The Billionaire’s Risky Pregnancy

Chapter 2

It took three aspirin and more water than she ever thought she could swallow to recover from the night.

Why was George suddenly acting out when she pressed close to the man’s hips and let him lead her into a dance? Their limbs moved in time to the music, and Tasha stroked his dark hair and wanted more of his eyes. Maybe George was just jealous. Having to settle down and all. Her friend hung back until she had to leave the stranger’s hold in search of the little girls’ room.

“Tasha? Can we just talk for a moment?”

“Let me splash some water on my face first.”

Closing the door behind her, she relieved herself in a dirty toilet and hurried back to sink to clean herself off when George ignored the sign on the door and barreled in after her.

“Having fun with your new friend?” he asked.

“What’s your damage?” she demanded, “Trouble in paradise with Zachary?”

“The trouble is that you’re bumping uglies with the enemy,” he said.

“Excuse me?” she demanded. “You say that when I dance with a white boy? And here you were supposed to be so liberal!”

George grabbed her arm and pushed her back into the stall. Tasha nearly gagged on the stench when he turned her back to the door and his hands surrounded her face.

“You could fuck an elephant raw for all that I care!” he started. “But that man is part of the reason why we’re all going to be out of a job in like nine seconds flat.”

He wasn’t making any sense, and Tasha longed for another drink as she left the restroom and felt his arm around her waist at the end of the hallway.

“Keep it up and you’ll be doing recess at a prescription counter,” he said. “You’re playing right into his hands.”

“Whose hands?” she asked. “If you think that you know so much, then  please share.” George released a heavy sigh and pulled her closer, his whisper working its way into her ear.

“That’s Smith Heller,” George continued. “He’s the man behind the contracts.”

“No,” she muttered. “He… he was there to help me. He put the other suits in their place.”

“Maybe he though you would return the favor,” George suggested. “And get a little something for his efforts before he had to come clean.”

“So he played me for a fool,” Tasha said. “Damn it.”

Because she had hoped that he was something so much more. Like maybe the last bold knight in a sea of slippery suits. Part of her wanted to duck out the back and never lay eyes on him again. But he would stay a problem, and she had to find some way to show him who she was.

“Hold my earrings, George,” she said.

“Tasha, now don’t get all crazy.”

“I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Starting to sober up, Tasha found her footing and charged back towards the bar. The man that had played her hero and offered her fresh drinks still beamed bright under the dim light. He suddenly seemed so smug as he brushed a stray piece of lint from his collar. As soon as he caught sight of Tasha, he approached her with two shots in his hands.

“Wondering where you got to,” he said. “Salut!”

Tasha took the tiny drink in her hand and clinked his glass. The man swallowed his shot with one gulp, but Tasha let the scent of tequila drift into her nose.

“Problem?” he asked when she failed to drink.

“I was just wondering what you think about kids,” she started. His jaw tensed, and Tasha swirled the liquor in her cup as he pressed his hands into the air.

“Kids are… okay,” he said.

“That’s hardly convincing,” Tasha challenged. “Don’t you believe that they are our future and that they should be loved and cherished?” He audibly gulped, and Tasha watched the Adam’s apple in his throat bob up and down. Two could play at having one another on, and she slowly stroked his fingers resting on the bar. Craning closer, she blew into his ear and watched him shudder when he suddenly drew back and stuffed both hands into his pockets.

“You’re making this all a little too soon too fast.”

“Relax, baby,” she said. “I’m not asking for a sample if that’s what you’re thinking.”

He started to relax and take another sip when Tasha tugged on his tie and brought his lips so close that a kiss seemed the next logical course of action.

“I just want to know why a man who’s trying to deprive little ones of a safe place to play would think he has a chance with someone who makes their living playing in sandboxes because it’s an essential part of growing up.”

He looked caught; his green eyes grew wider, and she took some pleasure in his panic when he removed her hand from his tie and slightly shook her head.

“You got me,” he said. “Do I get to know the name of the lovely lady who thinks she’s so smart?” Her skin started to crawl and she eased away from him as she pressed her hands to her hips.

“Why don’t you just pay someone to slip you the info?” Tasha challenged. “Isn’t that what men like you do?” His smirk turned into a laugh, and he touched his arm on the face of the bar gently pinning her in place.

“Because I’m asking you,” he shot back. “Wouldn’t the polite thing be to answer my question?”

“The polite thing would be to ply your trade where it could do the community some good,” she said. “But I guess that old habits die hard.”

“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” Smith asked.

“It means that—”

“Hey, hey, hey!” George called out as he cut in. Tasha watched Smith’s nostrils flare at the interruption, and she saw the same stare reflected back in the man’s eyes. “Let’s not go having too much fun here.” Sweet George. Trying to keep the peace.

It was the last thing that she wanted, and she could take care of herself.

“I’d ask you if this gentleman was bothering you,” Smith started. “But something tells me that you’d take it the wrong way.” Even if the man could read her mind and her tells, Tasha failed to crack the slightest smile. His eyes danced below a few crinkles lining his brow, and Tasha was ready to take it outside if he was brave enough to truly go toe-to-toe.

“Yo, Heller,” one of his friends called out. “View is much better from this end of the bar.” Tasha’s eyes followed the sound of the other man’s voice, and his boys were seeing who could buy a skinny blonde her next drink. Smith Heller smirked as soon as he saw the challenge and backed away with his empty glass.

“You will excuse me,” he said. “If I’m going to get nailed, I’d rather have some fun for my troubles.” Smith abandoned her without a second glance. Should she blast him for leading her on or leaving her alone? None of it mattered when he sidled up to the blonde and bought her a fresh drink so she would smile and he could touch her leg.