The Billionaire's Daddy Test by Charlene Sands

Author:Charlene Sands
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-06-01T16:00:00+00:00

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.

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