Page 21 of The Billionaire's Baby
Soon, all thoughts of it were forgotten as they laughed and talked. For her, it was much more than a group of friends enjoying themselves because Favian sat close to her as they ate and stroked her hand. She could feel a fierce connection pulling her to him and the way he protected her endeared him even more in her heart. They’d had a rocky start not by their doing but by others mucking it up.
The last couple of days flew by and it was time for them to leave and she and Lynette hugged tearfully in front of the limo that would be taking them to the airport.
“You’ll visit before the baby arrives, right?” Adira said sadly.
“You just try and stop me. The little bugger will need Auntie Lyn for some excitement. I’ll buy him his first punk rocker onesie,” Lynette said with a grin and then was serious. “Poppet, if it doesn’t work out, you come home, okay? I’ll be here.”
“I feel like it’s going to work,” Adira admitted. “He’s already in my heart.”
Lynette kissed her cheek. “Then it will. Be happy, my friend.”
Adira nodded, too choked up to speak. Favian helped her in the car and then he and Remy climbed in. She couldn’t help but look back at Lynette standing on the sidewalk waving and wiping away tears. Lynette never cried, and Adira couldn’t help but sob. One chapter of her life was ending and another beginning.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. She’ll be coming to visit very soon,” Favian pulled her close and kissed her gently.
“I know, but that doesn’t make it any easier.” Her head fell on his shoulder and she sobbed into the jacket he wore.
Favian crooned to her softly as they made their way to Heathrow airport and soon they were comfortably seated in the Learjet that would be taking them back to New York. As they were given the go ahead to take off, she looked out the window and watched the outline of the country she grew up and lived in all her life fade away. The next day she’d be starting her new life in New York City. She hoped to God that what she told Lynette would be true, that this wasn’t just a passing fancy. There was a child involved and that made everything much more difficult and the cost much higher.
Chapter Six
It had been six weeks since Adira came back to the United States with him and Favian had never been happier. For the first few weeks, he noticed she walked around the house like she was on eggshells even though he told her she could do as she pleased.
Knowing that a baby was coming made his longtime friend and housekeeper Mason and his wife more excited than he’d ever seen the couple. Suzie wanted to dote on Adira, bringing her breakfast in bed and asking if she was hungry or thirsty every hour on the hour. That made Adira more uncomfortable than ever, until they came to a happy medium. Now she spent time in the kitchen with Suzie and they shared cooking tricks and tips and recipes with each other. Favian and Mason had eaten more scones and tortillas de guineos than they cared to. It got to the point where he was carting in armfuls of leftovers to the office, much to Carol and the other assistants delight.
Today was Adira’s first appointment with the obstetrician in New York, so he had finished work in the office early. They’d be picking which hospital she’d be delivering in and hearing the baby’s heartbeat. Favian knew that his excitement made Adira nervous but also excited. In bed each night they lay together and he rubbed the little mound of her belly where their child was nestled. It gave him a profound sense of pride and made him feel extremely blessed to know they were in his life. There were times as a Marine where he thought he wouldn’t make it out of the war, and even times when he didn’t want to come out alive.
There was only one other time when Favian was as serious in a relationship as he felt now with Adira. But the ex-bitch, as Remy loved to call Kim, had been all about his money and had used every means—even mental abuse—to make sure she held on to him. In the end, he was more torn and raw from her malice than the traumatic things he’d seen in war. But he knew that Adira was nothing like her, and this child was a reminder of the beautiful things they had together. He could already see them as a family going to Disney World, staying at his beach house and playing in the sun and sand, and even heading to Hawaii just because it was too cold in New York. This was the one thing he truly wanted and never thought he’d have.
Now, the only constant irritation in his life was Hillary. She continued to show up at his office, tried to make nice, but then would barrage him later with calls where she was crying and furious all at the same time. She still received her monthly stipend, yet that was not good enough for her. It seemed like nothing could deter her.
