The Billionaire's Illicit Twins - Holly Rayner Page 0,25

child—or children—like I’d thought he would, based on our previous conversation. Instead, he’d decided to… I don’t know, question the very reality of what I was saying.

“I handle problems that are slightly less personal in nature, generally,” he said pointedly. “Sorry. I just… I don’t know how to handle the idea of being a dad at all, and being a dad twice? It’s just…”

“Overwhelming,” I agreed, the ice around my heart melting a little bit at the thought that we were basically in the same boat on that particular ocean. “Just think of how I feel.”

He almost grinned at that—though not quite. “You must be terrified.”

“Half of the time, yes,” I replied with an almost-grin of my own. “The other half, I’m excited and anxious for them to get here. I mean, I’m scared of what it’s going to do to my body and how hard this is all going to be, but… babies. A family.”

“But you have family,” he said. “Or at least your dad. Right? Isn’t that what you said?”

I shrugged. “He’s gone. And I’ve never really replaced him with anyone else.”

His gaze seemed to soften at that, and his hand twitched—almost as if he wanted to reach out and take mine. Not that he could have reached me, because his desk was obnoxiously big. We had two entire barn doors between us.

But still. I could see the inclination there. And the ice around my heart melted a little bit more.

“You don’t have anyone in your life?” he asked. “Boyfriend? Occasional friend with benefits?”

Now it was my turn to give him a wry look. “If I did, do you think I would have just jumped into bed with you?”

“Ah. Good point. Um… speaking of which,” he said, seeming to suddenly realize that we needed to call this meeting to order. “Have you made a decision? About my offer?”

Well, that was a jump. We’d gone from him looking like he was going to reach out and touch my hand at the thought of me being by myself to him pressing me about selling my baby.

Selling my baby. I didn’t think I could do it. In fact, I was positive I couldn’t. But I was also positive that I’d never have another chance quite like this one to get that amount of money. To make a route toward being safe and secure for the first time in my life.

In short, I wasn’t any closer to a conclusion than I had been before. I still didn’t know what the right step was—and I still hadn’t figured out whether either of the possible steps could really fit into my plans.

I also felt the fury rising up again at how casual he was about the whole thing. How very easy it was for him to bring up the idea of selling my baby. Like it didn’t matter. Like we were talking about a damn lollipop.

Ethan must have seen the changing emotions on my face because he suddenly rose from his chair and walked around the desk to take the chair next to mine. And now he did reach out and take my hand, surprising me—and sending an electric jolt right to my bones. I jerked at that, and he frowned and jerked his own hand back.

“I’m sorry, should I not touch you? Should I—”

“No, it’s fine,” I said hastily. “You just surprised me is all.”

He leaned over and took my hand again, and this time I relaxed, letting it happen. Though that didn’t change the electric jolt. The memory of what we’d done together—and the knowledge that my body would vote a big ‘hell yes’ to doing it again. Immediately, if possible.

I told my libido to kindly settle down, as I didn’t even know if I wanted to be on speaking terms with this man, and tipped my head.

“What?”

He bit his lip. “I was just thinking… Well, with the twins, and with my idea, I might have a way to solve another problem.”

“Because your first idea was so successful?” I asked, doubt coloring my voice—and a little bit of anger bleeding through as well.

“Well, it hasn’t been unsuccessful. It’s just that you haven’t accepted my offer yet. If you were anyone else, I’d suspect you were trying to play hardball with me.”

Me? Hardball? Never. I was a trial lawyer. I could hold my own when it came to negotiations for my clients, but I’d never been good at negotiation for myself.

“Not me.”

He gave me a long look that was full of soft, hazy