Christmas Baby for the Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 1)

She made her way down the hall, away from the noise. The house truly was gorgeous, a real showpiece with creamy walls, white trim and a gorgeous iron railing on the staircase leading to the next floor, which was now bedecked with boughs and ribbon. There wasn’t a speck of dust or a thing out of place. No personal knickknacks or photos; just perfectly placed flower arrangements—holiday themed, of course—and pieces of art on the walls. Each one was perfectly level, as if it wouldn’t dare be a little bit crooked.

Beautiful, and perfect. But there was no personality, no sense of the people who lived there.

She caught sight of an open door—presumably the powder room—when she heard voices coming from the room across the hall.

Jeremy’s voice. And his mother’s in reply.

She went to the door, staying slightly behind. There’d been a strident reply to something from Jeremy, but she hadn’t been able to make out the words. Now she strained to hear. She hoped he wasn’t getting a lot of grief from his mother. They could just stay over if it was going to be a big deal for them to leave early.

“Why didn’t I tell you before? When was the last time you called me, Mother? Asked how I was? I mean, do you even care?”

“Of course I care, Jeremy.” Her voice was cold. “I’m going to be a grandmother.”

“I highly doubt it. You weren’t mother material, you sure as hell aren’t cut out to be a grandmother.”

Ouch.

“You’re so cruel,” she replied. “And finding out tonight, in a room full of guests? It was embarrassing. Or was that your intention?”

He didn’t answer, so his mother continued in her patronizing voice. “Look, she’s probably nice enough, in her way. But really, Jeremy? She’s not our kind of people. She’s plain, and...uncultured.”

“And you know that after sneering at her for two minutes?”

“Seriously. The way you’re acting, you’d think you were in love with the girl. You aren’t, are you?”

Tori held her breath. Her pride stung from his mother’s assessment, but she was angry on Jeremy’s behalf. No wonder he stayed away. What a horrible creature.

Jeremy hesitated. Then he said the words: “Of course I’m not. Don’t be ridiculous.”

Tori’s heart plummeted to her feet. The way he’d kissed her. Held her hand. Made love...

It couldn’t all have been an act.

She refused to believe it.

“I’m not going to ask you how she got pregnant. We both know that and I don’t need the details. What are you going to do about it now?”

“She’s here, isn’t she?” he snapped, and Tori blinked back tears. He sounded so...harsh. “Look. No kid of mine is going to wonder where the hell his father is. You and Dad...you should never have procreated. He left and you wanted nothing to do with us. And here’s what you need to know. I will do anything—anything—to make sure I do a better job of parenting my kid than you ever did.”

Silence dropped for a moment. Then his mother spoke quietly. “Even pretend to love its mother?”

“Even that. Whatever it takes.”

“So you’re not in love with her. I knew it.”

“Mother, please.”

Tori stepped backward from the door, reeling from the pure derision laced in his voice. She hurried back down the hall, determined he not see her. She came across one of the waitstaff and asked where she could find another bathroom. Once she’d located it, she went inside, shut the door and sat on the closed toilet for thirty seconds while she tried to sort out her thoughts. Her feelings.

She’d been played.

Mother, please.

Those words replayed over and over in her head. She’d really fallen for it, hadn’t she? All the expensive outings and private flights and sweet words... He’d used his money after all, to get her to do what he wanted. He didn’t even have to get a lawyer involved. He’d used her emotions instead, and played her like a violin.

She got off the toilet, turned around and opened the lid. Though she hadn’t thrown up for weeks now, her dinner came back up and left her gasping.

Then she flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and patted her face as best she could. She wouldn’t cry, not now. But she was more than ready to go home and lick her wounds. And once she’d done that, she’d start making plans to raise her baby.