Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate

She touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry I snapped,” she murmured. “It’s just that you make me feel...” Her cheeks flamed. “Ugh, this is so hard.”

“I make you feel what?”

“Desirable. Wanted. I haven’t felt that way in a very long time. You can’t expect me to give it up after an hour.” She was bright red now. “I sound like a desperate idiot.”

“No, you don’t. And I’m glad. Because you are wanted. And very, very desirable. That’s what makes this so hard. I’m trying to do the right thing.”

He got up from the bed and reached for his shoes. “Come on. I’ll take you home. And we’ll both respect each other in the morning.”

She laughed a little, and it put his mind at ease.

But when he kissed her goodbye at her door, his heart caught. He was in far deeper than he intended. And he wasn’t sure he had it in him to stay away.

* * *

Harper didn’t see Drew at all on Friday, and she spent the evening at the rehearsal for Saturday’s wedding. Saturday she woke early and showered, dressing in a comfortable maxi dress for the day. Some of her more fitted clothing was getting too tight around the middle now as her waist thickened. In another month she’d really be starting to show. She put her hand to her belly and thought about the baby growing there. She hadn’t even felt him or her move yet. Sometimes it was hard to believe there was really a baby in there.

At nine there was a knock on the door. She was putting makeup on and had eye shadow on only one eye when she went to answer. It was Drew, carrying a paper bag and holding a tray with cups.

“I brought breakfast,” he announced, then stepped inside and gave her a kiss.

“Oh! You didn’t need to do that.”

“I know. But I missed seeing you yesterday, and you have the wedding all day today, so I thought this might be my window of opportunity. I went out for a morning walk and ended up here.”

He looked delicious, as usual. Just jeans and a T-shirt but the way they fit his lean body made her mouth water.

And she did have to eat. Now that the sickness was gone, breakfast was no longer a challenge. She craved it.

“I haven’t eaten, so thanks.”

“Uh, you’re lopsided.” He pointed to her face.

“Oh! I was putting on makeup when you knocked. Make yourself at home and I’ll do the other eye.” She grinned at him and already her heart felt lighter as she faced the day. She hadn’t been quite sure how they’d left things Thursday night, but he seemed his old self. If breakfast was all she got of Drew today, she’d take it. In a heartbeat.

She didn’t normally wear a lot of makeup, so it took no time at all for her to brush on her eye shadow, add a tiny bit of eyeliner and a swipe of mascara on her lashes. She went back to the kitchen with matching eyes and found Drew putting breakfast on plates.

“Egg and cheese on sourdough for you, and bacon, egg and cheese on a biscuit for me. And fruit salad.”

Eggs. She craved them all the time now. Maybe her body needed the protein. Stomach growling, she sat at the table and reached for her fork, spearing a piece of melon.

“This is beyond nice. And it’ll fuel me through the morning, too, until I have time to grab a protein bar or something. I have to grab snacks on the run during the day until the reception, when I can gobble a meal quickly.” She took a bite of sandwich, chewed and swallowed. “Juny’s started coming with me, too, as my assistant. I’m letting her do more and more. She has a good eye and she can help more when I get closer to the due date.”

“Plus it takes some of the pressure off you.”

“I’ll confess, the last few weddings have been long and I’ve gotten really tired. It’s been nice to have someone help set up and lug stuff from the car rather doing it all alone.” She shrugged. “I can do it, but it’s nice to work as a team. Sometimes it seems as if I need to be in two places at once.”

“Well, you look pretty.”

She nudged him. “Thank you, though compliments aren’t necessary.”

“It’s the truth. You always look pretty. Though Dan and Adele’s wedding was something else. You looked...” He paused as he searched for the right words. “Like a classic movie star.” He took the lid off her tea and slid it across the table to her. “So, was it as hard saying no to me as it is for me to say no to you?”

She met his gaze. “Is it hard to say no to me, Drew?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer.

“More than you can imagine.”

Her heart expanded. She was glad. It made her feel as if she mattered. That despite her efforts to hide, someone actually saw past the barriers she put up and saw her.