The Billionaire Baby Bombshell by Paula Roe Read Free Book Online Page A

on a campaign that didn’t have the full support of the client.”
    “ I’m your client.”
    She shifted her weight, one long leg thrust forward aggressively, tilting those hips in one slow, suggestive motion. Alex’s breath caught in sharp appreciation.
    “Tell me, if it weren’t for Pam and Chelsea, would you have hired me?” Yelena said.
    If it weren’t for Carlos they both wouldn’t be here. “No,” he said curtly, arousal doused as resentment began to bubble up inside. He swiftly stood. “What have you two been talking about?”
    “Well, naturally she asked what I did for a living so pretty soon she’ll put two and two together.” She paused, shaking her head. Alex watched a small strand of hair escape her ponytail and settle on her shoulder. With an impatient sweep, she shoved it back.
    “I also get the feeling she thinks you and I are—” she paused, her hand fluttering up to her necklace “—conducting some kind of secret liaison.”
    “I see.”
    When he moved out from behind his desk, Alex noticed the way she put weight onto her back foot, unsure and unsteady. As if poised for a quick exit.
    Yelena never backed down from an argument. Which meant something else had unnerved her, something that went beyond mere discomfort at his mother’s assumptions. Was he finally getting to her? Just as satisfaction curled his mouth into a grin, a dark alternate thought thinned it.
    “Being romantically linked with a suspected murderer embarrasses you.”
    Yelena eyes widened at the hint of disgust peppering his flat statement. “No! How could you possibly think that?”
    “So what’s the problem?”
    “You have to stop lying to her.”
    His eyes narrowed. “I am not lying.”
    She snorted, unperturbed by his mounting irritation. “Lying by omission is still lying. I get enough of that from my bro—”
    Appalled, she snapped her mouth shut…not quick enough.
    “What’s Carlos done?” He growled.
    What on earth was she thinking? Their eyes deadlocked, both unwilling to back down until Yelena finally conceded.
    “Nothing. He’s said absolutely nothing to me for months. This whole silent treatment you’re giving him isn’t going to solve the problem, you know.”
    “What makes you think there’s a problem?”
    “Do not treat me like an idiot, Alex. There’s a problem.”
    Instantly, the temperature dropped. “That’s none of your business.”
    “Rubbish. Not only will this impact on Sprint Travel and this campaign, but he’s my brother—your business partner.”
    He shot her a look. “What happened to your ‘no personal questions’ rule?” He slowly crossed his arms. “Can’t have it both ways. Or—” he let the words trail off, one eyebrow raised “—are you deliberately trying to pick a fight?”
    His voice dipped into a shockingly intimate timbre. Immediately her body started to tingle with anticipation, heart rate thumping.
    His mouth tweaked. “You always loved a good, long—”
    “Alex!”
    “Argument.” Now he was grinning at her outright. They were having a serious discussion and he was amused?
    Infuriated, she tried to pull herself together. “Maybe I’m getting sick and tired of all your weird looks.”
    “What weird looks?”
    “As if you can’t stand me one moment but the next, you want to…”
    “Kiss you?”
    He crossed the room too quickly for her to register his intent and when his hand snaked out and grabbed her arm, surprise rendered her immobile.
    She pointedly stared at his hand then coolly met his eyes. “Do not touch me.”
    “Why not?”
    Her heart accelerated as her cheeks became warm. “Because you’re being unprofessional.”
    He gave a mocking snort. “So you can feel it.”
    “Feel what?”
    He slowly ran his palm up, curling long fingers around the soft part of her forearm to gently hold her prisoner. “How it is between us. How it’s always been—even when I was off-limits and dating your sister.”
    She yanked away, severing the