Billionaire's Secret Baby

Samantha

"Happy Birthday, Sam!"

I raised my red solo cup into the air and let out a wild laugh as my friends cheered for me.

Today was proving to be my best birthday yet, hands down.

My friends had planned a rager for me in the woods just outside our small town of Greenswood.

A bonfire blazed, and several kegs had been tapped.

I was feeling good and tipsy and happy as I danced to the music blaring from someone's pick-up.

I was eighteen at last. A woman! The future was mine for the taking, or some sentimental crap like that.

Whatever. I didn't have to think about that just yet. I just wanted to enjoy my party and forget about everything else.

Smiling, I spun in place and screamed out the lyrics to the song that was playing.

Suddenly, I noticed a familiar figure emerging from the surrounding trees.

He was tall, with shaggy blonde hair and familiar golden eyes. Eyes that were just like mine. I came to a stop. It took a few moments for my vision to clear, but when it did, I let out a squeal of delight.

"Jason!" I threw my cup to the ground and rushed forward. "You came!"

Chuckling, he opened his arms as I threw myself into them.

"Of course I did," he told me. "Couldn't miss my baby sister's birthday party, could I?"

I gazed up at him with wide eyes. "Don't tell Mom and Dad! They can't know I'm drinking!"

Chucking me under my chin, he said, "Don't worry. I won't tell. Just don't do anything stupid, all right?"

"Stupid? What could I do that's stupid?"

Before Jason could answer, another person stepped up beside him. Startled, I turned my gaze and froze.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" I murmured.

My brother's companion gave me a small smile.

I often dreamed of that smile, as well as the sparkling, blue eyes gazing at me. He was slightly taller than my brother, with dark brown hair and wide shoulders. He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen, and I had been all but obsessed with him since the age of twelve.

"Don't be rude, Sam," Jason teased, smacking me lightly on the head. "Ryan wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Say thank you."

I swallowed and gazed up at Ryan Carson, my brother's best friend, and my longtime secret crush.

"Than-thank you," I murmured, feeling suddenly shy despite the alcohol buzzing through me. I always felt shy around him. It was frustrating as hell, because I wasn't a shy person by nature. I was outgoing and social. The life of the party, really, but when it came to Ryan...

I was a crumpling, awkward mess.

"Seems like you've been having fun," Ryan said with a smirk, looking at me in a way that made me melt.

I blushed and nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Ye-yeah," I stammered, my lips twitching into a goofy, little grin. "It's been a good party. Lots of fun."

"Glad to hear it." He chuckled.

I gulped. There was something I wanted to ask him. Something I'd been wanting to ask him for a long time but had never had the courage to say.

At that moment, though, the words were on the tip of my tongue, on the verge of spilling from my lips before I could stop them.

Luckily, before I could mutter a single word, Jason clapped Ryan on the shoulder and said, "Let's go get a drink. I'm going to need one to hang out with all these kids."

Ryan chuckled and nodded before flashing me another smile.

"Don't let us get in the way of your fun," he said with a wink.

Struck speechless, I watched as he and Jason walked toward one of the kegs. I couldn't seem to take my eyes off him. He was just so...perfect.

I let out an unbidden giggle.

"Sam! What are you doing? Snap out of it, space cadet!"

Blinking, I turned just in time to catch my friend, Jessica, rushing toward me with a wild grin. She threw her arms around my neck and laughed.

"What? Sorry!" I exclaimed, shaking my head. "I, uh, guess I'm more buzzed than I thought."

Jessica glanced in the direction I had been staring and her mouth dropped open and realization dawned on her face.

"Ahhhh, I see." She grinned. Turning her gaze back to me, she wiggled her eyebrows. "I see your Prince Charming has arrived. I thought he and Jason were still at school?"

"Fall break," I murmured, my gaze finding its way back to Ryan. "I knew they were coming home, but it never crossed my mind that they'd come here."

Jessica let me go and moved to stand beside me. We watched the two older men for several moments in thoughtful silence.

"Are you going to tell him?" Jessica asked after a while.

I scoffed. "Are you kidding me? No way!"

"Why not?" Jessica questioned. "It's the perfect night for it! You're legal, you're tipsy, and he's here and available."

"You don't know he's available. Maybe he's got a girlfriend back at college."

The mere thought had jealousy shooting through me, and I clenched my hands into fists at my sides. Jessica snorted.

"Right, I doubt he has a single girlfriend," she replied. "He's probably got a harem built up by now."

I scowled at my friend. "Don't say things like that. He's not that kind of guy."

"Right, right, he's perfect." Jessica chuckled and shrugged. "Not a manwhore at all, despite the many rumors saying otherwise. It doesn't matter, though. If you're going to make a move, you've got to do it tonight. You'll never get a chance like this again!"

"I don't know why you think I have a chance at all!" I exclaimed. "He hardly knows I exist. If he weren't Jason's friend, I'd be totally invisible to him."

"That's not true," Jessica insisted. "I've seen the way he looks at you. He's totally interested."

I gave her a skeptical look. "Bullshit."

Shaking her head, Jessica said, "No! I swear. I've seen it. There were a few times at your house that I spotted him watching you when you weren't paying attention."

I blinked, stunned. "Why didn't you ever tell me that?"

"I didn't want you to get worked up," Jessica explained. "But honestly, I think you have a chance tonight. Come on. Do it! For your birthday!"

Chewing my lip nervously, I let my gaze stray to where Ryan and my brother were standing.

Samantha

They were huddled around one of the kegs, cups in hand, talking to each other, seemingly unaware of the girls hovering around and eyeing them with obvious interest.

He looked so cool and at ease. I began to wonder if maybe I should tell him how I felt. Maybe Jessica was right...what better time would there ever be?

Maybe I was drunker than I'd thought.

Whatever. Alcohol might be just what I needed to gain the courage to talk to him.

"Okay." I nodded.

Jessica appeared surprised. "Okay?"

"Yeah!" I clapped my hands together, pumping myself up. "Yeah, I'm going to do it. You're right! Why not? Why shouldn't I tell him how I feel?"

"Hell, yeah!" Jessica declared. "That's my girl! What are you going to do, exactly?"

I pondered that question a moment before saying, "I'm...not sure. I think I'll probably just wing it?"

Jessica nodded in approval. "Love it. Flawless. Now, get on over there and get your man."

She shoved me forward. After a few seconds of stumbling, I regained my balance and kept walking toward Ryan. Jason was distracted talking to a girl, so I walked right up to Ryan, who was getting more beer from the keg, without incident.

"Hey!" I exclaimed, stopping next to him.

He furrowed his brow and gave me a confused smile. "Hey, what's up?"

"Not much," I replied with a shrug, fighting down another giggle that was bubbling up within me. "What's up with you?"

"Not too much," he answered.

"Are you happy to be home?"

A strange expression flashed across his face. I wasn't able to tell what it was, it was there and gone again so fast, but it wasn't a happy expression.

"It's fine." He shrugged, his tone a bit strained.

I frowned in concern and put a hand on his arm without thinking. I got momentarily distracted by the firmness of his bicep and gave it a small squeeze.

He glanced down at my hand with an amused, little smile and then looked back up at me.

"I've been working out," he teased. "Can you tell?"

I blinked and realized I was basically just feeling up his arm at that point.

"Sorry," I murmured, though I didn't drop my hand. "I'm trying to comfort you."

He chuckled softly. "I appreciate the concern, but I promise, I'm okay."

"Are you sure? You've got that wrinkle in your forehead that you always get when something's on your mind."

"Really? I didn't realize that happened."

I nodded. "It also happens when you're concentrating or plotting."

"Plotting? I look like I'm plotting something?"

"Sometimes."

In a teasing tone, he asked, "You've got a lot of insight into me, it seems. I'm curious what you'd think I'd be plotting."

"World domination." What was I saying? I was rambling like an idiot. But I was also talking to Ryan with more ease than I ever had before. That was something.

He let out a bark of laughter. "I'm a James Bond villain now?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, of course not. Don't be silly. You just have this incredible drive and focus. It's like you could do anything you set your mind to. You know?"

He gazed at me for several moments, his expression slightly stunned.

"Wow, Sam," he said. "You really know me, huh? I didn't realize you were paying such close attention to me."

I nodded, my breath hitching at the heat in his eyes. He'd never looked at me that way before. It made my heart race, and I momentarily lost my ability to speak.

At length, I managed to choke out, "Yeah...I have been"

Ryan was silent for several moments as he looked at me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, and it made me anxious. He wasn't usually so hard for me to read.

"You've grown up," he murmured, almost to himself. "When did that happen?"

I furrowed my brow and glanced down at my thin, flat body. What was he talking about?

As if snapping out of a trance, he blinked and cleared his throat, jerking his gaze away from me.

"Was there something you wanted?" he asked in a rough tone.

"Um, I was wondering if I could talk to you," I said. "Alone."

He looked back at me in surprise but slowly nodded. "All right. sure, I guess."

My heart skipping a beat, I turned to lead him away from the party.

I could hardly believe he was actually following me and that this was actually happening.

I tried to think of what exactly I was going to say to him. So many things raced through my mind, but I couldn't seem to land on anything that didn't sound stupid and pathetic.

We made our way deeper and deeper into the forest. The sounds of the party dulled, and when it was quiet, I finally stopped.

Slowly, I turned around to face him. It was dark except for the rays of moonlight that managed to filter in through the trees above. He was watching me with a curious expression, and I felt shy under his scrutiny.

I cleared my throat and scratched nervously at my cheek.

"Well, you've got me out here." He chuckled in a rumbling voice that made me shiver. "What did you want to talk about?"

Taking a deep breath, I murmured, "Well, I wanted to tell you...that is, I wanted to ask...um...I have a birthday wish."

His brows shot up. "A birthday wish?"

I nodded. "Yes. I have a birthday wish, and only you can make it come true."

"Is that so?" He grinned, appearing amused. "Well, color me intrigued. What's your wish?"

"A kiss," I blurted.

Ryan appeared shocked, and there was a moment of tense silence as he simply stared at me.

At last, he stammered, "You...you want what?"

"A kiss," I repeated in a softer voice. "Just one. Please?"

Ryan blinked and shook his head with a tense chuckle. "That's cute, Sam, but I'm sorry, I can't."

Samantha

He sounded suddenly nervous, his voice cracking at the end of his words.

"What?" I felt a surge of panic. No, no! He was supposed to say yes. Did he think I was kidding? This wasn't how it was supposed to go. The way he'd been looking at me earlier... "Why not?"

Ryan released a long, shaking breath before saying, "Look, Sam, I'm flattered, really, but you're...you're just a kid. Plus, you're my best friend's sister! There are some lines guys just don't cross."

"You just told me I'd grown up."

He clenched his jaw, and his cheeks turned a slight tinge of pink.

"Yes, I did," he stammered. "Look, you're a beautiful girl, but your brother..."

I surged forward to stand directly in front of him. I reached up and clutched the front of his shirt.

"Ryan, please," I pleaded. "It's the only thing I want."

He took hold of my shoulders but didn't immediately push me away.

His fingers curled into me, and he seemed to want to hang on tight to me.

I watched his eyes as he stared down at me, and I could almost see the inner battle he was waging with himself.

A part of me felt guilty for insisting, but I was afraid I would never get this chance again. Besides, it was just a kiss.

What harm could come from a kiss?

"Why?" he asked softly, furrowing his brow in confusion. "Why do you want a kiss from me? There are so many boys out there who I'm sure would fall over themselves to catch your attention. I'm...grumpy. Short-tempered. People think I'm cold and unfeeling. Why would you want someone like that to kiss you?"

Licking my lips, I gazed up at him and took a moment to gather my courage.

"Because...because I like you," I confessed in a soft voice. "I've liked you for the longest time. I've been dreaming of kissing you since I was a girl. I know you're not cold and unfeeling. That's just the mask you put on for the rest of the world, but I see past that. You're warm and funny, and I know you'd do anything for my brother or me. I've never met anyone like you, Ryan, and I don't think I ever will."

He appeared stunned, his mouth dropping open slightly, though he still didn't try to push me away. He kept me firmly in his grasp as he considered whatever was on his mind. I held my breath as I waited for his response, too afraid to hope, but desperate for him to say yes.

His fingers flexed, and his jaw clenched. He licked his lips, and I watched his Adam's apple bob.

"You're still so young," he replied, shaking his head. "You might think that of me now, but you'll go out into the world and meet tons of guys who'll be way more interesting than me."

"I doubt that." I sighed. "I don't think there are a lot of guys like you, Ryan."

He was silent for a few moments as he gazed at me. He seemed to be studying me, looking me up and down before releasing a long breath.

He nodded. "All right. "One kiss. That's it."

My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. "Really?"

"Yes," he said. "But just one kiss, okay? And we can't talk about it ever again. If Jason ever found out, he'd kill me. Understand?"

A rather bittersweet sentiment, but I was willing to take what I could get.

"Yes, I understand," I whispered. "I won't bring it up again, I promise."

"Okay," he murmured. He released my shoulders, so he could cup my face in both his hands.

My heart began beating so hard, I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd been able to hear it.

His eyes roamed my face for several moments, and his expression was unreadable.

I had no idea what he was thinking.

He growled, "Damn it."

He dropped his head and pressed his lips to mine.

When he tried to immediately pull away, I whimpered and wrapped my arms around his neck to bring him back to me.

I moved my mouth beneath his, eager and insistent.