Page 47 of The Billionaire's Baby Betrayal

“I’m sorry. I should have called you.” Piper slumped against the couch.

“Really, Piper, please don’t worry about it. We’ll get the results back before we leave at the end of the week, and we all know Señor Alberto Luis is clean.”

“I appreciate that you aren’t going to fire me.”

He laughed and pulled her close. “Not today, anyway. Now, before I leave you to get some much-needed rest, I want to invite you to the special good-luck supper Luis and I have the night before I depart for a race. We started a tradition where he can choose the menu for the night, and it gives Luis a fun memory to think of while we are separated.”

“That’s a delightful idea, Andrés. I would love to be part of it. You’re a very thoughtful father, and Luis is lucky to be your son.”

“I’m the lucky one to have him. Would you like me to prepare something for your supper or send something over from the hacienda?”

“What a kind gesture, but no. I think I’m going to go straight to bed.”

He stood and pulled her up with him. “I know you’re tired, but I must kiss you passionately.”

Piper put her arms around his neck. “I’m not too tired to accept it and give you as good as I get.”

CHAPTER21

ANDRÉS

Andrés got a late start the following morning. He called the usual lab to find out what had happened to their agreement. The owner professed to know nothing about what his technician had told Piper. He admitted there were quite a few blood samples that had to be processed due to the cattle situation but nothing that would prevent his lab from labeling Andrés’ work order as a priority. The man promised to get to the bottom of it and promised Andrés he would be the only one to accept and test the blood samples in the future.

He wanted to check on Piper and update her about the lab, but Lukas told him she had checked in with him earlier and that he hadn’t seen her since. Andrés stopped in Rosamund’s office to find out if she had seen Piper.

“I have,” said Rosamund, “but I sent her back to the casita. She told me she had slept soundly for more than eight hours, but even though she had eggs and toast for breakfast, she was still unusually hungry and felt weak. Piper laughed about it, but I said I would bar her from the stables if she didn’t get back home and make a nutritious, protein-loaded meal for herself.”

“It’s probably because she had very little to eat yesterday.” After he said it, Andrés knew he shouldn’t have commented.

Rosamund cocked her head and had a smug expression. “Oh?”

“I stopped by after she returned from Tacuarembó to ask if all went well with the drive and the lab. She mentioned she was exhausted, and would most likely go straight to bed.”

“I see. Well, I’m sure you will find Piper in the casita.”

“Thank you, Rosamund.” Feeling like a fish caught and flapping on the end of a fishing line, Andrés turned on his heel and left Rosamund’s office as fast as he could. He was sure he heard her chuckle behind him as he went out the door.

Piper answered the door after his first knock, and he had to admit she looked much more refreshed than the night before.

“Hola, Andrés. Come in, and I can offer you a brunch fit for a king.”

The second she closed the door, he picked her up and kissed her almost as passionately as he had the night before.

“Whoa! What did I do to deserve that!” She laughed the moment he set her down.

“You slept like a good girl!”

“Ah, you’ve spoken with Rosamund.” She linked her arm with his and guided him toward the kitchen island.

“I did, and she told me she sent you home to eat.” Andrés’ eyes widened when he saw what was on the kitchen island. “You must have been ravenous! Pancakes, bacon, potatoes, fruit, and a toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich.”

“Not simply pancakes but chocolate chip pancakes, and they are to die for, believe me. Please sit and have some of everything, but I confess the sandwich I intended to save for an afternoon snack.”

While they ate, Andrés told her about his conversation with the lab owner.

“You will be dealing with Señor Silva exclusively in the future. And he had no idea why the technician would refer you to a competitor without confirming it with him. I got the impression that the technician was a new employee from talking with Silva. But he promised to look into it.”

“If I didn’t say it yesterday, I am sorry for my part in anything that made this more of a mess than it should have been.”

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