Page 39 of The Billionaire's Baby Betrayal

Piper found it quickly, went in, and closed the door. She splashed cool water on her face, and as she patted it dry, she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“Oh, Piper, what have you gotten yourself into?” she whispered.And now to know how Luis started his life without a mother… That poor, sweet boy.

She shook out her ponytail and smoothed her hair before walking out to find Andrés waiting by the door.

“I should say goodnight to Eleanor,” she said. “Where would I find her?”

He chuckled. “In her room with a glass of sherry and a book. She retires after Luis’ bath and getting him ready for bed. I promise she won’t think a thing of your rudeness.”

“Mywhat?” She was about to object to his hint of impudence until she saw his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, you!” Piper hit his shoulder lightly.

“Ow!” He laughed and took her hand as they walked the path to the casita under a full moon.

“I don’t think I started out being a single father with my primary focus on my child,” Andrés confided as they walked along. “For a while, it felt like I was being forced to accept that Lily was gone and attention had to be on our child’s needs. There were days I felt I was drowning in sorrow and guilt, and I was in a fog for Luis’ first months. If it hadn’t been for Eleanor, Luis would have been grossly neglected.”

“I don’t believe that for a moment, Andrés. You may have struggled at first, which would have been usual under the circumstances. But neglect your son? You wouldn’t have let that happen.”

They were standing at the casita door.

“I hope that’s true. Nevertheless, I have tried to make up for that time every day since.”

“What does Luis know about his mother?” Piper asked softly.

“I tell him stories now and then about our life before he was born. Lily was an accomplished musician and had a beautiful singing voice, and I have played some of my recordings of her for him. He knows she died the day he was born, but I haven’t told him details he’s too young to understand.”

Piper pulled her key from her back pocket and gazed at Andrés’ face, made even more handsome in the moonlight. “I saw Lily’s picture by his bedside, and she was lovely. I am sincerely sorry for the pain you suffered. But don’t doubt yourself as a father; you are the most patient and loving father I have ever seen.”

She rose on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, but somehow it was his lips seeking hers and hungrily molding them together. Without moving his lips from hers, Andrés took her key and unlocked the door, and they entered the casita—soon to be lovers.

CHAPTER18

PIPER

Lying in Andrés’ arms, Piper woke to the glimmer of sunlight coming through the drapes and listened to the sound of his even breathing. Raising her head, she saw from the clock on the nightstand that it was six thirty.

She carefully slipped out of bed, causing Andrés to stir and pull up the bed linens to replace the warmth of her body. Jogger pants and a sweater were thrown on, and Piper quietly left the bedroom to get to the kitchen and make coffee. She sipped an espresso as she put out some of the medialunas she had set aside for herself, smiling at the thought of the incredible night making love with Andrés.

Her phone was ringing from where she had flung it on the sofa the night before, and she ran to get it before it woke Andrés. Her happiness was dampened when she saw it was Felix calling. She took the phone to the patio and answered it.

“Felix.”

“That doesn’t sound friendly, Caroline.”

“My name is Piper.”

“Not really, but no matter. Without the information youare notproviding, I’ve had to reassess the situation, and this is what will happen to ensurethathorse doesn’t win the race next month. You will be receiving a package from me, but it will have Lydia’s name as the sender to throw the about-to-lose-everything Olivera off the scent. It will contain two vials of a PED that you will administer to his horse that will contaminate the pre-race blood sample. You will inject one vial when you get the package and another when you get to Kentucky. The horse will be disqualified, the racing world will shun Olivera, and all will be right with my world.”

Piper was outraged.Think fast, Piper. You can’t do this to Señor Alberto or Andrés. She took a deep breath.

“I’m afraid that isn’t going to happen, Felix. Your blackmail is over because Andrés found out about my past and confronted me. I admitted everything, and he wasn’t bothered because I am excellent at what I do.

“You can consider me no longer your puppet, and let me remind you that questions will be raised about why you hired me, knowing I was an imposter, should you share what you know about my past life. It will damage your standing in racing society because of all the successes through the years I was your head trainer.”

“Aren’t you the little rebel,” snickered Felix. “It must be your American roots. If what you say is true, I’ll simply have to find another way to sabotage Olivera. And until I do, you are still beholden to me while I consider releasing you from our agreement. You see, Caroline, I can explain why I hired you, but you can’t explain why you lied about who you are. So, if you happen to let it slip that you’ve been spying for me, you will find I have no scruples about ruining your reputation.”

Piper was livid but not surprised at his tactics. “You do what you have to do, Felix. My part in it and this conversation are done.” She ended the call but wished she had an old corded phone to slam down. Felix couldn’t be trusted, so she had to tread carefully while keeping her eyes and ears open leading up to the Kentucky race.

It was after seven, and Piper remembered what Andrés had mentioned about Sunday mornings and Mass, so she poured a mug of coffee to take to him in the bedroom. He was half dressed and buttoning his shirt when she opened the door.

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