The Billionaire and the Single Mom

ll into the rhythm of her work. The kids, after the novelty wore off, began to miss their frien

with a knot of anxiety in her stomach, ca

ne. I need space. I will let you

m me, Elara! I'll have the police on you!" Then, feigned concern: "Darling, please, whatever you're going thr

t proud of herself for not cru

dd hours. Sometimes he'd be there for a day, sometimes just for a few hours. El

n counter: "The temperature for the wine cellar is off by point-two degrees.

began to appear i

st glass windows that looked out over the valley. The view was b

the world from anoth

feet away, watching the rain streak down the glass. He wasn't wearing a s

id cautiously. "But it c

he concept of loneliness had never occurred to him. "Loneliness is

ed by the unusual mood. "Or is it sometime

rning to the storm. "You speak from experience

all?" sh

gure in his magnificent, empty house. After a few mi

he cottage's smoke alarm. Panicked, she raced through the house to find the kitchen filled

and I wanted to make hot chocola

ad melted and smoldered, creating the smoke. The fire was out, but the alar

mmering, opened it to find Julian Blackwood, dressed in a robe over pajama bottom

demanded, his voice cu

kitchen accident!" Elara yelled over the

nd disarmed the screeching smoke alarm with a firm twist. Bless

the guilty-looking Liam, the smoky kitchen, the

the extinguis

, too scare

rt, sharp gesture. "Corre

e, had a profound effect. Liam's shoulders straightened.

children. "The threat is neutralized. Th

hildren, but the sheer authority in his voice had a calming e

. "Do you require

k you, Mr.

d and left, closing the

e-to-use hot chocolate maker was delivered to the cottage, al

blems and implemented solutions. A frightened child was a problem; praise for correct act

starting to see glimpses of a different man beneath the billionaire exterior.

he twins to bed. They were ask

he Stern!" Ol

says 'Correct procedure!'" Noah chim

kids had nicknamed him. They weren't sca

stinct that told her to keep her distance, she found h