He loved that her voice was husky. Low and almost masculine. Though there was nothing else masculine about her. She had rocking curves and a great big booty. He was sure he’d bitten that booty at some point during their night of passion. Her skin was a beautiful mocha and she had glossy black hair, down to her shoulders.
He tried to discreetly adjust himself under his desk.
“Then just say it. No reason to dance around whatever brought you here.”
“I’m pregnant.”
Okay. He wasn’t sure what to say. “You’re pregnant? You’ve taken a test?”
“Three tests. They all came out positive.”
Three? “Did you bring them with you?”
As a billionaire, women often tried to rope him into marriage. He wore a condom every time, so he was skeptical about pregnancy claims. She dug into her purse, producing all three sticks. She’d anticipated his question. She was good.
“What does this have to do with me?” he said finally.
“Since you’re the only person that I’ve had sex with in a year, you have to be the father. Unless this is divine intervention, but I don’t see any star in the east.”
He loved that sense of humor. She’d had it in bed, also. “I’m supposed to just believe you?”
She rose. “Yes. I’m only telling you so you know. I didn’t come here for anything. Well, except that I don’t have money for an abortion.”
Abortion? She was going to end the pregnancy? Wait a second.
“If I’d had the money, you never would have known about it,” she continued.
That didn’t sit well with him. This was his child, too. Not that he’d planned on having children, but he did like them and passing down his legacy to a smaller version of himself did stroke his ego a little.
“Wait.”
She stopped by the door. Was she bluffing? He didn’t think so. He could read people and she had been headed out the door. “What?”
“If I pay for everything, will you have this baby?”
***
“Pay for everything?” Violet said.
She’d only wanted money for an abortion. She couldn’t raise a baby. Did he really want a baby in his life? A man who had one-night stands wanted to commit to a child for eighteen plus years? It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t be that simple. There had to be a catch. This man could have any woman he wanted. Why would he want to tie himself down to a baby?
“Everything, Violet. Doctor bills for you until you have the baby. Whatever you need until you a have the baby.”
“Free and clear just so that I have this baby?”
“You don’t believe me.”
“I was born at night, Amedeo, but it wasn’t last night. There has to be a catch.”
“There is.”
She turned toward him, her arms crossed. “Lay it on me.”
“You just have to have this baby. And live with me. I have several spare bedrooms so you can choose whichever one you want.”
“I don’t have to sleep with you?”
His gaze raked over her and she felt naked under his scrutiny.
“As much as that would be a lovely side benefit, no, there is no obligation to have sex with me.”
She leaned her weight on one foot, tapping her other one on the floor. She had to figure this out before he roped her into something. There was another angle here, she just couldn’t figure it out. What was he trying to pull? She didn’t trust him. It was his broken condom that had gotten her into this predicament. Maybe he’d bought bargain ones. Did the Dollar Store sell them?
“I don’t get it.”
He put his hands out to his side, his brow crinkling. “What is there to decide? You have this baby and I’ll pay all of your expenses.”
“What happens after the baby is born?”
“If you want to give him or her up, I will take the baby.”
This didn’t seem right. “You want a baby?”
“I hadn’t thought I did, but why not? I’m not getting any younger and there are no marriage prospects knocking on my door. My mother might actually leave me alone about getting married if I give her a grandchild.”
She cocked her head, still not getting it. “So I get to live in luxury, have this baby, then move on from there if I want?”
“You can see the baby if you want. I won’t deny you that or the baby its mother. I’m not a cruel man, Violet. You should know that from my lovemaking.”
Of course, her mind went back to that night. He had been a considerate lover. Her mouth went dry. She’d come more times that night then she had in the three prior years. She swallowed trying to get her mouth wet again to speak. “I have to think about this.”