New Arrivals: His Inherited Family: Billionaire Baby Dilemma / His Ring, Her Baby / Cowgirl Makes Three

She stuck her nose in the air. “They were well done, that’s all.”

He couldn’t help but grin.

And she socked him in the arm. “Fine. I’ll come to your stupid ball.”

He chuckled. “Aren’t you just the little charm school graduate?”

She stared to walk away. “I’m doing the dishes now.”

He gathered up a load and followed her. “I’ll do the dishes for you.”

She called back over her shoulder, “Do you even know how? “

He did. Sort of. It had been a while. Probably quite a few years, now that he thought about it. “You go sit down,” he told her.

She looked tired. And he’d been reminded of how tough the last few months must have been for her. He didn’t exactly feel guilty about her troubles, but he was willing to do the dishes for her.

To his surprise, she was finished fighting. She plopped herself down on the couch, pulled a pattered blanket over her bare legs and let him tackle the cleanup himself.

By the time he was finished, she’d fallen asleep right there on the worn striped sofa. It was nearly ten o’clock, and it was a long drive back for the three of them. They needed to get going.

He whispered her name, but she didn’t stir.

He reached out to shake her, but he didn’t have the heart.

Instead, he bundled her up with the blanket and carried her into her bedroom. Her feet were bare, and he caught himself gazing at her legs, the curve of her hip and her rounded breasts beneath the white tank top before he could bring himself to pull the quilt over her.

He could have easily left her there and headed home. He was certain she’d bring Amelia back to his place in the morning. But as he headed back down the hall, he found a small guest room, with a hard narrow bed, a white painted dresser and the ugliest gauzy curtains he’d ever seen. The blankets were scratchy, and the sheets were worn, but for some reason he couldn’t think of anywhere else he wanted to be.

Five

Devin woke up in her own bed, disoriented because the sun was so high in the sky. Her first panicked thought was that something was wrong with Amelia.

But when she rushed to the baby’s room and found the crib empty, she feared that Lucas might have taken her. Then she quickly discounted that idea, shaking her head to clear it of sleep. The man couldn’t manage a multi-million dollar corporation if he was running for the border with a kidnapped baby.

Confused, and forcing herself to take a few breaths and stay calm, she headed for the living room.

It was empty.

But through the glass doors, down on the beach, she spotted Lucas, Lexi and Amelia. The two adults were perched on a log, while Amelia was digging her way through a pile of sand with a bright red shovel and bucket.

Lucas had stayed the night. And he’d let her sleep in.

For some reason, that knowledge nearly brought her to tears. It was silly. Everyone had some good qualities, and Lucas was no different. They drank wine last night. He probably didn’t want to drive home. He’d obviously slept here and woken up with Amelia, keeping her quiet so that Devin could sleep in for the first time in three months.

She sniffed and swiped a frustrated hand under her eye.

Good grief. It wasn’t as if the man had cured cancer.

She stumbled to the kitchen, found herself a mug and filled it with coffee, adding a heaping spoon of sugar. She was pretty sure Lexi must have brewed the coffee. Last night, Lucas had barely been able to figure out dish soap and hot water.

She pulled a light sweater over the T-shirt and shorts that she’d slept in and headed across the deck and down the long wooden staircase to the strip of lawn that ended at the sandy beach. Once there, she made her way toward Lexi and Lucas.

Amelia was the first to spot her, grinning and launching into a speedy crawl toward her. Lexi and Lucas both turned. They smiled in greeting, looking decidedly relaxed. Devin assumed Lexi’s gratitude for the catamaran incident had tempered her opinion of Lucas.

“Good sleep?” asked Lexi with a grin.

“What time is it?” Devin hadn’t thought to check. She knew she felt more rested than she had in months.

“Eleven,” said Lucas.

“Seriously?”

He nodded.

“You got up with Amelia?” It was a little disconcerting that Devin hadn’t heard them.

“Yes, I did.” He yawned. “About 4:00 a.m. Then she slept on my chest for a while, but I didn’t get much more sleep.”

Devin could barely believe it. “Did you change her diaper?”

“There were instructions on the package.” “He got it on backward,” Lexi elaborated. Devin came down on her knees beside them in the sand. “And you fed her? “

Lucas rolled his eyes. “Quit sounding so amazed.” “It is amazing.”

Amelia smacked her sandy hands against Devin’s bare thighs.

“I gave her some juice and some Cheerios, and then Lexi came by.”

“I really appreciate you letting me sleep in.” Including both Lucas and Lexi in the thank-you, Devin held her coffee mug over to the side and out of harm’s way. “I feel pretty great.”

“Lexi’s agreed to babysit for us,” said Lucas.

“I hear you two are going on a date,” said Lexi.

“It’s not a date,” Devin quickly corrected. Had she really agreed to go to the dance with him tomorrow night? What had she been thinking? “Lucas is trying to co-opt me with, I don’t know, fine food and a waltz around the dance floor, so that I won’t support Steve.”

Lucas turned to Lexi. “See what I mean?”

Lexi nodded her understanding.

“What?” Devin glanced back and forth between the two.

“He thinks you’re suspicious,” said Lexi.

“Of course I’m suspicious,” Devin retorted. “So are you. And we’re justified in our suspicions.” She looked back and forth again. “What exactly did I miss here?”

Lucas stood up from his perch on the log, brushing the sand from the back of the borrowed sweatpants. “I’ve got a meeting,” he told them. “And I think I’d better get home and change first.” His glance went to Devin. “See you there later?”

“Sure,” she answered. She should thank him again for letting her sleep. But for some reason she hesitated to show him too much gratitude. She didn’t want him to think she liked him. She didn’t. Well, she kind of did this morning. But it wasn’t anything permanent.

Everything suddenly seemed confusing.

He bent over and gave Amelia a little rub on the head, then gave them all a careless wave as he started back across the beach to the lawn and the staircase.

“Tell me everything,” breathed Lexi.

“There’s nothing to tell,” Devin responded, moving to the spot on the log that Lucas had vacated. She’d have to clean up and get back to the Demarcos soon, but she had a few more minutes to enjoy the tranquility of her own home. “I had a great sleep.”

“Alone?”

Devin twisted her head to stare at Lexi. “Of course I was alone. What did he tell you? “

“Nothing.” Lexi shook her head. “But I couldn’t exactly ask him, could I?”

“Is that why you were being nice to him?”

Lexi had had a pretty remarkable change in attitude over a boat rescue.

“He’s not as bad as I expected,” said Lexi.

Devin understood what her friend meant. There was something disarmingly charming about Lucas. Then again, that’s exactly what Monica had thought about Konrad—that he was misunderstood, nicer than people realized, not quite the cold, hard-ass the media made him out to be. It was a dangerous road to go down.

“He’s trying to take Amelia away from me,” Devin reminded Lexi.

“Challenge him to a diapering contest in the courtroom. You’ll win.”

“This isn’t a joke.”

Lexi sobered and gazed out across the sparkling water. “I know. It’s heart-wrenching. I find myself wishing he was more of a jerk, then I could hate him.”

“You don’t have to hate him.” Devin gazed out across the water herself. A few powerboats streamed along in front of the far shore, white wakes streaking out behind them. Now that the sun was warm, most of the beaches were coming alive with residents. “I just have to beat him.”

Lexi covered her hand. “You will.”

“I’m not so sure.”

Silently, they stared at the lake.

“So,” said Lexi, “what’s up with the dancing?”

“I can’t remember how it started.” Devin sat up straighter on the log. “But I mentioned how long it had been since I’d had a date.”

“And he stepped up to the plate?”

“He’s up to something.” Devin knew she should be annoyed by the way he’d managed to manipulate her into doing something she just knew she would regret. But she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of a fancy party. “It’ll be nice to dress up again,” she admitted. “And I made him promise not to kiss me.” “Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“You said that out loud?”

Devin gave a decisive nod. She didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding. The very last thing she needed was another go-round in Lucas’s arms. She banished the unwanted image and tamped down her wayward hormonal reaction. It would be a catastrophic mistake to kiss Lucas.

Okay, so technically, she was in Lucas’s arms again. But they were dancing, and it was all very proper. There was a good nine inches of space between them. Lucas’s dance frame was appropriate, and his lead was smooth and confident. He was also devastatingly handsome in his tux. No surprise there.

The ballroom at the Saturna Club was opulent and spacious. It had thirty-foot ceilings, with a marble pillar perimeter around the rectangular dance floor. The chandeliers were lavish, the flowers fresh, and dinner had featured fresh Pacific salmon and white chocolate mousse served with an impressive flare by what must have been a hundred efficient, tuxedoed waiters.

One long side of the ballroom opened to a concrete patio that overlooked Puget Sound. The crisp ocean breeze wafted in. Cruise ships, freighters and smaller boats passed by, while the lights of Bainbridge Island twinkled off in the distance.

After months of drool and diapers, Devin felt like a fairy princess. She’d even splurged on a new dress—though she’d never admit to Lucas that she’d gone shopping. It was strapless, copper satin, with a fitted top that shimmered against her skin, and a full skirt that rustled at her knees. She’d worn the rhinestone sandals and borrowed a silver link necklace and matching earrings from Lexi. The earrings dangled from her lobes, gently brushing against her neck as she danced.

It was fun to feel pretty.

“The nanny interviews start at ten in the morning,” Lucas reminded her as they moved into a turn.

Devin frowned up at him. “You’re ruining the mood.” “There’s a mood?”

“Of course there’s a mood. We have music, fine food, champagne—”

“And beautiful women.” His eyes lit up with a appreciative smile that bordered on mischief.

“Handsome men,” she returned, refusing to react.

“Thank you.”

“Plural,” she corrected. “I was talking in general.” “Well, I wasn’t.”

Her steps faltered. This wasn’t where she’d wanted the conversation to go.

“You look very beautiful, Devin.”

Though she knew she should, she couldn’t bring herself to look away from him, and it was a struggle to maintain her equilibrium. He was being polite, nothing more. It was appropriate to compliment a woman while escorting her for the evening. He didn’t mean she was beautiful in, say, comparison to the supermodels and trophy wives in ten-thousand-dollar dresses who were swirling around the room.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I believe the words you’re looking for are thank you.”

Her throat was dry, but she swallowed to clear it. “Thank you.”

He smiled and straightened. “That wasn’t fair,” she admonished. Amusement still lurked in his eyes. “Not fair?” This time, she was the one who leaned in. “You promised.”

“Not to compliment you?”

“Not to…” She struggled for the right words. “This isn’t supposed to be a date.”

“You didn’t want to talk about nannies,” he responded with a shrug, like there were only two topics in the world.

“Fine. Let’s talk about nannies.”

“And spoil the mood?”

“Please. Go ahead and spoil the mood.” She didn’t care that she sounded petulant.

The danger in pretending she was a princess was that it made Lucas the prince. And it was all too easy to let the fantasy meander into perilous territory.

They’d arrived at the party tonight in a limo. Later, they’d go home to his castle. And if she wasn’t careful, she’d start thinking about a kiss good-night.

“The interviews begin at ten,” he said.

She shook off her wayward thoughts. “Not with the prison matrons.”

“I gave the agency both your specifications and mine. They’re sending people who are available immediately.”

She supposed she’d have to be content with that.

They danced a few more steps, swaying under shimmering lights.

“Did you have a nanny?” she found herself asking.

“Yes, I did,” he told her. “Several of them.”

“And did you like them?”

“Sometimes.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I was little boy. Nannies don’t like little boys to climb trees, throw rocks, jump bicycles and climb on the garage roof.”

Devin couldn’t help but smile at the images. “I take it you did all those things anyway?”

“Those and more. And so did Konrad. Looking back, I’m thinking that might be why we went through so many nannies.” The small orchestra switched to a slower song, and Lucas settled her a bit closer. “What about you?”

Devin shook her head. “No nanny for the Hartleys.”

“What were you like as a kid?”

“I don’t know. Normal, I guess.”

“Did you grow up at Lake Westmire?”

“Same house I live in now. With my mom and Monica. We swam, built sand castles, baked cookies, designed elaborate dollhouses all over the yard.”

Devin had moved away from Lake Westmire to attend college. She came back five years ago when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. But tonight wasn’t the time to think about that.

Instead, she fixed her memories on their teenage years. Monica had been a year younger, and the neighborhood had been full of kids around their ages.

“When we were teenagers,” she continued, remembering, “Monica and I sat with our friends around weekend bonfires down at the park by Sunny Bay.”

“And kissed the boys?” Lucas asked in a teasing tone.

“Tommy McGuire,” Devin admitted. “Ninth grade. It was a dare, and he cut my nose with his glasses.”

Lucas laughed at that.

“I bet your first kiss wasn’t perfect, either,” she retorted. “You be the judge. I have videotape.” “Are you kidding me? “

“Steve secretly took it. He threatened to show my mother, until I beat the crap out of him and took the camera away.” “You beat up Steve?”

“He was a Peeping Tom. I’m surprised he didn’t grow up to be a member of the paparazzi.” “He was a kid.” “He hasn’t changed.”

“Is this another of your warnings about the evil Steve?”

“No. This is an offer for you to review the game tape and tell me what you think of my first kiss.”

Devin chuckled low, even while she shook her head. “I’m not watching a videotape of your first kiss.”

“Why not? Maybe you could give me some pointers.”

“I’m sure your technique has changed considerably since you were… How old were you?”

“I don’t remember.” His gaze shifted to her lips, and she could tell from the glow in his gray eyes exactly what he was remembering.

She was remembering it, too.

“Lucas.” A hearty male voice interrupted the moment.

Lucas glanced to the side, while Devin tamped down the buzz of sexual awareness lighting up her body.

“Mr. Mayor.” After what felt like a brief hesitation, Lucas let go of Devin to shake the man’s hand.

“I wanted to thank you personally for your generous donation to the hospital.” The mayor’s curious glance went to Devin for a brief second.

The man was in his midfifties. His full head of distinguished gray hair topped a tall physique that he kept in shape through highly publicized biking and rowing sessions.

“Mr. Mayor, this is Devin Hartley.”

“Ms. Hartley.” The mayor took her hand and gave it a gentle shake.

Nobody acknowledged or introduced the well-groomed man standing behind and to the left of the mayor. Devin assumed he was either an aide or security.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Devin. “This is a wonderful party.”

“We have the hospital board to thank for that,” the mayor responded as he released her hand. “And we have donors like Lucas to thank for the new pediatric wing. Please, enjoy yourselves tonight. You’ll be at the ground-breaking next weekend?” he asked Lucas.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Lucas responded.

With a final nod, the mayor withdrew.

The band had started a break, and a recorded, soft rock song wafted through the speakers.

“Thirsty?” asked Lucas, stepping close, one hand going to the small of her back as the crowd made their way off the dance floor.

“Sure,” she responded, taking his lead back toward their table. “I take it you gave a big donation?” She couldn’t help wondering if her words at the barbecue had influenced Lucas on that front.

“Pacific Robotics made a big donation,” Lucas corrected. “That includes Amelia.”

Was it thousands? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? “How did you decide? I mean, how do you decide how much to donate? “

“It’s tough,” Lucas acknowledged. He flagged a passing waiter and they ordered a bottle of sparkling water. “I bet we get a dozen requests a week from worthy charitable organizations. And from scam artists, of course.”

“That many?” Devin hadn’t given any thought to that side of being in business.

They arrived back at their table. All eight of the chairs were vacant, and Lucas pulled out the one draped with Devin’s light wrap.

She sat down. “I assume you say no to most of them?”

“If you didn’t, you’d be bankrupt in a year. For better or worse, you have to pick your priorities, allocate an appropriate sum of money and hope what you’re doing helps out.”

Devin found herself admiring this side of Lucas.

“Amelia needs to learn this,” he continued, gaze going thoughtful. “This and about a million other things. I don’t want to sound patronizing, but there are complexities to running a corporation that you couldn’t possibly imagine.”

Devin tried not to bristle. “How could that possibly sound patronizing? “

He gave a hard sigh.

“Is this the latest sales pitch for you as her guardian?” Devin asked.

“This is context to help you understand why I’m doing what I’m doing. This isn’t a game, Devin. Hundreds of millions… billions of dollars are at stake. Jobs for people in five different countries. The well-being of the family.”

“I don’t think the Demarcos are doing too badly.”

“And it’s going to be partly up to Amelia to see that many more generations of Demarcos keep the corporation healthy. It’s not just about boats and sports cars. It’s about hospitals and scholarships and ordinary peoples’ livelihoods.”

“She’s nine months old, Lucas.”

He paused, and some of the intensity went out of his eyes.

The waiter arrived, opening the ornate bottle of water and pouring it into two glasses over ice.

“You’re right,” said Lucas as the man left the table. “Before she decides if animal welfare is more important than inner-city youth programs, we need to get her potty trained and teach her to use a knife and fork. Back to the nanny conversation.”

“Before the weight of the world crashes down on the poor girl’s shoulders, we need to let her have a little fun.” Devin raised her glass for a sip. “Back to the nanny conversation.”

Devin clipped the portable baby monitor into the waistband of her jeans as she pulled the door shut between Amelia’s nursery and the ensuite that connected it to her own bedroom in the mansion. She’d promised Lucas they could discuss what they’d each thought of this morning’s nanny interviews once Amelia was down for her afternoon nap.

On the way past the mirror, Devin checked her reflection. Her hair was messy from Amelia playing with it, and she had a streak of dirt across one cheek. Who knew where that had come from. And the left shoulder of her blue T-shirt was one big wet blob where Amelia had sucked on it while rocking to sleep.

Telling herself it wasn’t vanity, and it certainly wasn’t because she cared about Lucas’s opinion, it was simply good grooming, she pulled a hairbrush from the vanity drawer and dragged it through her hair. Then she gave her face a quick wash, rubbing in some moisturizer with sunscreen, in case they decided to chat on the porch.

Finally, on her way back into her own room, she grasped the bottom hem of her T-shirt to pull it—She stumbled to a halt. “Steve?”

The man was standing in front of her bedroom window, curtain lifted with his left hand, gazing out at the ocean. “Hi, Devin.” He turned his head. “You startled me.”

He’d also annoyed her. What did he think he was doing lingering around her bedroom?

And he’d closed the door behind him.

Okay, that was just creepy.

“I need to talk to you.” He let the curtain drop, and his cold expression did nothing to make her feel better.

“Can we do it in the hall?” she asked, moving toward the bedroom door. “Amelia just fell asleep.”

Devin wasn’t exactly frightened, but it was definitely disconcerting to have him invade her space this way.

“I’d rather talk in private,” he said.

Well, she’d rather talk in public. She didn’t stop moving.

“What happened after I left?” There was a trace of impatience in his tone.

Devin paused with her hand on the doorknob, turning back. “After you left what? “

“Your house. The other day. I know he stayed.”

“Lucas?”

“Yes, Lucas.”

“He was soaking wet.”

Steve had stayed long enough to hear Lexi offer Lucas the use of her son’s clothes.

“He was there all night,” Steve accused, anger flaring in his dark eyes.

Okay, he’d gone way over the line with that crack. Devin was getting angry. She twisted the knob. “I think you’d better leave.”

Steve took a couple of steps toward her, putting his hand up to block the door shut. “This isn’t your home, Devin.” She didn’t bother answering.

“You’re a smart woman. You have to know what he’s doing. You have to know you’re going to get hurt.”

“That’s none of your business.” She didn’t know what Steve suspected about her relationship with Lucas. But she wasn’t about to explain herself.

He paused beside her, lowering his voice, eyes cool and detached. “I tried to make this easy for you. I offered my help. I paid for your lawyers.”

“Lucas slept on the couch, Steve.” She didn’t know why she bothered telling him that. It wasn’t because she was trying to change his mind about helping her. As of this second, she wasn’t taking anything from Steve ever again.

He shook his head. “It would have worked, Devin.”

She was tempted to ask what would have worked, but she held her tongue. The sooner this conversation was over, the better.

“This might not be my house—” she steeled her strength and looked him directly in the eyes “—but it is my room for the time being, and I’m asking you to leave.”

He stared down at her. There was a chill in his brown eyes that sent a shiver straight up her spine.

But after a long pause, he stepped back, and so did she. He reached for the door, opened it and left without a word. She swiftly closed it behind him and found her hand shaking and her stomach in knots.

She stood in the bedroom for a few minutes, wondering what to do next.

Then she heard a car start up in the driveway below. She moved to the window to watch Steve pull away. Once his taillights disappeared beneath the canopy of oaks tress, she breathed a sigh of relief, pulling her shirt over her head.