Carrying the Billionaire's Baby: A Clean BWWM Billionaire Romance (The Billionaire Baby Mystery Book 1)

by Courtney King

  The interview continued.

  “Do you know the sex of the baby?”

  “We do. But we’re not telling,” the two smiled and giggled at one another, tilting their heads together. “We want it to be a surprise,” Sherry offered.

  “Speaking of surprises, let’s talk about finding out on national television that Richard was the father. Were you surprised?”

  Richard glared at the interviewer, as he had been assured this type of questioning would not be a part of the interview. This interview was to be a public relations move, showing Richard’s softer side. He didn’t want to speak about the paternity reveal and the black mark it had left on his reputation.

  “Sandra,” he said sternly. “We won’t be discussing that. That’s all in the past. We’re celebrating the present. We’re happy and we’re planning the birth of our child.” That was all he needed to shut down the negativity. Sherry smiled and felt protected by Richard, his strong arm resting behind her back.

  When the interview ended, Richard helped Sherry up from her seat, staying by her side. She wasn’t sure if it was the interview or her ever-growing belly, but Richard had become increasingly loving and protective of her over the past few weeks. This man that she had almost feared at first was slowly making his way into her heart.

  They made their way to the car and sat closer together than usual. She rested her head on his shoulder and smelled his cologne. She realized in that moment that she didn’t know what kind of cologne he wore. This man she was building a life with, yet knew so little about, was still a stranger to her.

  “Tell me about your childhood,” she said, springing up and looking him in the eyes.

  “My childhood?”

  “Yes. What were you like as a kid?”

  “Oh, I was very boring. I spent my summers traveling with my dad, living out of hotels and wearing little suits at fancy dinners.”

  “That doesn’t sound boring at all. That sounds exciting.”

  “What about you?”

  “Oh. My childhood, is nothing to talk about. My mom and I in a tiny one-bedroom apartment. Sometimes eating cereal for dinner. It was rough. When she died, I was pretty alone, but I survived.”

  “Well, she would be proud.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. You’re a beautiful and kind woman. Strong, too—look at how you’ve handled this unexpected event. I’m glad I found you.”

  Sherry blushed and looked down at her feet.

  “You don’t like compliments, do you?”

  “No. I mean, yes, I do. I just don’t know how to take them.”

  “Well, you say thank you,” he whispered, gazing into her eyes.

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling and blushing again.

  “Let’s go out tonight!” he offered in an excited tone. “Where would you like to go?”

  “Okay. I’m going to be completely honest.”

  “Well, I would hope so.”

  “I would love to go home, get into some cozy pajamas and eat take-out in bed.”

  Richard stared at her, confused.

  “What? You’ve never done that?”

  “I’ve never done that.”

  “Perfect,” she said. “Then let’s do that.”

  Richard gazed out the window.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing is wrong. I guess I’ve just never had normal.”

  “That sounds like an insult,” Sherry laughed.

  “No, no. It’s not meant to be. What I mean is, I’ve never done simple, plain things. Every woman I’ve ever dated wanted it all. They’ve always wanted to take the helicopter to dinner, or have a weekend in Paris. And, you—you just want to be with me in bed eating take-out, and the simplicity of that amazes me. I’ve never done simple, but you make it look so elegant.”

  “Well, that’s just who I am.”

  “And I like it,” he said smiling. “So. What are we ordering in for dinner?”

  Chapter 7

  Later that night, Richard and Sherry sat in the king-sized bed of the master suite, surrounded by trays of Chinese food containers. Sherry leaned back on the mountain of silk-covered pillows, resting her hand on her belly.

  “Oh, I think our little one likes the spring rolls. She is flipping around right now.”

  “Can I feel?” Richard placed his hand on Sherry’s belly, and she guided him to where the fluttery kicks were happening. They both sat still, waiting to feel the movement of their little life.

  “There it is! Did you feel it?” Sherry exclaimed.

  “No. How did I miss it?” Richard laughed.

  “Well, it’s quick, you have to pay attention. It happens fast and ends before you know it.”

  Richard leaned back on his side, against the headboard. “That is so true. It all ends before you know it. So, I don’t want to spend another minute pretending.”

  “Pretending what?”

  “Pretending I don’t know you, pretending I don’t remember you, pretending I never loved you.”

  “You’ve been pretending?”

  “Well, I’ve been trying to piece it all together, just like you, and even though I don’t specifically remember being with you, I know I my heart that I was. I know deep down that we have a connection, and I hope you want to find it again, too.”

  “Oh Richard, I’m so glad to hear you say that. I was worried that wasn’t how you felt,” Sherry confided. “This is going to sound silly, but I thought, maybe you and Marlene …”

  “Oh, no, she’s just an employee,” Richard said sternly.

  “Well, I get a different vibe, a vibe that says she wants more. And quite frankly, she hasn’t exactly pulled up the welcome wagon for me.”

  “I think she’s just protective of me. It’s her job. You’re the one I want to be with, you’re the one I want to get to know.”

  Sherry reached out her hands to meet his. “Then, let’s do it. Let’s get to know each other,” she smiled.

  They spent the rest of the night in bed, talking, laughing, and eating.

  ***

  Marlene stood outside the door, sobbing at the sound of their laughter. If she had any say, she would make sure neither of them ever figured out how they had met. She was determined to get Richard back—it was the only reason she was involved in the plan the first place. She would try again. She just had to figure out how.

  Marlene made her way to the kitchen, helped herself to some grapes and circled the large kitchen island. Evelyn appeared in her housecoat, a night mask on her face. She was startled at the sight of Marlene before her.

  “What are you still doing here? You look like you’re waiting for a bus” she laughed.

  “I’m waiting for Richard; he said he wanted to go over a few things,” Marlene lied.

  “Honey, Richard has been in his room all night with his—”

  “His what? His wife? You and I both know that’s not going to last. You said yourself, we’re just keeping her until the baby is born.”

  “Well, dear. Things seem to be taking a turn,” Evelyn said as she stirred her spoon in her cup of tea. “Richard seems quite smitten.”

  Marlene popped a grape into her mouth and rolled her eyes. “I’ve seen him smitten before, it won’t last.”

  “Oh dear, stop waiting for Richard.”

  “He said he’d meet with me before bed.”

  “No, no. I mean, stop waiting for him. You need to find someone for you. Richard already has. Good night.”

  Her words hung in front of Marlene. She fought back the tears and the reality that Richard and Sherry were finding their way back to each other. She refused to believe it.

  Chapter 8

  The next day, Richard and Sherry lounged on a blanket on the beautifully manicured lawn and sat in the warm, afternoon sun, sharing bite-sized appetizers and fresh lemonade prepared by the staff.

  “What are they doing?” Marlene asked the head chef as she stared out the kitchen window at their tiny figures in th
e distance.

  “They’re having lunch.”

  “Here?”

  “Yes. Sherry enjoys staying in,” said the chef.

  “Boring!” sang Marlene, as she walked away.

  ***

  “Let’s take a private vacation,” Richard said, touching Sherry’s hand. “We can get away from here for a while.”

  “Really?” Sherry asked. “I do like it here, but it would be nice to have some private time.” Away from Marlene, she finished silently.

  “Absolutely. Pick a place and Marlene will schedule a flight.”

  “Do you ever get sick of that?”

  “Sick of what? Being able to fly anywhere in the world?”

  “No. Having everyone handle everything for you. Having your people do all of your errands.”

  “I don’t know any other way.”

  “I would struggle with that, I think” she said, placing her empty glass on the tray beside them.

  “You’ll get used to it. I’m sure.”

  “Should I?”

  “Should you what?”

  “Should I get used to it?” she blushed, looking up at him and squinting one eye from the sun.

  “Yes. Yes, you should. I want you to.” Richard leaned in and pushed her hair behind her ear.

  Sherry’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked down.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just can’t believe this is who you are. I pictured you as a womanizer and heartless, and....”

  “Yes. Most people do.”

  “I’m glad I was wrong,” she said. “My only concern now is that you and I won’t have enough alone time before the baby arrives.”

  “Nothing will change when the baby is here. We’ll still get alone time. You’ll have a night nurse and a day nanny.”

  Sherry tilted her head at the sound of those words. “A night nurse?”

  “Yes. Someone to get up and do the feedings and the changings, so you can sleep.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I really feel like that’s something I should be doing.”

  “Sherry, all of your needs are met here. Trust me. I love that you’re independent, but you’ll never have to worry again.”

  “But, I want to worry. I want to answer my baby’s cries in the middle of the night.”

  “We’ll see,” he smiled, holding her hand.

  Chapter 9

  That morning, Marlene delivered a typed itinerary, placed on top of Sherry’s breakfast place setting. Their two-day trip included a large suite at a private beach resort—one Sherry thought she may have seen on TV, when Beyoncé had visited there.

  Sherry sipped her orange juice and poked her fork at the fresh pancakes on her plate. She was starting to get quite used to this luxurious life, where breakfast is served on delicate place settings. It was a far cry from her quiet mornings wrapped in her bathrobe, sipping tea, alone. Here, at Richard’s sprawling estate, her every wish was granted. Sometimes, she even allowed herself to enjoy it.

  Richard entered and took a seat next to her. He smelled fresh and clean as he squeezed her knee with his hand.

  “I’m just reading our itinerary,” Sherry said, holding up the paper.

  “What itinerary. Where are you going?” Mrs. Black entered the breakfast room as she always did, with grace and grandeur and a half-filled coffee cup.

  “We’re flying out for a beach retreat tomorrow,” Richard explained.

  “Well, have a good time, and get some rest. You’ll need it. When you two return, we’ll have to begin planning the nursery. That little bun will be popping soon.”

  Sherry looked down at her belly and smiled. She refrained from answering, and kept her thoughts in her head. She didn’t want to show any disrespect, but she also didn’t want someone else orchestrating her child’s life, including the nursery. She would be quite content with her baby’s bassinet right beside their bed. But, as previous conversations had revealed, she would not be the one caring for her child at night. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

  Later that day, she spent some time in her walk-in closet, transferring clothes from hangers into her suitcase. She was browsing through the drawers of shoes when Richard entered.

  “Packing, I see,” he said.

  “Yes. This time around is a lot different than the night before I arrived here,” she shared.

  “Yes? What was that like?”

  “I was given strict instructions on what to wear and what to bring. You didn’t know?” She had never talked to him about the night she was summoned. They both preferred to avoid the darker side of their meeting.

  “Actually, I didn’t. Were you scared?”

  “Petrified,” she admitted. “I didn’t know you, and what I knew of you was scary.”

  “Scary?”

  “Like intimidating-scary. Fear of the unknown.”

  “And now, how do you feel?” He moved closer to her, scooping her up from behind and resting his hands on her belly, smelling her hair.

  “I think … I think you’re growing on me!” she giggled as she looked up at him. She caught a glimpse in the mirror of the two of them in an embrace.

  “Someone can do that packing for you, sweetheart. Why don’t you join me outside for some hot cider?”

  “No, no I can do my own packing. I’m quite capable.”

  “It’s not a matter of being capable. We have people who are paid to pamper us, that’s the life we live here. That’s the life you are going to live here.”

  She pulled away from his embrace and turned to face him. “Please don’t tell me what I am going to do. I’d much rather be asked. I like to be a part of the decision making process and I’d like to feel like we are in this together.” Her voice was quivering now, the way it always did when she stood firm to her opinion and expressed her true feelings.

  Richard leaned over her, gently grasping her shoulders. “I understand, and I’m sorry. I guess I’m just so used to calling all the shots. You’re right. We’ll do this together. Take all the time you need.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  She was thankful for his response. With each new day, she was starting to feel like she could really trust him. She was starting to believe that she could really fall in love with him.

  For now, she would finish her own packing and prepare herself for their get-away beach vacation.

  Sherry sat in the helicopter as their bags were loaded into the lower compartment. She still was still struggling to adjust to this jet-setting lifestyle and was starting to miss walking the streets of her old neighborhood and driving her own car. She wondered if anything in her life would be normal again.

  Richard climbed in and clasped her hand in his.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  She offered him a yes smile and squeezed his hand. The ground below began to shrink and disappear as they lifted off. The sound of the propellers drowned out their voices and made it impossible for her to answer him. They made their way to the airport, where the private jet was waiting. The pilot and crew stood at attention outside the jet, greeting Sherry and Richard as they boarded. Once inside, they were greeted by a gourmet meal, champagne glasses (one filled with water), and a private movie ready for viewing. Their short flight had a long agenda.

  Sherry smiled and clasped her chest at the sight of all the food. She was, once again, overwhelmed and humored by absurdity of it all.

  “Is this even my life?” she laughed, smiling at Richard.

  She sat next to Richard as the jet jockeyed into position on the tarmac. As the speed increased and they prepared for take-off, she squeezed Richard’s hand. She watched as, once again, the ground below disappeared and the jet leveled off for the short flight.

  Once they were steady in the air, Richard unbuckled his seat belt and started to stand up.

  “Are you ready to eat?” he asked. “I’ll get the—” His ready smile froze when he saw her face.

  Sherry’s eyes were
closed, and she had a hand on her belly. He looked up at the sound of his voice, and he saw her eyes were scared and filled with tears.