Page 3 of Her Billionaire's Baby Secret

“Of course. We were at your grandparents’ house a lot when we were kids. I still remember how much fun we had with that pool table in the basement. Your grandparents were always welcoming to the kids in the neighborhood.”

When Kane was growing up, his parents had had money, but they’d lived conservatively. His parents didn’t want him growing up to live the life of a rich kid. That was why his dad had raised him in Maple Creek. He hadn’t really understood how much money his father had until he’d left the house and moved to Manhattan as an adult.

Chase drove through the tree lined streets of Maple Creek. The trees were just starting to turn, and a few bright orange leaves blew off and flew by as they drove. They passed several grand houses with rocking chairs lining large front porches with potted ferns hanging. He’d traveled the world and hadn’t been to a place more charming than his home.

“I never get tired of this place,” Kane said.

“I love it too.”

Kane looked over at Chase. “I can see why you decided to settle down here.”

“It’s a great place to raise a family.”

Kane’s heart grew heavy hearing Chase’s last words. He’d never be able to give his kid the kind of life Chase and Lauren could provide. Instead, the poor child would have to deal with divorced parents. If the baby was his, of course. He’d waited to have kids with Orchid because he’d been so focused on building his career. He’d wanted to give his full attention to any child they would end up having. The thought of having to share time with Orchid made him sad. No kid deserved to have parents who weren’t together. He was traditional that way. His parents were still happily married, and he’d had a wonderful childhood as a result.

He hated the idea of bringing a child into a broken home. But if this baby was his—and Orchid insisted that it was—then he wouldn’t have a choice but to raise his child with parents who weren’t together.

Chase must have noticed Kane’s shift in mood because he said, “You okay?”

Kane sighed and looked out the window. “I just have a lot going on.”

He needed to put the pregnancy stuff from his mind for the next several days. Until the results of the paternity test came in, he wouldn’t be able to do anything about the situation. It was vital to know the truth about whether he was the father.

“I can understand that. It must be tough to deal with a divorce and the death of a grandparent all at once.”

“It has been hard. I’m glad to be single now, but it’s a lot of upheaval.”

“I’m here if you ever feel like you need to talk about it,” Chase offered.

“Thanks, I appreciate that.”

“Anytime.” Chase pulled up to his grandparents’ home. So many memories had been made there. So many good times. It wouldn’t be the same without Gramps there, cracking his cheesy jokes. He was having such a hard time with the loss of his grandfather. He couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for his grandma. He knew he had to be there for her as much as possible.

Chase parked the SUV, and Kane stepped down to get his bags from the back. He rolled his luggage to the front porch and rang the doorbell. He could see Chase driving away when he glanced over his shoulder.

He pushed open the front door and stepped inside. A group of women bustled about in the kitchen. His mom was standing with his grandmother’s best friend, Mrs. Tate. When he stepped closer, his breath caught. A shapely brunette stood next to Mrs. Tate. When she turned, he saw a glimpse of her profile. It was Sariah. She’d changed her hair. Normally, her hair was a dark blonde, but she looked good with this new color. He hardly recognized her.

It was the first time he’d been around her since he was newly single. Suddenly, his mouth went dry, and all words flew from his mind. She’d had this effect on him frequently throughout the years, but he’d always stayed away out of respect for his marriage. But that no longer existed.

She turned and smiled at him. “Kane.”

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