Bedding the Billionaire (Book 3) (Legacy Collection) by Ruth Cardello Page A

more than that.” He absently played with the hair that spilled down her back.
    “Do you have a disease I should know about?” she joked.
    He shook his head and pulled her against his chest. “No, but not using one was completely irresponsible and I…”
    This time she was the one who tensed. He was probably more worried about what he could catch from her than the reverse. “And you’re always responsible. Unlike me. I know. I get it.”
    He soothed her li ke one would a child, running his hand through her hair gently and then cupped her chin. “I’m not judging you. I’m just questioning my own sanity.”
    That didn’t make her feel much better.
    “I’m not sure ei ther option is very flattering,” she struggled to free herself from him, but he held her on his lap.
    “ What if something comes from today?” he asked in his oh -so-obnoxiously- rational tone.
    Lil broke free of his hold and stood. “You mean, what if I get pregnant ? Wow, you know how to kill a mood.”
    What had felt so right a moment ago now made Lil feel vulnerable and defensive. She was in the process of putting her shi rt back on when he stopped her by standing in front of her and taking both of her shoulders into his hands. “I’m serious.”
    She lashed out. “ So am I. If anything comes from today, it’ll be my concern, not yours.”
    “What is that supposed to mean?”
    Fear surfaced as anger. “We are not even dating . W e’re just fucking.”
    His face darkened. “You make it sound cheap.”
    She struggled to get away, but he held her there, intent on making his message heard. “I would n ever leave you with a baby…. my baby.”
    “There is zero possibility that I would terminate a pregnancy.”
    His hands gripped her shoulders tighter. “I know that. I would take care of you. You’d live with me. ”
    “Are you s erious?” she joked . Jake’s steady gaze held hers. “Oh, my God, you’re serious.” Her heart pounded in her chest. “ I’m not pregnant so we don’t have to have this conversation.”
    “You could be and we do.”
    Lil shook her head vehemently. “Even if you have super sperm and I’m already pregnant, there is no way I would move in with you like that .”
    His hands loosened and massaged her shoulders gently. “You’re right. We’d have to get married.”
    Lil cut in, “Stop. Stop right there. Let’s not go nuts. I’m not pregnant. We’re not getting married. This whole thing between us is just a …”
    “Don’t say it,” he said, his hands stilling.
    She stopped.
    She met his eyes and then looked away, unable to decipher the emotions she saw churning there . “Wh at happens if you don’t say it?” he asked softly.
    She studied his broad, lightly haired chest.
    “ What happens if I don’t either?” he continued. “What i f we just see where this goes?” He rubbed a thum b down her jaw pensively as if he were trying to solve an equation.
    Her throat dried, making her first attempt at a rebuttal impossible.
    “Let me stay tonight, ” he suggested and Lil panicked.
    Staying would lead to wanting to believe. Believing would only lead to heartache. Why prolong the process? Lil finished putting her shirt on and hastily slid back into her underwear. Jake was dangerous because he threatened the sensible path she’d chosen for herself. Why couldn’t she have met him back when she’d proudly thrown caution to the wind?
    The universe had a cruel sense of humor.
    “There is only one bedroom set up and the crib is in there.” She said and tossed his underwear and pants to him. “You can’t stay.”
    “Come with me to New York, ” h e said as he stepped back into both, n ever taking his eyes off of her. “Not tonight, tomorrow. You and Colby can stay with me at my place until we figure this out.”
    Tempting as it was, that wasn’t a life that Lil wanted for herself and her child. “I can’t do that, Jake. I know it doesn’t look like I am – but I’m really trying to