The Billionaire And The Baby
It filled Hannah with pride that Sandhill stood on Carr property, one of the few stations across the country still remaining and still preserved in its original state since the 1860s.
Literally a crude log hut where the riders of old changed horses and bedded down for the night in a bunk, Hannah’s deceased father, a rodeo champion turned postal worker who’d retired early due to a medical disability, had constructed a counter so they could turn the place into a shop as well as a museum.
Outside he’d restored the original makeshift barn. Hannah kept her mare there. Under her supervision parents paid good money to let their children have a ride around the small corral.
Thankful for the customers who flocked to Wyoming, especially during the summer months, Hannah counted on the revenue for her bread and butter. With Elizabeth to feed and clothe, back tuition fees to pay, plus the heavy expense of hiring a private detective to locate her missing sister, Hannah needed every dime she could save.
Two weeks ago she’d opened the museum to coincide with the end of classes at the university, the signal that summer had come to the state.
Now that the hotter weather had finally kicked in, the tourist season had started to pick up and would reach its peak through July and August. Tour bus groups spent the most money, especially the elderly couples.
While the men purchased maps and argued points of history, their wives thronged to the counter to buy Pony Express rider hats and trinkets for their grandchildren.
As soon as Hannah showed them the flyers, most of the women bought one, but so far Elizabeth had been the greatest attraction to date. The minute the women caught sight of the baby, everything stopped while they oohed and ahhed over her. Even the men couldn’t resist patting her on the head. While everyone lingered, the sales continued to mount.
After this long Hannah had thought Elizabeth would have grown used to the attention, but she invariably burst into tears and would cling to Hannah, hiding her head so no one could get a good look at her. In fact she’d been fussy since the last busload pulled away.
The museum was no place for a baby. Mr. Moench, an attorney and old family friend who’d helped find a reputable private investigator to look for her sister had intimated as much, and no one knew it better than Hannah. The heat could be suffocating by the end of the day.
But even if she could have come up with the money for a woman to baby-sit Elizabeth at the claustrophobic apartment in Laramie, Hannah couldn’t bear to be parted from her all day long. Her heart would have ached for the baby if they couldn’t be together. Hannah loved Elizabeth every bit as much as if she’d given birth to her.
The baby was thriving and doing the most amazing things. She was a miracle. Hannah didn’t want to miss a second of her development. Besides, Elizabeth needed her. She depended on her for literally everything…So there was no other choice but to make a difficult situation work, despite the obstacles.
Unfortunately after Hannah’s last trip to the car, the baby seemed worse and refused to be comforted. Hannah had fed her and changed her diaper, but still her tears increased. Maybe she’d caught a cold and her tummy was sick.
“There, sweetheart. Don’t cry,” she crooned to her, reaching out a hand to feel her cheeks and forehead. In this heat Hannah couldn’t tell if the two of them were just hot, or if the baby was running a temperature.
Growing more anxious, Hannah picked her up and started rocking her. When the baby cried harder, there was nothing to do but close the museum an hour early and take her to the nighttime pediatrics clinic in town. No matter how much she needed the money the store generated, Elizabeth’s health came first.
She quickly placed the Closed sign in the window, then emptied the money box in an envelope, which she put in her purse. Grabbing the diaper bag she headed for the door with Elizabeth, only to be bombarded by another group of tourists making their way through the entry.
Hannah couldn’t believe it. In her haste to get back to town, she hadn’t heard another tour bus drive up. The confusion and noise upset the baby even more. She began crying at the top of her lungs.
On the verge of telling everyone they would have to leave because she was taking the baby to the doctor, she heard a deep, rich male voice say, “Allow me.”
The next thing Hannah knew, a pair of bronzed, masculine hands came out of nowhere and plucked Elizabeth from her arms.
Caught off guard, Hannah spun around to find herself looking up at the breathtaking stranger from last night who seemed perfectly recovered after his accident.
He began whispering little French phrases to the baby that made Hannah’s insides quiver for no reason. Slowly he started kissing Elizabeth’s flushed cheeks.
At first the baby fussed, and though Hannah appreciated the stranger’s attempts to help, she was ready to take Elizabeth back when by some miracle she started to quiet down.
Each kiss he bestowed silenced her a little more until a smile quivered on her rosebud mouth and she forgot to cry. Her moist, awestruck green eyes stared at his incredible masculine looks in rapt absorption.
Hannah had to suppress a moan. Even Elizabeth at her tender age had fallen under this man’s powerful charisma and had become mesmerized by him. Within seconds she actually seemed content to be held close against his broad shoulder.
In absolute wonderment Hannah stood there and watched as the baby burrowed her face in his suntanned neck. That telling gesture not only meant Elizabeth felt secure, she craved the attention and comfort this man was willing to give her.
“Your husband certainly has a way with that adorable little girl of yours,” one of the elderly female tourists said loud enough for everyone around to hear. But Hannah was so stunned by what she was seeing, she couldn’t find the words to correct the woman’s erroneous assumption.
The stranger’s gaze found Hannah’s once more. His intelligent dark brown eyes, fringed by even darker lashes, slowly traveled over her upturned features, reducing her limbs to water.
In a quiet aside he said, “This is the least I can do after your heroic gesture for me last night. Go ahead and finish waiting on your customers while this golden cherub and I get better acquainted. What do I call her?”
“E—” Hannah had to clear her throat. “Her name is Elizabeth.”
CHAPTER TWO
“ELIZABETH.” She heard him repeat the name in the French way before he kissed her tiny nose and cheeks once more.
The baby’s mouth kept breaking into a smile. She was loving this! If she had a tummy ache, it didn’t seem to be bothering her right now.
Hannah couldn’t believe Elizabeth’s reaction to the stranger. The baby had never let anyone else get this close to her except Hannah. For one ridiculous moment Hannah actually found herself envious of the infant who appeared to have captivated the man’s attention so thoroughly.
He was so natural with her, Hannah imagined he must be a father several times over to know how to stop those tears. Of course a man like him would have a wife and family of his own, ring or no ring! It was ludicrous to believe anything else, let alone fantasize about him.
She quickly looked away and began waiting on the tourists lined up in front of the counter. For the next twenty minutes there was a steady stream of customers.
Every so often she stole a glance at the arresting stranger who moved back and forth with a slight limp while he rocked Elizabeth in his hard-muscled arms. Obviously content, the baby’s eyelids had lowered to half-mast. So far not one peep had come out of her.
Judging by his demeanor, you would never have guessed he’d been semiconscious from a car accident last night.
Eventually the museum emptied. His gaze captured hers. “Are you going back to Laramie tonight?” There was a hint of compassion in his deep voice and eyes as he scrutinized Hannah’s hot face.
She felt at such a disadvantage. Not since noon had she touched a brush to her curls or freshened her lipstick. With such intense heat she needed a shower and a change of clothes.
At one point Elizabeth had spit up. Part of it had come off on her blouse instead of the diaper she’d placed on her shoulder. Though she’d rinsed the material with some bottled water, she couldn’t wait to get back to the apartment to start a wash.
“Yes.”
“I am, too. When you’re ready to close, why don’t you let me help by taking the baby out to your car while you lock up. Then I’ll follow you into town. Perhaps after you’ve put her down for the night, we can talk.”
Her heart started to trip over itself. “Talk?”
“Yes. Yesterday I came out here for that very purpose, but you were busy. So I decided to ride around while I waited for that tour bus to leave. I’m afraid my concentration wasn’t what it should be, and you know what happened.”
Hannah was very much afraid that she did. The incident had started up a curious ache that wasn’t about to go away.
“But I’m not complaining,” he murmured in a husky voice. “Last night I found out for myself there really are golden-haired angels.” His intent gaze traveled down the length of her curvaceous body, filling her with a different kind of heat. “I just didn’t know they came to earth wearing cowboy boots.”
Hannah swallowed hard at that sensual perusal. “Perhaps it would be better if you stated your business now, Mr. Giraud.”
“The name is Dominic. And yours?” he inquired mildly.
“I—it’s Hannah,” she stammered. “Hannah Carr.”
She hadn’t meant to sound so defensive just now, but it was the only way she knew how to deal with her chaotic emotions. While he stood this close to her, she was too confused to think straight.
Hannah couldn’t take much more of this or she would lose any objectivity she had left. “If you don’t mind my asking, why did you bother driving all the way out here again?”
“To thank you properly for saving my life.” He reached in his back pocket. The next thing she knew he’d placed a five-hundred-dollar bill on the counter next to the infant seat.
She didn’t make a move to pick it up. “I didn’t save your life, Mr. Giraud, and I would never take your money.”
“Please allow me to repay you in some small way. Spend it on this precious baby if you won’t use it for yourself. You played the good Samaritan, and I’m very grateful.”
Hannah shook her head. “Are you aware I might have done real damage by removing you from the accident site without knowing if you had a broken neck or spine or some such thing?”
His penetrating eyes narrowed on her classic features. ‘The memories are somewhat vague, but I do recall insisting on getting to my feet. You couldn’t stop me. Which means I didn’t leave you with any other choice than to assist me. Let’s be clear about that, shall we?”
His voice had taken on an edge that held more than a trace of steel. For a brief moment she had the strongest suspicion he was an intimidating, powerful force among his peers.
Some men were natural-born leaders who lit their own fires. He was that kind of man, and all the more intriguing because of his unfeigned display of loving tenderness with the baby.
Some of Hannah’s male neighbors and friends had been around Elizabeth enough times for her to recognize them and respond. But she always shied away from any attention they tried to give her.
“If you’re still insistent about not taking my money, will you at least allow me to buy you dinner tomorrow night to show my gratitude? That invitation includes your husband and Elizabeth, of course.”
She sucked in her breath. “There’s no husband. It’s just the baby and me.” Until Lisa comes back on her own, or is found. Please, God, let her be safe. Let her return home soon.
Upon that admission, his dark gaze collided with hers. “I’m staying at the Executive Inn in Laramie. If you’ll tell me where you live,” he said in a silken voice, “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“It really isn’t necessary, Mr. Giraud.”
“The name is Dominic,” he affirmed forcefully, “and I beg to differ with you. Without your help the other night, I might have stumbled into the river and lost consciousness.”
As she shuddered at the very idea of such a ghastly scenario, she felt him watching her.
“Do we have a date?” he prodded. Hannah had the impression this man wouldn’t give up until she’d accepted his invitation. “I’ll let you decide where we eat. Over our meal I’ll tell you the reason why I was driving behind the museum in the first place.”
Her pulse raced.
The idea of going anywhere with him, let alone to dinner, filled her with too much excitement. She had to remember that he could be a married man, and that he wasn’t asking her out for romantic reasons.
Because she wouldn’t take his money, this was the only other way he could think of to pay her back for getting him to a hospital. To read anything else into his invitation was ridiculous, especially when he’d suggested that her husband join them.
What she needed to do was treat this like she would any business dinner. Moistening her lips nervously she said, “The Executive Inn has a good restaurant. Why don’t I meet you there at seven-thirty? If Elizabeth cooperates, we should be on time.”
His veiled eyes played over her face. “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
For no good reason her heart took up its crazy pounding again.
“I believe you’ve got customers.”
Hannah jerked her head toward the door, hoping to hide the blush that started at her toes and quickly enveloped her entire body, including her face. She should have been the one to notice what was going on at her own establishment!
“Before I leave, why don’t I put Elizabeth in her playpen and make certain she stays asleep before I go. How does that sound?”
It sounded heavenly, too heavenly.
She darted him a quick glance once more. “Much as I appreciate your offer, surely you have other pressing business.”
One dark brow dipped ominously as a string of tourists filed into the museum. “I thought by now you understood that you’re my pressing business,” he muttered, staring hard at her before he moved behind the counter with the baby.
While Hannah waited on customers, she glanced repeatedly in his direction, unable to resist watching the gentle way he treated Elizabeth. Something told Hannah that if she wasn’t careful, Dominic Giraud had the power to infiltrate her mind and heart until she didn’t know herself anymore.
Long after he’d left the museum, she was still haunted by the private message his eyes had conveyed before he’d walked out the door.
Maybe it was a trick of light in the museum, but for a brief moment his regard had seemed intimate. She gasped softly just remembering it, then regretted her foolish behavior when the customer she was waiting on asked her if she was all right.
Embarrassed, Hannah assured the woman she was fine. But of course she wasn’t fine at all. She was a jumbled mass of nerves and anticipation all rolled together. There’d be no sleep for her tonight!
In a testy mood, which was rare for him, Dominic limped out to his rental car and headed for town, missing his Jeep that was still being repaired and wouldn’t be ready for pick up until tomorrow.
To his recollection no female of his acquaintance had ever refused a gift from him before, monetary or otherwise. If he were really being honest with himself, no woman had ever been as resistant to his attention.
On the contrary, of the limited number of relationships he’d had since his twenties, he’d always been the one to walk away first, unable to commit.
What surprised him was how much it rankled to have to talk Ms. Carr into joining him for dinner. He wondered if she was still emotionally involved with the baby’s father. The possibility that she might have a new lover and intended to spend the night in his bed sounded equally distasteful to Dominic.
However, a lover he could deal with. A husband was something else. He gritted his teeth, unconsciously gunning the accelerator at the same time as he drove away.
Though his father held to no such code of ethics, married women had always been off limits to Dominic. Furthermore, unlike his womanizing parent whose infidelity had caused incalculable grief to Dominic’s mother, marriage had never figured in Dominic’s plans.
Just remembering the past caused a blackness to envelop him. Not wanting to go down that treacherous path tonight, he reached for his cell phone to call Zane.
“Salut—” he said as soon as his friend answered.
“Dom! How are things progressing?”
“I’m not sure,” he muttered before he realized how revealing the comment sounded.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’ve run into snags before, but they’ve never bothered you.”
Dominic rubbed the side of his jaw absently. He wouldn’t exactly describe Hannah Carr as a snag.
After a pause, “What’s going on?”
He sucked in his breath. “I wish I knew.”
“You’re being cryptic, buddy, and that’s making me edgy.”
“You’ve hit on the right word.”
“So, how long are you going to keep me in the dark?”
“I’m pulling into my hotel now. Give me a minute to get up to my room and then I’ll call you back and tell you about my accident.”
Another silence. “Were you hurt?”
He shut off the motor. “It could have been worse if this angel hadn’t saved me.”
“Angel? What on earth are you talking about? Dom?”
Elizabeth woke up hungry from her afternoon nap. Since there was a lull between customers, Hannah decided to call it a day and close up shop early. She could no longer function with any coherence.
After putting Cinnamon in the barn, and making sure the mare had enough water along with her oats, they headed for home. There were a dozen things to be done and little time to accomplish everything before they left for the hotel.
Once inside the apartment, she fed the baby, gave her a bath, then put her in a playpen in the bedroom. That freed up Hannah’s time so she could shower and wash her own hair.
It felt good to get clean and put on fresh underwear. The problem was finding something suitable to wear. She had no intention of dressing up for Mr. Giraud, but naturally she wouldn’t wear trousers.
Hannah possessed several nice winter outfits to wear at university functions. What she needed was a new summer wardrobe, but she couldn’t afford one.
That meant she would have to settle for her sundress. It was a sleeveless pale yellow cotton with a modest neckline, always in style. She could wear her white sandals and a single strand of pearls.
After she’d dressed and fixed herself a lemonade, she phoned Bob Arnold, the P.I. working on Lisa’s case. To her chagrin he told her the same thing he’d been telling her for months.
He still hadn’t found Lisa, but Hannah wasn’t to give up. Often these situations took a long time.
Hannah told him she understood, but it was hard to wait. Every day Lisa was gone put more emotional distance between mother and daughter. As for the financial side of it, Hannah’s money was running out, but she kept that news to herself. It was vital that Lisa be found no matter how much it cost!
With a mixture of aching sadness and anxiety over her sister, Hannah checked herself in the mirror one more time. The worry, combined with several sleeplessness nights had put hollows beneath her eyes. They looked more like smudges.
If she wore thick makeup, she could probably cover them up, but Hannah had never put anything on her skin except lotion.
After their mother had died giving birth to Lisa, their father turned into a very strict parent. As both girls matured, he forbade them to use anything artificial.
“You have been given golden hair, green eyes and a peaches-and-cream complexion like your mother’s. You need no other embellishment, so let that be the end of it.”
Probably because Hannah had been the elder sister by eight years, she’d obeyed him without question. Lisa, on the other hand, fought his unyielding authority every step of the way. Their fights had always upset Hannah.
She would slip out the back door and ride her horse until she was sure their latest quarrel was over. Then she would go back to the house where inevitably she would find her sister in the bedroom crying.
The pattern continued until their father died. At that point Hannah tried to keep their little household going and oversee their meager finances, but Lisa loved the freedom and became more defiant than ever.
Now she was gone, and Hannah began to wonder if she would ever come home. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she dashed to the closet for the baby stroller. After she put it in the car, she hurried back inside the apartment for Elizabeth.
Unable to resist, she leaned down to kiss her pink cheeks. “Right now it’s just the two of us. Thank heaven for you,” she whispered emotionally, then straightened.
“Now, are you ready to have dinner with Mr. Giraud? We really shouldn’t, you know. He’s an experienced man of the world. Far too sophisticated and fascinating for us to handle, so don’t get too attached to him, sweetheart. After tonight we may never see him again.”
It was good advice.
Too bad Hannah’s heart hadn’t heeded the warning when she’d first seen him lying in the grass.
Just the anticipation of being with him again made her breathing shallow. To her alarm, by the time they reached the hotel parking lot, her cheeks were flushed even though she’d been running the air conditioner at full strength.
“Oh!” she cried when her door was opened for her and she saw him standing there in a pearl-gray summer suit and white shirt. He’d been waiting for them.
His appeal overwhelmed her.
“Good evening, Hannah. You’re right on time.” Their eyes met before hers looked away in confusion, but she could feel his frank leisurely appraisal. It missed nothing.
She felt his hand on her bare upper arm assisting her out of the car. His touch sent a river of warmth through her body.
“I’ll get Elizabeth.”
Before she could gather her wits, he’d relinquished his hold of her to open the back door and lift the baby from the car seat.
“Hmm, mignonne. You smell as sweet as you look,” he murmured into her neck, then kissed her on her cheeks and chin. Elizabeth laughed out loud.
Hannah could see her advice had been wasted on the baby. They were both in deep water as far as this man was concerned.
Thinking of his immaculate suit, Hannah lifted a clean cloth to Dominic’s shoulder in case the baby spit up. She had to rise on tiptoe and it brought her head close to his. Inadvertently her fingers grazed his strong jawline,
“Here, you better have this, Mr. Giraud,” she said nervously.
This time his eyes, dark and unexpectedly fierce, trapped hers. “Why do you find it so impossible to call me Dominic?”
Shaken by his intensity, she backed away from him with a jerky movement. “Probably because I was raised to be formal around people just passing through.”
His brows knit together in a frown. “I’m afraid I did a lot more than simply pass through. I trespassed on your property, forcing you to leave Elizabeth alone to rescue me from a precarious situation. You had no idea who or what you’d find when you got out there.
“The Jeep could have exploded into flames, but that didn’t deter you. Most people wouldn’t have known how to handle the situation, let alone been ingenious enough to put me on a horse and get me to safety. You held me so I wouldn’t fall,” he added in husky tone. “That night we became more than strangers, Hannah.”
There was a trace of accent when he said her name. She loved the way it sounded on his lips.
Breaking free of his piercing glance, Hannah went to get the stroller.
“From the way Elizabeth is behaving, it appears she agrees with you,” she observed in a wry tone to cover her chaotic emotions.