Accidental Triplets - A Secret Babies for the Billionaire Romance (San Bravado Billionaires' Club Book 4)

by Layla Valentine

  “And I just thought that maybe…him and I…could…”

  I couldn't take it anymore. The tears began to flow and I started sobbing like a little kid who'd slammed her knee into the corner of a coffee table. My parents rushed over to my side and wrapped their arms around me, holding me close.

  “Oh, it's okay, baby,” Mom said. “Just let it out.”

  “I can't believe my little girl's going to be a mother,” Dad said.

  It felt good to be held by them, and soon, the crying fit passed like a storm drifting off into the distance.

  “I just don't know what to do,” I said. “I don't know if I have it in me to be a single mom.”

  “I could drive back down to San Bravado with you and kick this guy's ass,” said my Dad. “That might get him thinking straight.”

  I let out a sniffing snort-laugh.

  “You guys aren't mad?” I asked, my voice soft, as though I were expecting to be grounded or something.

  “You're our little girl,” Mom said. “And we're about to be grandparents. How could we be mad?”

  She continued to hold me close as my dad went back over to the couch.

  “You know,” he said. “This could all be a blessing in disguise.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Every time we talk to you on the phone, you mention how you're not happy in that job of yours.”

  Anxiety took hold of my gut as soon as my father mentioned my job. Rhys had pulled some strings and gotten my position covered for the time that I'd be working with him, but I was still supposed to go back there as soon as the cruelty-free line was done. I realized that there wasn't anything that I wanted less.

  “And now,” he said, gesturing to the manila folder, “you have the chance to pursue your dreams. Most people would kill for a chance like this. And here you are, having one put right in front of you.”

  He was right, and I knew it.

  “And who knows,” he said. “Maybe this jackass will come around and decide to do the right thing. In the meantime, you can start your own design label, like you've always wanted.”

  I knew there was a reason that I'd come to visit my parents—they always seemed to know the right things to say. And it didn't hurt one bit to know that I had their unconditional support.

  “I think right now, you just need to get into your jammies and get some rest,” said Mom. “You've got a lot to think about.”

  I agreed. Soon, I was in my old room, the place seeming from another lifetime. Settling into bed, I allowed myself to feel hopeful for the first time in a long while.

  Chapter 17

  Rhys

  The ground beneath the helicopter swirled with dirt as we landed. Once it set down with a lurch, I got out and cast a long glance at my parents’ home. Pride welled inside of me, just as it always did when I laid eyes on the estate I'd purchased for Mom and Dad. It was a white, colonial-style home, situated just a hundred or so feet from the coast in the little town of San Luis Fernando, about an hour’s drive—or fifteen-minute flight—away from the city.

  I'd grown up in humble circumstances, to say the least, and as soon as I’d been able to afford something better for my parents, I purchased it, making sure that the dilapidated home where I’d grown up was a distant memory for us all.

  I don't know what came over me. After the previous day wherein I gave Cassidy the details of our arrangement, only to have to rush to the opening with Nina, I woke up the next morning feeling like I just had to get away from it all. So, I called up my parents and let them know I'd be coming in for the day. The quiet of their home and the calm of the beach never failed to put my mind at ease, if only for a little while.

  “Mom, Dad,” I said, stepping up to the porch where my parents awaited me.

  My father, a tall man with a craggy face and calloused hands, gave me a firm pat on the back.

  “Rhys,” he said gruffly.

  My mother, the picture of a matronly all-American woman—heavy-set and kind-faced, with a head of curly, dyed-blond hair—was next. She threw her arms around me and pulled me in for a tight hug.

  “Still a hell of a thing to see my son show up in a damn helicopter,” said my dad, his eyes on the chopper as it took off and disappeared into the distance.

  “I can have it sent for you at any time, you know,” I said.

  “No, thank you,” my dad said. “I get around in a car, like a normal person. Letting you buy us this house is about all the doting on us that I'm going to let you do.”

  My father was an old-fashioned sort of man, and despite my billions, wasn't about to let me take the role of breadwinner of his household from him. Despite being nearly in his seventies, he still worked forty hours a week, doing carpentry odd jobs around San Luis Fernando.

  “Let's get you inside,” my mom said. “I've got coffee waiting for you.”

  We stepped into the spacious but cozy interior of the house. My father and I sat down at the round, white kitchen table, facing the windows in the room that looked out over the lapping waves of the beach.

  “Something's wrong,” he said. “Let's hear it.”

  My mom brought coffee and sat down with us, her rosy face crinkled with worry. I considered my situation for a moment, wondering if there was a diplomatic way to explain everything. But under my father's hard stare, I knew that dancing around the issue would be a waste of time.

  So, I told them everything.

  “You got a girl pregnant,” my father said. “Well, you know I've been telling you to grow up and start a family. Can't be doing the bachelor thing forever. But I didn't think this would be the way you did it.”

  “I know that it's…less than ideal. At least, that's what I keep saying. But what am I supposed to do? Just come clean about everything?”

  “Do you really think that's so stupid of an idea?” my father asked. “That you tell the truth and come clean about everything? That you be honest?”

  “But you don't understand,” I said. “This relationship with Nina…it could make or break my sales for this upcoming line. And you both know how long I've been attempting to promote cruelty-free clothing. It's a sacrifice now, but the good it will do… Just imagine if the success of my line inspired other designers to pursue cruelty-free lines. I have the chance to make a real impact in the world.”

  “Sure,” said my father. “All you have to do is lie to everyone and make your kid grow up without a father.”

  “I'd still be in his or her life,” I said, protesting. “It's not as though I'd be banishing Cassidy. She'd be here in San Bravado, and I'd be around to make sure she and the baby get everything they need.”

  “But you wouldn't be telling the child that you're their father,” said my mother.

  “Well, no. That'd defeat the entire purpose of the plan.”

  “Then you'd just be ‘cool Uncle Rhys' or something,” my father said. “Popping in to buy them whatever they want for their birthday.”

  “It's a fair compromise,” I said, crossing my arms and trying to put the matter to rest.

  My parents, however, exchanged a glance that made it clear they were far from convinced.

  “You really think that this is a substitute for having a father around?” my mom asked.

  “It's as good as I'm going to be able to do.”

  “And this woman,” Mom said. “You think she's okay with all of this?”

  “She seemed to be taking it all in stride.”

  “Not the same thing,” said my father.

  A moment of silence descended upon the table.

  “Well, I think that's enough debate for now,” Mom said. “Why don't I put this fancy kitchen to use and cook us up something good for dinner? Pot roast sound good?”

  “That sounds great,” I said, standing up and giving my mother a kiss on the cheek as I stepped towards the coffee maker and poured myself another cup.

  Mug in hand, I stepped towards the window and looked out at the surf. My parents’ wor
ds echoed in my mind, and I felt my certainty in my plan melting away by the moment.

  Then, my phone rang. Checking the caller ID, I saw that it was Nina. I sighed, stepped into the nearby living room, and answered.

  “Hello, darling,” I said.

  “You don't need to do the bit,” she said, a sharp edge to her voice. “Unless you're somewhere near prying ears.”

  “Just at my parents’,” I said. “What's going on?”

  “I just wanted to tell you how unhappy I am that you arrived so late to the gallery opening. That put me in a very awkward position, you know.”

  “Why? You not allowed to show up somewhere solo?”

  “Please, Rhys—you should know how the gossip machine works by now. I show up to an event alone, and people start talking. Even if it's just a few stories for the night, it's bad publicity.”

  “I thought any publicity was good publicity.”

  “Not when it makes us look like we can't handle our relationship. It makes people start to wonder what else we're unable to manage.”

  “Point taken.”

  “But the good news is that our joint line is doing very, very well. I was a little apprehensive about this plan of yours, but I think it's going to pay off in the long run.”

  “See?” I said. “I sometimes know what I'm doing. Once my cruelty-free line comes out, our little merger of companies and love lives is going to take both of us to the next level.”

  “I'm sure that extra million in your bank account will make all the difference in the world.”

  “You, of all people, should know that this is about more than money.”

  “Fine, fine. But here's the deal: You and I need to put on a bit of a show for our adoring public to make sure that they all know things are fine between the two of us.”

  “What'd you have in mind?”

  “You know Saffron?”

  “As in the three-Michelin-star restaurant with reservations booked into the next decade?”

  “The very same. I managed to get the two of us a table in a month.”

  “Impressive.”

  “I have my moments. I don't give a damn what you have planned for that day—you're going to cancel it and go to Saffron with me. And, in the meantime, I've arranged a nice little itinerary for places where you and I can be seen together.”

  “You're really on the ball,” I said.

  “I don't screw around when it comes to my reputation.”

  “I can see that.”

  “So, this month leading up to our evening out I want to make sure everything looks good for the press. I don't want any rumors floating around. Other than the ones we want them to believe, that is.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Until next time.”

  And that was that.

  I sighed and slipped the phone back into my pocket. Turning around, I saw that my father was standing in the doorway, leaning against the molding.

  “Exhausted yet?” he asked with a raised, greying eyebrow.

  “I'm getting there,” I said. “But if it all works…”

  “You know, they say the nice thing about telling the truth is that you don't have to remember what your lies were. Something to think about.”

  I took a sip of my coffee and turned towards the window. I had more than just “something” to think about.

  Chapter 18

  Cassidy

  One Month Later

  My pencil scribbled furiously. Inspiration had struck, and I wasn't about to let it get away. My hand moved as though it were possessed, effortlessly drawing the lines of the new dress that I could picture so clearly in my mind that I could've sworn it was already real. I went on and on, filling in details here and there, only pausing to sip my tea before turning my attention back to the work. I was in the zone, and nothing was going to stop me.

  As I sketched, I thought over the events of the past few weeks. After my talk with my parents, I’d signed the NDA and payment agreement with Rhys and told the Cole Apparel store that I wouldn’t be coming back to work. I’d also rented out an office space, and had officially established my own design company. It was tiny and just barely getting going, but it was something. As far as the work side of things went, I was feeling more satisfied than I had in years.

  Then, it hit. That nausea that had been coming and going since that first night with Erin, when the espresso martinis had smelled to me like the worst things in the world, came back with a vengeance. Shooting up from my desk, my eyes swept around the floor of my small office space, the handful of interns that made up my staff looking up at me with worried eyes.

  “You okay, Cass?” asked Maria, who'd come to work for me.

  “Nope,” I said, then immediately rushed in the direction of the bathroom.

  After dealing with my bout of morning sickness, I washed up and sat back against the marble line of sinks, wiping away the sheen of sweat that had appeared on my forehead. In moments like this, everything seemed so overwhelming; not only was I dealing with starting a new business, I had the pregnancy on top of that. Part of me wondered if I was going to be able to manage.

  “All good?” asked Maria as I walked back to my desk.

  “I think so,” I said. “But you never know with this stuff—one minute you're totally fine, and the next, you're running like a madwoman to the nearest toilet.”

  “Well, if it's any consolation, that design you were working on looks effing awesome.”

  “Oh, you think so?” I asked. “I just kind of got into the zone with that one.”

  “And so modest, as always,” said Maria, stepping over to my desk and picking up the sketch. “It's amazing. Makes me feel good about you poaching me from the Cole atelier.”

  “Thanks again for that,” I said. “I know it's a big thing to take a chance on a new company.”

  “I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't believe in you,” she said. “And besides, you're destined for the top; it'll be cool to be a part of something from the ground up while you build your little fashion empire.”

  I couldn't help but laugh at the idea of me as some Rhys Cole-esque fashion king. Or queen, in this case.

  “One step at a time,” I said.

  “That's your one problem—you're too humble for your own good.”

  “Well, you can puff up my ego all you want. But just don't let it get too inflated.”

  “More than happy to,” she responded. “And, speaking of inflated, you're really starting to blow up there, girl.”

  “I know,” I said, looking down at my already noticeable pregnancy bump. “I feel like I've got a damn globe in there, and it's only been two months!”

  Maria squatted down in front of my belly and gave it a look-over with a squinted eye like she was a jeweler getting a close look at a diamond.

  “I mean, my sister just had a kid not too long ago, and she was three or four months along before she looked like this.”

  “Okay, now you're making me worried,” I said as Maria stood back up.

  “Nothing to worry about—just looks like you're about to give birth to a toddler or something. That's one way to get past the terrible twos, I guess.”

  I couldn't help but laugh.

  “Well, whatever's going on, I'm going to find out today,” I said. “I've got an appointment for my first ultrasound.”

  “Ooh, fun,” said Maria. “When is it?”

  I checked my phone, my eyes going wide when I realized what time it was; I must've been more in the zone than I thought.

  “Um, like now,” I said, rushing over to my purse and shoving my essentials into it. “I'll be back in a couple of hours—keep an eye on the place, would you?”

  She gave me a salute and I said goodbye to the staff on the way out. Soon, I was in my car and speeding down the roads of downtown San Bravado.

  As I drove, I passed the headquarters for Cole Apparel, and a tight feeling formed in my stomach, something like longing and sadness all in one. It'd been around a mon
th since I'd dropped the signed papers off with Rhys, and he'd been as good as his word. Money started flowing into my bank account, and all it took for any doctor's visit was an email to Travis and it would be all set up.

  Still, I couldn't help but wish that Rhys was taking a more active role in all of this. But I'd made the decision; I'd signed the papers and that was it. Aside from the money, I was all alone.

  I arrived at the doctor's office and was soon seated in the lobby of the ultra-modern building. I'd just managed to get comfortable as the nurse called me to follow her to the examination room.

  “So,” said the doctor. “First ultrasound. Excited?”

  “I am,” I said, anticipation tingling in my belly. “But…”

  “But…?”

  “I don't know,” I said, patting my big bump. “Is this size normal for this far along? I feel like there's something strange going on.”

  The doctor opened his mouth to speak. But then, an expression crossed his face as if he was going to say something but thought better of it.

  “How about we get you into the ultrasound room before we continue this conversation?”

  “Why, is something wrong?”

  “No, no,” he said. “Just want to make sure we do the actual ultrasound before I jump to any conclusions.”

  Soon, I was propped up on the table. My belly was exposed, and the nurse covered my stomach in the cool gel. The ultrasound flickered to life, and the nurse began slowly moving the plastic transducer over my skin.

  “So…” she said, “feeling excited about all this?”

  “Among other feelings,” I said. “It's just that everything is so new. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing.”

  “Well, the good news is that what you just said is how every other mother feels when she's about to have her first.”

  A moment passed, the nurse's eyes trained on the display.

  “And, um, well, I have some other good news, if you're ready for it.”

  “What?” I asked, craning my head to look at the screen but not able to make heads or tails of it.