Bought by a Millionaire. Heidi Betts

binding contract.

      Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to pull away, to break his almost mesmerizing hold on her.

      “I told Dr. Cox. He didn’t seem to think it was a big deal.”

      “It’s a very big deal.” His tone was sharp, his lips thinned in annoyance. “Especially under the current circumstances.”

      With a sigh, he straightened and then relaxed against the spindled back of the bench. “Maybe you should tell me everything that happened. From the beginning.”

      “It’s not the most flattering moment of my life,” she began, resigned to sharing the details of her day before he would let the subject drop. “On the way here after classes, I started feeling a little light-headed and nauseous. The only thing I could think of was to put my head between my knees until it passed.” Her mouth twisted in a self-deprecating grin. “Next time, I’ll remember to sit down first.”

      One of Burke’s slate-gray eyes narrowed while the other widened, the brow quirking amusingly. “You mean to say you pretty much doubled over in the middle of the sidewalk.”

      That darn heat and color sensation began to fill her cheeks again. “Pretty much.”

      He lifted his hand to cover a cough, and she got the distinct impression he was trying not to laugh.

      It was funny, when she thought about it. Especially the part where the young man on Rollerblades—wearing black spandex shorts, a white helmet, and a bulky jacket made up of neon yellow, pink, green, purple and blue—ran into her. He’d gone flying, she’d gone sprawling, and half a dozen other students had burst into laughter at what must have looked like part of a circus act.

      “But you weren’t hurt?” Burke wanted to know. “No scrapes or scratches or broken bones?”

      “No. Surprisingly enough, I escaped completely unscathed. I’m not sure about the skater, though. He may be scarred for life.”

      He chuckled. Actually chuckled. The sound startled her so much, she jumped.

      She’d never heard him laugh before. Had barely seen him crack a smile. He was always so serious and businesslike. But she liked it when his lips curved upwards, when something struck him as funny and amusement rumbled out deep and masculine.

      She might even like it, she mused, too much.

      When the nurse came out and called her name, Shannon breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness for an interruption to her wayward thoughts.

      Grabbing her purse from the floor, she started across the room. Burke rose with her, following with a hand at the small of her back.

      Little shock waves of awareness rippled out from where his fingers rested. Her heart sped up, her breathing slowed and she was mortified to realize that her nipples were beginning to bead.

      Oh, Lord.

      Dr. Cox ushered them into his office, waved them toward two chairs in front of his desk and then took a seat himself.

      The sexual attraction of a moment ago slipped away as she watched the doctor’s face. Suspense built, winding around every bone and muscle until her entire body was as taut as a piano wire.

      “Are you ready to hear the test results?” Cox asked.

      Burke’s grip tightened on the arms of his chair, the skin around his nails turning white. She almost expected to hear a growl work its way up from his throat. Her own hands were clammy where they clutched the thick black wool of her skirt.

      When Burke spoke, it was in a low, menacing voice that proved to Shannon exactly why he was so successful in the boardroom. “Tell me. Now.”

      But Dr. Cox didn’t seem the least bit intimidated. He only grinned, making a great show of opening her file and shuffling the pages. To draw out the moment and put her even more on edge, she was sure.

      “John…” Burke growled.

      “All right, all right,” Cox acquiesced.

      Her entire body was so tense, her breathing so shallow, that she nearly yelped when she felt Burke’s long fingers reach out and wrap around her own. As it was, she jerked like a snake-bite victim and had to consciously return her pulse rate to normal. Staring straight ahead at Dr. Cox, he either ignored or didn’t notice her reaction, keeping her hand wrapped securely within his own.

      “Shannon. Burke,” the doctor said slowly. “Congratulations, you’re pregnant.”

      Three

      If Shannon hadn’t been sitting, she would have fallen to the floor. This was the news they’d been waiting for, the news they’d expected, and yet she found it hard to believe it was true. That there was actually a child now growing inside of her.

      Burke Bishop’s child.

      She tilted her head and saw that he was positively glowing—if a man could be described in such a way. His straight white teeth flashed an ear-to-ear smile, his eyes gleamed with undiluted pleasure.

      “That explains the dizziness and nausea,” she commented softly.

      “Yes,” Dr. Cox said. “The levels of morning sickness vary. Some women begin feeling sick almost from the day of conception right up through delivery. Others barely suffer at all. When you described your symptoms, I suspected the tests would come back positive, but I wanted to run them anyway to be sure.” One side of his mouth lifted in a wry grin. “I also knew Burke would want absolute proof and not just a hunch based on my twenty-five years of experience. There’s no doubt about it, you’re definitely pregnant.

      “You’re also very lucky,” he continued. “Insemination doesn’t always take on the first try. But you’re young, in perfect health and probably very fertile.”

      “I knew I picked the right woman.” Burke pulled her arm toward him and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “Now what?” he asked.

      “Now,” the doctor said, “you go home. Shannon, you should take it easy until your next appointment in three weeks. You can still participate in all your regular activities, but if you start to feel faint or nauseous, lie down. Those sorts of symptoms are typical in the first trimester. Try some crackers and hot tea—decaffeinated, of course—if you experience morning sickness. And you’ll likely be more tired than usual, so don’t press yourself. Go to bed early and take naps whenever the mood strikes. Understand?”

      She nodded, still reeling. And the worst part was that she couldn’t decide which shocked her more—Dr. Cox’s news or the fact that Burke’s warm, soft lips had just brushed against her skin.

      “I’m going to prescribe prenatal vitamins, but that’s no excuse not to eat well. Lots of fruits, vegetables and dairy products, especially milk.” He smiled. “And I realize you do plenty of walking to classes and such, but I’m still going to have the nurse give you a list of exercises you can do at home. Any questions?”

      Shannon thought, but her brain didn’t seem to function. Her mind was still spinning, and her stomach felt queasy—more from nerves, this time, than her newfound pregnancy.

      “I can’t think of anything,” she replied with a shake of her head. She’d checked out several books about pregnancy from the library, which would help, and she could always call Dr. Cox’s office if she needed to know anything before her next visit.

      “What about you, Burke? Any questions?”

      His brain was obviously functioning much better than hers. He responded so quickly he’d obviously been waiting his turn. “When is the baby due?”

      Dr. Cox smiled. “June fifteenth. There’s always a chance the child could come a little early or a little late, but since we know the exact date of conception, the timing should be fairly accurate.”

      “June fifteenth,” Burke repeated in a hushed voice. “Father’s Day.”