Billionaire's Baby Contract (Hawthorne Brothers 1)

No. The answer is still no.

I close the journal and put it back where I found it, hiding it well so no one else will. I almost wish I hadn’t read it. I’d be in less pain now. Then again, if I hadn’t read Stella’s journal, I would still be clueless about her.

I’m glad I know more about her now. I swear I’m going to treat her better.

But first, I have to distract myself with work to make my “not so little problem” go away. Then I’m going to have those midnight drinks with my brothers and get drunk.

~

“Another,” I tell the bartender after setting down my empty glass of Scotch for the fourth time. He refills it from the bottle within seconds.

“Same here,” Ryker says, pointing to his empty glass of gin tonic.

“Looks like the two of you are having it rough,” Asher remarks as he takes a sip of his martini. “It’s that Swiss acquisition, isn’t it?”

“The question is: Why don’t you seem as anxious?” Ryker asks him. “Or have you forgotten that if this acquisition doesn’t push through, it will be bad for the whole company?”

“I know, but it will still be worse for the two of you,” Asher says.

Ryker frowns.

“Maybe we should just leave him here when we go to Switzerland,” I say. “What do you think, Ryker?”

“Hey!” Asher complains. “No fair. I’ve already made plans for Switzerland.”

Ryker raises an eyebrow. “Plans?”

“I’ve heard Swiss women are gorgeous.”

Ryker rolls his eyes. I know what he’s thinking – that some things never change.

“We are going to Switzerland for work, you know,” I remind Asher. “Do I have to tell you that you have to be on your best behavior?”

“Oh, I’m always on my best behavior around women,” he answers.

I give him a stern look. “Asher.”

“Oh, don’t get your panties in a twist.” He waves his hand. “I won’t do anything that will tarnish our beloved company or mess with our business in Switzerland.”

I wish I could believe that, but it’s hard to when he’s already been embroiled in a scandal once before.

Asher puts up his hand. “I promise.”

Well, he looks sincere enough.

“I’ll hold you to that promise,” I tell him.

He sighs. “You’re such a party pooper, you know that? I know you’re CEO and whatnot, but you don’t have to be so serious all the time. You’re rubbing off on Ryker. Or he’s rubbing off on you, I can’t figure out which.”

“Hey!” Ryker takes offense. “I know how to have fun.”

“And I don’t?” I ask them both with a little more irritation than I intended.

Ryker doesn’t answer. Asher tries not to laugh but ends up doing it anyway.

“I know how to have fun, too,” I say defensively.

“Tell me, then,” Asher says. “What have you been doing on weekends?”

“Drinking with you two,” I answer. “By the way, it’s your turn to pay for drinks tonight.”

“I’m already aware of that, and I’ve already anticipated that the two of you are going to drink more than usual as a result, and I’ve already calculated the cost.”

Of course he has.

“Anyway, this routine doesn’t count. What else do you do on weekends?”

“Bike, hike or go surfing somewhere,” Ryker answers, even though Asher wasn’t asking him. I guess he wants to prove that he does know how to have fun.

“Sleep,” I give my answer. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to have fun. I’ve just been busy.”

“Too busy to get laid?” Asher asks.

I don’t answer. Why does it always have to be about sex with him?

He pats my shoulder. “You, my brother, need to get some. I know Dad is still on your case about settling down…”

That’s putting it mildly.

“But just because you sleep with someone doesn’t mean you have to marry her. And if you don’t want her to get pregnant – though, frankly, I think Dad wouldn’t mind, marriage or no – you just have to be careful. You know, wear a condom. I’ve got a few extra ones right now if you want some.”

“Extras? Sounds like somebody didn’t get as much action as he anticipated,” I gibe.

“Hey, I buy in bulk. Come on, there’s nothing like a good fuck to take the stress off.” He looks around the bar. “And I can see some women here who won’t mind if you take them to a room upstairs. What’s your type? Blonde? Brunette?”

Stella’s face pops into my head, her brown hair cascading over her ears with a few strands stuck to the corner of her voluptuous mouth.

“Tall? Petite? Slim? Curvy?”

I remember how she looked in that thin white blouse, how her breasts seemed to pop even more with that black bra she had underneath.

Was she aware of how hot she looked? Did she do it on purpose?

No, I don’t think so. That’s the thing. She’s not aware of how attractive she is, which makes her even more so. She’s never tried to seduce me, and yet I can’t stop thinking about having sex with her.