Accidental Billionaire Daddy

by Holly Rayner

  Ben nodded. “I just walked out.”

  “Okay,” Nate said. “This isn’t that bad.” Then he hesitated. “On second thought, yeah, it is. That was most likely not the reaction she was hoping for.”

  “I’m sure about that,” Ben said. He placed his head in his hands and groaned. “Oh, man! What am I going to do?”

  He imagined, for the first time, how Maia must have felt, lying there in the hospital bed. She must have felt horrified to see me leave like that, he realized. This is just as life-altering for her as it is for me. Yet, I abandoned her.

  “I have to make it up to her,” he told his brother, as he pulled his head up out of his hands.

  “You do,” Nate agreed. “And it better be something pretty spectacular, for the blunder you made.”

  “Like what?” Ben asked.

  “Something to show her you care… and that you’re in this for the long haul. That is—if you are.”

  “I am,” Ben said, nodding his head. “One hundred percent.”

  A thought occurred to him in a flash. “You know what?” he said to Nate. “I think I have an idea.”

  Chapter 19

  Ben

  The tall, dark-haired woman smiled at Ben as she handed him a tablet. “Just sign at the bottom,” she said once Ben accepted it. She gestured to the lower portion of the tablet’s screen. “It says that my team and I fulfilled our contract with you.”

  “And do I pay you now?” Ben asked, as he scrawled his signature with the stylus pen.

  “No, I’ll send an invoice later in the week,” the woman, Maggie, said. She was one of the city’s most famous interior designers, and Ben now understood why. She does great work, he thought, and she’s efficient.

  Maggie and her team had arrived in his townhouse just about forty-eight hours before. He’d called her on his way home from Nate’s house and asked that she meet him for a consult. Of course, since her services were in high demand, she had told Ben over the phone that she wouldn’t be able to squeeze him in for a consult until midway through the following year.

  “That’s not going to work,” Ben said over the phone. “That will be too late.”

  “Too late for what?” Maggie asked.

  “I’ll tell you when I see you,” Ben said. “For a consult. This evening, at my home in Tribeca.” Before she could refuse again, he told her what he was willing to pay.

  That was when she agreed. “Okay. I think I can rearrange a few things,” she said.

  Now, as Ben handed the sleek tablet back to her, he was very glad that she had managed to accommodate his tight timeline.

  She’s transformed these two rooms, he thought, as he peered past Maggie and into the room beyond. All in a matter of forty-eight hours.

  “Do you like the results?” Maggie asked.

  Ben sensed that she was fishing for a compliment, but he didn’t mind. She deserved to be praised for her work.

  “The rooms look perfect,” he told her. His eyes roved around the transformed space. What used to be a bland guest room was now a charming, inviting, cozy bedroom, designed specifically to delight Maia’s daughter, Joy.

  The walls were pale blue and dotted with artistically crafted puffy white clouds. A white lace curtain surrounded the child-sized bed, and a Pete the Penguin doll sat propped against the pillows, just waiting to be snuggled. There was even a chest of toys against one wall, complete with many games and dolls. A small play kitchen occupied one corner of the room, and a bookshelf lined another wall. Ben could just imagine Joy sitting by the books, enraptured by the stories before her that were just waiting to be explored.

  “She’s going to love it,” Ben said quietly, more to himself than to Maggie.

  The designer smiled with satisfaction. “Good,” she said. “She must be a very special little girl. And you’re satisfied with the nursery, too?” She pointed to the doorway that led to the adjoining room. The door between the rooms was propped open.

  Ben couldn’t resist moving toward the door, so he could look at the beautifully designed room one more time. “Beyond satisfied,” he said, as he looked over the nursery.

  A crib was the central focus of the room. Nearby, a rocking chair was positioned, along with a dresser and a changing table. A lovely mobile of falling leaves hung from the ceiling. The soft colors of the room created a calming, peaceful atmosphere.

  “I’m glad,” Maggie said. “Like I said, I’ll send an invoice shortly. Congratulations on the new baby.” She gestured toward the crib. “It’s very exciting that your family is growing. I hope these rooms serve you well.”

  They shared a few more parting words, and then Ben showed Maggie to the door. Once she’d departed, he returned to the newly transformed rooms.

  Maggie’s words rang in his ears. “It’s very exciting that your family is growing.”

  I hope that’s true, he thought. At that moment, however, he did not know if he was going to have a growing family or not. That would depend on Maia.

  Ben reached into the pocket of his slacks and pulled out a small velvet box. He flipped it open and examined the diamond engagement ring within. It was a square, mixed-cut diamond, with clean lines. The diamond sparkled with light as he turned it this way and that.

  The salesman at the jewelry store that he’d visited the day before had helped him pick it out. Ben had asked for something elegant, with a gold band. He’d noticed, over the years, that Maia preferred warm tones over cool. He hoped that she would like the ring.

  Will she accept it? he wondered, as he slipped the ring back into its cushion of satin, then snapped the box lid closed.

  This is hardly conventional.

  We only went on one date.

  She’s pregnant with my child.

  Everything is happening out of order… yet it somehow feels right.

  He hoped Maia felt the same way.

  He tucked the box back into his pocket. After one last look over the rooms that he hoped would soon be occupied, he moved toward the stairwell.

  Within moments, he was out in his SUV, driving in the direction of Maia’s apartment. He’d never visited her home before, but it had been easy to find her address in the company directory.

  As he drove, he thought about the last time he’d seen Maia. She was propped up in the hospital bed, looking at him with those big, green eyes. After calling him once that afternoon, she’d not tried to contact him again. She’d called out of work twice, and Ben had a feeling that it was because she didn’t want to see him or talk to him.

  After all, I did act badly, he thought. He regretted the way he’d left her there at the hospital. Thankfully, she’d returned a text inquiry about her health with a short, curt reply: “Thank you. I’m fine.”

  It was clear that she was upset with him.

  He hoped that he could change that.

  When he finally arrived at her apartment, the late afternoon sun hung like a halo over the city. Arches of golden rays leaped from one reflective surface to another. Bright green leaves glinted on the trees, and a faint spring breeze whispered through the air. He took the steps to her apartment building’s lobby two at a time. Once inside, he rode the elevator up to her floor.

  He held his breath after knocking on her door. Will she answer? he wondered. Is she home?

  He waited.

  No one came to the door.

  He knocked again.

  Still, there was no answer. He tilted his head toward the door but heard not one peep inside. No music, no voices, no sizzle of food cooking on the stove. Her place seemed to be empty.

  No, he thought. This can’t be happening. I have to talk to her…

  He took out his phone. It wasn’t ideal, but he figured he could at least call her and leave a message. But just as he was about to dial, he heard her voice.

  “Ben? What are you doing here?”

  He turned and saw Maia walking down the hallway. She was holding Joy’s hand.

  Joy wore pigtails, a blue dress, and her
pink backpack. Her shoes lit up with sparkly red lights as she broke away from her mother and ran toward Ben. “Mr. Bry!” she said, as she tackled him.

  Ben couldn’t help but smile. The girl’s joy was infectious. He bent down to hug Joy. Then, as he stood, he met Maia’s eye.

  “I came to see you,” he said. “I want to apologize… for my actions the other day.”

  She took a deep breath. He saw pain in her eyes. She didn’t smile, nor did she frown. After pulling a set of keys from her purse, she opened her apartment door. Joy ran ahead, calling out that she would get a book to read to “Mr. Bry.”

  Maia watched Joy head toward her bedroom. Instead of stepping into her apartment and inviting Ben in with her, she remained in the hall.

  Her tone remained neutral as she said, “You know what? I forgive you. Caroline warned me that you’d be tired and cranky after getting off of the plane. I really sprung my news on you, and I don’t blame you for being so shocked.” She said news as if it was a code word, and Ben understood that Maia hadn’t told Joy about the baby. “It’s a lot to process. I know. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, myself.

  “It is a lot,” Ben said, “but that’s no excuse. No matter what I was feeling in that moment, it was wrong to leave you like that. I’m sorry.”

  “Hey—you have strong instincts,” Maia said wryly. “You wanted to get away from the situation, so that’s what you did. And I get it. Our situation isn’t ideal. Really, I don’t blame you.” She sounded sad as she said this. “I guess we have some logistics to work out, hm? Is that why you’re here?”

  Ben could tell that Maia wasn’t looking forward to conversing with him. She’s given up on the idea of us, he thought. She doesn’t know how I feel about her. Her usual friendliness and good cheer were absent. Instead, she seemed to be wary of him, and defensive.

  He understood why.

  “Maia, we have to talk,” he said.

  “I’m aware of that,” she said coolly. “But maybe we should have a lawyer around… What do you think?”

  She thinks I’m here to discuss custody rights, or child-support payments, he realized. She doesn’t understand.

  “Maia,” he said, looking right into her eyes. “We don’t need a lawyer. That’s not the kind of discussion I want to have. What I’d really like is for you and Joy to come over for dinner at my house tonight.”

  This seemed to change her attitude, just slightly. Like a flower turning toward the sun, she angled her body toward him for the first time. Her face tilted toward him; her features softened. She looked at him with curiosity.

  “Really?” she said. She shifted her purse on her shoulder.

  At that moment, Joy ran out from her bedroom toward the doorway. She carried a stack of books in her arms, and several of them fell onto the floor before she reached her mother.

  “Which one do we read?” she asked breathlessly, as she let the books fall into a pile at Ben’s feet.

  Ben thought of the bookshelf that he’d had installed in his home, just for Joy. He hoped that she would see it soon.

  Maia looked confused and bewildered as she looked down at her daughter, then up at Ben. “Tonight?” she repeated. “Like, now?”

  Ben nodded and grinned. “If that works for you,” he said. “There’s something I want to show you.”

  “In your townhouse. In Tribeca,” Maia said, as if trying to wrap her head around this new information and what it might mean. She examined Ben with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

  Ben sensed that she was letting some of her defenses fall.

  With one hand, she reached down and stroked her daughter’s hair. “Joy, honey, why don’t you pick up your books and put one into your backpack? You can bring it with you to Mr. Briars’ house.” She looked at Ben, her expression one of uncertainty mixed with anticipation. “We’re going to join him for dinner.”

  Ben breathed out with relief. “Great,” he said. “The car is out front.”

  “Just let me grab a few things inside,” Maia said. “Will you keep an eye on Joy? I’ll be right out.”

  Chapter 20

  Maia

  Maia buried her face into a terrycloth towel and patted her skin dry. Then she looked up into the small mirror above her bathroom sink.

  Ben is out in the hallway, right now, she thought, as she stared into her reflection. What in the world is going on?

  For the past two days, she’d been trying desperately to lay her hopes for a romantic future with Ben aside. It had seemed so clear, when he walked out of the ER, that he wanted nothing to do with her or her child. She’d been preparing to quit her job. Her rational mind was hard at work laying the groundwork for a future as a single mother to two children.

  Now, she was again questioning everything.

  What is he doing here? she thought.

  This question was overshadowed by a larger, more burning question: why was he looking at me like that?

  The look that she’d seen in Ben’s eyes, just moments before, spoke of deep caring. More than that, she thought. He looked at me with love.

  Her heart raced as she reached for her makeup bag. The splash of cold water that she’d just applied to her face had been refreshing.

  Maybe I was wrong to assume he’s not interested in me, she thought, as she swiped eyeshadow across her upper lids. Maybe there is hope for us after all.

  A giddy feeling swept through her. For the first time in days, she felt hopeful and excited.

  He’s here! He’s right here at my apartment, and he wants me and Joy to join him for dinner. What in the world does he want to show me?

  Her curiosity continued to grow as she moved to her bedroom and quickly changed her top. Then, feeling more ready to face the mysterious visit to Ben’s house, she joined him in the hallway.

  He was holding Joy up in one arm, and he carried her pink backpack in the other. Joy had wrapped her arms around his neck, and she was singing a song she’d learned in daycare that day.

  The sound of Joy’s voice accompanied them down the hallway and out into the evening air. It was hard to get a word in edgewise, thanks to Joy’s overflowing enthusiasm for seeing Ben.

  Maia was okay with that. She wasn’t sure what Ben’s motives were for inviting them over, and figured it was probably better to stay quiet until she had a better understanding.

  Ben’s SUV zipped through the city, and when they arrived at his townhouse, he led the way up the front steps. Joy stopped singing and chatting about stories, perhaps because she’d run out of material. The silence that stretched around the three of them felt awkward, and Maia wondered if she should try to fill it—but she had no idea what to say to the man who walked beside her.

  Ben unlocked the front door and ushered Maia and Joy inside. Maia thought they would move toward the kitchen. She assumed Ben would offer her a drink or do something in the way of preparing for the meal he’d promised. He surprised her by turning to one of the front staircases and moving upward.

  “Come on,” he said. “This way.”

  Joy ran ahead, and Maia followed behind Ben. “What’s going on?” she wondered aloud, as they reached the landing.

  “You’ll see,” Ben said. He turned over his shoulder and looked back at her.

  She was struck, as he turned to look at her, by how handsome he truly was. Her breath caught in her lungs, and a feeling of awe overwhelmed her. Sometimes, when she really appreciated how gorgeous Ben was, she could hardly believe how lucky she was to know him.

  Not only know him, she thought. I’m carrying his child. She placed a hand on her abdomen as she moved up the carpeted stairwell.

  When they reached the top of the staircase, she felt more curious than ever about what was motivating Ben. Why is he leading us up here? she wondered, as Ben exited the stairwell on the second story. This is where the guest rooms are…

  Ben paused in front of the doorway that led into the guest room that Maia and Joy had stayed in, weeks earlier.

  He plac
ed his hand on the doorknob.

  He twisted. He pushed the door open.

  As the room came into view, Maia gasped.

  Joy let out a happy squeal and ran across the room’s threshold. “Petey!” she said gleefully as she ran up to the bed, climbed on, and reached for the plush stuffy penguin perched there.

  Maia eyed Ben. “I don’t understand,” she said.

  Why did he remodel the bedroom, specifically for Joy? she wondered.

  The room had clearly been redone with Joy in mind. It was no longer the bland, traditionally decorated guest room that she remembered. Now it was a heavenly space for her child, complete with puffy white clouds on the ceiling, a bin bursting with toys, a play kitchen, and a long, low bookshelf that brimmed with shiny new children’s books.

  Maia was about to wonder about putting her confusion into words again, when the sight of the adjoining room caught her eye.

  She remembered that the two guest rooms were connected by a door. She could see that doorway from her vantage point in the hallway. It was only halfway opened, but that was just enough to allow her to get a peek into the room beyond.

  She saw a crib. A fluttering feeling filled her chest, and she lifted a shaky hand to her mouth. Hot tears sprang to her eyes as she stared at that crib and what she could see of the room around it.

  “Ben…” she whispered in a trembling voice. “Is that a nursery?”

  Her heart swelled with emotion, as she realized what the room meant. He wants to be part of our child’s life, she thought. This realization swept through her, providing a sense of joy she did not know she was capable of.

  Ben nodded. “Yes,” he said. “A nursery—for our child.”

  “But Ben,” she said. “What does this mean?”

  “It means I want to be a father,” he said sincerely. “I want to be there for you, for Joy, and for the baby that is soon to come into this world. I want this more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life, Maia.”

  “Are you sure?” Maia asked. Doubts surfaced in her mind. She felt her brow crease as she looked into Ben’s eyes, trying to discern the meaning behind his words.