Field Ryan The Virgin Billionaire's 3 Secret Baby

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

was one of those killer modeling jobs that don't happen too
often. The money made him smile, but the working conditions
almost made him physically ill. In the middle of the worst
heat wave in eighty years, Luis shot a commercial for winter
coats and ski gear on Fifth Avenue. On the fifth and final day
140
The Virgin Billionaire's Secret Baby
by Ryan Field
of shooting, when the temperature topped one hundred
degrees Fahrenheit, Luis had to smile and pose in a heavy
wool pea coat, a hat, gloves, scarf, and a thick Irish cable knit
sweater. By the time the commercial was finished, Luis
practically crawled from the cab to the front steps of his
building on 95th Street, drenched in perspiration and
physically exhausted.
After a long cold shower, he phoned Jase to tell him he'd
be back at Cider Mill Farm in less than two hours. When Jase
suggested Luis spend the night in New York and drive out on
Saturday morning, Luis smiled and said, "I'll see you in a
couple of hours." He didn't want to discuss spending the night
in New York. This was the first time he'd been away from
Hunter since Hunter had arrived on their doorstep with that
lawyer, and Luis had no intention of being separated from him
a day longer than he had to be.
When Luis pulled up to the house and honked the horn, it
was almost seven thirty in the evening. The crickets were
screaming and the air was warm and still. Though it wasn't as
hot in Bucks County as it had been in New York, Luis knew it
would be one of those nights when the landscape would light
up with millions of lightning bugs. They would twinkle like the
lights on a Christmas tree. A feeling of anticipation passed
through Luis's body and he couldn't wait for the sun to go
down.
Hunter was the first one out the door and running down
the front walkway. Luis didn't even bother to park the car
evenly. He stopped on a slant, switched off the engine, and
jumped out of the car. He left the car door wide open and ran
141
The Virgin Billionaire's Secret Baby
by Ryan Field
to scoop Hunter up in his arms. He hugged him and turned in
circles, taking in Hunter's nutmeg aroma with slow, deep
breaths. "I've missed you so much, kiddo. How's my boy? Did
you miss me?"
Hunter wrapped his tiny arms around Luis's neck and
nodded yes. Then he lifted his head and asked, "Are you
home for good, Daddy?" He spoke so well and with such
clarity it seemed like a lifetime since Luis had heard his pale
voice, though he'd spoken to him a day earlier on the
telephone.
Luis patted his back and said, "I'm home for good now. I'm
not going anywhere else for a long, long time." This was true.
Luis didn't have another modeling job until the end of
September. By that time they'd all be back in New York and
Hunter would go with him on location.
Then Jase and Isabelle came out, with Camp in tow. Luis
tried to put Hunter down so he could hug Jase, but Hunter
wouldn't release his neck. He laced his little fingers together
and refused to budge. "Hunter, I want to put you down so I
can hug your Gram and your Dad." Hunter called Luis Daddy
and Jase, Dad.
But Hunter buried his face in Luis's neck and said, "No. I
don't want to go down. I missed you. Don't put me down."
Jase crossed to where they were standing and he kissed
Luis on the cheek. "I missed you. I'm so glad you're back."
Luis noticed a hint of exasperation in Jase's tone. Then Jase
glanced at Hunter and shook his head. "I hope we don't have
a problem here. This hasn't been an easy week."
142
The Virgin Billionaire's Secret Baby
by Ryan Field
"Hey, give me a kiss, too," Isabelle said, standing beside
Luis on her tiptoes.
Luis bent down to kiss her on the cheek while Hunter clung
to his neck. He turned to Jase and asked, "What kind of
problem? Why wasn't it an easy week?" It was hard to talk.
Hunter was holding his neck so tightly he had trouble opening
his mouth to speak.
"He's been unbelievable since you left," Jase said, nodding
at Hunter. "Wouldn't eat, take a bath, or sleep alone." Jase
shrugged. "I did my best. I slept in the spare twin bed in his
bedroom all week. But all he wanted to do was call you every
single hour. He even asked Gram to drive him to New York
one morning while I was working in the office."
Luis patted Hunter's back. He felt awkward discussing this
in front of him.
Isabelle patted Luis's arm. "We almost left and went back
to New York. I haven't seen a child so upset since Jase's
mother took him to kindergarten on the first day of school.
Jase grabbed poor Mary's neck and wouldn't let her leave,
just like Hunter's holding you right now. Oh, Jase didn't want
to be there at all. He thought he was missing something at
home."
Jase frowned at his grandmother and sent her a look. "It
wasn't that bad."
Isabelle laughed. "Trust me, Jase. It was."
Luis glanced at Jase. Hunter still wouldn't let go of his
neck. "Why did you keep telling me everything was fine all
week? I had this image you were all out here having a blast
while I was in New York." Luis hadn't slept well all week
143
The Virgin Billionaire's Secret Baby
by Ryan Field
either. He worried Hunter wasn't eating the right food or
getting enough sleep. When he'd thought about them all
going on with their lives and not missing him, he'd tossed and
turned in bed even more. He'd been so tired each morning
he'd had to soak his eyes with wet tea bags so they didn't
look puffy on camera.
"Don't blame Jase," Isabelle said. "We didn't want to worry
you. We thought he'd adjust, but he didn't. It was worse than
when Jase carried on so much in kindergarten."
Jase gave his grandmother another look.
Knowing all this had happened while he'd been away filled
Luis with a sense of warmth he'd never experienced before,
not to mention a sense of satisfaction. Though it turned his
stomach to think of Hunter being in distress, he couldn't stop
smiling when he heard about how much he'd been missed.
However, this wasn't right. Luis pulled Hunter away from
his chest and lowered him to the ground. He patted the top of
Camp's head and sent Jase a smile. Then he reached for
Hunter's small shoulders and looked him in the eye. "I'm back
now, kiddo," he said. "While I was in New York this week I
looked into a few good preschools for you. Wouldn't that be
great when we go back to the city in September? You'll go to
preschool like all the big kids and have all kinds of new
friends to play with." Luis hadn't checked out preschools. But
after what he'd just heard, now he would. He didn't want
Hunter to become one of those clingy, weak-willed children
who never leave their father's or mother's side. He didn't
want Hunter to be one of those kids who stared down at his
shoes when strangers spoke to him. Although Luis was
144
The Virgin Billionaire's Secret Baby
by Ryan Field
secretly thrilled Hunter had missed him so much, he wanted
his son to be strong and independent.
Isabelle smiled and said, "Wow, that's great. You're going
to school in the fall, Hunter."
Hunter twisted his lips and sent her a nasty glance.
Then Isabelle patted Luis on the shoulder and said, "It's
good idea. Jase was like this as a child and we had to do the
same thing. Unfortunately, it was so long ago with Jase, there
wasn't preschool to consider. You have to give them that
extra push out of the nest."
Luis knew she was right. He knew he'd said the right thing.
But it tugged at his heart when he thought about pushing
Hunter out into the cold, mean world. Oh, it shouldn't be this
hard, he thought.
Jase rubbed his jaw. "I wasn't that bad, Gram. And it
wasn't so long ago either." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Wątki