Holiday Baby Scandal. Jules Bennett

an email she’d been waiting on. Her offer had been accepted. Finally. She’d been wanting this news for over a week, and the timing was perfect. One more step closer to her goal of revamping an old, run-down building in Boston’s south side... Ryker’s old neighborhood.

      She’d set these plans in motion before Miami. Over the years, she’d heard Ryker talk about unfortunate kids, never of his own childhood, but she knew his worry stemmed from where he’d come from. So Laney wanted to help. She hated the idea of kids feeling like there was no hope, no one there who really cared about their future.

      Her father had instilled in her that commitment. To help the unfortunate. When he’d taken in Ryker, he’d done so without another thought. If more people reached out like her father had, maybe this world would be a bit brighter.

      She was keeping the project a secret because she wasn’t in it for the praise or the recognition. And she definitely wasn’t out to make the O’Shea name look better in the community, which was what many would think if they knew she was involved.

      Laney starred the email and laid her phone on the desk in her office before taking a seat. It had gotten so dark since she’d finished her run. She longed for summer and sunshine, where she didn’t have to worry about getting back in time before sunset. She also wondered if running alone was the smartest choice. She always had done it by herself to clear her head and think, but now that she was pregnant, she felt more vulnerable.

      From the time she was little, her father had taught her to always be aware of her surroundings. But now she should take a few more precautions. Even though she lived in Boston and the streets were bustling with people, she might want to consider using her treadmill or finding a jogging partner.

      A laugh escaped her as she thought of Ryker. She couldn’t quite imagine the brooding man throwing on a pair of sneakers and running. No, he was more of a boxer type, a guy who lifted heavy weights, or did pull-ups with one arm. He was all strength, all power.

      And the thought of all of that excellent muscle tone had Laney attempting to focus on something else. Anything.

      Christmas shopping. Right. That’s what she’d been planning to do. Why go to the stores and fight all the crazies when she could go braless at home and have everything delivered right to her door...wrapped even.

      Online shopping was glorious.

      She also had a few final touches to put on the O’Shea’s holiday party they were having for the staff at Braden’s house in two weeks. The annual event had grown even more since Mac had opened satellite offices in Miami and Atlanta.

      Still, Laney loved working on the party and Zara was a professional coordinator, so her sister-in-law had done the majority of the work this year. Laney just needed to order the centerpieces she and Zara had agreed on.

      She’d just opened a new browser to search for a dress to wear to the party when her doorbell rang. Glancing quickly at the monitors, she saw Ryker’s hulking frame. He kept his head down, shoulders hunched against the brisk December air. He never came to her house...just like she had never gone to his. He’d followed her home before to make sure she was safe, but he’d never popped in of his own accord.

      Who knew it would take a pregnancy to get him to come for a visit?

      Pushing away from her desk, Laney headed toward the front door. Darkness had set in and snow swirled around, bright flakes catching in the streetlights.

      Laney flicked the lock on her door and opened it, immediately stepping back so Ryker could come in out of the cold.

      Without a word he strode inside. Those heavy black boots were quite the contrast to her bare feet with polished pink toes. And that was barely the beginning of all the ways they differed.

      Laney closed out the cold and set the dead bolt. Crossing her arms over her chest, she faced the man she’d been half in love with since she was a teen.

      “This is a surprise,” she told him. “Did you come to talk or is something wrong?”

      “I need to head out of town.”

      Laney nodded. His rushing out of town was nothing new. He did so many things for the family. The O’Sheas had gone global with their famous auction houses. Ryker sometimes traveled to obtain relics or random pieces for a specific auction. He’d been known to procure heirlooms that had been stolen. Some may look at him as a modern-day Robin Hood since he returned items to their right owner.

      He also was known to go to his home in London for a quick escape, but he was always a text or call away. He put her family first above all else.

      “I’m leaving in the morning, and I’ll be gone a few days.”

      Laney tipped up her head. “You never tell me when you’re going out of town unless you need my computer skills to pull up the blueprint of a building. If that’s what you—”

      “I’m not here for the blueprint.”

      The way those black-as-night eyes held her in place had her shivering. Why did she let him have such power over her? He had more power in one stare than most guys did in a kiss. And she’d dated some great kissers.

      “Then why are you here?” She was proud of her strong tone but worried about what his answer would be.

      “Are you feeling okay?” he asked, his eyes dropping to her stomach, then back up. “I didn’t ask earlier. Or, hell, maybe I did. It’s all still kind of a blur.”

      So he was here about the pregnancy. She should’ve known he wouldn’t stay too far from her. He’d always been protective in that overbearing, bouncer kind of way.

      “If you’re going to hover, don’t waste your time.”

      She didn’t want to sound ungrateful, but she didn’t want a babysitter. She wanted him, damn it. She wanted him to see her as a woman. As the woman he’d let down his guard with several weeks ago.

      Up until then, she’d always thought he saw her as Mac and Braden’s little sister. Someone he helped when necessary, but who was more family than anything.

      “If I want to hover, I damn well will,” he growled. “You’re having my child. You’re part of a very well-known family, and it’s my job to protect you.”

      That was the crux of the entire problem. The slice to her heart shouldn’t surprise her. Did she honestly think that after they’d had sex he’d come around? That when he knew about the baby he’d profess his undying love to her? No, but she’d at least hoped for him to treat her like...hell. Was it too much to ask for him to act like he cared about her as more than his friends’ baby sister?

      “I don’t want to be your job.”

      Laney turned before he could see the hurt on her face. Heading back toward her office, she couldn’t care less if he let himself out or if he followed. Trying to capture Ryker’s attention for so long was exhausting. She sure as hell didn’t want it now due to a job or a baby. She wanted him to look at her for her. Nothing else.

      Apparently that was too much to ask. With his traveling schedule, he probably did hookups and one-night stands. She’d never seen him in any type of a relationship or even heard him mention seeing someone. Laney thought she may take way too much delight in that, but whatever.

      Just as she reached the threshold of her office, a hand clamped around her arm and spun her.

      “Don’t walk away from me.”

      Laney raised her brows. “You’re not in charge of me, no matter what my brothers tell you to do. I can get along just fine without being coddled.”

      “Would you quit acting like you’re so put out? Your brothers care about you and only want you safe.”

      Laney jerked free of his hold but kept her eyes on his. “And what about you, Ryker? Do you care about me?”

      “Of course I do.”

      Laney swallowed. “As