New Arrivals: His Inherited Family: Billionaire Baby Dilemma / His Ring, Her Baby / Cowgirl Makes Three

“Did you grow up at Lake Westmire?”

“Same house I live in now. With my mom and Monica. We swam, built sand castles, baked cookies, designed elaborate dollhouses all over the yard.”

Devin had moved away from Lake Westmire to attend college. She came back five years ago when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. But tonight wasn’t the time to think about that.

Instead, she fixed her memories on their teenage years. Monica had been a year younger, and the neighborhood had been full of kids around their ages.

“When we were teenagers,” she continued, remembering, “Monica and I sat with our friends around weekend bonfires down at the park by Sunny Bay.”

“And kissed the boys?” Lucas asked in a teasing tone.

“Tommy McGuire,” Devin admitted. “Ninth grade. It was a dare, and he cut my nose with his glasses.”

Lucas laughed at that.

“I bet your first kiss wasn’t perfect, either,” she retorted. “You be the judge. I have videotape.” “Are you kidding me? “

“Steve secretly took it. He threatened to show my mother, until I beat the crap out of him and took the camera away.” “You beat up Steve?”

“He was a Peeping Tom. I’m surprised he didn’t grow up to be a member of the paparazzi.” “He was a kid.” “He hasn’t changed.”

“Is this another of your warnings about the evil Steve?”

“No. This is an offer for you to review the game tape and tell me what you think of my first kiss.”

Devin chuckled low, even while she shook her head. “I’m not watching a videotape of your first kiss.”

“Why not? Maybe you could give me some pointers.”

“I’m sure your technique has changed considerably since you were… How old were you?”

“I don’t remember.” His gaze shifted to her lips, and she could tell from the glow in his gray eyes exactly what he was remembering.

She was remembering it, too.

“Lucas.” A hearty male voice interrupted the moment.

Lucas glanced to the side, while Devin tamped down the buzz of sexual awareness lighting up her body.

“Mr. Mayor.” After what felt like a brief hesitation, Lucas let go of Devin to shake the man’s hand.

“I wanted to thank you personally for your generous donation to the hospital.” The mayor’s curious glance went to Devin for a brief second.

The man was in his midfifties. His full head of distinguished gray hair topped a tall physique that he kept in shape through highly publicized biking and rowing sessions.

“Mr. Mayor, this is Devin Hartley.”

“Ms. Hartley.” The mayor took her hand and gave it a gentle shake.

Nobody acknowledged or introduced the well-groomed man standing behind and to the left of the mayor. Devin assumed he was either an aide or security.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Devin. “This is a wonderful party.”

“We have the hospital board to thank for that,” the mayor responded as he released her hand. “And we have donors like Lucas to thank for the new pediatric wing. Please, enjoy yourselves tonight. You’ll be at the ground-breaking next weekend?” he asked Lucas.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Lucas responded.

With a final nod, the mayor withdrew.

The band had started a break, and a recorded, soft rock song wafted through the speakers.

“Thirsty?” asked Lucas, stepping close, one hand going to the small of her back as the crowd made their way off the dance floor.

“Sure,” she responded, taking his lead back toward their table. “I take it you gave a big donation?” She couldn’t help wondering if her words at the barbecue had influenced Lucas on that front.

“Pacific Robotics made a big donation,” Lucas corrected. “That includes Amelia.”

Was it thousands? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? “How did you decide? I mean, how do you decide how much to donate? “

“It’s tough,” Lucas acknowledged. He flagged a passing waiter and they ordered a bottle of sparkling water. “I bet we get a dozen requests a week from worthy charitable organizations. And from scam artists, of course.”

“That many?” Devin hadn’t given any thought to that side of being in business.

They arrived back at their table. All eight of the chairs were vacant, and Lucas pulled out the one draped with Devin’s light wrap.

She sat down. “I assume you say no to most of them?”

“If you didn’t, you’d be bankrupt in a year. For better or worse, you have to pick your priorities, allocate an appropriate sum of money and hope what you’re doing helps out.”

Devin found herself admiring this side of Lucas.

“Amelia needs to learn this,” he continued, gaze going thoughtful. “This and about a million other things. I don’t want to sound patronizing, but there are complexities to running a corporation that you couldn’t possibly imagine.”

Devin tried not to bristle. “How could that possibly sound patronizing? “

He gave a hard sigh.

“Is this the latest sales pitch for you as her guardian?” Devin asked.

“This is context to help you understand why I’m doing what I’m doing. This isn’t a game, Devin. Hundreds of millions… billions of dollars are at stake. Jobs for people in five different countries. The well-being of the family.”

“I don’t think the Demarcos are doing too badly.”

“And it’s going to be partly up to Amelia to see that many more generations of Demarcos keep the corporation healthy. It’s not just about boats and sports cars. It’s about hospitals and scholarships and ordinary peoples’ livelihoods.”

“She’s nine months old, Lucas.”

He paused, and some of the intensity went out of his eyes.