Billionaire Baby Dilemma by Barbara Dunlop Read Free Book Online Page B

her.
    â€œLucas.” Lexi took a sip of the iced tea, leaned back and adjusted the damp towel. “You might want to start taking notes.”
    Devin couldn’t help a calculating smirk as Lucas made hisway across the pool deck. She wondered how he’d feel about starring in her next book.
    He was still wearing his business suit and a pair of perfectly shined dress shoes, though it had to be seventy degrees this afternoon, hotter in the sunshine. His glance went to Amelia, and he seemed to realize she was sleeping.
    â€œI need to talk to you,” he whispered.
    â€œYou can use your normal voice,” Devin responded, finding herself watching him closely, thinking about his life and his world and how she might use the Demarcos as fodder for her next book. “Just don’t shout.”
    â€œOkay,” he agreed, testing the chair that Byron had vacated earlier with the back of his hand. Apparently, satisfied that it was dry, he sat down sideways, those expensively shod feet firmly planted on the textured, concrete deck.
    He gazed at Amelia for a long minute. Then he glanced to Devin, uncertainty plain on his aristocratic face. “I can…uh, hold her. That is, if you don’t mind.”
    Devin’s mouth quirked in a reflexive grin. “You want to hold Amelia?”
    He smoothed his palms along his suit pants. “Yes. Sure.” He nodded, still watching Amelia as if he was afraid she might explode. “I’d like to hold her.”
    â€œWhy?”
    His gray eyes narrowed. “Because she’s my niece.”
    Devin shifted a little, but Amelia didn’t stir. It was probably a good time for Lucas to take another shot. “Have you ever held a baby before?”
    â€œJust the one time,” he admitted.
    Devin couldn’t help but note the wary expression on his face. “Okay.” She scooted carefully forward.
    At the last minute, she realized that once Amelia was out of her arms, she’d be sitting here in nothing but her bikini. She gritted her teeth and told herself to buck up. Lucas would probably be so busy worrying about Amelia that he wouldn’t even notice.
    She rose and placed the baby carefully in his arms.
    His gaze shifted to her cleavage and stayed there.
    She quickly straightened and stepped back. She briefly debated dashing across the deck to get herself another towel, but she decided that would be too obvious.
    She sat down on the lounger and laid back, pretending she didn’t care about the bikini and truly appreciating the empty arms. She enjoyed holding Amelia, but the baby girl did get heavy after a while.
    Lexi had kept silent, watching with undisguised interest while Lucas held Amelia.
    He seemed to relax ever so slightly, turning, shifting back and putting his legs up on the lounger. He gingerly moved Amelia to a more comfortable position. She wriggled in the big towel, but then went still.
    Devin tried not to notice how good he looked with a baby in his arms. For some reason, the bundle of sleeping Amelia seemed to soften the edges of his expression. He came across as protective instead of harsh. It made him even more attractive, if that was possible.
    â€œWhat did you want to talk about?” she asked him, hoping he wasn’t round two of a tag-team match with Byron.
    â€œA nanny,” said Lucas, his attention still fixed on Amelia.
    â€œThere’s no rush,” she responded. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of Amelia.”
    â€œI know you are,” he acknowledged. “But you might not always be here.”
    She glared at him.
    â€œIs that a threat?” Lexi asked.
    Lucas seemed to remember she was there. “I’ve never made a secret of the fact that I intend to win guardianship,” he told them both.
    â€œAs do I,” said Devin.
    Lucas stared evenly back at her. “If you do, you can fire the nanny. If not, I thought you might like to help me choose.” He