Page 33 of The Billionaire's Baby Betrayal

Luis giggled. “Yes, please.”

“Luis, will you show me your favorite spot to sit in this beautiful room?” asked Piper.

“My favorite spot is where the twirling chairs are by the glass doors going out to my playground.” The boy grabbed Piper’s hand and led her to that area.

“This is a wonderful spot, Luis. Are those fútbol nets I see out there?”

Luis stared agog at Piper. “You are an American, and you didn’t say soccer! Papa, did you hear her? She said fútbol!”

Andrés smiled at his son as he placed the glass of orange juice in his hand. “Yes, I heard, and she’s obviously a well-informed American.” He sat on the third chair in the grouping.

“Luis, before we share a drink, may I ask you to please call me Piper?” she asked. “‘Ms. Marshall’ is a mouthful between friends.”

“Papa said I had to wait until you asked me before I could stop calling you Ms. Marshall. I want to say Piper because it is a pretty name. Salood, Piper.”

“Thank you, and salud, Luis.”

“Did Papa tell you Emmett is teaching me to play American football?” asked Luis.

The smile on Piper’s face belied the threatening glance she gave Andrés. “No, he didn’t tell me that.”Among other things,she thought.

Andrés adopted an innocent expression, which caused Piper to roll her eyes as she sipped her mimosa.

“Tell me, Luis, what do you think about American football?” asked Piper.

“I like throwing the ball, and Emmett says I am good at kicking it because I play fútbol. Papa and I watched a football game one time.” Luis scrunched his nose. “I don’t remember the team names, though.”

“We watched this year’s Super Bowl,” Andrés addressed Piper, then spoke to his son. “The teams, Luis, were the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.”

Luis began to laugh and set his glass on the highly polished burlwood center table. “Your team names are funny! I have a storybook about a Bengal tiger.”

Piper laughed along with him. “They are funny. What about the Pittsburgh Steelers? Or the Buffalo Bills?”

Luis laughed harder, and Piper could feel Andrés’ eyes upon her. She turned slightly to look at him, but he quickly turned to Luis.

“What do you find so funny, Luis? I can hear you laughing from the dining room.” Eleanor entered the room, and Andrés rose to greet her.

“American football team names,” he said. He led her to Piper’s chair.

“Piper, I would like to introduce you to the mainstay of our hacienda, Miss Eleanor Chambers. Eleanor, this is Piper.”

Piper stood to shake the proffered hand of an attractive older woman with soft brown eyes. She was glad she wore her higher-heeled boots so she could at least stand to Eleanor’s shoulders and not feel like a shrinking violet; the woman was tall and commanding.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eleanor.”

“The pleasure is mine, Ms. Marshall.”

“You can call her Piper, Eleanor. She gave me her permission,” said Luis. “She can, can’t she, Piper?”

“Absolutely, Luis.” Piper spoke directly to Eleanor. “I prefer it, so please, I’m Piper.”

“Thank you, Piper. Now that introductions have been made, Chef has informed me breakfast is ready to be served whenever you are, Andrés.”

“We are ready, I think. Eleanor, may I get you a mimosa while I refill ours?”

“I would appreciate that, thank you. Piper, Luis, shall we go to the dining room?”

“Come on, Piper, I’ll show you where it is,” said Luis, putting his hand in hers.

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