The Billionaire And The Baby

While he gave the waitress their order, he could feel her unsolicited scrutiny.

“Excuse me, but haven’t I seen you before?”

Throughout his life this sort of inquisition had happened so constantly, he’d been forced to learn to live with it. But tonight the intrusion on his privacy made him angry.

“I’m afraid not.”

“But I have. I saw you on TV.”

“I probably resemble someone you saw,” he muttered. So much for anonymity here. The fates continued to conspire against him and his desire to be alone with Hannah.

“No. You were on the America Today show, but you’re even more handsome in person. I told my husband you have a French name. I remember it because I love the sound of it. Dominic.”

He winced.

“I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you, but this is so exciting. The two men on the program with you were good-looking, too. I have to tell you—that was the most fascinating program I’ve seen in years!”

“Is that right?”

“Absolutely! I hope this means you’re running your bullet train through Laramie. I’ve got a husband who won’t get on an airplane, and hates long drives in the car. When that thing is built, we can go anywhere we want in a hurry and never leave the ground. Just like that!” She snapped her fingers.

“After I bring your food, can I have your autograph? Unless I show proof, my husband won’t believe you really came to LaRue’s to eat with your family. That’s a little doll you’ve got back there. She’s going to grow up to be a real heartbreaker just like her daddy, I bet.”

While he attempted to suppress a groan, he felt Hannah lean across him to talk to the waitress.

“If you’ll bring back a menu with our food, I’ll make sure Dominic signs it. What’s your name?”

Her eyes lit up. “Marie. Marie Gates. Thank you. Thank you so much! Since you’re his wife, I want you to sign it, too. All right?”

“She’ll do it,” Dominic assured the woman with relish before his gaze shifted to a pair of eyes whose impossibly green color rivaled the grass he’d seen growing in an Oregonian rainforest. The combination of dark lashes and delicately shaped eyebrows beneath those natural golden curls highlighted their beauty.

Every perfect feature of her oval face, particularly her sculpted lips, a larger version of Elizabeth’s, drew his attention so he didn’t want to look anywhere else. He’d never known a woman who had such a seductive mouth and flawless complexion. It would be as soft and silky as the baby’s.

Except for lipstick, she wore no makeup. Nature had blessed her with creamy skin that millions of women spent billions of dollars on cosmetics to replicate. Dominic knew this to be true more than any man. Those billions made up his family’s vast fortune. He bet if he looked in her purse or bathroom, he wouldn’t find one House of Eve product anywhere. What an irony.

With such a face and voluptuous curves, how on earth could any man have walked away from her and Elizabeth?

Was she still in love with him?

It made no sense to Dominic unless she was a widow. If that was the case, it might explain the faint shadows beneath her eyes.

He let go of the breath he’d been holding. So many questions needed answers, but he would have to proceed slowly.

“You shouldn’t have told the waitress I would give her an autograph, Dominic,” she said at last.

His lips twitched. “What’s sauce for the gander…”

“May be, but this goose doesn’t happen to be your wife.”

“Since I’m not married and never have been, I don’t see the problem. Don’t you know there’s an old adage that white lies are the good kind?”

“You made that up.”

He chuckled. “Even if I did, it’s true. Think how happy it will make her.”

“Uh-oh. She’s coming with our food.”

“Dieu merci! I’m ravenous.”

“Here you go.” The waitress fastened the tray of food to the lowered glass of the car window.

“How much do I owe you?”

“Since you’re going to autograph this for me, not one cent.” She handed him a new menu and pen through the opening.

He signed it, then gave everything back along with a twenty-dollar bill.

“‘Dear Marie.’” She read the words aloud. “‘We hope you and your husband enjoy many train rides across the country in the near future. With sincerest regards, Mr. and Mrs. Dominic Giraud.’”

Her head lifted. “Oh, my. This is wonderful. But I can’t take the money.”

“I insist.”

“Well, thank you again.”

“You’re welcome.”

“When you’re through, just blink your lights and I’ll come for the tray.”

As she hurried off, Dominic turned to his lovely companion who’d remained silent during the exchange. He put a straw in her drink and handed her what she’d ordered.

“Alone at last.”

CHAPTER THREE

HANNAH took the food from him, trying her hardest not to let the news that he was a bachelor affect her.

It certainly couldn’t have been for lack of opportunity that he hadn’t married. Maybe he’d buried his heart with someone he’d loved, and since then had thrown himself into his career.

“I’m afraid I missed that program on TV Marie was referring to. What is it exactly that you do for a living, Dominic?” She’d been dying of curiosity.

He stared at her over the rim of his root beer mug. “I travel across the country convincing landowners like you to become part of an exciting transportation idea for the twenty-first century.”

But that didn’t pay his bills for food, gas, hotels, the repairs to his damaged Jeep. The five hundred dollars he’d tried to give her had to come from somewhere!

“Let me ask you a question,” he said softly. “Who owns the property the museum stands on?”

His question came as a surprise. “It’s been in my family for generations.”