The American Heir(23)

I mumbled a string of curses beneath my breath. The Dead Duke had struck   again. Damn, that man was diabolical. He couldn't have predicted how   much Haley would love that tea. But he certainly could have left   instructions to serve it to her at every opportunity. Just in case we'd   decided to try to thwart his plans for an heir.

What other snares had the Dead Duke set? That was the question. And how   was I going to tell Haley about the tea? How would I apologize for   doubting her and accusing her of deliberately getting pregnant?   





 

I couldn't wait to get back to her. I wouldn't say I'd given up fighting   the Dead Duke's will. But I was less certain about fighting fate. If  it  demanded I love Haley, I would. And suffer the consequences and   sacrifices that came with it.

I had to tell her this time. No more letting circumstance get in the way.



I chartered a private jet to take me to England, as usual. I invited Sid   along. There was no reason for her to fly commercial when our  schedules  coincided.

I liked Haley's little sis. As close as she and Haley were, I was sure   she knew of the difficulties between us. I expected she would be distant   and cold to me. Surprisingly, there was little tension between us.   Haley had said that Sid had one of the kindest, most forgiving souls in   the world. I was beginning to believe her.

Sid's excitement and awe of flying on a private jet was cute and almost   infectious. I'd taken the luxury for granted for a long time. She made   me see how lucky I was.

Sid was Sid and full of her usual excited chatter. She talked   incessantly about the gender-reveal party and how eager she was to   become an aunt. It was hard to resist her enthusiasm.

"Haley's going to be the most perfect mom," Sid said after our dinner   onboard the plane. "Look at me! She raised me all by herself since Dad   died. And did a pretty good job, I'd say." She gave me her signature   sunny smile and a pointed look.

"Good to know she can handle a teenager when the time comes," I said dryly. "But can she manage a baby?"

"You're a tough nut, Riggins!" Sid shook her head and waved a hand at me   dismissively. "She's only four years older than I am. But she's been a   little mother to me since my parents brought me home."

At the mention of her adoption, I hesitated, feeling guilty for knowing   what I did and not sharing it with her. If she was going to be the pawn   that drew the truth out, she had a right to know the moves I was about   to make. Even before Haley did, I decided. I didn't think I'd get a   better opportunity to talk to Sid. She'd handed me my opening.

"Speaking of your adoption … I have something to tell you. I haven't even told Haley yet. We may have found your father."

Her face lit up. She was full of questions. I told her everything I   knew, including my suspicions that Will Bird was her half-brother and   Bird her father.

When I was finished, she jumped up, threw her arms around my neck, and hugged me fiercely.

"You're brilliant! You're a genius, Riggins."

"I wouldn't go that far," I said. "We don't know for sure. It's just an educated guess-"

She kissed me on the cheek and returned to her own chair, glowing with   excitement. "Haley and I have been trying to find the connection for   months. She's been playing detective. Or she was until she got so sick."

I nodded. "I know. I wanted to tell her about this latest development in   person. Which is why she doesn't know about it yet. It's all   circumstantial. The question is-what do you want to do?"

She answered without hesitation. "Meet Bird and Will, of course! As soon as possible. And find out for sure."

I nodded. How could I stop her? If I were her, I'd want the same thing.   "Just go carefully around Haley. She'd had you all to herself all these   years. If she has to share you with a brother-"

Sid shook her head. "She has nothing to worry about there! She'll always be my big sis."

"Don't get your hopes up too high," I said. "There's still a good chance we're wrong."

"I know," she said soberly. "But this is the closest we've come." She   broke into a beautiful smile. "Tell me about Bird. Is he a good guy?"

I shrugged teasingly. "He's a hell of a gamekeeper."

"But as a father?" She looked suddenly uncertain and expectant.

"You'll have to judge for yourself," I said as kindly as I could,   sympathizing with her. There was still a part of me that wanted to meet   my father. And give him hell. "Bird is a decent guy as far as I can   tell."

Which was more than I could say for my late departed dad.

"Good," Sid said. "If he is my bio dad, he has a lot to live up to. My dad was the best." Her voice cracked.

I got out of my chair, put my arm around her, and hugged her. I was   going to be a dad and influence a life. Someday my kid could be sitting   around making a commentary about my fathering skills. The thought  scared  the crap out of me.   





 





Chapter 11





Haley

I was like a kid waiting for Christmas as I waited for their car to   arrive. When it pulled into the drive, my heart danced with joy. I   dashed onto the front steps of the castle to meet them. I had a moment's   panic-who would I greet first? The husband I missed beyond reason? Or   the sister I'd give my life for?

Sid made the choice for me. She popped out of the car first and ran to   me, nearly knocking me over as she hugged me. "Hale! Finally! It felt   like I was never going to see you again. It's been forever."

I was so relieved to see her looking healthy and strong that my knees   nearly buckled. I knew her and the disease well enough to immediately   recognize any signs of relapse. Which I'd worried she would keep from   me, particularly while I was feeling unwell. But she glowed with   beautiful health.

I hugged her with tears in my eyes. "Missed you, too. I have so much to   show you and tell you and talk to you about." I looked over her  shoulder  as Riggins stepped out of the car.

As always, the sight of him sent my heart skittering off course. Since   we met, it felt like it beat only for him. Like he really was my other   half.

Our eyes met. There was that instant spark between us. We could both try   to deny it, but it was there, as it had been from nearly the  beginning.  The baby in my womb leaped and fluttered.

"The baby's moving." I moved Sid's hand to my bump so she could feel the   tiny movements that were only just becoming strong enough for the   outside world to see and feel. But my eyes didn't leave Riggins.

He came to me in quick strides. He caught Sid by the arm and gently   pried her loose from me. "Sorry, sis. It's my turn now. Husbandly   privileges." He pulled me into a kiss that took my breath away.

I melted into him, kissing him back, startled and pleased by the passionate way his lips possessed mine.

"I missed you, duchess," he whispered into my ear. "More than I thought possible."

Just then, the baby decided to introduce itself to its daddy and kicked   hard enough into Riggins' rock-hard abs that his eyes grew wide with   wonder as he felt the tiny movement.

"Was that what I think it was?" He sounded as amazed as he looked at my blouse stretched tight over my belly.

I nodded and moved his hand to my bump where the baby continued to kick. "Someone's jealous."

"Someone sure the hell is." Riggins laughed and bent to speak to my   bump. "Daddy's home, baby. You're going to have to share Mommy now." He   paused, staring at my stomach. "This kid is strong. And ferocious."

I nodded. "Like someone else I know."

Riggins looked happy and tender. Maybe … maybe he could fall in love with our baby. Maybe he was already.

Riggins held my hand as I showed Sid into the castle and watched her eyes go wide.

"Wow. Seeing pictures is one thing," she said. "Seeing it in person is something else. This place is beyond awesome."

I nodded and noticed Gibson standing by, waiting to be acknowledged.   "Sid, I want you to meet our butler, Gibson. Gibson, my sister, Sid."

Before I could say more, Riggins interrupted. "I'm sure Sid would like   to freshen up after her trip. I know I would. Would you show her to her   room, Gibson?"

"My pleasure, sir," Gibson said. "This way, ma'am."

Sid gave me a quick, questioning look. It was clear she felt fresh   enough already and ready to catch up with me. I, however, knew Riggins'   intention. Or hoped I knew, anyway. It was the same as mine. A celibate   life was no way for a married duchess to live. Now that I was no  longer  sick all the time, my libido had returned with a vengeance. I  wanted  nothing more than to direct the force of my passion at the hot,   desirable man by my side, the man who belonged to me for at least as   long as the sex of our baby was up in the air.