Page 44 of The Billionaire's Baby Betrayal

“I can tell.”

“Piper, Papa said I could have chocolate salami. Do you want to share it with me?” asked Luis, and then he had a thought. “You know it’s not really salami, don’t you?”

“Yes, Luis. I am aware it’s called a salami because of its shape. And I would like to share it with you. Are we ready?”

Andrés had driven them straight to the city’s outer edge and the little cafe. The place had a counter display and two tables inside, but there was a larger roped-off area for seating outside the entrance. There were six round tables, each occupied on an unusually warm October day. And the three of them sat at a table near the street.

Luis and Piper had shared a small chocolate salami, and Andrés had his favorite toasted tomato-and-cheese sandwich. The adults were drinking their espressos, and Luis chose lemon-lime sparkling water.

“Luis, Piper and I want to tell you something we think you’ll be happy about,” Andrés said.

“What is it, Papa?”

“I’ve told you about the race in the United States that we hope Señor Alberto Luis will win, and until we leave, Piper and her training team will be busy getting Señor Alberto in shape. She will still work with you on your riding, but it will only be two days each week, not every day.”

Luis looked crestfallen as he turned toward her. “I understand, Piper, but I will miss riding every day. We will begin again after the race, won’t we?”

Piper was surprised that Andrés was including her in this specific conversation, but she smiled at Luis. “Let’s listen to your father. He has more to say.”

Luis nodded and turned to his father.

“I have decided you can begin formal riding lessons with Piper after we return from the race,” Andrés said.

Luis jumped up and flew into his father’s arms. “Oh, Papa, gracias, gracias! Te quieromucho!”

Andrés tightly hugged his son. “I love you, too, Luis.”

Piper was caught off balance when Luis came to her, put his arms around her neck, and kissed her cheek. “I love you, too, Piper. You are my best friend.”

She put her arms around the little boy she had come to love as she had his father and caught Andrés’ eye over Luis’ head. “Gracias, Luis, and I’ll tell you a secret. You’re my best friend, too,” she whispered in his ear.

“That tickles,” he said, rubbing his ear. “Papa, may I have an alfajore cookie to celebrate?”

Andrés stood and held his hand to Luis. “Let’s buy half a dozen of those caramel cookies so all of us can celebrate, shall we?”

“Sí, Papa!”

“We’ll be right back, Piper. Another espresso for you?”

“Of course, if I’m going to be forced to eat a cookie,” teased Piper.

They were sitting across the street from a boutique hotel, and Piper had watched as a few guests came to the cafe. Few sat down, but many left with a take-out cup and a bag of food in hand. A young couple had exited the hotel, and a tall man came out that looked familiar to her. The couple separated, but all she could see of the man was his collar-length blond hair.

“That looks like it could be Peter Caldwell,” she thought aloud. “But Felix rarely lets his private secretary away from his side, and why would either of them be in Tacuarembó?”

“Who’s in Tacuarembó?” asked Andrés as he placed the espresso cup in front of Piper.

“Oh, I thought I saw someone I knew back in Argentina, but I was mistaken,” lied Piper, thinking fast.

“Look, Piper,” said Luis, opening a box, “Papa decided to buy a dozen. That’s twelve cookies.”

Piper reached into the box and quickly grabbed one of the caramel delights. “And now there are eleven.”

Andrés was next to grab one. “Ten and counting, Luis. You better get one before they’re gone.”

Luis held up two. “There are only eight left, Papa.”

They all laughed, but Piper couldn’t help wondering what her former boss’s private secretary was doing at the hotel across the street.

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