Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

But last time Michael came clean, he only mentioned the birth control pills, never breathed a word about the IUD.

"Max?" Ramey called out.

Max snapped back to reality, but his brows were knit with a frosty sternness, a slight tremor in his usually calm voice. "Just take care of it," he said.

Ramey didn't pry any further. Since it was all kicking off next week, he had to hustle to get Brielle to let her guard down.

Max stared at the screen in front of him, feeling nauseated by the avalanche of data. The bigwigs at Dream Tech Designs kept buzzing him, asking when he'd swing by. Back in his Wall Street days, Max had been the hands-on captain of Dream Tech Designs, but since he'd drifted back to Beaconsfield, he'd been running the show remotely, just like he used to with Dorsey International.

Dream Tech Designs had his most trusted execs; he wasn't sweating about any hiccups there. Still, the crew was keen for him to make an appearance.

"Mr. Dorsey, Dorsey International is biting the hand that fed it. No need for soft gloves. Our plan's in motion, by next week at the latest, we'll have clinched the takeover," they said.

This blitz on Dorsey International was a hostile takeover, plain and simple cash warfare. And if there was one thing Max wasn't short on, it was cash.

"Mr. Dorsey, we're really hoping you can make it back soon. Plus, Infinity Brilliance is snooping around us. I've fed them a line, let the Lynch family catch wind that you're the big cheese at Dream Tech Designs."

Infinity Brilliance didn't stir a flicker on Max's stony face, but he glanced upstairs on instinct. People have their selfish streaks. If he heeded his darkest desires, he wouldn't wish for Brielle to reconnect with the Lynch clan.

Brielle's world was barren. The Haywood family never took to her, Spencer didn't treasure her, and Aubree was her sole confidant. Brielle was the most emotionally destitute person he'd ever met, second only to himself.

Having been a part of the Dorsey

family for years, he only had a sliver

of softness for Brodie and Martha. He could give the rest of his tenderness to Brielle, to mend all her past heartaches. But Brielle's soft spots would be divided, shared with Aubree, all the Lynch folks, even the stars at Stellar Stage Entertainment. He'd snag just a modest slice.

It was Max's selfish streak, revealed only after he realized he was smitten with Brielle. His dispassion made him a bystander in the Lynch drama. To him, the Lynch family was just a bunch of strangers.

Maybe the Lynch crew were all top-notch, but what did they matter to him? He only wanted Brielle. His aloofness was cold-hearted. Once the Lynch family caught wind, they'd surely oppose his romance with Briefle. But the last thing he wanted was someone else diluting her attention. He was selfish, and he didn't dare let Brielle catch on to

that.

Max could ditch everything he cared about, Dorsey International, Dream Tech Designs, all of it. He just wanted Brielle. But Brielle couldn't leave it all behind for him. Because she wanted more than just Max. Max never used to care about his rank in someone's heart. But love stirs greed. The moment he started to care, to nitpick, he realized he was just like any other guy.

Glancing at the messages from Dream Tech Designs' execs on his computer screen, he felt nothing. None of the success in the finance world could touch what he felt for Brielle. He replied mechanically and headed upstairs.

Brielle was asleep, a tiny bundle curled up in the blankets, only half her face visible. Max's only wish was to clear any hurdles in Beaconsfield before the next month dawned. He raised his hand, tenderly tracing her features.

He still didn't grasp why, on that

slightly tipsy evening, one look from

her had him whisking her away to his apartment. He was never a man of carnal desires. In the sullied, desire-fueled circles of Wall Street, he'd resisted touching any woman. So why break his resolve the

moment he returned stateside?

No wonder Andrew asked if his feelings for Brielle were genuine. Of course, he was smitten, helplessly so. His affection was so profound it startled even him. But this strange, intense affection made him itch to step out of line.

His fingertips lingered on Brielle's cheek, gently caressing, then settling on her abdomen. In her sleep, Brielle placed a hand over her belly, as if sensing the touch, her brow furrowing with resistance.

Max grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. "I promise you," he whispered, "once you're back in fighting form, we'll get hitched, fully prepped, and then we'll have a healthy baby."