THE 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.