Most Eligible Single Dad - A Billionaire's Secret Baby Romance (Love Is Priceless Book 2)

by Holly Rayner

  “Gracias,” I said as I pressed a healthy tip into his hand.

  I cracked a soda and took a tentative sip. Mornings had been hit or miss recently. Some days I woke up feeling like my old self. Some, I simply felt old and sick. Today was shaping up to be a good morning. I didn’t feel like I needed to throw up, yet, and that was a good start.

  I worked through my morning routine, brushing my teeth and hair and getting dressed. I stacked my suitcases next to the door and called the desk to request a luggage cart be sent up.

  I followed the porter as he pushed the card out of my room and into the elevator. In the lobby, I stopped at the desk to thank them for all their help and to check out.

  The porter led the way to the loading area where he began unloading my bags from the luggage cart and lifting them into the trunk of the car the hotel had arranged for me.

  “Señorita, where are you going?” Marco’s voice brought my head around so fast, I stumbled.

  Marco reached out to catch me, and I looked up into his kind face and felt the knot of tears burn in my throat.

  “I’m going home, Marco. Just like Raul wants me to do.”

  “He wants no such thing, and you know it.”

  I shook my head.

  “No, I don’t. I know he says he can’t forgive me and I’m tired of begging.”

  “And what about señorita Rey? Will you leave without saying goodbye again?”

  I flinched. I knew I shouldn’t leave without seeing Rey. I wanted to see her, hug her, and say goodbye.

  “I don’t have time. My flight leaves in two hours.”

  Marco turned to the porter.

  “Put those bag in my car. That one,” he said, pointing to the vehicle. “And hurry. We are short on time.”

  In a flurry of activity, my bags were transferred from the car-for-hire to Raul’s limo, and I was ensconced in the back seat before I could rethink my decision.

  We rode in silence, though Marco kept shooting me reassuring looks as we drove. When we pulled into the garage, Rey was just stepping out of the elevator.

  I flung the car door open and stepped out in time to catch Rey as she flung her arms around me.

  “I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. Not again.”

  “Never again, Rey. I can’t hurt you like that ever again.”

  Rey clung to me. When her shoulders started to shake as she cried, I held her even tighter, crushing her against me as tears of my own slid down my cheeks.

  “I don’t want you to go,” she sobbed.

  “I don’t want to go. I never wanted to go, but sometimes grownups have to do things they don’t want to do.”

  “Papi says things like that all the time. ‘Grownups have to do things they don’t want to. Grown-up relationships are different.’ Why does he think I can’t figure things out and understand?”

  “I’m sure that’s not what he thinks, Rey. He’s just trying to protect you.”

  “Are you trying to protect me, too?”

  That stopped me. Was I trying to protect Rey or myself?

  “Of course I want to protect you. I love you, Rey.”

  Her eyes when she looked up at me were as big as saucers.

  “You do?”

  “Of course I do. You’re an amazing young lady. You share my love of detective work and romance novels.”

  “And you love my papi?”

  “And I do love your father, but I messed that up beyond repair.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. Papi loves you. I know he does. He’s been so moody since you left and even more since you came back.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. He’s upstairs hiding in his office right now because he didn’t want me to see how sad he was that you were leaving.”

  Rey’s admission tightened something in my gut. Was it worth the damage it might do to go up there and try one more time to beg for Raul’s forgiveness? To put myself in the line of fire of his temper yet again? Or should I just get back in the car, go to the airport, and go home?

  I knew my heart couldn’t take another rejection from Raul. Not after the one from the day before. I’d just call his lawyer when I got to New York and find out how he wanted to handle our future communication.

  Marcus cleared his throat.

  “My apologies, but I have to get señorita Rey to school and your flight leaves soon.”

  “Gracias, Marcos. If Rey rides with me to the airport, will you be able to get her to school on time?”

  “With time to spare.”

  “Then let’s do it.”

  I pulled Rey into the car. She sat as close to me as she could on the wide bench seat. I wrapped my arm around her and held on tight as we made our way to the airport.

  “I have to ask you to be grownup and do me a favor, can you do that for me?”

  She turned her tear-bright eyes up to meet mine. I felt like I was going to dissolve into hysterical tears myself.

  “Take good care of your father,” I said, holding her close. “He’s going to need someone who will look out for him. Can you do that?”

  Rey nodded and tears slipped from her bright eyes.

  “Please don’t cry, Rey. Here, give me your phone.”

  She handed me her phone, and I quickly added my phone number to it.

  “There, you can call or text me anytime you want to.”

  Rey took the phone and typed something into it. My phone beeped in my purse. I pulled it out and saw she’d texted me.

  “I wish you were going to be my mom,” the screen showed.

  And that was it. I was sobbing and clinging to Rey.

  “I’m so sorry, honey. I want that more than anything in the world right now. I wish it could be.”

  “Me, too,” she sniffled.

  “We’re here, señoritas.”

  I looked out the window and saw the bustle of the airport.

  “Remember what I told you about your father. Be good. Do well in school, and call me when you can. I love you, Rey. Never doubt or forget that.”

  I got out of the car and stood by while Marco transferred my bags to the porter’s cart. When he closed the trunk, he looked at me, hesitated a moment, and then leaned down to give me an awkward hug.

  “What was that for?”

  “I’m sure I will see you again, but just in case. You would have been good for this family, señorita.”

  “You’re good for this family, Marco. Take care of them for me.”

  “I will. Take care of the little one for us.”

  “I will.”

  I walked to the check-in with the porter, refusing to turn back and see the car pulling away, taking my future and happiness with it.

  Chapter 45

  Raul

  “Was there anything else I can do for you today, señor?”

  Gabriela looked at me, her expression telling me that wasn’t the first time she’d asked me the question, but it was the first time I’d heard her.

  A headache thumped behind my eyes, and I lifted a hand to rub my temples.

  “No, no. Thanks, Gabriela.”

  My assistant nodded and left the room. I stared after her, suddenly reminded that the first time I’d heard Tanya’s fake name had been from Gabriela when Tanya had set up the meeting about the Manhattan lot.

  I groaned and shook my head before glancing at the clock on my computer. Tanya’s flight would be taking off in an hour. She was on her way back to New York.

  Good Lord, she was on her way back to New York. What had I done?

  For at least the third time since I’d come into my office, I reached for the phone to have Marco pick me up and take me to the airport. This time, I actually picked up the phone and dialed.

  “Sí, señor.”

  “Uh, Marco, how long will it take us to get to the airport?”

  “I’m in the garage now, señor. Meet me at the car. I will get you there before the plan takes off or I’ll quit.”

  I burst
out laughing. I couldn’t help it. Marco had been with my family for going on twenty years, if he was willing to risk his job, he meant he’d get me there.

  “I’m on my way.”

  I hung up and grabbed my cell phone off my desk and ran for the door.

  “Reschedule everything and forward anything super important to my cell phone,” I called as I passed Gabriela’s desk at a dead run.

  I took the express elevator to the garage where Marco already had the car running. I ducked into the back seat, and we peeled out of the lot.

  “What’s wrong with me, Marco? Why did I let her leave?”

  “You’re stubborn, señor. I’ve said it before.”

  “Yes, you have.”

  Marco pulled the car to a stop at the airport, and I leaped out. I ran to the departures board where I scanned for the flight to JFK. I saw the terminal was at the far end of the airport. And the flight was leaving in ten minutes. I’d never make it.

  I ran to the check-in desk and flagged down one of the desk attendants.

  “Señorita, please, I need your help.”

  Chapter 46

  Tanya

  I stared at the plane through the wall of windows. That huge silver tube was going to send me back to New York where I’d be alone. Pregnant and alone. It sounded like the next big reality television hit. And it sounded like a failure.

  The gate attendant announced that we were boarding the flight for New York. I stood up and checked the area around me for any of my stuff. The last thing I wanted to was to leave my phone at the airport in Madrid.

  I grabbed the handle of my carry-on and dragged it toward the gate, bending down to fish my boarding pass out of the front pocket. While I was bent down, the PA system came on and a familiar voice began to speak.

  “Buenos días, señores y señoras. Please excuse my interruption. I promise not to take too much of your time. There’s a wonderful woman in this airport, and she’s about to get on a plane and leave for New York, but I hope to change her mind.”

  The gate attendant held out her hand for my boarding pass. I held up a finger.

  “I need to hear this,” I said.

  Her eyes went wide. “Are you the woman he’s talking about?”

  I nodded and then waited for Raul to go on.

  “I have been on my own for a long time now, and sometimes I’ve forgotten how much it meant to have a smiling face greet me in the morning. I miss having someone to share private jokes with. I miss having someone in my life with whom I can confide my most intimate thoughts and dreams. I found that woman, and when things weren’t perfect, I made them worse because I forgot that relationships aren’t perfect. They’re as flawed and crazy as the people in them are.”

  That painful lump was back in my throat. The gate attendant gave up and stopped waiting for me to give her my boarding pass. She was too busy listening to Raul. Everyone at the gate and all the other gates was listening to him.

  “My daughter reminded me recently that I can be stubborn and hardheaded. I didn’t agree with her at the time, but I’ve thought about it. I forgot that no one is perfect. Not me, not her, not anyone. I should be counting my blessings to have found a woman who loves my daughter as her own. A woman who loves me and is carrying my baby. A woman who is bright and beautiful and so dedicated to family that she was willing to give up everything to care for her mother. If that woman were willing to forgive me, I would be the luckiest man in the world.”

  Everyone in the gate area was staring at me now. I held my breath, waiting for Raul to continue. But there was only silence. When I saw people pointing, I turned to see a cart coming around the corner. A security guard drove a harried-looking Raul, stopping the cart with a jerk at the gate. Raul stepped out of the cart and stopped when he saw me.

  “You deserve better, Tanya, but I’m here to beg your forgiveness. I promise I won’t push you away again. I promise to be by your side from now until forever.”

  Raul walked forward, slowly, cautiously, as though he were approaching a dangerous, wounded animal. It must have been the look on my face. He stopped two paces from me.

  “What do you say, Tanya? Can you forgive me?”

  By way of response, I took two steps forward, grasped his tie, and pulled him in for a kiss.

  It was the kiss of my life. My knees actually buckled, and Raul’s arms came up to catch me. He held me against his chest and let the kiss deepen.

  “Stay with me, Tanya. Let’s find a way to make things work.”

  I nodded, and he crushed me to his chest again. The passengers in the gate area erupted in applause.

  “We’ll figure out what to do about your luggage later. Come home with me.”

  I nodded, and my heart raced when he took my hand and held it as we walked back to the arrivals area where Marco was waiting with the car.

  “I’m glad you found her, señor.”

  “Meddler.”

  Marco winked at me and held the door for us.

  “Where to, señor?”

  “Home, Marco. Home.”

  Chapter 47

  Raul

  I put my arm around Tanya’s shoulders and pulled her close. I was unwilling to let her be away from me now that I’d found I couldn’t live without her.

  “I want to take you shopping for baby stuff. I can’t wait to be able to do that. I loved getting everything ready for Rey.”

  Tanya gave me a smile that bordered on sad.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “How’s Rey going to feel about the baby?”

  “She’s going to be…”

  I stopped. I honestly didn’t know how to answer Tanya’s question. Rey had always been my little girl. It had been just the two of us for so long. How would she feel about not just Tanya coming to be part of our life, but a new baby as well?

  “Señorita Rey will adore being a big sister, and you both know it.”

  “Marco, I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself.”

  Marco chuckled, and I rolled the divider up to give Tanya and me a little privacy.

  “He’s not wrong,” I said, kissing her.

  “We need to tell her right away. We can’t have something like this hanging over us.”

  “You’re right. As soon as Rey comes home from school, we’ll tell her about the baby.”

  The smile she gave me this time was brilliant, with no hint of sadness.

  “I love you,” she said with a look that promised trouble.

  “I love you, too.” I cocked my head and waited to hear what bombshell Tanya had for me. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” Tanya’s voice was several octaves higher than normal.

  I grasped her shoulders and met her eyes.

  “No, really, what’s going on?”

  “Well, when I thought you would be living here and I’d be living in New York, I kind of agreed to let my mother plan several parties for me and the baby, including a gender reveal, a shower, and a cake-smash photo session. Oh, also the baby’s first birthday.”

  “Oh, dear Lord. That’s it, it’s off. Go back to New York. I can’t have a child of mine photographed while smashing a cake.” I held her tighter while chuckling.

  Tanya giggled, a noise I determined right then and there I wanted to hear a lot more often, and then kissed me. I could definitely live with this kind of connection.

  Marco pulled into the garage at the penthouse and dropped us at the door to the elevator. Tanya hugged the driver when he held her door for her. I was glad Marco felt protective of Tanya and close to her, but a little stab of jealousy still shot through me.

  “I can see I’m going to have to teach you both about the proper distance to maintain between employer and employee.”

  “Don’t listen to him, señorita Tanya. You maintain the hug rule as much as you like.”

  Marco winked at Tanya and gave me his most condescending smile. I knew he was right. Tanya would hug the help, and I would smile when she did it because I
wanted her to be happy.

  “Go pick up my daughter, you old meddler,” I said, smiling. “I’ll call the school and have them release her early for a family emergency. And keep the news you know to yourself or I really will fire you.”

  They looked at each other and smiled before turning their smiles on me.

  “Meddlers,” I muttered and pushed the button on the elevator.

  Marco ducked into the car and left to pick up Rey. I took Tanya upstairs to my—our home.

  Chapter 48

  Tanya

  I clutched Raul’s hand, afraid that if I let go, he’d disappear into the fog of a bad airplane-food-induced nightmare. As though he read my mind, he lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

  “I’m not going to disappear. And I’m not going to push you away ever again.”

  I kissed him, letting myself fall into the kiss without fear it would be my last. When the doors slid open to the penthouse, Raul pulled me into the living room and continued the kiss. When we finally came up for air, all I could do was grin like a fool.

  “I love you, Raul,” I said, suddenly serious.

  “I love you, too.”

  “I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

  “I want you to be with me for the rest of our lives.”

  “I want you to help me convince my mother not to try to name our child Zigfried.”

  “Why do I feel like I’m promising more than it sounds like I am?”

  “Because you’re a smart man and you haven’t yet met my mother.”

  He pulled me into his arms and held me, making me feel warm and cherished.

  “We’ll have to change that. How do you think she’ll feel about coming here?”

  “To Madrid? She’ll love it. You’ll need a crowbar to get her out once she settles in.”

  “Then we’ll just have to move her here so she can be part of our lives and the lives of our children.”

  My jaw dropped.

  “Do you mean that?”