Christmas Baby for the Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 1)

“On Thursday, when Tom is back from his holiday.”

“I’ll have narrowed down some properties by then. Why don’t you come along for some second walk-throughs? Some of these places are really stunning. You can tell me where we should eat lunch and we can make a day of it.”

She frowned. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“How are we going to manage to parent together if we can’t get through a day in each other’s company?”

He made sense, even though Tori knew it was simplifying the matter. “Well, all right. If the weather is good. And as long as nothing comes up here.”

“Of course.”

She began to clear his plate and dinner mess and put it back on the room service cart. “You don’t have to do that,” he said.

She laughed. “Sure I do. I work here, remember? I’ll drop i

t off at the kitchen and then go home.”

He opened the door for her and she wheeled the cart out into the hall. Then she looked back at him. “Thanks for telling me about your family, Jeremy,” she said. “I know you didn’t want to.”

“It’s out there now,” he replied, leaning on the door. “Just please...don’t judge me on the basis of my relatives. I’ve tried very hard to be...different.”

“I judge a person on what I see them do,” she answered, and gave him a smile. “So far you’re in the clear.”

He smiled back then, a sexy sideways little slice of amusement. “I’ll see you soon.” Then with a little laugh, he backed up and shut the door.

She wheeled the cart down the hallway to the elevator while trying to calm her thrumming pulse. Amity was better than enmity, for sure, but how was she going to deal with a smiling Jeremy? Because she still found him incredibly attractive. Still got that light feeling in her chest when he smiled at her. And with their baby on the way, she couldn’t afford to let her head get into the clouds.

Life wasn’t made of fairy tales. It just had reality, and this was hers. She’d better figure it out.

* * *

Thursday dawned bright and clear, and after a brief meeting with Tom to bring him up to speed, Tori bundled up in her warm parka and gloves. Her knee-high boots and leggings were comfortable and warmer than she would have been in a skirt. The jacket was a bit snug around the waist, and she tugged on the zipper to get it over her growing bump. She supposed a new coat would be on the shopping list, but she hated spending the money on something she’d wear for only one winter.

Jeremy was waiting in the lounge sipping on coffee when she emerged from her office. To be honest, she was looking forward to the morning. There were worse things than wandering through luxury homes. She loved flipping through magazines and seeing the fancy decor. Now she could see some in person. Maybe even get some ideas for the hotel.

“Hi there.”

Jeremy turned around and she tried not to stare. He was in suit pants and shoes, with a soft wool coat and plaid scarf around his neck. His hair was finger-combed back from his face, making it seem groomed but carelessly so.

“Hi, yourself. Do you want a tea for the road? Something hot?”

“No, I’m fine. I had a decaf in the office with Tom this morning. You’re ready?”

“Just let me get this in a travel cup and I will be.” He flashed her a smile—another jolt to her heart—and beckoned for the waitress to grab him a cup. Within seconds he had his hand at the base of Tori’s spine, solicitously leading her out to his rental.

It was a freaking Jaguar.

He held the door and she slid into the sleek interior, the soft leather cradling her like it was shaped to her bottom. It was cold, but in moments he had the heater turned up and her heated seat on. A map on the console flashed and he hit a preset for one of the properties, and then they were on the road, heading toward Bridgewater.

“Where are we going first?”

He tapped the wheel along with the satellite radio station that was playing. “A house in the Pleasantville area. On the LaHave River.”

“I know the area.”

“Branson’s looking for a place to...well, regroup, I guess. He’s had a rough year.”

“Branson?”