Page 30 of The Billionaire in Her Bed

“You sure are.” Her gaze strayed back to his chest before returning to meet his. “But that’s beside the point. The cavalry’s here. You’re relieved from duty.”

“If you insist.” He handed over the sleepy baby. “Want me to stick around? I could burp him or bathe him or something.”

Or tell you who I am.

He slapped that thought down. It was too soon. He wasn’t close to owning the building yet. A million things could happen to squash the deal. Until he was sure of the outcome, he was keeping his mouth shut. Why stir up unnecessary problems?

Brooke expertly transferred Jaden to her shoulder and began patting his back. “Don’t you have some place better to be?”

“Nowhere I can think of.” The truth of his words surprised him, and not in a bad way. They were back to playing house, but this time with a little addition to their faux family. Like a dutiful father, he picked up a dishtowel and held it out to her. “You might want to use this. Trust me. He’s prolific. And he’s got a range that rivals an ICBM.”

“Thanks.” She took the towel and draped it over her shoulder. “He’s about to pass out. We could watch a movie after I put him down. I know where Charise keeps her DVDs. With any luck, she’s got something other thanSesame StreetandBaby Einstein. Or I can run to my place and pick something from my stash.”

“As long as it has a car chase, an explosion, or a completely gratuitous sex scene. Bonus points for all three.”

“So no chick flicks?”

He shuddered. “Heaven forbid.”

“Fine. I’ll saveCrazy, Stupid, Lovefor another day. Although it has like the best, most epic fight scene ever.” The baby let out a loud burp. Brooke gave him one last pat and wiped his mouth with the towel.

“I’ll make it up to you. I saw some microwave popcorn in the cabinet when I was looking for a bib.”

“Butter flavor?”

“I think so.”

“Then consider us even.” She stood, crossed the open loft, and put the now fully asleep Jaden in his bassinet. “And for the love of God, put a shirt on.”

“What’s wrong?” He rose to join her, coming up behind her and banding his arms around her waist. “Too distracting for you in all my half-naked male glory?”

She leaned her head back against his shoulder, a teasing smile playing around the corners of her lips. “I have a hard time keeping my hands off you when you’re fully dressed. Half naked it’s practically impossible.”

He inhaled the soft scent of her shampoo. Orange blossoms and coconut. “Who said you had to keep your hands off me?”

“In case you’ve forgotten, there’s a baby in the room.”

“He’s sleeping.” Eli turned Brooke in his arms so she faced him and rested his forehead against hers. “And I’m not suggesting we get busy on Charise’s couch. But a good, old-fashioned make-out session’s not going to scar the kid if he wakes up.”

She sighed, the low, breathy sound going straight to his groin. “We’ll see.”

He bent to touch his lips to hers, but she stopped him with a not-so-subtle shove to the chest, forcing him to take a step back. For a split second, he thought he’d offended her, until he saw the mischievous sparkle in her bright, green eyes. “But not until you put on a damn shirt. Otherwise I can’t guarantee we’ll stop at kissing.”

…

The fitted white T-shirt Eli returned in was only slightly less distracting than his magnificently naked chest, but Brooke supposed it would have to do.

The day had definitely taken a turn for the better. Not that it was possible for it to get much worse than the disastrous brunch with her parents. But walking in on Eli, shirtless and sexy, holding Jaden like he was the most precious thing in the world…yowza.It hadn’t hurt that he’d looked completely at home doing it, feeding the kid like a pro. She could almost imagine him with their child…

Stop. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.What was wrong with her? In the span of a subway ride, she’d gone from swearing off relationships to having his baby, just from watching him wield a bottle. Without a shirt.

Swoon.

“How’s this?” her fantasy baby daddy asked, strutting into the apartment and striking a hilariously bad runway model pose that he somehow managed to make look hot. Of course, she thought pretty much everything he did looked hot, so who was she to judge? “Think you can control yourself around me?”

“I’ll do my best.” She held up a DVD case. “Lethal Weaponokay?”

“Wait, we’re seriously watching a movie? I thought we were going to have a little face time. And I’m not talking about on our iPhones.”