The Billionaire's Daddy Test

by Charlene Sands

“He must be at the office. I think he had a meeting.”

  Brandon eyed her curiously, the smile never leaving his face. She didn’t know what to say to him. Should she spill the beans? Adam was such a private person he might never forgive her if she did. It might be grounds for him tossing her out of the place.

  “Is there something I should know? Am I an uncle?”

  Mia shuddered.

  Brandon’s affable expression changed. “Sorry. She’s got my brother’s eyes.”

  There was no way around it. Brandon had guessed the truth. “Yes, Rose is Adam’s child. I’m her aunt Mia.”

  “Aunt?”

  She nodded. “It’s a long story—better to be told by Adam, I think.”

  Brandon stared at her and then focused on his niece. “I’m an uncle.”

  Footsteps on stone had her turning to find Mary heading their way. Thank goodness for the interruption.

  “Lunch is waiting, if you’re hungry. I’ve got coffee, tea and lemonade ready in the kitchen.”

  Mia was famished. She’d eaten very little that morning. Rose had been in a mood and she’d missed breakfast. She should refuse, but how rude would it be to make Adam’s brother eat alone? “Thanks, Mary.”

  “Shall I warm up a bottle for the little one?” Mary asked.

  “I gave her a bottle a little while ago, but I appreciate the offer.”

  They entered the kitchen and ate lunch together, while the baby played quietly in the playpen. Brandon respected her wishes and didn’t ask too many questions about the situation with Rose, other than how much she weighed at birth, how old she was and how Adam was taking to fatherhood. She skirted around the last question and turned the conversation to him. She found out he was a charter pilot working out of an Orange County airport and loved flying. He spent the remainder of their lunch speaking about his escapades in foreign countries, dealing with Homeland Security, and he told a few outrageous stories about the celebrities he’d flown around the world.

  Rose began to cry and Mia rose immediately. As she lifted her out of the playpen, the baby whimpered still and Mia knew she had no time to lose. Rose could bellow with the best of them. “Sorry, she’s hungry now. I’ve got to warm a bottle.”

  Brandon stood and walked over to her, holding out his arms. “No problem. Can I help?”

  Mia tried not to let her eyeballs go wide. He didn’t know what he was asking. “Oh...uh. She’s squeamish around strangers. I don’t think she’ll go to you.”

  “Can we try?” He had persuasive eyes, clear and so startling crystal blue a person could definitely lose their way in them.

  “Sure.” One second and he’d be handing her back.

  “This is your uncle Brandon, Sweet Cheeks. He wants to hold you while I make your bottle.”

  Mia made the transition carefully, and Rose, the little sprite, didn’t make a peep as Brandon settled her into his arms. He began moving, walking, pacing and rocking her as Mia looked on. Astonished, she’d almost forgotten about warming her bottle. “She’s a sweet one,” he said.

  Mia gulped before giving him a smile. The baby was putty in his arms. Was that a good thing? Maybe Rose was finally coming around.

  She made quick work of heating the formula in a bottle warmer. Once done, she placed the bottle above her arm and let a few drops drip onto her wrist. Brandon watched. “A test in case it’s too hot.”

  “Gotcha.” The baby was fascinated by him. She kept looking into his eyes, responding to his voice.

  “I usually feed her in the living room. Mary likes that we’re using that room.”

  Brandon followed her and sat down fairly close on the sofa. “Mind if I feed her?”

  “Uh...no, I don’t mind.” The baby might even let him.

  Mia handed him the bottle and the baby latched on to the nipple right away. She slurped and made sucking noises. “She’s quite a guzzler.” He chuckled and seemed comfortable holding an infant.

  “She is growing like a weed.”

  Brandon took his eyes off the baby to give Mia a look. “I knew a Mia once, an older Italian woman who herded sheep. I can tell you stories...”

  “Please do,” she said. She enjoyed his company. He was a charming, funny man who wasn’t afraid to talk about himself, and she didn’t mind the distraction from his brother, who would rather have a root canal than smile.

  They were quietly laughing, Brandon just finishing a story about his crazy stay in Siena, the baby peacefully asleep in his arms, when Adam walked into the room. He stopped midway and gave Mia a cold glance before sending a grim look to his brother. His eyes were filled with indignation.

  “Brandon.” He kept his voice low, menacing. “What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you until Monday.”

  “There was a change in plans.”

  Adam’s mouth twisted in an unbecoming snarl. “There always is.”

  “Sorry, bro. I didn’t think it would be a problem.”

  “It is a problem.”

  Adam frowned at Mia. There’d be no more smiles today for anyone.

  “The baby is a stunner, Adam. Congratulations.”

  Adam blinked, his gaze shifting from her to the baby. “It’s none of your concern, Brandon.”

  “Hey, you’re a father, Adam. And that makes me this one’s uncle. That’s something to celebrate. Isn’t she the reason you summoned me here?”

  Adam’s teeth clenched. He kept his focus on Rose now, in his brother’s arms. Mia could only imagine what thoughts plagued his head. The baby wouldn’t go to him, yet she took to Brandon, Adam’s obviously estranged brother, like peanut butter to jelly.

  “Does Mom know she’s a grandmother?” Brandon asked.

  Adam shook his head. “Not yet.”

  Mia rose from her seat. “Maybe I’d better let you two talk this out. Brandon, I’ll take the baby—”

  “Leave her be, Mia.” Adam’s voice was rough, his gaze chillier than a deep freeze. “I don’t want to break up your little party.”

  “It’s not a party, for heaven’s sake, Ad—”

  He faced her, betrayal shining in his eyes. “Did you tell him everything?”

  “She told me nothing,” Brandon interjected in her defense, which only seemed to irritate Adam further.

  “I’m asking Mia,” he said, enunciating each word.

  Defusing the situation was tricky. “No, I only told him that Rose was yours and that I’m her aunt. I thought it best for you to explain the details,” she said.

  He pinned her down. “That’s all?”

  She nodded and glanced at Brandon. “He was kind enough not to pressure me with questions.”

  “My brother’s a regular Mr. Nice Guy.”

  Brandon rose now, careful with the baby in his arms. “Adam, don’t take your sour mood out on Mia. Okay, so I showed up a few days early. My bad. Obviously, you’ve got issues going on here that you need to work out. I’ll leave and come back another time.”

  Adam gave his head a shake. If he hoped to clear away his foul mood, it didn’t work. “No. I need to talk to you. Tonight. We’ll talk after dinner.”

  Brandon approached Adam with the baby, ready to hand her to him. Mia immediately stood and intervened. “I’ll take her.”

  Wouldn’t that just put a perfect ending on this afternoon for Rose to leave Brandon’s arms only to start sobbing uncontrollably when Adam took hold of her. The scene played out in her head with HD clarity. She couldn’t allow that to happen.

  Brandon swiveled around, and opened his arms enough for Mia to gently take Rose from him. Little sleepyhead kept on sleeping, thankfully.

  “Like I said, don’t let me break up your little party. I have work to do.”

  Adam stalked out of the room leaving Brandon and Mia standing there, dumbfounded.

  Seven

  Adam pushed his hands through his hair half a dozen times as he paced the floor in his home office. He’d deliberately set his office in the front of the house, so he wouldn’t be
distracted by the roar of the ocean, beachgoers’ voices carrying inside the room or a brilliant sun setting over the California shoreline. His windows open, sea breezes blew inside and ruffled the papers lying on his drafting table. He walked over and put a pewter paperweight over them. He wasn’t going to get any work done today.

  Brandon was here. It had been two years last Christmas since he’d seen him. His mother had insisted her boys share the holiday with her. They’d gone to her home at Sunny Hills and spent nine hours of rigid politeness being around each other. His mother’s attempt at reconciliation hadn’t worked and it had been awkward as hell. Adam wasn’t ready to forgive Brandon for stealing Jacqueline away. Brandon, in one way or another, had been the source of pain for him all of his life. Yet, Brandon was the son whom his mother loved most. Deep down, Adam thought his mother had never forgiven him for what happened to Lily, though she’d never admitted that to him. Adam gnashed his teeth. Hell, he’d never forgiven himself. And he’d never divulged to his mother Brandon’s part in Lily’s death. Only Adam knew the absolute truth about what had happened that day.

  Earlier today, when he’d seen Brandon holding Rose, acid had spilled into his gut. He’d held back a barrage of curses. Brandon, the charmer, had already won Rose over, while Adam stood on the sidelines waiting and hoping his little baby would come to accept him.

  Later that night over dinner, all was quiet. Mia didn’t say a word that wasn’t directed to the baby. Brandon was treading carefully, too. Several times, he’d caught Brandon shooting Mia conspiratorial sideway glances. Somehow Adam had become the villain.

  Fine by him.

  He was too wound up to give a damn.

  Mia rose from the table after her meal and lifted the baby from her playpen. Rose clung to her neck so sweetly Adam ached inside. “I think we’ll turn in early tonight,” she said. “Good night, Brandon. Adam.”

  The sun had just set and it was especially early for her to hit the sack. Even little Rose didn’t go to bed until nine. Mia wasn’t fooling him. He’d behaved badly earlier this afternoon and she was annoyed with him. He probably deserved her scorn. And it was better that he speak with Brandon in private anyway. He was ready with a condensed version of the story to tell his brother about Rose. He didn’t need Mia interjecting facts.

  “Good night, Mia,” Brandon said, rising to his feet. “Nice meeting you. And give that little one a good-night kiss from Uncle Brandon.”

  Mia smiled warmly at him. “I’ll be sure to.”

  She was halfway out the door, when Adam spoke up. “I’ll be up in a little while. Keep her awake until I get there.”

  Mia whirled on him instantly, shooting him twin green daggers with her eyes.

  Great.

  “Rose will sleep when she’s tired, Adam, which I think was about five minutes ago. We’re not waiting up.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Fine. Good night, then.”

  As soon as she left the room, Brandon grinned like a schoolboy. “You sure know how to charm them.”

  He bounded up, striding out of the kitchen to the bar outside on the patio. Fresh briny air smacked him in the face, and it was far gentler than Mia’s reprimand. Technically, he could demand that she obey his wishes. He was Rose’s father. He had all rights when it came to his daughter, but he’d never pull that card on Mia. Not unless she gave him good reason to.

  He grabbed two highball glasses from underneath the white-and-black granite-topped bar and poured them both a drink. Brandon preferred bourbon, but Adam wasn’t feeling especially generous tonight. He poured vodka into both glasses and handed him one as he walked up. “I’m going to make this quick. Want to take a seat?”

  “Okay.” The iron legs of the chaise scraped across the stone decking as Brandon pulled the chair out and sat down. He lifted his glass. “Thanks,” he said and took a sip. His facial muscles tightened as he swallowed the strong liquor and leaned back.

  Adam didn’t want to start out on a bad note with his brother. He was ready to put the past behind him for his mother’s sake, but having Brandon show up unannounced today and finding him holding his baby, his perfect little child who couldn’t stand the sight of her own father, had snapped his patience.

  He didn’t like seeing Mia’s eyes go warm and gooey over Brandon, either.

  He dismissed that notion. Mia wasn’t his concern. His mother and his child were his priorities now.

  “So, tell me about the kid, Adam. She’s yours—that much I know. And her mother is gone?”

  He nodded. “Mia’s sister died shortly after the birth.”

  “That’s rough. Were you two close?”

  “No, it wasn’t like that. We barely knew each other.”

  “But you’re certain the baby is yours?” Brandon asked.

  “She is. DNA tests confirmed it. She’s got the Chase birthmark, if DNA wasn’t enough proof.” A wry laugh erupted from his chest.

  “No kidding. And what about Mia?”

  “She spent months raising her and now she’s moved in here, helping to make Rose’s transition easier.”

  “Man, you sound like you’re talking about some business merger or something. It’s clear Mia loves that child. What about you?”

  “Of course I love Rose. She’s my daughter.” It was love at first sight. On his part, anyway.

  “You didn’t pick her up when I tried to hand her to you. I haven’t seen you hold her. And what’s with you ordering Mia around like she’s your indentured servant?”

  Adam drew oxygen into his lungs. The chilly air helped keep his hot temper at bay. “None of that is important right now.” He wasn’t going to reveal how Mia had duped him when they first met. How she’d been doing her own form of investigation to make sure he was father material. Or that his daughter screamed blue murder when he tried to hold her. Wouldn’t Mr. Charming have a good laugh over that one? “Look, I had an affair with Mia’s sister. It wasn’t serious and it ended mutually. I only learned weeks ago from Mia that Rose was conceived when we were together.

  “So now I’ve got the baby here and we’re trying to figure it out. Rose will always live with me.”

  “So you and Mia aren’t...”

  Adam shook his head a little too vehemently. “No. She’s gone as soon as we feel Rose has acclimated to...the surroundings.”

  “Gone? Isn’t that cold, Adam? She loves that child. It’s clear Rose has formed a strong attachment to her. Who wouldn’t? Mia’s sweet and gorgeous and—”

  “Brandon, lay off, okay? I said we’re trying to figure it all out. And what makes you an expert on Mia D’Angelo anyway? You’ve known her for less than six hours.”

  “We talked. I have good instincts about people. She’s a keeper.”

  Adam clenched his jaw. Was his brother really trying to give him romantic advice? “Do you want to know why I asked you to come here?”

  “Has something to do with Mom. Her birthday’s coming up.” Brandon sipped his drink.

  “That’s right. It’s her seventieth, and she wants only one thing from us.”

  “I can only guess.”

  “You got it. She wants us to patch up our differences. She wants to see her family whole again.” It would never be, without Dad and Lily, but that was beside the point.

  Brandon shoved the tumbler aside and leaned in from his nonchalant position on the chair. His elbows came to rest on the patio table. “I’ve tried, Adam. But you weren’t ready to hear me.”

  Adam stared toward the ocean. The swells were high now, breaking on the shore in white foam that cleansed the sand. If only he could cleanse away the bitter pain that seeped into his soul that easily. Maybe that’s what he was hoping for with those daily dawn swims, to wash away all the bad things in his life.

  Brandon had always been at the very core of his pain. He’d been selfish and self-serving as a young boy, but Adam had never told his mother the true story. Because ultimately, he’d been the older one. He’d been responsible for Lily. “I’m l
istening now, Brandon.”

  “You’re doing this for Mom.”

  He shrugged. “Does it matter why?”

  Brandon drew a deep breath. “I guess not. I never meant to hurt you, Adam. As much as you may not want to hear this, I swear to you—Jacqueline and I never went behind your back.”

  Adam looked into his tumbler, sighed and then polished off the rest of it. He let the burn of alcohol settle in his gut before turning to face his brother. “No. You did it right in front of me.”

  “Not true. I admit, I fell for her from almost the moment I met her. Right here in this house. But she was your girlfriend, Adam. And I saw how much you cared for her. I never acted on my feelings. I never flirted. I never—”

  “You were just your usual charming self.”

  “I am who I am.”

  Adam scoffed. “You’re saying you couldn’t help yourself?”

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying. You have to believe me. I fell hard for her, but never once thought about trying to come between you. I pretty much kept out of your hair. If you remember, I hardly showed up around here while you were dating. And when you two broke up, I struggled with that, but I didn’t call her. I wanted to. I was in love with her, Adam. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. And I tried not to think about her. I figured out of sight, out of mind. Then one day, out of the blue, she called me. She had a friend who wanted to charter a flight for a special anniversary party. It began just by talking on the phone. A few dinners later, we were both in love. That’s exactly how it happened, Adam. She didn’t break up with you because of me.”

  Adam’s mouth tightened. He gazed out to sea again, nodding his head. What was done was done. He’d have to live with Brandon’s explanation for now. It had been six years. Jacqueline was out of the picture and his sister Lily wasn’t ever coming back. If mending fences with Brandon would make his mother happy, he’d do it. “Okay. I understand.”

  Brandon slumped back against the chaise, his eyes incredulous. “You do? Just like that? For years, you’ve kept your distance. Now, you believe me?”

  He’d recently discovered that he no longer cared about the situation with Brandon and Jacqueline. As far as he was concerned, it was ancient history. “I believe you didn’t know how much it would affect me.”