One Baby, Two Secrets

by Barbara Dunlop

  “I have an idea,” she said, her voice bright and excited.

  “Now? You’re risking bad luck on our wedding day to bring me an idea?”

  She swept closer. “With all we’ve been through, we’re stronger than bad luck.”

  Coming closer still, she held out her hand to reveal a coin in her palm.

  “Is the limo parked at a meter?” he joked.

  “I’ve been thinking,” she said. “We shouldn’t get married without knowing where we’re going to live.”

  The pressure was obviously getting to her. “You want to talk about which country to live in ten minutes before the ceremony?”

  “Heads,” she said, “we live in Scotland. Tails we live in Seattle.”

  “I can’t keep up with you. What’re you saying?”

  “Or...” A mischievous twinkle came into her eyes. “We could buy a vacation home in the San Juan Islands.”

  “Is that in the Caribbean?”

  “They’re off the coast of Washington State, close to Seattle.”

  “A vacation home in Washington State? Is this some kind of a wedding present?”

  Her grin went wide.

  “Kate, sweetheart, are you saying what I think you’re saying?” He felt like he’d won the lottery for a second time this year.

  “We should stay in Scotland, Brody. I want to raise our family right here.”

  He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tight. But he didn’t dare. She looked so perfect, he couldn’t let himself muss her up.

  “Okay with you?” she asked, looking suddenly uncertain.

  “It’s more than okay with me. You know my parents will be completely thrilled.”

  “I know.” She took his hands. “Your mother and I talked last night. I know this is really important to your family.”

  He gave her hands a squeeze. “What’s important here is us, you and me. You don’t have to commit right now.”

  “I want to commit right now.”

  “Are you completely sure about this?”

  “I’m completely sure, Brody. I thought about it all night.”

  “When my mother starts being ‘the Countess’ she can be formidable.”

  “I know she can. But she didn’t intimidate me. It’s what I want.”

  “In that case I couldn’t be happier. Thank you, Kate.” He hesitated for a split second, but then decided to share his own secret. “And... Well... Speaking of mothers...”

  Kate sobered. It only took her a second to glean his meaning. “Brody, I told you, you can’t call her.”

  “I know you told me that. But, well, you weren’t going to call her.” He sure hoped he hadn’t made a mistake here.

  “We were leaving well enough alone. She was happy about getting half of Francie’s jewelry. Do you know how hard it is to make her happy? You don’t mess with it once it happens. You don’t need to put a target on your back.”

  “I didn’t call her.”

  Kate looked relieved.

  “I flew her here.”

  Kate’s jaw dropped. “Here, as in Scotland?”

  “Here, as in the cathedral.”

  Kate’s hand went to her forehead. “Why would you do that?”

  Brody held her other hand fast. “You can’t get married without your mother. It’s not right. She’s your only family.”

  He reached out to touch the chickadee charm on her necklace. In Annabelle, Francie was still there with them, too. He was grateful to Francie. He always would be.

  “I’m not worried about me,” Kate said. “I can handle my mother. It’s you. You’re rich. You’re royalty. She’s going to latch onto you like—”

  “I’ve taken care of that.”

  “Oh, really. You’ve taken care of my mother, have you?

  Brody checked his watch. They only had about two minutes left to talk.

  “I bought her a little condo in Santa Monica.”

  Kate’s jaw dropped open.

  “It’s in a seniors complex. And they have people there to help her, keep an eye on her really.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I did.”

  Kate started to speak, but then her expression turned relieved and joyous.

  She gave her head a bemused shake. “Okay. But you’re a wonderful man. I think she’s going to like it very much.”

  “I don’t want you to have to worry about her.”

  “I won’t worry. With you around, I’ve stopped having anything to worry about.”

  “Good.”

  “But I better go be a bride now.”

  “You better go be a bride. But one more thing.” Brody wanted her to go into the ceremony on a purely happy note.

  “Is it bad?”

  “No, it’s good. Christina is here, too.”

  Kate’s face broke into a wide smile over that one. “You brought Christina all the way to Scotland for our wedding?”

  “I did, but not just for the wedding.”

  “She’s on vacation?”

  “I hired her. She’s staying to help with Annabelle.”

  “Do we need a nanny?”

  “Well, you’ve got one whether you want one or not.”

  He could tell from her expression that she was warming to the idea.

  “I don’t know what you want to do,” he told her. “Work or help my mother with charities, or be a full-time mom to Annabelle and all the other babies that come along. But you can have help to do it. I want you to have help to do it.”

  “Annabelle loves Christina.”

  “I know. And Christina is excited to be here.”

  “Brody?”

  “Yes?”

  “You can kiss the bride.”

  “I’m not going to wreck your pretty makeup.” But he wanted to kiss her. He desperately wanted to kiss her.

  He settled for a quick peck on her cheek.

  Just then Blane arrived in the doorway.

  He instantly zeroed in on Kate.

  He gave her a mock scowl. “How did you get in here?”

  “Through the door,” she answered jauntily.

  From minute one, she hadn’t been the least bit intimidated by his brother the viscount. Brody couldn’t help musing that Blane needed to find a woman like Kate. Not Kate, of course, never Kate.

  “Out you go,” he ordered, pointing to the door. “You have to know better than to let him see you before the ceremony.”

  “We’re immune to bad luck,” Kate said.

  “Well, nobody’s immune to Father Callum. Get back where you belong.”

  Kate grinned unrepentantly. “See you in five minutes,” she said to Brody. “And your kissing better have improved by then.”

  Blane snickered as Kate left.

  “Inside joke,” Brody said.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I kiss just fine.”

  “I hope so. You’re not going to hold on to a woman like that with lame kisses.”

  “She’s not going anywhere.”

  “You sure?” There was a familiar teasing twinkle in Blane’s eyes. Brody felt like they were kids again.

  “In four minutes, she’ll be mine for life. I’m grateful. I never thought I’d find someone so special.” Brody meant every word.

  “Let’s go, brother.” Blane clapped him on the back. “You’ve got a bride to marry.”

  Brody and Blane entered the chapel from a side door and made their way in front of the altar.

  The church was completely filled with friends, relatives, a few London royals and people from the town. Blake met his mother’s gaze in the front row. She was beaming. Sitting next to her, even his father looked proud. The earl
was an aloof and exacting man. It wasn’t often that Blane or Brody pleased him.

  Then the piper’s music rose, and Nadia appeared at the end of the aisle. She was carrying Annabelle, who was dressed in an opulent mauve gown. It set off Nadia’s sophisticated royal purple.

  “You’ve inspired me, brother,” Blane muttered.

  Brody rose a curious brow in Blane’s direction.

  “If you can find someone as wonderful as Kate, then it’s time I went for it, too.”

  Brody found himself grinning with approval. “Good for you.”

  “I hear couples first meet at wedding receptions all the time.”

  “They do?”

  “See that woman in row five? In the bright green dress?”

  “She’s pretty.”

  “I’m dancing with her first. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll try the redhead in row eight, left side, on the aisle.”

  Brody had to stifle a laugh.

  Then the processional music came up, and Kate appeared. Brody had already seen her, but he was taken all over again by the beautiful dress, a heather bouquet from his highlands, the classic Calder diamond tiara and her serene smile that was all for him. The congregation gasped with her beauty.

  She was stunning.

  With every step that brought Kate closer to him, his heart filled with love and joy.

  When she finally arrived, she handed Nadia her bouquet and gave Annabelle a kiss. Then she looked into Brody’s eyes, hers filled with unconditional love. They joined hands, and he didn’t look away until the vows were finished.

  Then he kissed her properly. The congregation grew restless at the length, but he didn’t care. When he drew away, she was well and truly his wife.

  He took Annabelle from Nadia, and held her in his arms. Then he took Kate’s hand to walk back down the aisle.

  “Nice kiss,” she whispered breathlessly, hanging on to his arm.

  “I do aim to please.”

  “Your mother,” she said.

  “You want to talk about my mother right now?”

  “I thought you should know. When we talked, she also said she expects us to get pregnant tonight.”

  Brody nudged Kate gently as they smiled to the people they passed. “Did you tell her we’d already taken care of that little thing?”

  “I did not. I think we can save that announcement for another day.”

  “Good.” He wasn’t yet ready to share their secret.

  Then the double doors opened in front of them. The bells pealed. A crowd on the grounds outside cheered loudly. And Brody introduced his family to his world.

  * * * * *

  If you liked this story of a billionaire tamed by the love of the right woman—and her baby—pick up these other novels from acclaimed author Barbara Dunlop.

  THE BABY CONTRACT

  THE MISSING HEIR

  BILLIONAIRE BABY DILEMMA

  AN AFTER-HOURS AFFAIR

  Available now from Harlequin Desire!

  * * *

  And don’t miss the next BILLIONAIRES AND BABIES story, THE HEIR’S UNEXPECTED BABY by Jules Bennett.

  Available February 2017!

  * * *

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE RANCHER’S NANNY BARGAIN by Sara Orwig.

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  The Rancher’s Nanny Bargain

  by Sara Orwig

  One

  In his office at his ranch house, Cade Callahan sorted mail that had come while he was in Dallas at his commercial real estate office the past two days. But the letters blurred before his eyes.

  All he could think about was the loss of his younger brother and his sister-in-law in the last week of June. How many times would he replay in his mind the moment he imagined their car had been struck by a drunk driver? Nate had been killed instantly, and Lydia had died on the way to the hospital. The drunk driver who hit them had died at the scene.

  And Cade had been left as the sole guardian of his six-month-old niece, Amelia.

  A shiver went down his spine as it always did when he thought about the tremendous responsibility he’d inherited. He knew nothing about caring for a baby. Which was why he needed Erin Dorsey.

  He glanced at his watch. Within minutes she would arrive for an interview for the nanny job. He had high hopes for her.

  At lunch, more than a week ago, with his closest friend, Luke Dorsey, Cade had complained about being unable to find a suitable nanny despite all the interviews he’d had. Luke had a surprising recommendation—his sister.

  Recalling Luke’s younger sister Erin, Cade had remembered a timid, freckle-faced, scrawny little redhead, hovering in the background and keeping away from Luke and his friends. Cade hadn’t ever said more than hello to her and barely had received more than that in return before she’d disappeared from sight. She was years younger, probably twenty or twenty-one now.

  When he’d mentioned to Luke that she was very quiet and very young, Luke’s blue eyes had twinkled.

  “Not as quiet as when she was a kid,” he’d said. “And young is good. She’s energetic, upbeat, loves kids and they love her. Trust me, she’s great taking care of kids.”

  “Is she an environmental engineer like you?”

  “Not at all.” He’d gone on to list her credentials: an undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Services, director of her church nursery, member of the Big Sister program while in college. “The only drawbacks for her would be a time limit and living on your ranch.”

  “What’s the time limit?” Cade had asked, even though he’d had no intention of hiring Luke’s little sister.

  “Erin just finished her bachelor’s degree. She’ll be starting back at the University of Texas for her master’s in January. She’s staying out a semester to earn money. I’ve offered to pay for school but she won’t accept my offer.” He’d grinned. “My sister is independent and wants to do it her way. Frankly, I can understand. We’re a big family and it will help Mom and Dad. I put myself through, something you know nothing about as Dirkson Callahan’s son who set all of you up in business.”

  “Not Blake. Don’t get me started on my dad, or my mom. Mom won’t keep Amelia at all and made that
plain from the first and flew to Europe with friends. Why the hell my dad had so many kids... Anyway, this is August, so it won’t help me to hire a nanny for a few months and then start over,” Cade had said before biting into a thick, juicy rib covered in dark red barbecue sauce.

  “Think about it before you say no,” Luke had replied. “Hiring Erin now would give you time to get a really good nanny, and before she has to leave she could help you select the perfect replacement and train her. It would remove the pressure that you’re under now to choose a nanny quickly no matter how little you like any of them.”

  He’d felt a slight bit defensive. “They all come highly recommended. I hate turning a baby over to a stranger, but I have to do something quickly. Grandmother and my cook have been taking care of Amelia and Grandmother doesn’t know much more about babies than I do. Maisie cooks, so she can’t care for Amelia all of the time. Sierra, Blake’s wife, has helped, too.”

  “Hire Erin and you won’t be turning your niece over to a stranger.”

  Maybe not a complete stranger, but he barely knew Erin and he hadn’t even seen her since he’d graduated from high school. He knew Luke’s argument to that—Cade had known his family since they were both kids. He knew he could trust her and believe what Luke told him about her.

  “I wouldn’t recommend my sister to some of my friends,” Luke had said, “but I know I can leave the country and be certain you won’t hit on her.”

  Amen to that one, Cade had thought, but he hadn’t say it aloud. “Well, hell—”

  “You won’t hit on her because she’s not your type. She takes life seriously, while I know you’re a carefree, love-’em-and-leave-’em guy. Last year when the guy she was engaged to broke their engagement to marry someone else, she was crushed and she hasn’t gotten back into dating since then.”

  Cade had been surprised to hear she had been engaged, but he’d said nothing. He still could only think of her as a waif who drifted in the background of Luke’s life. In addition to Erin, there were four younger kids in Luke’s family and they, too, had usually avoided Luke’s crowd.

  “She has told a few people, but should you call her, I think you ought to know... While she was engaged, she was pregnant with his baby. She miscarried and that’s why the guy broke off the engagement. The doctors said she might be able to have a baby, but there was a higher than normal chance she might miscarry again. Her ex-fiancé said he wanted to know for certain that he had married a wife who could give him kids.”