The Billionaire's Daddy Test

by Charlene Sands

  “Everything. But you can start by telling me how your day went.”

  Adam hesitated. His face was pinched tight. She pictured the debate going on in his head before he finally agreed to open up. “Well, I took my usual swim this morning, after you left.”

  “Don’t you swim just after dawn?”

  “I’m a stickler about that, yes. But I woke up later than usual today and I didn’t want to miss seeing Rose.”

  “How far did you swim this morning?”

  He glanced at the baby. Rose’s eyes were intent on him. It was uncanny how she measured him.

  “Four miles.”

  “Four? I thought you usually did about three?”

  “I, uh, had a little more energy to work off this morning.”

  “Why?”

  He glanced at Rose.

  “Oh.” Rose had been unusually clingy and wouldn’t let Adam get anywhere near her.

  He didn’t say more. “So then, what did you do after your swim?”

  He lifted his head and stroked his chin thoughtfully. “My mother called.”

  “How nice. Do you speak with her often?”

  “About once a week. It was a short conversation.”

  How she missed her own mother and the conversations they used to have. With Anna and her mother gone, she had only Gram. Her grandmother was wonderful, and Rose’s arrival had given Mia’s life more purpose.

  “After that it was business as usual. I did some drafting, took a few calls. Went into the office for a few hours and got home in time to meet you.”

  “You didn’t hesitate to scold me about being late.”

  Adam shot her a glance, bounded up from the sofa and walked over to the French doors, running his hands through his hair. Turning to her, his eyes were two tormented storm clouds. “Look, I’m sorry about that. I was worried about her. Do you have any idea how much I want to be a part of her life? I’ve already missed her first four months. I don’t want to miss any more time with her.”

  She nodded. “Okay. I can understand that.”

  “Well, that makes me feel a whole lot better that you understand I want to know my daughter. I want to love and protect her.”

  “Adam.”

  “Let me hold her, Mia.”

  “Let’s play a game with her first. She loves peekaboo. It might make her warm up to you.”

  “All right, fine.” He softened his tone. “How do we do that?”

  “I’ll show you.” She laid the baby down on a blanket on the floor. “Want to play peekaboo, Sweet Cheeks?” Rose’s eyes followed her movement as if anticipating something more fun than a diaper change. “Come down here with me, Adam.”

  Adam scooted next to her, his thigh brushing hers as he positioned himself. Her body zinged immediately, which annoyed her. He didn’t think much of her these days, and she should get the hint already. “Reach over to the bag and hand me a receiving blanket,” she ordered.

  Adam rummaged through her bag and came up with one. “This good?”

  “Yes, thank you,” she said and softened her tone. “Now watch.”

  Mia brought the blanket very close to Rose’s face and left it there for three seconds so that she couldn’t see them, and then quickly removed it. “Peekaboo!”

  Rose broke out in cackles. It was the sweetest sound.

  “See, she loves this game. Now you do it, Adam.” She handed him the blanket.

  “Okay, I’ll give it a try. Here we go.”

  Adam repeated the same moves. “Peekaboo!”

  Rose stared at him, her mouth curving up slightly, but no real smile emerged. Her legs were kick, kick, kicking. It was something she did when she was excited.

  “Try it again. At least she’s not crying.”

  “Okay.”

  He went through the peekaboo ritual again. The baby studied him. Her inquisitive eyes roamed over his face as if she couldn’t quite figure him out. Mia felt like she had the same problem.

  “I’m going to pick her up now,” Adam said. He bent and gently lifted her, cradling the back of her head and her buttocks. “That’s it, little Rose,” he said, carefully rising with her in his arms.

  As if Rose finally realized what was happening, she turned abruptly in his arms, her body stretching out, stiffening up. Adam caught her before she wiggled free of his hold. She reached for Mia, her arms extended and pleading. Then she let out a scream.

  Mia jumped up. “Rose!”

  Adam held her back, firming up his grip. “Let me hold her, Mia. I’ll walk her around and talk to her. She can’t cry forever.”

  Mia bit her lip. Her stomach ached. It was torture hearing Rose cry and seeing her desperately reaching for her. “It might be longer than you think.”

  “Be positive, Mia. Isn’t that what you tell me?”

  “But she’s crying for me.”

  “Maybe she wouldn’t if she didn’t see you. I’ll take her in to see Mary.”

  He headed toward the kitchen, gently bouncing the baby in his arms. “Sing to her,” she called to him. “She loves music.”

  Adam nodded and walked out of the room. She closed her eyes. But that only concentrated the baby’s screeching cries over Adam’s rendition of “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” Her heart lurched, and she bit down on her lower lip to keep from calling to her.

  She couldn’t stand it.

  She walked over to the French doors and stepped outside.

  * * *

  Mia sat across from a stony-faced Adam at the dinner table. Mary had left for the day, and Rose slept on her blankets on the floor of the living room. Mia pushed chicken Florentine around on her plate. Mary had outdone herself today with the meal, but Adam’s quelling silence soured her stomach of any appetite she might’ve had.

  He sipped wine, a fine Shiraz that went well with the meal. But Adam hadn’t touched his food, either. He stared off, his gaze on the shoreline and the high tide rising. A gentle breeze blew by, coming in through the expanse of the open kitchen area, and she shuddered.

  Adam glanced at her. She shook her head—she wasn’t cold.

  Not from the winds anyway.

  “She wouldn’t go to Mary, either,” Adam said, mystified. “And Mary is good with children.”

  “I know. I heard Mary trying to calm her.”

  “She cried for twenty minutes in my arms. I tried everything.”

  He had. He’d sung out of tune to her. He’d bounced her. He’d taken her outside to see the beach. Then he’d sat down on a glider and swayed back and forth, trying to keep her from squirming out of his arms. Mia had hidden herself from the baby’s sight and stolen quick glances. She couldn’t help worrying over Rose. She’d taken care of her every need for four solid months. It had been a very hard twenty minutes, seeing the baby’s anguish and knowing she needed her aunt Mia.

  “She’s too attached to you, Mia.”

  She jumped at his comment. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that I want my daughter to know me. And that’s not happening right now.”

  “Give it time, Adam.”

  “You keep saying that. How much time? The longer she’s with you and you alone, the more attached she’ll become. Isn’t that obvious?”

  “No, it’s not obvious. She’ll warm up to you. These are new surroundings, and she’s only known you for a few days. She’s fine with Rena and Sherry at the salon. She goes to them—so I know it’s not just me she wants.”

  “Is it supposed to make me feel better knowing my daughter will go to perfect strangers, but she won’t let her own father hold her, not even for a minute, without exercising her very healthy lungs?”

  “Rena and Sherry are not perfect strangers. They are her family.”

  Adam’s face reddened. “I’m her family, Mia.”

  Oh man. This evening wasn’t going well. Her stomach lurched. Dread crept along her spine and knotted her nerves.

  He bounded up and pushed his hands through his hair. He always did that when he
was agitated. Several sandy-blond strands stood straight up, but Adam could get away with that look. It was appealing on him, a little muss to disrupt his perfectly groomed appearance.

  “There’s only one solution, Mia.”

  Her throat constricted. She buttoned her lips.

  “Rose has to live here with me.”

  Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

  Her worst fears were coming true. She knew this day would eventually come, but hearing him say it ripped her apart. “No.”

  “No? Mia, she belongs with me. I’ve already missed so much time with her. Four months to be exact. I may not be a perfect father to her right now, but I’ve got to keep trying. I know if she’s here, she’ll come to accept me quicker. You can visit her any time you’d like. It’s a promise.”

  Her eyes burned; the tears threatening to flow were white-hot flames. Her body shook, her lips quivering. “No, Adam. I can’t leave her.”

  Adam watched her carefully. This was so hard. She tried to be brave, to put up a good front, but she was ready to fall apart. Any second now, she’d shatter into a mass of tears.

  “I’ll hire you on as a babysitter,” he said, softer.

  “A babysitter?” What was he saying? She sobered a little. Grabbing the table for support, she rose on wobbly legs. She couldn’t sit still another second. “You want to pay me to take care of my beautiful niece? My own flesh and blood?”

  “Hell Mia, do you have a better idea?”

  “I already have a job, thank you very much. I own First Clips. I’m needed there.”

  His lips tightened to a thin line. His eyes became two stormy gray clouds. A battle seemed to rage inside his head. Seconds ticked by. Finally, he sighed as if he’d lost something treasured. “Fine, then. Just move in with me.”

  “M-move in with you? You couldn’t possibly want that.”

  A wry laugh rumbled from his chest. “I don’t see that I have a choice. If I want Rose here...”

  “Then you’re stuck with me, is that what you were going to say?”

  “Don’t put words in my mouth, Mia.” He gave his head a shake. “You don’t have any idea how important this is to me, or I wouldn’t even consider inviting you into my home.”

  “But we’d be living together.”

  She caught his shudder. No, he didn’t want this any more than she did.

  “It’s a big house,” he countered, “and a solution to our problem. You both move in. You can come and go as you please, and I’ll be able to see Rose whenever I want. She’ll be here every day and night. And she’ll come to accept me.”

  “I don’t know,” Mia said, stalling. The idea was sprung on her so quickly, she needed time to think it through.

  “Mia, it’s the only way to ease Rose into this transition more comfortably. It’s best for her.”

  She didn’t know if that was true. Adam wasn’t thrilled with having her live with him. How could he be? It wasn’t for romantic reasons. For all she knew, he hated her or at best resented her for the lies she’d told.

  “I don’t know if I can do it, Adam.”

  “And I don’t see that we have any other choice. You want to be with Rose as much as I do.”

  “I know she’s your daughter and you want to get to know her, but I don’t understand why you are so insistent about this since you’re clearly not comfortable around babies.”

  He stared at her, or rather, stared straight through her as if thinking hard about her question.

  Finally, he sighed. “I have my reasons.”

  She shrugged, palms out gesturing to him for an answer.

  “It’s personal.”

  Of course. How could she believe he’d give her an upfront honest reason. That would mean he’d have to divulge something about himself.

  She didn’t see that she had any choice in the matter. “When and for how long?”

  “Move in by the end of the week.” He blinked, and then added, “We’ll have to take it one day at a time from there.”

  She gulped.

  “Just say yes, Mia.”

  It probably was the best solution for Rose. And Mia couldn’t give her up cold turkey. She’d be getting what she ultimately wanted, a chance to keep Rose with her most of the time. Nothing would change other than her location. They’d just hang their hats at this gorgeous beach house instead of at her small apartment.

  Her mouth opened and she heard a squeak come out. “Yes?”

  Adam nodded, satisfied.

  But just as he turned away, a shadow of fear entered his eyes.

  The recluse’s life was about to change dramatically.

  And so was hers.

  Six

  The guest room on the second story of Adam’s home was amazing. It wasn’t cozy like her own bedroom, but she could certainly make do with the king-size bed, bulky light wood furniture and much more square footage than she’d need for her yoga workouts. There was a one-drawer desk by the window, a view of the ocean she couldn’t complain about, a lovely white brick fireplace and a sixty-inch flat-screen television hanging on the wall. All her clothes would fit into two dresser drawers and one-tenth of the walk-in closet. Adam had let her choose her room and she’d chosen the one that suited her tastes the most. Namely, it was right next door to Rose’s nursery.

  “Oh listen, Rose. Hear the big trucks? They are coming with your brand-new furniture.” Propped on pillows on the bed, Rose kicked her legs and watched her put her clothes away in the closet. The baby was learning how to roll, though she hadn’t quite gotten the hang of it yet. Even so, Mia kept an eye on her every second. It was a long way down to the floor for a four-month-old.

  Last night, Adam had enlisted her help in picking out nursery items the baby would need from a catalog, including a crib and dresser. Less than twenty-four hours later, they had arrived. Through the magic of...Chase money.

  She sighed, although she was glad Adam insisted on buying Rose all new furniture. The baby deserved as much and it meant that Mia could keep Rose’s nursery intact at her apartment for those times, if ever, she would take Rose there.

  With a fold and a tuck, the last of her sweaters were stacked neatly into the dresser drawer. As she closed the drawer slowly with the flat of her hands, a shiver coursed through her body. Her future was uncertain. She’d been driven out of one home already. How long before Adam added to her pain? How long before she felt like that same unwanted, sullied guest that had overstayed her welcome and been asked to leave? And how could she leave Rose?

  Grandma Tess hadn’t taken the news lightly of Mia moving into Adam Chase’s mansion. Mia had put a happy face on it, trying not to worry Gram with her own doubts. Gram didn’t want her getting hurt. There’d been enough heartache in their family recently. Mia couldn’t disagree. But she did point out the obvious. Adam was Rose’s legal father—the DNA test results had come back positive—and he could provide Rose with a great future.

  Sherry and Rena had a different opinion. They saw her move as an opportunity for Mia to spruce up her nonexistent love life. Mia had been dating the vice president of a financial firm six months ago, and her two pals had been sorely disappointed to learn that she’d broken it off with him weeks later. He’d been a player, fooling with women’s hearts. Mia recognized the signs and the lies immediately. And she wanted none of those games. She’d seen what her mother had gone through, putting up with her father. Mia didn’t want to make the same mistake. Rena and Sherry saw moving in with the mysterious, deadly handsome Adam Chase as a romantic adventure. Mia only saw it as a necessity. He’d given her no other option.

  A sudden quiet knocking broke into her thoughts. She turned to the door she’d left partially open, and Adam popped his head inside. “How’s it going?”

  “We’re doing fine. I’m just about unpacked.”

  Adam glanced at the baby on the bed. “May I come in?”

  She nodded.

  He took a few steps inside and gave the room a once-over, his gaze stopping on the ite
ms she’d put on the dresser—a framed photo of her mother and Gram in the early days and another of her holding the baby along with her gal pals at First Clips—then walked over to the bed, making eye contact with Rose.

  She’d thought better of putting out Anna’s picture right now, but she would eventually give it to Rose. The child had a right to know all about her mother.

  “The movers are downstairs, ready to come up,” he said, turning to her. “Would you mind showing them where you’d like everything to go?” He shrugged. “I haven’t got a clue.”

  The irony hit her hard. The master designer needed help arranging baby furniture. “I can do that.”

  “Great.”

  Mia bent and gathered Rose into her arms. “Come on, Sweet Cheeks. We’re gonna see your new digs.”

  Adam’s lips twitched and a beam of love glistened in his eyes. He reached his hand out as if to stroke the baby’s head, then retracted it quickly.

  Mia pretended not to notice.

  Thirty minutes later the movers were gone and the nursery was almost all set up. She sat on a glider, entertaining Rose with a game of patty-cake while Adam sat cross-legged on the floor staring at screws and nuts and wooden slats of the crib he’d laid out. “So you’re telling me you put Rose’s crib together all by yourself?” He spared her a glance over his shoulder.

  “I sure did.”

  He scoured over the small-print instructions for all of ten seconds, his brows gathering. “I see.”

  “What?” she asked. “If a mere woman can do it, you should be able to knock it out without a problem?”

  “I didn’t say that,” he said, his tone light.

  She chuckled. “It was implied. I’m curious—why didn’t you have the movers set it up?”

  He swiveled around to face them, those gray eyes soft now on the baby. “It’s the least I can do for Rose. A father usually sets up his baby’s crib, doesn’t he?”

  A lump formed in her throat. Her heart grew suddenly heavy. The man who had everything wanted to do something meaningful for his child. “Y-yes. I suppose he does.”

  He nodded and turned back to his task.

  “I’ll put her sheets and towels into the wash,” she said, rising. “They’ll be ready for her tonight.”