Secret Dad

by Victoria Pinder

  Her lips parted. At first she didn't say anything. Finally she said, "What?"

  His body shook. Would she reject him? This was probably too fast. His mind reeled and told him to slow down. He ignored the fear and leaned closer. "Will you marry me, Liz?"

  A huge smile grew on her face that he hoped meant yes.

  He took out a ring box from his pocket.

  "You already have a ring?"

  Did this mean yes? He opened the box and presented her the family ring that had been passed down for generations since his ancestors left their Spanish castle, or so the story went. “My mother gave it to me at Peter’s party after you ran off. It might not be new but that diamond was my grandmother's. She said her grandmother brought it from Spain where we were royalty. Either way she left it to me to give to my bride."

  She kissed his nose as he slipped it on her finger. "I love it. I love you."

  The kiss was too little. He wanted all of her. She hadn't told him. Perhaps her answer was obvious but his heart wouldn't calm down until she made it official. "Is that a yes?"

  "Yes, absolutely." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love you."

  "I love you too." His lips then met hers and her softness stole his breath away. All that mattered was her. Vegas Liz, the mother of his son, had changed his entire world with one brush of her lips. Now he was home, for good.

  All that mattered was that she was his, now and forever.

  “A castle in Spain must be nice. Maybe you were a king or a prince.” The return to earth took a minute. He blinked as she played with his belt.

  “Doubtful.”

  His body grew hard as she ran her hand over his abdomen. Then she said, "Rafe, this ring, your house, I’m happy with nothing, but have you ever talked to your mother about that trust fund you mentioned?"

  He stepped out of her embrace and felt his body grow cold. “What are you talking about?”

  "I feel you should read what your mother left you so you have a clear picture for your future and Brandon’s. I’ll get Ashley to set the table for dinner while you straighten this last thing out."

  “I’ll only read it if you’re with me.”

  She made a tisk sound and crossed her arms. "I still think you should open it."

  He shrugged and waved for her to follow him. They went to his room where he'd been staying and he went through his backpack. A minute later he had the manila envelope and sat on the bed. He patted the bed beside him and she joined him. He then focused on the trust. The numbers at the end blared in his mind. He counted again. 1,693,936,287. Ten spaces. Now the amount explained their mother's contribution combined with interest then split evenly between Caro and himself left him with this amount for the month. His eyes were wide as he just stared at the number. He'd never guessed he'd have so much. Every cell in his body was electrified. "What the?"

  She pressed into his shoulder. "What is it?"

  "This is a lot of money." He closed his eyes. No maid ever made that much money. There was a mistake, but then Liz was right. His neighbors were millionaires or more. His mother and the realtor had told him that they'd get him an amazing mortgage on his place as something happened to the previous rich buyer who wanted to sell now. He had thought he lucked out. "I don't understand."

  She placed her hand in front of his. "Can I see?"

  Liz had even more money than this, but to him this felt like winning the lottery. He gave her the files. An audible intake of her breath told him she read the number. "Rafe, you could buy this house on your own."

  He held his hands to his temples, envisioning his mother scrubbing toilets to get this bank account. "How? This doesn't make sense."

  She placed her hand on his, handed him back his folder, and said, "Your mother is next door. Let's go ask her."

  "Brandon is asleep." His body stilled though his heart beat so fast that he could power a bullet train.

  Liz stood and tugged his arm for him to follow. He did as she said, "Elle can watch him."

  "Are you sure?"

  She led him out of his bedroom and toward the hall. "I want to go with you. Brandon is safe now because of you. Elle can call us if anything goes wrong."

  Once they were in the living room, he tried to imagine why his mother worked for Peter again if she had this much money. No one cleaned if they didn't need to. Liz opened the front door and led him along the waterfront path to her brother's house.

  Without knocking, Liz opened the door. Rafe then guided her to the kitchen where his mother chopped onions and spoke to the chef. Rafe called out, "Mom."

  "One second mi’ja." Pilar nodded at the chef as she put the knife down and gestured them out of the kitchen. She wiped her hands and once he saw she followed, he held the door for her.

  The second the door closed, his mother picked up Liz's hand with a huge grin. "Rafe. Elizabeth. Is that Grandmother's ring?"

  Rafe understood his mother wouldn't stop until he told her everything. He held Liz's hand as he announced, "I asked Elizabeth to marry me. She said yes."

  "I'm happy for you!" Pilar hugged both of them at the same time. Footsteps sounded behind him as his mother told Elizabeth, “Welcome to the family.”

  Rafe turned around and saw Peter Morgan in a gray business suit. Peter said, "Congratulations."

  “Thank you.” Rafe nodded thanks and showed his mother the file. "That's not why we're here."

  "Is there something you need from me?" Pilar blinked innocently as she transitioned around to stand closer to Peter Morgan.

  Rafe lowered his gaze to not offend his mother, but he again tried to give the papers to her as he said, "Mom, I read the trust."

  "Good." His mother's simple response made him stare at her.

  He took a step closer. "How did that happen, Mom?"

  Her face fell and she said a prayer under her breath. Then she said, "Your father died."

  "I remember." Those three words were not an explanation. He needed more.

  Pilar glanced at Peter and then she explained, "He had insurance. I was going to quit my job but Peter asked me to help him protect John and Victoria."

  Peter placed his hand on his mother's back and then said, "In exchange, I offered to be your mother’s personal banker. With the money from the insurance, I created a trust fund that I've managed for years. She helped me with John and Alice and I wanted to ensure she had what she wanted. She helped me keep my siblings safe from my father."

  His mind whirled faster than a tornado. He glanced at the other man. No wonder Peter had always said he didn't need to be on the police force. He had created a fortune. "So you did this? Peter, it's too much."

  Peter shrugged without looking at the papers. "I made those investments years ago, when we were in school together, and much more with my own funds I managed. This was my way to ensure someone was here to protect my family. And your mother retired with more in the trust fund for herself, you and Caro to have whatever you might desire. Pilar was the closest thing I had to a mother for years."

  All this time, Rafe had never wondered why no one ever struggled. His mother wore a maid's uniform and went to work and he accepted her explanation that she was good at saving. He never questioned her or Peter or ever suspected any of them. "You were doing this in high school, Peter?"

  "Yes."

  All those years and he mostly remembered how John complained about his brother as they played on the football team. He hadn't ever tried to be nice to Peter. Rafe's face felt hot. "We weren't friends."

  Peter released Pilar and pulled out his car keys. "No, and we didn’t need to be. I needed Pilar.”

  Rafe held the files in front of them. "I can't accept this."

  “It’s not a gift you can give back.”

  “I don’t know what else to say.”

  His mother withdrew and pointed Rafe toward the side room where they kept the china for guests. "Mi’ja, I wish to talk to you alone."

  "Yes, Mother." He let Liz's hand go and followed his mother i
nto the small room.

  She closed the door. "You are marrying a Morgan, si?"

  "I love her." Rafe nodded. "And our family is why I can't..."

  She made a tisk with her tongue. "Si, you have the best intentions. Don't throw the money in her brother's face because of your pride."

  "Mom, this is blood money." If the money was because Mitch killed his father, then he shouldn't accept. "We can't."

  Pilar took both of his hands in hers. "Your father would want you and Caro to have the best life possible, and I worked for almost forty years for Mitch Morgan. I knew his every secret. I stayed because I wanted you and Caro to have what I never did. Don't throw this in anyone's face, Rafe."

  They had over a billion dollars. No one he knew other than the Morgans might understand. He hadn't done anything to deserve this, but he couldn't offend his mother either. "Mama."

  "Yes, mi’ja?"

  "I love you."

  A victorious smile crossed her face. "Good, now go and be with your lovely bride. I cannot wait to see both my children happy."

  She shuffled him toward the door, but he stopped. "Why are you cleaning? Why did you force Caro into this job and does she know about the money?"

  "Your sister is a dreamer and she needed to understand the value of hard work. I'm back because I like being useful, and I gave her the papers the same time you did. I don’t think she’s read them."

  His sister always believed in the best for himself and everyone around her. He couldn't fault his mother. "Why tell me now?"

  "It's time for you to stop chasing bad guys and be a father."

  Once again his mother had an explanation for everything. Now he had to go and be with the family he loved. Liz waited for him, right outside.

  Chapter 27

  The next evening, Liz fixed her blue beaded dress and then straightened Rafe's matching blue tie. As she did, Rafe stared at the yacht where Peter and Belle intended to renew their vows. They were a few feet away from the ramp as people dressed in the highest fashion strolled past them.

  Rafe's lips tightened. "Liz, this still feels like a dream. No one gets papers that say you have a billion dollars on the same day he gets engaged."

  Rafe hadn't believed his good fortune, but the more Liz thought about everything, the more she did. Her father had been horrible and she'd have done anything to protect Luke or Matthew if she had the option. Luke had always watched her back whenever they had met at school.

  The yacht's horn blared. Liz stepped closer to the ramp. "We have to get on board. Peter and Belle are getting married, again."

  Rafe hadn't moved. He did, however, wink at her. "I know, but I wanted to let you know again. I love you and I was willing to marry you before the money."

  "Believe me, I remember." Her heart was lighter. Tonight they left Brandon at home with Elle, and in some ways the wedding was their first date.

  Both of them stilled as Jennifer looked over the railing toward the evening sky. At least Rafe loved her and that cold knife that sliced at her heart named jealousy no longer cut into her. Liz curled her arm around Rafe. "Jennifer is here?"

  Rafe pointed with his nose. "With Matthew. She’s angling for that movie role."

  Through the window to the second floor, more figures were in view. While Jennifer was going to be around her life, right now, it was better not to discuss her. Liz tugged his sleeve. "And Caro and Luke are speaking to your mother. Let's go."

  "I don't like the ocean. I never wanted to join the navy or the coast guard. I don't know why your brother chooses his ship all the time."

  She smiled. His hesitation was adorable. "Now, my love, nothing will happen. It's a wedding."

  His face paled. "It's a Morgan wedding. I swear you and I need to get married with a justice of the peace so no one comes back to life."

  Absolutely not. She wanted a white dress and her family there. She led him closer to the ramp. "That only happens to Peter."

  "And this is his wedding." Rafe's feet dragged. No one else but them waited. Again the horn that they were about to leave boomed.

  "Stop. Let's get on the yacht." She turned and dragged him with her. He stomped but slowly followed. Once they were on board the staff lifted the ramp.

  Liz led Rafe upstairs to get champagne. Rafe squeezed her hand on the top step. He then picked up the glasses and the color returned to his face. Across the room a brown-haired woman stood alone as she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. "Peter invited Serenity Hansom."

  "It seemed he did." Rafe handed her a glass.

  She tapped his glass and then sipped. "I feel bad we accused her of kidnapping."

  Rafe's eyebrows quirked as he directed Liz toward the bow. "My question is, who are those four men that all look like Peter? Look at that, same light hair, like you."

  Her mother had assumed their father had an affair or two or three. Peter had said their father's will mentioned other heirs. Two of them were even taller than anyone else here, and Rafe was six foot three.

  She sipped her champagne and then the band began a soft melody. She shimmied and angled closer to the dance floor. "I have no idea and I don't care, not tonight anyhow."

  His gaze followed her. "Why?"

  No, he didn't get to get out of this. She stood on her tip toes and hugged him. "Because once the wedding is over and the celebration begins, I get to dance with you."

  "I’m not..."

  Nope, she silenced his protest with a fast kiss. "I'm excited."

  "Twirling you under the moonlight will be beautiful." He hugged her shoulders as they stared out into the evening sky. For once her life had everything. If this was happy-ever-after, she approved. Rafe was all the man she needed or could ever want. He was her everything.

  * * *

  <<<<>>>>

  Also by Victoria Pinder

  Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)

  The House of Morgan

  Secret Crush

  Secret Baby

  Secret Bet

  Secret Wish

  Secret Dad

  A Frosted Game of Hearts

  Winter Peril

  Stormy Peril

  The Collins Brothers

  Chaperoning Paris

  Borrowing the Doctor

  Electing Love

  Keeping the Spy

  Keeping the Captain

  The Marshall Family Saga

  Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush

  Favorite Coffee, Favorite Mistake

  Favorite Coffee, Favorite Sin

  Favorite Coffee, Favorite Scandal (Coming soon)

  The Hawke Fortune

  Tempting Gabe

  Tempting James (In Tropical Trysts Boxed Set)

  Tempting Conner (In Hunks to the Rescue Boxed Set)

  Tempting Harry (in Billionaire Ever After Boxed Set)

  Tempting Navid (Coming soon)

  * * *

  Then if you also like Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance

  Hidden Dragon Series

  Call of the Dragon

  Dance of the Dragon (Coming Soon)

  The Queen Gene

  Whispers of a Throne

  Storm of the Throne (coming soon)

  Earthseekers Mission

  Makeup May Change Your Life

  The Zoastra Affair

  Ancient Greek Heroes

  Mything You

  Mything the Throne

  About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.

  Visit my website and download a free novel

  www.victoriapinder.com

  victoria@victoriapinder.com