take care of Skye so that neither of you need to look after her? I’ll drop you off at the office, and when you’re done, Fiona can pick you up from the office, and you guys can enjoy a girl’s night out or something.”

If there’s anything I know, it’s that single moms are constantly working the clock with little to no breaks at all.

I know Chloe works so damn hard. She deserves a break.

The way her eyes light up at the suggestion further proves my point, “You would do that?”

I reach out to grasp her knee, caressing it gently as I iterate sincerely, “I’ll do anything for you.”

She stands from her seat, comes over to sit on my lap, wraps her arms around my neck, and hugs me tightly. She pulls back to whisper, “Thank you.”

My response is to push her hair away from her face and claim her lips. Seated here in the small kitchen with kids’ utensils, a high chair, and post-it notes on the fridge…I have never felt more at home.

Chapter 13

Chloe

A Time Frame For Love

The office is so empty, it’s eerie. As I walk through the office, the dull clicking of my heeled boots echoes in the empty spaces.

I’m relieved to finally enter my office and put my feet up as I turn on my computer at the same time. I’ve planned to spend three hours only in the office as Fiona is going to be here to pick me up for our girls' night out.

Thanks, Kane, for suggesting something that I didn’t think of!

This change in him is enormous. Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning to the sounds of clanking pots and pans as well as the smell of delicious breakfast – pancakes, fried bacon, and eggs. Then I came down to see him standing behind the stove bare-chested with a dishcloth slung over his shoulder, and I was swooned by him on the spot.

On top of that, he suggested taking Skye off my hands for the day so I could go out with Fiona without worrying about Skye. It made me want to travel back in time and take back all the mean things I’ve ever said about him.

“Okay, Chloe. Enough thinking about Kane and focus,“ I say out loud, my voice echoing in the office.

It has been an hour, and I've yet to accomplish any major task. I try to immerse myself in the codes and algorithms, but it simply doesn’t work. My mind returns back to Kane – his dark brown hair, laugh lines around his eyes, and a panty-melting side smile.

When I close my eyes, I see him in my mind. When I open my eyes, I see his face in every object in my sight. When I try to think, his voice plays out in my head until the point where I don’t bother fighting it anymore. I simply let it be.

These obsessive thoughts are new to me, and I would be lying if I said they don’t freak me out. I’ve never allowed anyone to distract me this much, not even Tim.

So what’s going on?

Deep down, I know the answer. Deep down, I’ve always known, but the rational part of me prefers to be in denial and ask all the wrong questions. But at the end of the day, it’s still going to come back to the truth of what I feel. I’m falling for Kane. No, I’m already in love with him.

It’s too soon. It’s way too soon.

How my brain processes the situation isn’t surprising to me. I’ve been hurt, and I don’t want to go through that again. So, the perfect response to the trauma would be to pretend what I feel for Kane is nothing and just an infatuation.

Maybe if I keep telling myself a lie, I might end up believing it.

My head pulses from the force of a migraine, and I shut my eyes for a moment, trying to pull my thoughts together. I need clarity on this. Perhaps Fiona can help.

I don’t even wait for the three hours to pass. I shut down all computers and pack up my things. When I’m done, I pull out my phone to call Fiona.

She picks up on the first ring, “Girl…let me guess, you can’t think, and you need to be picked up now.”

“You got me. How fast can you be here?”

“Hold on a second, “ she pauses, and I hear fiddling in the background, “I’ll be there in five minutes.”

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