Baby for the Greek Billionaire. Susan Meier

rack and poured himself two fingers of whiskey.

      There was only one way to find out.

      * * *

      Saturday afternoon, after the baby had awakened from his nap, Darius and Whitney set him on the nursery floor. Strong, happy Gino crawled to a stray block that had missed being put into the toy box.

      “Did you see that? He crawled!”

      Whitney laughed. “You need a video camera.”

      Darius pulled his cell phone out of his jeans pocket. “Until I get one, this will do.”

      He aimed the camera at the little boy who slapped the block on the floor by the toy box. Whitney slipped behind him, lifted the toy-box lid and began tossing other soft plastic toys to Gino, who giggled with delight. Darius moved his cell phone to her.

      She held up her hand. “Don’t!”

      “Why not? You look great.”

      “Yeah, but I don’t want to be in your pictures.”

      “Why not?”

      “Because we’re … we’re …” She wanted to say they were only co-guardians. She wasn’t family and didn’t really have to be a part of his life. But that was wrong. They were working together for Gino. Both were committed to raising him right and well. Like it or not, they were connected. Maybe for the rest of their lives.

      She threw her hands up in defeat. “Whatever. Get me in the video if you want.”

      He laughed. “Such enthusiasm, right, Gino?” He said, catching the baby’s attention. Gino patted his thighs and spouted a bit of gibberish.

      “Wish we could get him to crawl again.”

      Whitney stooped beside the toy box and tossed a colorful ball a few feet away from the baby. “Hey, Gino. See the ball?”

      He slapped his chubby hands on his thighs.

      Whitney tossed another toy over by the ball.

      Gino screeched.

      This time she tossed a little stuffed frog she knew was one of Gino’s favorites. Finally, he rolled to his knees and crawled after it.

      Darius’s face blossomed into a broad smile. “Got it.”

      She lifted herself from the floor. “You need a real video camera. Come on. We’ll take Gino to your office, get on the Internet and have one delivered.”

      Darius scooped Gino from the floor. “Sounds good to me.”

      They trooped to the second-floor office Darius used. Whitney was not surprised to see he had a second swing set up beside his office chair. When Gino wasn’t napping, Darius usually kept his baby brother with him.

      He slid the baby into the swing and turned the knob at the top that not only set the swing in motion but also activated the music box. Then he dropped to the chair behind the desk, hit a few buttons on his keyboard and brought his monitor to life.

      At first they went on a generic search that led them to the websites of a few well-known brand names of cameras.

      When bending down to view the screen became awkward, Whitney leaned her hip on the arm of Darius’s chair, half sitting so she could see better. After reviewing the websites for the brands with five-star recommendations, Darius ordered the camera he wanted and clicked off the website.

      “We should have it tomorrow.”

      He looked up at her and she suddenly realized how close they were. At first she was surprised their attraction hadn’t sprung up. Then she realized something amazing. She was sitting so close their arms had brushed yet she hadn’t panicked. Hadn’t noticed, really. She was blessedly comfortable with him. Relaxed. Content. Almost … happy.

      No. She was happy. She liked him. And not just as a friend or co-guardian. She liked him.

      She bounced from the arm of his chair. “Okay. Now that that’s settled,” she said, trying not to sound confused or angry or even weepy and scared. Liking him, seriously liking him, meant taking steps, doing things.

      Kissing for real.

      Getting to know each other.

      Making love.

      The thought caused her heart to stop. She could see them making love. And why not? They were attracted and they were already getting to know each other. They’d flirted. They worked together. Hell, they’d already kissed.

      How had they gotten beyond her barriers?

      It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t couldn’t get involved with another man again, especially not someone to whom she was committed because of a baby.