The Billionaire And The Baby. Rebecca Winters

away and began waiting on the tourists lined up in front of the counter. For the next twenty minutes there was a steady stream of customers.

      Every so often she stole a glance at the arresting stranger who moved back and forth with a slight limp while he rocked Elizabeth in his hard-muscled arms. Obviously content, the baby’s eyelids had lowered to half-mast. So far not one peep had come out of her.

      Judging by his demeanor, you would never have guessed he’d been semiconscious from a car accident last night.

      Eventually the museum emptied. His gaze captured hers. “Are you going back to Laramie tonight?” There was a hint of compassion in his deep voice and eyes as he scrutinized Hannah’s hot face.

      She felt at such a disadvantage. Not since noon had she touched a brush to her curls or freshened her lipstick. With such intense heat she needed a shower and a change of clothes.

      At one point Elizabeth had spit up. Part of it had come off on her blouse instead of the diaper she’d placed on her shoulder. Though she’d rinsed the material with some bottled water, she couldn’t wait to get back to the apartment to start a wash.

      “Yes.”

      “I am, too. When you’re ready to close, why don’t you let me help by taking the baby out to your car while you lock up. Then I’ll follow you into town. Perhaps after you’ve put her down for the night, we can talk.”

      Her heart started to trip over itself. “Talk?”

      “Yes. Yesterday I came out here for that very purpose, but you were busy. So I decided to ride around while I waited for that tour bus to leave. I’m afraid my concentration wasn’t what it should be, and you know what happened.”

      Hannah was very much afraid that she did. The incident had started up a curious ache that wasn’t about to go away.

      “But I’m not complaining,” he murmured in a husky voice. “Last night I found out for myself there really are golden-haired angels.” His intent gaze traveled down the length of her curvaceous body, filling her with a different kind of heat. “I just didn’t know they came to earth wearing cowboy boots.”

      Hannah swallowed hard at that sensual perusal. “Perhaps it would be better if you stated your business now, Mr. Giraud.”

      “The name is Dominic. And yours?” he inquired mildly.

      “I—it’s Hannah,” she stammered. “Hannah Carr.”

      She hadn’t meant to sound so defensive just now, but it was the only way she knew how to deal with her chaotic emotions. While he stood this close to her, she was too confused to think straight.

      Hannah couldn’t take much more of this or she would lose any objectivity she had left. “If you don’t mind my asking, why did you bother driving all the way out here again?”

      “To thank you properly for saving my life.” He reached in his back pocket. The next thing she knew he’d placed a five-hundred-dollar bill on the counter next to the infant seat.

      She didn’t make a move to pick it up. “I didn’t save your life, Mr. Giraud, and I would never take your money.”

      “Please allow me to repay you in some small way. Spend it on this precious baby if you won’t use it for yourself. You played the good Samaritan, and I’m very grateful.”

      Hannah shook her head. “Are you aware I might have done real damage by removing you from the accident site without knowing if you had a broken neck or spine or some such thing?”

      His penetrating eyes narrowed on her classic features. ‘The memories are somewhat vague, but I do recall insisting on getting to my feet. You couldn’t stop me. Which means I didn’t leave you with any other choice than to assist me. Let’s be clear about that, shall we?”

      His voice had taken on an edge that held more than a trace of steel. For a brief moment she had the strongest suspicion he was an intimidating, powerful force among his peers.

      Some men were natural-born leaders who lit their own fires. He was that kind of man, and all the more intriguing because of his unfeigned display of loving tenderness with the baby.

      Some of Hannah’s male neighbors and friends had been around Elizabeth enough times for her to recognize them and respond. But she always shied away from any attention they tried to give her.

      “If you’re still insistent about not taking my money, will you at least allow me to buy you dinner tomorrow night to show my gratitude? That invitation includes your husband and Elizabeth, of course.”

      She sucked in her breath. “There’s no husband. It’s just the baby and me.” Until Lisa comes back on her own, or is found. Please, God, let her be safe. Let her return home soon.

      Upon that admission, his dark gaze collided with hers. “I’m staying at the Executive Inn in Laramie. If you’ll tell me where you live,” he said in a silken voice, “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

      “It really isn’t necessary, Mr. Giraud.”

      “The name is Dominic,” he affirmed forcefully, “and I beg to differ with you. Without your help the other night, I might have stumbled into the river and lost consciousness.”

      As she shuddered at the very idea of such a ghastly scenario, she felt him watching her.

      “Do we have a date?” he prodded. Hannah had the impression this man wouldn’t give up until she’d accepted his invitation. “I’ll let you decide where we eat. Over our meal I’ll tell you the reason why I was driving behind the museum in the first place.”

      Her pulse raced.

      The idea of going anywhere with him, let alone to dinner, filled her with too much excitement. She had to remember that he could be a married man, and that he wasn’t asking her out for romantic reasons.

      Because she wouldn’t take his money, this was the only other way he could think of to pay her back for getting him to a hospital. To read anything else into his invitation was ridiculous, especially when he’d suggested that her husband join them.

      What she needed to do was treat this like she would any business dinner. Moistening her lips nervously she said, “The Executive Inn has a good restaurant. Why don’t I meet you there at seven-thirty? If Elizabeth cooperates, we should be on time.”

      His veiled eyes played over her face. “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

      For no good reason her heart took up its crazy pounding again.

      “I believe you’ve got customers.”

      Hannah jerked her head toward the door, hoping to hide the blush that started at her toes and quickly enveloped her entire body, including her face. She should have been the one to notice what was going on at her own establishment!

      “Before I leave, why don’t I put Elizabeth in her playpen and make certain she stays asleep before I go. How does that sound?”

      It sounded heavenly, too heavenly.

      She darted him a quick glance once more. “Much as I appreciate your offer, surely you have other pressing business.”

      One dark brow dipped ominously as a string of tourists filed into the museum. “I thought by now you understood that you’re my pressing business,” he muttered, staring hard at her before he moved behind the counter with the baby.

      While Hannah waited on customers, she glanced repeatedly in his direction, unable to resist watching the gentle way he treated Elizabeth. Something told Hannah that if she wasn’t careful, Dominic Giraud had the power to infiltrate her mind and heart until she didn’t know herself anymore.

      Long after he’d left the museum, she was still haunted by the private message his eyes had conveyed before he’d walked out the door.

      Maybe it was a trick of light in the museum, but for a brief moment his regard had seemed intimate.