Christmas Baby for the Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 1)

“Tori—”

“No.” She held up a hand. “Just no. I fell in love with the person I thought Jeremy Fisher was. Tonight I discovered he is someone else. He did a great job of faking it, but I don’t know you. You wanted me to go tonight so I knew what I was getting into, and boy do I ever. So I’m going home. And after a while, we’ll discuss custody and visitation like rational adults, I hope. Financial situation or not, I will fight back if you choose to get lawyers involved. I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

His eyes dulled and he looked utterly bereft. She didn’t want to be affected by his forlorn look, but she was.

“Everything before tonight... It was true. I swear it.”

Her insides trembled. “I don’t know how to believe you. I don’t know which Jeremy is the real one. And that’s not something I’m willing to bet my life or my baby’s happiness on. I’m sorry, Jeremy.”

She moved past him and down the hall to her room, where she started to pack her bags. He came to stand in the doorway. “Please, Tori. I’m trying here.” He ran his hand through his hair. “My mom brings out the worst in me, and I’m so sorry. I shou

ld have been stronger. Should have been honest.”

She looked up at him. “The thing is, I think you were honest. I think your number one priority is to show your mother that you can be better than her. It’s not me, and it’s not love that’s driving that decision. I won’t uproot my whole life on that sort of gamble.”

For a moment, she thought she saw tears glimmer in his eyes, and her resolve wavered. Then he swallowed and said, “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Ten.”

“Get some sleep, then. I’ll get you to the airport in lots of time.”

She opened a drawer and took out some sweaters.

“Tori, I’m sorry. I handled everything badly. I know I messed this up. Wait, and let’s try to work through it.”

“I just need to go home,” she said, not looking at him.

She sensed when he left her doorway, and she braced her hands on her suitcase as her head drooped. Was she overreacting? His explanations made sense, but the fact remained that even if he’d lied to his mother, he hadn’t stood up for Tori. And even though he’d said he’d lied, he hadn’t said that he loved her, either. Even after she’d admitted her feelings first.

She texted her mom, asking if she could pick her up at the airport the next afternoon, then finished packing. She sat up the rest of the night, unable to sleep.

When six thirty rolled around, she ordered a taxi and quietly made her way out of his apartment and to the bottom floor. She couldn’t handle saying goodbye; her feelings were too raw. She didn’t want to sit through another ride to the airport, either. When the cab arrived, the driver put her suitcase and carry bag in the trunk and they were off to New Jersey.

She was going home. Alone.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SHE WAS GONE.

Jeremy stared at the spare room with disbelief. She’d run. Granted, last night had been a disaster. But he would have taken her to the airport. He’d hoped that they’d get up this morning and be able to talk about what had happened without the high emotions of last night. Maybe even change her mind.

But she was gone.

He wandered to the main living area, his heart sore. The flower arrangement she’d bought was still on the dining table; the evergreen centerpiece in the living room, along with that silly little tree. A few dishes remained in the sink from where they’d had a cup of coffee yesterday afternoon before heading to Connecticut.

She was still here, whether he wanted her to be or not.

Jeremy wandered to the windows and looked out over the snowy city. She’d been right about pretty much everything. He should have stood up to his mother. Why not? It wasn’t as if they had a relationship to speak of anyway. But that house... Anytime he was inside he was back to being that little boy again. Protecting himself and his feelings against ridicule and neglect. Poor little rich boy.

He knew very well that rich people could be miserable, too.

It was eight o’clock now. She’d be boarding in an hour, heading back to Nova Scotia and the family and job she loved. After yesterday, he had no right to take her away from that. No matter how much he’d really wanted to try for the life they’d begun to plan.

And his baby... He sank onto the sofa and put his head in his hands. No matter what she thought of him, he wouldn’t put either of them through a legal battle. And there was no way he’d take the baby from her. She was going to be a damned good mother.

He wandered through the day aimlessly. Sarah called on her way back from Connecticut and he put her off. Cole texted and he didn’t reply. Right now he was licking his wounds.

If only she hadn’t heard him in Bruce’s office. He could have kept his mom at arm’s length and then gone on with his plans. And yet, deep down, he knew that was a coward’s reasoning.