The Billionaire and the Assistant (The Billionaires 3)

“Yes, I’m pregnant. Only eight weeks so very early on, but I wanted to give you the heads up because should I fall victim to morning sickness or any other delightful symptoms then of course you’d be seeing Tiff here, not me.”

“Congratulations.” I said to her. “That’s amazing news. You’ll be a fantastic mom, Haley. How are the fathers-to-be?”

“Both convinced they fathered it. We won’t know until it’s born and then for baby number two, we’ll do a swapsie.”

I felt myself stiffen. Haley was so open about everything, like she was discussing getting a pint of milk. It was just as refreshing, but I couldn’t help needing a second to catch up with her lifestyle.

“So will you do a DNA test?”

“Yeah unless it’s entirely obvious. Though seeing as it’s behaving at the moment I figure it’s Todd’s. If it starts being a pain in the ass causing me grief, then I’d hanker a guess at Chase’s.”

We both laughed at that. She couldn’t have two more different men in her life. Chase was blond and had a killer sense of humor, whereas Todd was dark haired, dark eyed and had a calm demeanor.

“Well, as long as the baby doesn’t turn out like mine, you’ll be fine.”

She clutched my arm. “Is she really that bad?”

I shook my head. “I’m afraid so. It’s a terrible thing to say about your own daughter, but she doesn’t have a redeeming bone in her body. I’ve tried with her, but every time I feel I’m getting somewhere I find out she’s just been playing me along to get something or pitching me against her mother. I don’t know where it all went so wrong.”

“Well, I guess the fact you’ve never repeated either the marriage or the child experience shows what a nightmare they both were for you.”

“Yeah, it has taken me a long time to consider dating again.”

Haley stared at me a little too long. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

I smirked. “What do you think I’m saying?”

“That you might be ready to date again.” She began to walk into the condo. “There’s a restaurant in the lower lobby. We’re having coffee, my treat, and you’re going to tell me everything.”

“Oh my God, you are seriously gonna ask Alex out? She’s going to have a heart attack.”

Haley once again wore another great beaming smile and then smacked herself around her cheeks. “Am I dreaming? Is this really happening? Two years, Eli. Two years I’ve been nagging you to ask this girl out. She’s been obsessed with you for years. How she hasn’t met anyone else in the meantime and you missed your chance I don’t know. “So, how are you going to do this?”

“Well…” I said and Haley narrowed her eyes.

“What?”

I told her about the fake business meeting. Then I watched as she cracked up, clutching at her stomach. “Oh my God, Eli. Don’t. The baby presses on my bladder. I do not want to urinate on the floor of this lovely restaurant.” She guffawed again. “So she’s going on a date, not knowing it’s a date. How about when you take her home? Wouldn’t you normally kiss a date goodnight?”

Fuck. I’d not thought of that. My mouth twisted to the side as I mulled it over.

“I’ll give her a chaste kiss on the cheek. That would be perfectly acceptable for a first date.”

Haley collapsed in a fit of laughter again.

“Your professionalism is debatable today, Miss Martin.”

“I’m gonna blame it on pregnancy hormones. You kinda can’t say anything then. They’re highly unpredictable.” She sat up straight. “Do your British accent. Go on, let me hear it. What did you say to her?”

“I’m not because you’re just going to laugh at me again.” I wiped at my mouth with a napkin.

“No, I won’t. I promise. Look, I’ll close my eyes and see if you fool me with your accent.”

She closed her eyes.

“That would be jolly good, thank you.”

Haley laughed so loudly that other patrons of the restaurant turned to her and frowned. “Oh my God, that was terrible. She fell for that? Alexandra Cross needs taking out of the naïve life she’s living. Go get her, Tiger.”