Maid for the Billionaire(52)

Jake loosened his tie defiantly, ―This would be worth it.‖

Abby looked to Thomas for help. ―Can‘t you talk some sense into them before they do something stupid?‖

Thomas shrugged, ―Dominic, just consider today a professional consultation so I won‘t be able to testify against you in court.‖

She looked around helplessly, ―Marie, can‘t you calm them down?‖

Mrs. Duhamel grimaced, ―He has a long history with Stephan. I agree that Nicole is going to get hurt if nothing is done.‖

Someone is going to get hurt either way, Abby feared.

She stepped in front of Dominic and Jake and planted her feet. Part of what Dominic loved about her was her ability to stand up to him and this was one of those times when Abby knew she had to speak her mind. ―No one is going to do anything before we talk to Nicole.‖

Dominic‘s jaw was still set at a stubborn angle. ―You don‘t know how dangerous this man is, Abby.‖

―Is she in physical danger?‖ Abby asked.

―Probably not,‖ Jake conceded.

―Then we are going to have to find a way to work this out without driving a permanent wedge between you and Nicole. What is more important here, an old grudge or healing your relationship with your sister?‖ Abby put a soothing hand on Dominic‘s tense arm and felt his muscles instantly relax beneath her touch.

Dominic‘s anger melted away. ―I hate when she‘s right,‖ he said.

―Me, too,‖ Lill piped in from behind.

―Nothing is going to happen to Nicole, Dominic. We won‘t let it.‖ A suspiciously quick look passed between Dominic and Jake, reminding Abby of a feral cat she‘d once tried to tame.

It had purred when petted, even accepted being groomed, but beneath its domesticated veneer, it had maintained a degree of wildness. Abby would have to work fast to find out what was going on with Nicole or there was no doubt that the two men before her would handle things their way.

She waved a finger in their direction. ―Promise me. Promise me that you won‘t do anything until we figure what all of this is about.‖

Dominic made a noncommittal grunt. Jake looked away.

Mrs. Duhamel stage whispered to Dominic‘s mother, ―Isn‘t she a great addition to the family? I knew she was good for him the first time I spoke to her.‖

Her words seemed to have a strong affect on Dominic. He looked around the room as if seeing each person for the first time. His eyes lingered with approval on the close bond between Thomas and his mother, warmly moved on to Mrs. Duhamel who was gently swaying with a now sleeping baby in her arms, and crinkled with amusement at how quickly Jake had returned to Lil‘s side. Finally, he smiled down at Abby, tucked her into his side and said, ―Family. I like the way that sounds.‖

―Me, too,‖ Abby said. She‘d felt his thoughts as clearly as if he‘d spoken them aloud.

Regardless of their varied pasts, they were indeed a family, bound by love if not genetics.

Somehow they would figure out a way through this; the way families do - together.

###The End###

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If you enjoyed meeting Dominic and Abby, rejoin their family in the next books in this series:

For Love or Legacy (available now) - Nicole and Stephan Bedding the Billionaire (Summer, 2012) - Lill and Jake Saving the Sheik (Summer, 2013) - Zhang and a sheik Sample Chapter:

For Love or Legacy

By Ruth Cardello

Copyright 2011 Ruth Cardello

Smashwords Edition


Chapter One

Death wasn‘t something Stephan normally celebrated, but this one had its perks.

"Is everything set for tonight?" Stephan Andrade asked without looking up from the screen of his laptop while he typed in one last sentence. He'd completed the final presentation himself, more than an hour ago, but wasn't satisfied with it. Nothing new there. He hadn't brought his family back from the edge of financial ruin by doing anything half-way.

"If by everything, you mean do I have my overnight bag packed and sitting under my office desk in case I go into labor while checking for the third time that your itinerary for the next few days is set? Then, yes," his secretary answered ruefully, easing her very pregnant body down onto his white Maxolta sofa and propping her swollen ankles up on one if its pillows.

"Good," he said absently, then stopped and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand when her words sunk in. "Maddy, you shouldn't be here today; you're on maternity leave. I could have had made the arrangements myself.‖

"You were already snapping at everyone in the office. I thought I should help out before you had a mutiny. If I didn't know how important this deal was to you, I would have called Uncle Vic and told him that you need a parental intervention.‖

His father would love that phone call. Victor Andrade was in his early sixties and had moved back to Italy, but that hadn‘t slowed him down. He flew across the Atlantic on a regular basis, enjoying his retirement in a villa on the Amalfi coast while keeping track of his family in New York. Luckily, Stephan‘s mother reeled her husband in now and then or Stephan would never get any peace.

"No need to involve my father; your husband already called me twice this morning,"

Stephan said.

That brought a smile to the brunette‘s face. Not a difficult feat. Madison D‘Argenson was habitually, chronically, in a good mood. She said it was part of her charm. Luckily, she was equally efficient and detail oriented, or she would be a highly paid mailroom clerk instead of Stephan‘s secretary. She said, "He's supposed to be concentrating on the new restaurant opening, not worrying about me. The baby isn't due for another week. What did he say?"