The Billionaire's Baby (9 page)

“Yes, we are,” Favian answered before Adira could refute the comment. He had every intention of marrying her, even if she didn’t know it yet.

Dr. Schiller opened Adira’s folder and looked at her chart. “Well, I like to keep my practice informal so you can call me Carrie. We also have a twenty-four hour phone service that you can call in case of an emergency or problems you may have and they will let me know to contact you. You are sixteen weeks along and doing well. Still some morning sickness, I see. Your weight looks good. Any problems you’d like to bring to my attention?”

“I’m tired a lot. I could just be sitting there and drop off completely,” Adira said. “And I cry for no reason. Like yesterday, I saw an ad on TV with baby ducks and cried for half an hour and then ate a cupcake.”

“That’s all perfectly normal, dear. And may I just say your voice is such a treat,” Dr. Schiller said. “Any pain or issues ‘down there’ as my patients like to say? It seems to make people uncomfortable to say vagina.”

Adira laughed. “No, down below is all rainbows and kittens.”

Dr. Schiller laughed. “That’s the first time I’ve heard it described that way. I don’t see a need to check you today except to hear the heartbeat and measure the baby’s growth. I’ll do a more thorough exam at your next appointment. Your blood pressure is a tad high, but I’m not concerned at this time. Just watch your salt intake.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Adira nodded.

“Okay, let’s hear this little one’s heartbeat.” Dr. Schiller smiled.

The gel was warm on Adira’s belly and Favian scooted closer so he could see what the doctor was doing. He wasn’t going to miss any details no matter how small when it came to this experience. The sound of empty sonic waves filled the air for a moment and alarm filled him, but before he could voice his concern the sound of a strong fast thrum came from the machine.

“That’s the heartbeat,” Adira said gently as he looked at her.

“Nice and strong,” the doctor said. “Now let’s measure the growth.”

“What’s the device you were using?” Favian asked as she pulled out a measuring tape.

“That’s a fetal Doppler and, yes, you can buy them online and even at many baby boutiques,” Dr. Schiller answered. Favian could tell she had heard the same question more than a few times.

“We’re going shopping after lunch,” he told Adira.

Dr. Schiller measured Adira’s tummy. “Right on the growth mark. Mommy and baby are both healthy and strong. Your next appointment will be right on the nose for a sonogram and we offer the four-dimensional imaging of your baby. Will you want to know the sex?”

Adira shook her head. “We’ve decided to go for the big reveal at birth.”

Dr. Schiller patted her hand. “Good for you. That’s refreshing because most couples want to know right away. But waiting really adds to the excitement. Now, remember, low salt intake and rest. Melanie will make your next appointment when you go out to the front desk.”

“Thank you, Dr. Schiller,” Adira said.

“Carrie, please,” she said with a smile.

Favian shook her hand and restrained himself from hugging the older woman. “
Muchas gracias, Carrie.
Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. Or should I say
de nada, Señor Rivera?
” she said with a wink and a grin. That sealed it for Favian; he liked the fun older woman.

Adira was given an appointment in five weeks and Favian made note of it in his blackberry. There was no way he was going to miss seeing his baby in Adira’s tummy. He took her to lunch and did as Suzie requested and made sure Adira had some avocado in her meal. Afterwards, they walked down the busy streets holding hands and went into one of the exclusive baby boutiques in Manhattan.

“Hello, Mr. Rivera. Welcome to
La Petite
!” The manager came rushing from behind the counter to greet him.

“Do you know everyone?” Adira asked quietly.

“I own this line of stores. They were sinking and I gave them the funding to stay afloat for a percentage of the profits,” Favian explained. “They just needed some restructuring.” He greeted the manager. “Hello, Phyllis, how are you?”

“Very well, sir. Are you here to look over the books or stock?” Phyllis asked nervously.

Favian wondered if the small birdlike woman may pass out. She seemed so nervous. He set about to calm her before she fainted. Since he was a business owner, his name came with some stereotypes. A lot of people saw him coming and thought they would be out of a job. He was not about putting good, hardworking people on the streets. He had a knack for weeding out the bad apples and taking them out of the equation but keeping the right ones in. At the time he bought
La Petite
, Phyllis was one of the best workers they had. She was just floor staff then, but he got rid of the arrogant, lazy manager and promoted her. It worked out well.

“Phyllis, this is Adira and we’re going to be having a baby in the next six months.” Favian smiled. “Show us everything you’ve
got and make sure whatever we buy gets delivered to my home.”

“Oh, how wonderful, sir. Congratulations to both of you!” Phyllis said. “Ma’am, what would you like to see?”

“Please call me Adira and thank you so much. Since I’ve never done this before and I have no idea where to start, how about you show me around and give me your expertise?” Adira asked.

Phyllis nodded shyly. “It would be my honor.”

He trailed along behind Adira and Phyllis and watched as the manager handled everything with ease and also helped Adira to feel comfortable. Adira boggled at the prices each time she saw something she loved, but Favian would catch Phyllis’ eye and give her a slight nod, and the manager would make a note to order it.

Adira may have a problem with spending his money, but Favian did not. Adira would have what made her happy for the baby’s nursery and his child would want for nothing. One of the last things on the list was a baby Doppler. He wanted to be able to listen to his baby’s heartbeat at home while Adira lay in bed. Before they left the store, Phyllis asked if he would need workers to put together the furniture and crib. Favian politely refused. He would use his own hands to put everything together.

They were happy and chatty as they stepped out of the store, but the next person they ran into wiped the smile off Favian’s face.

“Favian, fancy seeing you on the streets.” Hillary’s voice soured his mood instantly.

“Hillary,” he acknowledged her coolly.

“Oh, poo, is that how you greet your sister?” she said a little too cheerfully.

He recognized the fakeness in her voice instantly. “That’s how I greet anyone who tries to fuck with my life.”

“Favian that was a mistake…” she began but then stopped abruptly and narrowed her eyes. “Why are the two of you coming out of
La Petite
? Oh, my God, did this little urchin convince you she’s pregnant with your child? Didn’t you have enough with Kim?”

“Oy, who do you think you’re calling an urchin, you incest-loving slut?” Adira said. The hormones made her sleepy and made her cry easily, but she also got pissed off quickly. “I have no reason to try and fake anything with Favian, while you seem to have no problem dropping your knickers for some cash. He’s your brother. Have some class.”

“Why you little… I’ll scratch your—”

“Hillary, get away from us now, right now,” Favian said between clenched teeth. He was trying so very hard to hold on to his temper and not throttle her in public.

“Favian, I’m sorry, but you have to see she’s playing you just like Kim,” Hillary pleaded.

“The only thing I see is the money you get from me going down the drain. Take care you don’t have to use your foul mouth in another way to make money to survive,” he said coldly.

His implication was clear and she gasped. Hillary’s face turned red and she moved past them quickly, not even looking back as she pushed through the crowd.

Adira looked up at him. “She is completely vile.”

“I agree. Let’s go home, darling. You need to rest,” Favian said.

Adira stopped him with a hand on his arm. “This baby is yours, Favian. I don’t know who Kim is or was, but if you’ve been burned and you need a paternity test I have no problem with that. If it will assure you then that’s fine with me.”

“I don’t want you to do that. I’ve read that amniocentesis can cause fetal injury and premature labor,” Favian said stubbornly. “I refuse to even consider it. I trust and believe in you and that’s final.”

“Do you want to tell me about Kim?” Adira asked quietly.

He pulled her close and kissed her temple as they walked. “Sometime soon, my darling, but not right now.”

“Okay, but I’m here, love, to talk whenever you’re ready.” Adira leaned against his shoulder.

That simple statement meant more to him than she realized. It felt good that Adira wouldn’t push at old wounds to see if the scars had healed. Favian loved her; he’d admitted it to himself long ago. Before, as a younger man, he’d have been impatient and declared his love for her right away. Now, he knew to wait, to make sure she understood how much she’d be cherished by him. She’d given him a precious gift, but more than that she was the biggest treasure of all.

* * * *

Adira looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She was naked and she ran her hands over the roundness of her stomach. She’d felt the little butterfly movements in her stomach and knew the little one was thriving. She couldn’t wait until Favian could feel it too, but for now those tiny little movements were just for her and she treasured them. Her breasts were fuller and her curves more lush.

Adira wondered if Favian would still find her sexy, the way he had on that first night. Which was the reason why she was in the bathroom looking at her nakedness in the mirror. She wanted to be with him again and was unsure of how he’d react. Months had passed since that first night. Had his desire for her waned or was his physical distance because of the baby? Another problem she had was that she had no clue how to read men. Inexperience was still the main aspect of her life.

“Okay, you little wimp. Go get your man. You see the care in his eyes. If he says no you can just move into another bedroom and live in there forever,” she said softly to her reflection. “There’s always London and Lynette. She could create me a whole new identity so I could get past the shame.”

She smiled thinking about her friend and how indignant she would be and how she would probably want to take her cricket bat to Favian’s head. She pulled on her robe and walked out into the master bedroom she shared with Favian. There were papers scattered across his side of the bed, and he was wearing his reading glasses. In her opinion, the glasses seemed to accentuate his good looks.

Favian looked up as she came out of the bathroom. “Ready for bed? Shall I get you some gelato? I think Suzie made chocolate for you this time.”

Adira smiled. “If I allow Suzie to continue to feed me the way she does, I’ll be the size of a whale before I have this baby.”

“I doubt it, but you’d be the most attractive whale I’ve ever seen.” Favian chuckled.

“Really?”

He looked at her curiously. “Of course. Adira, you know how beautiful I think you are.”

She untied the knot in the sash of her bathrobe and let the soft pink terrycloth material slip from her shoulders and expose her naked body to him. She watched as his eyes darkened and he took a deep breath.

She stepped closer to the bed. “I’m taking a leap of faith here, hoping that you still want me. I don’t know how men feel about pregnant women and sex, but I want you. I will understand if you don’t want to until after the baby.”

Favian swiped the papers and files onto the floor in his attempt to climb across the bed to get to her quickly. He held her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. “It’s been torture trying to keep my hands off you at night,
mi querida
. I sleep turned to the other side because I don’t want you to feel my erection press against you.”

“I love your arousal and how you make me feel.” She pushed herself against him. “Make love to me, Favian. I need you so.”

He kissed her passionately and then lifted her into his arms.

“But your papers are scattered everywhere,” she pointed out as he laid her on the bed.

“Forget the papers.” He pushed the rest to the floor. “I’ll fix them later or get new copies.” Favian pulled his T-shirt off and took off his pajama pants. “Right now I’m going to be with the woman I love.”

She looked at him as he lay next to her. “You love me?”

“Was there any doubt?” Favian cupped her chin and kissed her so sweetly it made tears prick her eyes. “
Mi
amor
, all this time and you don’t know I love you? Have I been that neglectful in showing you my feelings?”

Adira shook her head. “No, you are so good to me, but I’m pregnant with your child. I don’t know if it’s because of that or me.”

“It’s you, Adira Potts, the woman who asked me for directions while lost only two blocks from her hotel, the woman who went to dinner with me on a whim and wrapped herself so completely around my heart that I could never escape. Before the baby, there was you, my sweet Adira.”