New Beginnings (The Billionaire’s Baby #4)(27)
Author: Helen Cooper

“Because you are the type of woman who appreciates a good hardworking man. I bet you wouldn’t have sex in the park on a first date either.”

“No I wouldn’t.” She paused and stared at him. “No way, you did not have sex.”

“No, no. Of course not.” He laughed and looked away. “But you know there are some women who would.”

“I guess.” She looked at his side-profile and continued. “Though you can’t judge a woman for that, there was a man who did it with her. If she’s a slut, so is he.”

“Oh he’s a slut alright.” He laughed and then turned towards her. “But maybe he doesn’t want to be anymore.”

“Then he doesn’t have to be,” she said softly.

“So you and your fiancé are good?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a pity.” He laughed. “I’d like to find a girl like you, Sophie.”

“You will.” She laughed uncomfortably. “Plus, I’m not that great.”

“Yeah?” He looked at her curiously. “What’s the worst thing you’ve done? Burnt some cookies?”

“Something like that.” She laughed lightly. She was too ashamed to voice out her dirty deed. Actually no Nick, I let another man play with my pu**y while my fiancé f**ked me at a sex club. How could she tell him that? How could she tell anyone that?

“Are you okay, Sophie?” He looked at her carefully. “Your face seems very white.”

“That must mean I need to go tanning soon.” She stood up and laughed. “But I better be going. I need to go to Whole Foods and get back home before it gets too dark.”

“Let me walk you to the store.” He stood up and latched his arm through hers. “I enjoyed our hot chocolate the other evening.”

“Yes. That was fun.” She smiled at him and as she gazed into his warm brown eyes she felt a sense of calm. “Let me give you my number. Call me if you ever want to talk or hang out.”

“Are you sure?” He looked at her in surprise. “I didn’t think you wanted to be friends?”

“I’d love to be friends, Nick. I just need to let my fiancé know that I have a new friend who’s a man. Maybe introduce you two so that you guys can be friends as well.”

“If you think that would work.” He smiled at her warmly. “And if you think he won’t mind that I have a crush on his fiancée.”

“Oh Nick.” She giggled and wrote down her number on a piece of paper. “Here you go.”

“I’ll look after this piece of paper very carefully.” He grinned. “Thank you for trusting me, Sophie.”

“Not a problem, Nick.” She beamed at him. “I think we’re going to be good friends.”

“Me too.” He smiled at her.

“Oh and Nick.” She poked his arm. “I have a best friend that I think you will really like. If you’re lucky I will introduce you.”

“If she’s anything like you then I will be a very happy man.” He smiled at her and gave her a hug. “I’m so glad there are women like you in the city, Sophie,” he whispered into her ear.

“Thank you, Nick.” She held him close and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his warm body close to hers. “I’ll see you later.” She pulled away from him and walked away.

“Bye, Sophie.” Nick called out to her and turned around with a smile on his face. He walked back to the park and debated between going on a run and going back to the office. He hadn’t been lying when he had said his boss had a hard task for him. The biggest problem was he didn’t know how far he was willing to go to ensure that his boss got what he wanted. He already felt bad for how his date had turned out today. He hadn’t told Sophie the complete truth, he had thought the girl was attractive, nice even and she seemed receptive to his kinkier ways. She hadn’t balked when he slapped her. But she was everything he didn’t want in a woman: rich, spoiled, loose. He couldn’t afford to get emotionally connected to her. He’d f**k her again if he had to but once he got the information he needed, he’d disappear. He didn’t want people like her in his life. He wanted a Sophie. He wondered if her fiancé knew how lucky he was. He wondered if he told Sophie that he made a lot more money than a teacher, if she would leave her fiancé for him. He knew the answer as he walked back through the park. And that was why he wanted her. She seemed like a unique innocent angel and that is why he was willing to just be her friend. Maybe she would bring him the internal peace he needed.

***

Sophie smiled as she crossed the street. She was happy that she had seen Nick. He had reinforced in her that she was a good girl, she knew that but she had slipped up. She couldn’t allow what had happened to her to weigh her down. It wouldn’t be fair to her or to the baby. She had an appointment with the doctor the next day and she was praying that the baby was okay. She also wanted to know the gender of the child, she was secretly hoping for a girl, so that Jacob wouldn’t have to compete with another boy for his father’s love. Though she was beginning to doubt that Max was Jacob’s dad, not after seeing the senator. She was thinking so hard that she heard Alexis’s voice before she saw her.

“Please, let me come and see you.” She was begging into a phone. Sophie stopped and stood next to a pole so that she could listen without being obvious.

“I need to see you. I can make trouble for you.” Alexis’s voice turned spiteful. “Tomorrow? I can do tomorrow.” Her voice lit up. “I love you.”

Sophie felt her heart racing, was Max going to meet her the next day?

“You know you’ve always been the one for me. Leave her.” Alexis’s voice was urgent. “Leave her. You’ll see, it will be okay. We’ll have each other.” Alexis stopped talking for a moment and laughed. “Yes. I know.” She giggled. “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow at the same place as last time. I love you.” Alexis hung up and Sophie peeked behind her to see Alexis walking down the street with a huge smile on her face. Sophie paled and grabbed her phone to call Maxwell but he didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure what to do. All of her resolve and confidence came crashing down. Max was going to meet Alexis at their regular place? Had they met there recently? Was he cheating on her? She felt queasy and walked quickly to a park bench to sit down. She put her head in her lap and sobbed, this was her payback for letting another man do things to her. She knew it. She was cursed to have an unhappy life. She grabbed her phone as she heard a beep and read the text message eagerly. It was nice seeing you again and finally getting your number, Sophie. I hope to see you soon. Xoxo Nicholas. She stared at the message and wondered if this wasn’t a sign as well. Maybe she was meant to end up with Nick. Her heart’s desire was Max but maybe she wasn’t going to be one of those lucky people who got their true loves.