Claiming His Baby

Now that the pressure of performing in her own home city was over, she would probably be able to let go of her anxiety.

“Heather?” her father prodded.

“You’re right, Daddy. I am tired.”

“Tell Phyllis you need to lie down and put your feet up.”

“That sounds divine.”

A few minutes later he turned into the Dorneys’s driveway. She leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Hurry back.”

“You know I will.”

She got out of the car and dashed up the steps of the house. Phyllis already had the door open and drew Heather inside.

“Oh, no!” she cried when she saw the car drive off.

“There was an emergency. Daddy said he wouldn’t be long.”

“How many times have we heard that?”

They smiled at each other in total understanding before Phyllis shut the door. “So—what does the newest and brightest star on the concert stage want to do first?”

“Would you mind terribly if I just lie down for a while?”

Phyllis eyed her with concern. “Do you even have to ask? Can I bring you something?”

“No. Nothing. But thank you so much anyway. Where’s Evan?”

“He had to stop by the office to look over some X rays, but he’ll be here shortly. You go on in the study and make yourself comfortable on the couch.”

“Thank you, Phyllis. You’ve been wonderful to me.”

“You’re like the daughter I never had. I’m the one who’s lucky.”

Fighting tears, Heather gave her a hug, then headed for the study. As at home in the Dorney house as her own, she wandered into the book-lined den where she’d often practiced on their piano. Stepping out of her black high-heeled sandals, she placed a cushion at one end of the sofa, then lay down and closed her eyes.

She was always tired after a performance, but it was her troubled mental and emotional state that made her body feel like it weighed a thousand pounds.

When Raul opened the French doors of the study looking for the newspaper, he was stunned to discover Heather Sanders lying full-length on the long green velvet couch still wearing her floor-length black dress. Talk about Sleeping Beauty…

The noise brought her awake because her eyelids fluttered open. But she gazed at him for so long without saying anything, he realized she’d been in a deep sleep for quite some time.

He stood a few feet away from her, yet he was close enough to be fascinated by a pair of electrifying blue eyes watching him out of inky black lashes.

There were lakes high in the Andes their exact color. Raul had camped along their shores, mesmerized by the brilliant hue of those still, deep waters. Combined with her northern European blond coloring, the contrast took his breath.

“Ms. Sanders? I didn’t know anyone was in here or I would never have disturbed you.”

A red blush crept up her neck and face as she came to a sitting position and swung her feet to the floor. The imprint of the hand upon which she’d been lying was still visible on her velvety cheek, like a young child’s. Yet there was a womanly thrust of curves revealed beneath the material draping her gorgeous figure.

“I didn’t know you were a houseguest,” came her quiet response. Phyllis hadn’t said a word to her about Dr. Cardenas being in Salt Lake. Why? “My father dropped me off here on his way to the hospital. I only meant to rest for a minute.”

Her eyes darted to the clock on the table. “I can’t believe it’s almost one o’clock.”

“After the events of this evening, your fatigue is perfectly understandable,” he murmured. His gaze returned to the white-gold of her hair. Earlier he hadn’t been able to get a good enough look at her from his seat in the symphony hall.

With some disgust he realized that part of the reason he’d been prowling around the Dorney house for something to read stemmed from the fact that her image had been haunting him since she’d made her appearance onstage.

He didn’t particularly care if his intimate perusal embarrassed her. The combination of those sapphire orbs against the creamy richness of such smooth skin drew his attention until he couldn’t look anywhere else. He had the overwhelming urge to put his lips to the hollow of her throat where a pulse throbbed.

She was at a distinct disadvantage because her high heels lay next to the piano and her toes were curling in distress from his scrutiny. This reaction pleased him no end.

During the concert she’d been in total possession of herself. He liked the idea that he’d caught her off balance. The corners of his mouth lifted as he reached down and handed them to her.

“Your shoes, Ms. Sanders. Put them on if it will make you feel less vulnerable. But if you want my opinion, I prefer you just the way you are.”

The bloom on her cheeks turned to flame. “Thank you, Dr. Cardenas.” She took the heels from him. With a dignity he admired, she slipped her well-shaped feet into them.

“You’re welcome.

His smile widened as she stood up. He could sense she wanted to arrange her hair and make sure her dress was in place. All those little things women do to feel at their best.

But she did neither. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. That tiny spark of defiance intrigued him.

“Since we both appear to know each other without having been formally introduced, let’s dispense with last names, shall we, Heather?” he suggested in a silky voice.

Her chin lifted. “Since you haven’t been to Salt Lake for a decade, and probably won’t return for another, I can’t see that it’s of consequence either way.”

The conversation had taken an odd twist. He was no longer amused. “Why do I have the feeling there was something personal in your remark?”

She had the grace to blush, and finally deigned to look at him. “I’m sorry. That was very rude of me.” He watched her take a little breath. “It’s just that you must have made Evan so happy by finally coming to visit, it will seem cruel when you have to go away again. The stretches between their vacations with you have been hard on him.”

Her honesty was sobering. “I regret that it took me so long. My seeming indifference to the Dorneys in the past has obviously condemned me. But I assure you that were it not for a very sick patient, nothing could drag me away now.”

Once again he found himself studying the contrast of dark brows and lashes against her extreme fairness.

She shook her head. “It’s none of my business. The important thing is, you did come. Evan will be a new man.”

His dark brows furrowed. “I don’t think I understand.”

“I’m not certain I do.” A sad smile came and went. “But for reasons best known to Evan, he has always wanted you to live in Salt Lake, maybe go into practice with him.” She bit her lip, drawing Raul’s attention to the enticing mouth he desired to taste for himself.

“Apparently he wanted to be a kind of surrogate father to you.” She rushed on. “It really devastated him when you chose to go back to South America.”

Raul was incredulous at her frank speaking. Rubbing the back of his neck, he gazed at her through veiled eyes.

“Thank you, Heather. You’ve given me new insight into his feelings. Be assured mine run every bit as deeply. But I couldn’t turn my back on the aunt and uncle who took care of me after my parents died in an earthquake.”