The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement
Page 21
“If you’ll please turn your attention to the screen here,” Jackson said, motioning to a flat screen TV near him. He clicked a small button and the screen came to life. “This is security footage from a small sailboat in the dock. It was overlooked at first, but as with many good things, it warranted a second look.”
Emma wondered if he meant something more by that statement, but didn’t have time to ponder it as the security footage began to roll.
Everything was black and white, but the balcony of the yacht club was easily visible. The man talking on his phone was clearly Jackson. She could even see the soft smile as he spoke before hanging up the phone.
Every eye in there watched as a woman approached him. He took a step back. She came forward. He retreated further. She grabbed his arm, and he visibly stiffened. Up on stage, Emma could see Jackson stiffen along with his video counterpart.
Video Jackson pulled away, clearly turning to leave. The woman reached up, forcing a kiss that lastly hardly seconds before Jackson clearly pushed her away. It was obvious he was angry as he stormed inside.
The film clip ended, freezing on the woman looking out of the balcony and giving a thumbs up sign.
Emma had believed him when he said he didn’t kiss the woman, but some part of her had wondered. He was known for his love of women and not caring if they were in a relationship or not. To see it on screen, clearly showing that everything he had told her was true, made it finally feel real.
“As you can see, the picture doesn’t tell the whole story,” Jackson said, into the microphone.
Emma was glad. He was safe again. He could keep his new image and the company would be successful because of it. She would play her part, even if it broke her.
It was still too little, too late for their relationship. He should have told her what happened that night. She would never have blamed him for this. She would have helped him fight it. But, he didn’t. He chose to keep this from her, and that was why she was angry.
She couldn’t trust him if he kept things from her. If he kept this to himself, what other things was he hiding? She couldn’t afford the pain.
“I want to make something very, very clear here,” Jackson continued. His eyes now went directly to Emma. “I love my fiancée.”
She didn’t move. This she expected.
“I didn’t tell her when it first happened,” Jackson continued. “You see, Emma is the kindest, gentlest, and best soul I’ve ever met. I was afraid to tell her that my past history had caught up to me. I was embarrassed, because I didn’t feel I deserved her. Especially after all the things I’ve done. I will never keep anything from her, ever again.”
The reporters were suddenly very quiet. Emma felt like a small spotlight was on her, but she didn’t dare look away from Jackson’s eyes. This was something special. He was putting himself out there, publicly for her.
“I want to take this opportunity, to publicly tell her that I’m sorry. That I don’t deserve someone as amazing as Emma in my life. That she’s more than I ever could have hoped and dreamed of. She’s my everything.” His voice shook slightly. “I love you, Emma.”
Emma’s breath came in short pants as her body forgot how to breathe properly. But, he wasn’t done yet.
“Emma, I want you to know that what we have is worth more than anything to me.” He swallowed. “I want to rip up our contract and just have it be us.”
Emma’s heart lurched and the stopped in her chest. It was a good thing she was sitting down, because she felt her legs turn to jelly. This was more than just an apology. Going in front of the world and telling every single person that he had failed was more than she expected. It was the ultimate form of apology for him.
She felt more than saw the cameras turn to her. Many of them had looks of confusion on their faces, but she didn’t notice. The only thing she saw know was Jackson.
“I want us to be a real family,” Jackson continued. “I want you to know that I choose you not because I have to, but because I want to. Because I love you.”
He took a step closer to her.
“And I tell you this now, here, so that the whole world can know.” He smiled at her. “I want every man on Earth to know that you’re mine.”
A tear trickled down her cheek. “Jackson,” she whispered.
“Please be mine,” he said, his voice catching at the end with emotion.
The entire audience held their breath, waiting for her to respond. She looked up at the stage, seeing only his beautiful green eyes. He loved her and now the whole world knew it.
He wanted it to be real. He wanted their relationship to be more than just a contract. He was visibly nervous. He was afraid she would say no to him. He didn’t have control this time.
“Yes,” she whispered. This was a real proposal. This was what love looked like. It wasn’t fancy fireworks and diamond rings. It was promises and honesty. It was understanding and compromise.
She stood slowly to her feet. She wasn’t quite sure how she got to the stage, but suddenly she was standing across from him with only a few feet between them. The reporters and the stage disappeared from her mind.
“I can’t promise to be perfect,” he whispered. “But, I want this to be real.”
“Okay.”
His smile illuminated her entire world. It was everything. She fell into his arms and he kissed her. Joy and hope crashed through her, followed by bliss. This was real. This wasn’t just a charade they were putting on for others. It wasn’t something to sell diapers.
It was real. It was love.
Epilogue
“We’re home, little one,” Emma whispered, standing on the front step of their home. A light snow started to fall, coating the world in perfect serenity.
“I’ve got her,” Jackson said, taking the car seat from Emma’s hands and carrying their daughter inside. He smiled first at Emma, and then cooed at their daughter as he brought her in.
Emma smiled after them and slowly made her way inside.
They were home.
A fire crackled in the fireplace for their arrival. Emma loved this house. It was just a few miles outside of the city, but it felt like they were in their own private world out here. It was the perfect place to raise a family.
“Welcome home, Hope,” Jackson whispered, taking his tiny daughter out of the car seat. She looked so tiny in his arms, yet perfectly safe. She still couldn’t believe the hospital had let them take her home. She was so precious.
The little girl yawned and snuggled into her father. Jackson nearly glowed with pride as he smiled at her.
Children suited him.
“Come sit with us, Emma,” he whispered.
“You just don’t want to set her down,” Emma teased, joining him on the couch.
“Why would I?” he asked, gazing down adoringly. “She’s perfect.”
“She is,” Emma agreed.
Jackson looked up, his green eyes going to hers. “You’re perfect,” he told her. His eyes said he meant it.
She leaned over and kissed him.
This was how life was supposed to be, she thought. A loving husband. A beautiful child. A warm home.
This was all she’d ever wanted. It was strange to think that she’d started it all with a contract. Jackson hadn’t been kidding when he said he was going to rip it up. He did the night of the press conference, the lawyers be damned.
And the next day, he’d flown her out to the mountains and married her.
For real.
It was all for real now. There was no fake relationship. There were no legal loopholes or ways to sneak out of obligations.
For better or for worse, Jackson and Emma were in this together. Only now, they had a beautiful baby girl to make things even better.
“I’m so happy,” Jackson whispered, his eyes on his newborn daughter. He looked up at Emma with tears of joy. “So happy.”
Emma didn’t have the words. There were no words in the human language to describe the beautiful
joy she felt.
So she kissed her husband.
Special Previews
Hey there! I’m so happy you enjoyed this book about the billionaire and the barista. There are two other books of mine coming out this month, and I’d like to share a little from each of them with you. Read on!
Family Doctor’s Baby
Family Doctor’s Baby
From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sexy standalone novel about the baddest bad boy doctor and the sweet little nurse that he falls for.
When I left my small hometown years ago, I never expected to come back. I certainly never expected that when I did, I'd be working for him.
He's the town's doctor. He's supposed to be a respectable member of society, a pillar for the community. He's supposed to have come a long way from the bad boy who rode a motorcycle in high school.
But he hasn't. One glance from those lustful eyes looking at me tells me that he has the same voracious appetites that he did when we were younger.
Only it's not quite the same stare. It's more urgent. It's more intense. I'm not the same nerdy girl who tutored him. I've grown up, developed fertile curves that I know he finds irresistible.
In this small town, rumors travel fast, and the family doctor can't be seen as a player. So he does try to resist. And I do too. But with every smoldering glance and moment of sexual tension, we find our barriers breaking down.
After a stressful night of touch-and-go baby delivery, a moment of elation overcomes our inhibitions. It seems like maybe we'll need to confront those rumors sooner rather than later, especially before I begin to show the results of that night.
Can I give this doctor the family he has always desired?
Dr. Matthews leaned in and brought his lips toward mine. He paused right before our lips touched. Just for a moment, though. It was as if he were making sure that I wanted this. The universe held its breath as we both held our breath. I noticed everything from the way his aftershave lingered in the air to the water droplets in his hair. After a second that felt like eternity, he leaned in the rest of the way, firmly pressing his lips against mine.
Our fate was sealed.
A soft moan made its way up my throat as I relaxed into his kiss. I closed my eyes and let my hands drift up toward his face. His beard stubble tickled my fingertips as I dragged them over his cheeks.
It must have been the adrenaline we'd both experienced that morning. Or maybe it was that the emergency had bonded us closer than ever before. I didn't know what had gotten into either of us, but I suppose it didn't need explaining. It felt good and right and that's all I really cared about. I needed a release that only he could give me.
Jacob slowly broke our kiss and dropped his hands to the top of my hips. Then he leaned in again, passionately pressing his lips to mine. My heart began to do flip flops behind my rib cage. Within a few seconds, I felt Jacob open his mouth and gently dart his tongue out, teasing it into my mouth.
A tingling sensation coursed through my body as our tongues lightly wrestled with each others, twisting around in a sensual dance. I reveled in the sensations: his taste, his smell, the way he held his body against mine. This wasn't a dream. This was actually happening.
Jacob broke the kiss and took a step back. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes dark.
“I'm sorry. That was unprofessional.”
My heart hammered in my chest and my lips ached for more of his kisses.
“I don't care,” I told him. “I don't want to stop.”
He looked up, his eyes bright as they met mine. Desire that matched my own shone in them and my body heated. I took the step forward to bring us back together. Slowly, I brought my hand up and wrapped it around the back of his neck.
“Are you sure you're okay with this?” he asked, his hands already coming to my hips.
“Just shut up and kiss me,” I said, still smiling.
Family Doctor’s Baby
Crime Boss Baby
Crime Boss Baby
From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sensual, standalone mafia romance that will have you turning the pages at record speed.
I am a mafia princess.
My family is making me marry a rival crime boss.
At first, I go along with it because it's important to my family. But then I meet him.
Dante is dangerous and sexy as sin. I want him physically and mentally. His talented fingers and mouth have me panting for more before he even knows my real name.
But there are parts of my past that can ruin everything. My mother's murderer is catching up to me. If he finds me, he could ruin everything. Not only that, not everyone in Dante's family is as excited about the wedding as they appear.
And then, there's news that both overjoys and terrifies me. I'm pregnant.
Can Dante save me and give me the future we both desire? Or will my past destroy everything and everyone that I care about?
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Krista Lakes is a thirtysomething who recently rediscovered her passion for writing. She is living happily ever after with her Prince Charming. Her first kid just started preschool and she is happy to welcome her second child into her life, continuing her “Happily Ever After“!
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Thank you for supporting an indie author. Anything you can do, whether it be writing a review, or even simply telling a fellow reader that you enjoyed this, helps me out immensely. Thanks!
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Don't forget to join my mailing list as well for updates! (clickable link)
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Also, check out my new Youtube channel for promotional videos, exclusive content, and my smiling face reading my books!
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Krista would love to hear from you! Please contact her at Krista.Lakes@gmail.com, like her, or friend her on Facebook!
Further reading
Bad Boys and Babies
Family Doctor’s Baby
The Billionaire’s Baby Arrangement
Crime Boss Baby
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Kinds of Love
A Forever Kind of Love
A Wonderful Kind of Love
An Endless Kind of Love
A Hopeful Kind of Love (novella)
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Billionaires and Brides
Yours Completely: A Cinderella Love Story
Yours Truly: A Cinderella Love Story
Yours Royally: A Cinderella Love Story
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The "Kisses" series
Saltwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Kisses From Jack: The Other Side of Saltwater Kisses
Rainwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Champagne Kisses: A Timeless Love Story
Freshwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Sandcastle Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Hurricane Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Barefoot Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Sunrise Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Waterfall Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
Island Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story
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Other Novels
I Choose You: A Secret Billionaire Romance
His Every Desire: A Billionaire Seduction
Wolf Six's Salvation: A Shifter Love Story
Burned: A New Adult Love Story
Walking on Sunshine: A Sweet Summer Romance
An American Cinderella: A Royal Love Story
Mr. Darcy’s Kiss: A Contemporary Pride and Prejudice
* * *
Check out my new Youtube channel for promotional videos, exclusive content, and my smiling face reading my books!
* * *
Don't forget to join my mailing list as well for updates! (clickable link)