Page 27 of The Billionaire's Promise

Oh, no. No, no, no. That was not a good idea. I was contemplating snatching up Rosie and running for the hills. Rosie cried louder, and I ignored Sloane's questions for a second to peek into the bassinet.

Triple crap.

She'd spit up in her crib and all over herself, and the stink of a loaded diaper wafted up to greet me. I knew I should've burped her after that bottle, but she'd been so sweetly asleep that I couldn't bear to risk waking her.

Now I really did have to go. At the moment, I had two responsibilities in my life—my job and Rosie. There was no question which was more important. The job could wait. Since I was absolutely positive my boss would agree that his daughter was more important than designing brochures, I decided the easiest way to get rid of Sloane was a lie. I was not a good liar, but I had to risk it.

"Sloane, I'm sorry. I have to go. I'm helping a friend out by babysitting. It's her baby, she's crying, and I have to figure out what's wrong."

"You don't have time for babysitting, Maggie. You have a job to do, and if you don't want to get fired, you'd better get your ass back to your desk and—"

I missed the rest of Sloane's threat. She did not have the power to fire me. I hung up the phone and went to Rosie. Ugh. Everything within a foot of her needed to be washed.

It turned out little Rosalie loved taking baths. She was a slippery little bug, and even with the plastic bathtub set in the sink, I was half terrified she was going to slip and hit her head or get too much water in her eyes. But I managed to get her cleaned up, freshly diapered, and in a new onesie. We won't talk about the mess in the kitchen or the fact that my clothes were soaking wet. I was focused on the clean, dry, happy baby.

I was fastening the last snap when the elevator rumbled and Vance entered the loft.

"What happened to you?" He asked, the words concerned, but laughter danced in his eyes.

I made a face and looked down at myself. I'd started the day reasonably put together. I'd put my hair up, so at least that was still okay, but my navy dress was a disaster, wet down the front, speckled with baby powder and smeared on the shoulder with formula and drool. I hadn't thought to pack a change of clothes. We had diapers and extra outfits for Rosie. I had spare running clothes at the loft, but that was it. It looked like it was leggings and a tank top for the rest of my workday.

Annoyed that Rosie was clean and happy just in time for me to hand her off, I deposited her in Vance's arms and left the room to change. When I came back, I said, "Did you get it done? Sloane just called, and she's on the warpath. By the way, she heard Rosie crying and I told her I was babysitting for a friend. I didn't think you were ready to tell everyone about Rosalie."

"Not yet," Vance agreed, rubbing his nose against Rosie's. "I need to think about what we're going to say. But I got the piece done. Can you call Sloane and tell her someone can come pick it up?"

I shook my head. "Not right now. If I don't finish the layout for those brochures, she's going to chew me a new one. Again. I've had enough of being yelled at today, thank you very much. Rosie is the only one who's allowed to scream at me."

Vance's eyes narrowed. "What did Sloane say? I told her to watch the way she talks to you."

"I appreciate the thought, Vance, but she talks that way to everyone except for you. She's just a bitch. I can handle her. But you need to take Rosie for at least two hours so I can get these brochures done, or Sloane is going to come over here, and neither of us wants that."

"No," Vance agreed. "Hold her for just a sec while I change, and then we'll get out of your hair."

I took Rosie, and she settled into my arms, laying her head against my shoulder and drooling on my collarbone. She smelled of lavender and lemons. I almost didn't want to give her back when Vance emerged from his bedroom in a long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts.

"Where are you going? Are you taking her down to the gym?"

"Up on the roof," he said, rummaging through the bags on the couch and coming up with an adorable pink fleece-lined sweater and matching hat. "It's almost sixty degrees and sunny. We both need some fresh air."

I didn't argue, just helped him get her bundled up. We were probably being overprotective. It wasn't that cold out. I wondered if I should go up there with them, then I remembered I had work to finish. I liked my job, but I'd rather be outside in the sun with Vance and Rosalie. Vance tucked Rosalie against his shoulder and scooped up the baby bouncy in his other hand before disappearing into the elevator.

I settled myself back at my desk and dove into my project. The loft was too quiet without Rosie and Vance. It was hard to believe that an hour before, I'd wanted nothing so much as peace and quiet. Now that I had it, I wanted Vance and Rosie to come back.

CHAPTER TWELVE

VANCE

This whole situation was fucking with my head. Bad.

I can't describe the punch of emotion at coming into the room to find Magnolia and Rosie, seeing the proud look on Magnolia's face and my baby girl clean and happy. It got to me, the way the neat and efficient woman I knew had dropped everything to take care of my daughter.

And Rosie . . . I can't even begin to process what I felt when I walked into a room and saw her. I was not ready to have a kid. Kids weren't even on my radar. I didn't know anyone who had kids. I figured eventually, I'd have a kid. Possibly. I had no idea how to be a dad, but I was going to figure it out. I had to. All Rosie had was me. And Magnolia.

I set Rosie into her bouncy and started my workout on the suspension system I'd installed on the rooftop deck, letting my mind wander.

I knew I wanted Rosalie. I was already head over heels in love with her. But her timing sucked. I'd planned everything carefully, and Rosie had dropped in the middle like a bomb. I'd been giving Magnolia time to get over Brayden, planning to make my move. Now that was all fucked up. I couldn't make a move on her now. She'd think it was about Rosie.

I'd roped her into helping me with Rosie out of desperation. I won't lie, I was terrified at the thought of Magnolia going home and leaving me alone with a three-month-old baby. With Magnolia, I knew I could handle it. Between the two of us, we could do anything. On my own? I didn't even want to contemplate that. No fucking way.