One Night Stand With My Ex's Billionaire Enemy-Chapter 374 Playmates

Ashton stood there, watching me with that same familiar gaze that felt almost achingly nostalgic.

My heart gave a small, helpless tremor.

When I finally found my voice, it came out tight, nervous without my realising. ‘You... what are you doing here?’

‘I came to see... the babies,’ Ashton said.

‘Oh.’

So that was all he’d come for.

‘How have you been these past few days?’

I thought he was still asking about the babies.

‘Good,’ I said casually. ‘I’ve been eating and sleeping well. The babies are fine too.’

‘That’s good.’

‘Mm.’

We stood there facing each other, both at a loss for words.

After a while, when the silence began to stretch too long, I looked up at him. ‘Would you come for a walk with me? I go out every morning for a bit.’

He nodded. ‘Take a jacket. It’s cold outside.’

I turned and went back inside, picked up some clothes and slipped into the bathroom to change.

The morning air at The Copper Spur Ranch was wonderfully fresh. The path outside the ranch was lined with greenery, and every so often someone jogged past.

We walked slowly along the road, holding hands.

I felt myself relax a little. I liked this feeling.

After a while, though, the quiet began to feel a touch too stiff, so I decided to break it. ‘This place is lovely. Than—’

The word caught halfway in my throat as I suddenly remembered Ashton didn’t like me saying thank you to him. I swallowed the rest of it and gave him a smile instead.

His eyes flicked briefly over my face, and the corner of his mouth curved slightly.

Ashton spent the day with me. We did nothing productive, just took walks and had lunch and idled around in the activities room, until a call from his assistant finally dragged him back to work.

Yvaine teased me about it, and this time, I didn’t deny it. I liked that Ashton came. I liked that he missed me enough to drive forty minutes out to the ranch and throw away a whole weekday just to be with me.

‘What about me?’ Yvaine said. ‘I ditched work too.’

I laughed. ‘You ditched work because you can’t stand clocking in and out, not because of me.’

‘You ungrateful little thing.’ She shot me a mock glare, then looked down at my belly with a sudden softness. Her whole face changed as she bent closer and gently stroked it. ‘Babies, remember this voice. I’m your godmother, so you two be good, all right? Don’t kick your poor mum at night.’

Her expression was tender, full of affection. She really did like children.

I touched my stomach and joked, ‘If you love babies that much, why don’t you have one yourself? Then ours can be playmates.’

Her smile froze for a moment, and whatever thought crossed her mind, she waved it away quickly. ‘I’ll think about it in a few years. To have a baby, I’d need to find its father first.’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After dinner, I went for my usual evening walk. When the sun dipped below the hills, I went back to my room, took a shower, and settled into bed.

I didn’t know what time it was when I suddenly felt someone beside me. My eyes flew open in shock, and I sat bolt upright, heart pounding. A man was sitting by the bed.

I switched on the lamp, then pressed a hand to my chest. ‘You scared the life out of me.’

‘Good. Your reflexes are sharp,’ Ashton said, looking quite pleased with himself as he lifted the covers and lay down.

He’d changed into a black silk pyjama set. The collar was loose, and a small patch of skin showed through, catching the warm lamplight in a way that made it almost indecently alluring.

My gaze drifted before I could stop it, landing right where I shouldn’t be looking. I swallowed.

He was definitely doing it on purpose.

Even his posture seemed deliberate, like he was showing off.

I wasn’t going to fall for it that easily.

After a moment of silent self-discipline, I forced myself to look away and muttered, ‘Sharp reflexes, my arse. You just nearly scared me to death.’

Pregnancy made me sleepier than usual. I was already yawning, ready to lie back down.

But before I could, an arm came over, turning me effortlessly until I was lying against his chest.

And somehow, my hand ended up resting on that bare bit of skin.

Under my palm was solid muscle, warm and smooth. I caressed it before I could stop myself.

‘Don’t move,’ Ashton said suddenly. His hand came down over mine. His tone was serious.

‘What?’ I looked up, and met his burning gaze.

The air between us shifted. It felt dangerous somehow.

My breath caught. Surely he wasn’t about to—

‘Don’t you dare,’ I said quickly. ‘I’m pregnant.’