Page 74 of Secret Baby for Dr. Billionaire

Sofi was in her crib, sucking quietly on her binky. In her matching sweatpants and sweatshirt, Chloe was on her side on the couch, her supple lips ajar as she slept soundly. Billy Anne had on her yellow shirt and was lying her back. One leg was over Chloe’s hip, one arm outstretched, and the other on her forehead. Chloe’s mouth was also open, and she was sleeping so soundly she might as well be snoring.

I basked in the image before me before muting the TV and attempting to pick up Billy Anne without waking up Chloe. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, so beautiful.

She stirred when Billy Anne complained in her sleep as I tried to untangle her leg, and it was the only sound it took for Chloe to jump awake, alarmed by the sudden commotion.

“Ben?” she whispered, her eyes adjusting to the faint light. She rubbed the sleep from her face as she carefully pushed herself up, cradling Billy Anne with her. When she was upright, and my first daughter was straddling her and leaning her face across her chest, Chloe softly patted the empty space beside her.

“I could take Billy Anne, and we could—”

“Sit down, Ben.”

I did so after I removed my jacket and settled it on one of the chairs alongside my briefcase. I took the warm spot on the couch, and for a moment, we sat there, our eyes on the screen. But I wasn’t paying attention. Instead, my body was aware of the tired goddess beside me.

She smelled so much of coconuts it made me want to be on vacation with her where there weren’t any Franklins, Gwens, or nuisances to ruin our day. It would be us on the beach with the kids, and she’d wear the most gorgeous bathing suit. And on top of all that, I’d have her for myself.

“Chloe—”

“Just,” she interrupted, sighing so deep it told me she was mustering up the courage. “Let me speak first, okay?”

“All right.”

“Look.” Her voice was so low that she was almost whispering to my soul. “I never thought, in a thousand years, that I’d end up like this—in a penthouse, with these kids, and where I didn’t have to juggle three jobs to make ends meet. And I’m thankful to you, Ben, for everything you’ve done for me and Sofi. But that doesn’t mean that I couldn’t do it all over again without you.

“I’m not a worthless mother just because I wanted things to be easier. And I know that it’s stupid, but that what I’m feeling isn’t pretend anymore. However, I could walk away from everything if you dangle custody over my head again.”

The silence that followed seemed to stretch for centuries, and I took my chance to say my piece.

“It’s not stupid, Chlo,” I said, shifting my position to face her. She was still facing the television screen, and her eyes gleamed with unshed tears as she stroked Billy Anne’s hair. “What you’re feeling, I’m feeling it, too.”

Her attention snapped at me.

“I didn’t mean to say it. About the custody thing. I was mad, and I knew that it was not an excuse. I fucked up. And I’m sosorry.”

Her tears won and finally rolled down her cheeks, and her expression softened.

“I hated seeing you with Gwen all touchy like that,” she admitted. “I was jealous, and I got pissed. I didn’t want to say anything because I thought I didn’t have the right.”

“You have every right. I couldn’t for a second imagine a day without seeing you, hearing you laugh, and touching you. I thought I was happy. I thought my life was perfect. I didn’t realize how much I was missing until you came here.”

“You mean that?”

“When I saw you at the bar in New York, I knew I was going to see you again. I waited for your call every day after. When you finally called and I got to hear your voice again, I knew that I would be stupid to let you go. But then you told me you were pregnant, and I freaked out.”

She stared at me, and a small smile painted her face. “I’m here, Ben.”

“You are. I–I love you, Chloe Kennedy. And now that we’ve found each other again, I’m never letting you go. When I foolishly do, may the gods punish me with unruly women until I have no choice but to choose you over again.”

She stretched her arm toward my face and cupped my chin, and our lips touched, and the entire set of problems from the week prior evaporated. It was like I could conquer everything as long as I had her with me.

“I love you, too, Ben. So please don’t ever let me go.”

Chapter twenty-five

Chloe

Thegirlswereinbed after Ben, and I decided that it was better if Billy Anne stayed in the spare bed in Sofi’s room. We couldn’t get our hands off each other when I closed my daughter’s room after Ben tucked them in, and I turned on Sofi’s lullaby machine.

I didn’t realize how much I missed Ben when he grabbed my hips, pushed me against the wall in the hallway, and devoured me like he’d been hungry for my lips.

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