Claiming His Baby

“That sounds like the perfect gift for you, Heather.”

She put down her fork. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to enjoy it for a long time.”

Her father frowned. “Why ever not? I plan to ship it to New York.”

“I’m leaving it at home.”

“Nonsense.

“Daddy—I already told you I’m giving you that piano in honor of all you and mother did for me. The Knabe in New York serves me perfectly well when I’m there. Have you forgotten I’ll be staying with Franz at his summer home to get ready for the tour?”

“Who’s Franz?” Raul wanted to know, experiencing an irrational dislike of any man who would be on such an intimate basis with her.

“My teacher.”

“Where does he live?”

“In Vienna. I’ll be flying there next week.”

The need to do something physical with his negative energy had Raul reaching for another piece of bread.

“Franz has arranged for her concert tour,” John revealed with visible pride. “So far he’s lined up London, Brussels, Paris, Rom—”

“R-Rome’s not confirmed yet,” Heather stammered before pushing herself away from the table. “Excuse me for a minute please.” As she disappeared into the kitchen, Raul saw John flash Phyllis a bewildered look.

“What was that all about?”

“She was so tired after the performance, she literally collapsed on the couch. But I admit she’s not reacting in her normal way.

“I noticed that, too.” Evan wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “I guess we’ll never understand the kind of pressure she’s been under.” Suddenly his gaze found Raul’s. “She reminds me of someone with a mild case of shock.”

No doubt Evan had felt the tension in the study when he’d walked in on the two of them a little while ago. With that inquiring mind of his, it was only natural he would speculate over what had gone on between Heather and his newly arrived houseguest in his absence.

Raul could have enlightened everyone about her mental state. He’d been deeply disturbed by their encounter and suffered the same reaction, but could do nothing about it. She was leaving for the East Coast in less than ten hours. By next week she would be in Austria. Dios.

“Phyllis? I can’t thank you enough for watching out for Heather, let alone preparing this wonderful meal. But now it’s late for everyone, and I need to take my daughter home if she’s going to get any more sleep and still make it to the airport on time.”

If Raul were a wise man, he would avoid temptation by saying good-night to Dr. Sanders, then plead fatigue and disappear upstairs. But he’d never felt less like sleeping.

In all honesty, he’d never felt so out of control in his life. It was a feeling totally foreign to him.

Gathering some of the dishes, he headed for the kitchen where he found Heather at the sink swallowing a couple of painkillers with a glass of water.

When he put the plates on the counter, their eyes met in a long, unsmiling regard.

“Your father’s ready to take you home.”

“Daddy’s dead on his feet and should have been in bed ages ago. After your long flight, I’m sure you’re exhausted, too. For the Dorneys’ sake, I’m glad you came,” she said in a shaky voice.

Her remark brought him up short. “But not for your sake.”

She looked away. “I—I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

“Then what did you mean?” he demanded.

“Nothing,” she whispered. “I guess this is goodbye. Good luck to you, Dr. Cardenas. I hope you find all is well when you return home.”

If she’d had a lifetime to prepare what to say to him, she couldn’t have come up with anything as calculated to destroy the last vestiges of his peace of mind, because Raul had the gut feeling he would never find contentment at home again. Not now that he knew a certain woman with hot blue eyes and gossamer hair existed somewhere else on the planet…

“I don’t need to wish you luck. You’re very gifted, Heather. If you play every concert the way you played tonight, you’ll be a world sensation.”

“Thank you,” she answered woodenly.

As if on cue, her father opened the door connecting the dining room and the kitchen. Gut instinct told Raul that Dr. Sanders didn’t like him.

“Ready, honey?”

“I’m coming.”

“Dr. Cardenas—” Her father nodded to him as he put an arm around Heather’s shoulders. “It was very nice making your acquaintance.”

“The pleasure was all mine, Dr. Sanders.”

“Enjoy this time with Evan and Phyllis.”

But don’t get any ideas about seeing my daughter again?

Raul could read the other man’s mind.

“I already am. Goodbye.”

His eyes swept over Heather’s unforgettable face one more time before she was whisked from the kitchen and his life.

When they’d gone, an emptiness stole through him. In the past few hours he’d felt more emotion than he had since he was nine years old. But the pain of losing his parents was completely different than the kind of pain he was suffering now.

This was agony in a dimension he couldn’t begin to describe. In truth, the intensity of the loss he was feeling staggered him.

Dios.

After thirty-seven years it was finally happening.

“Heather? Wait up!”

No. Not Todd.

She didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. If she pretended she hadn’t heard him, she might just get away with losing him once she’d entered the practice hall.

“Hey—” The blond pianist from Michigan caught up to her inside the doors. “I’ve been waiting to congratulate you on winning the Bacchauer. Everyone’s talking about it. You’re famous!”