Dazzle: The Billionaire's Secret Surrogate

“Archer?” shouted his mother. “You’re going to leave this poor girl in such a state?”

“Mother, I don’t have time to explain,” Archer replied, exasperated and fed up with the whole situation. “That poor girl, as you call her, is the one who started all the trouble. I didn’t come here with her, and I’m damn sure not leaving with her either. Mia, you are not welcome to return to my home. Don’t make me have to file a restraining order to get rid of you, because I most assuredly will.”

“Archer!” she shrieked as he got away and practically ran for the door. “Oh, mommy! He’s so mean to me! I can’t believe he just did this, I really, really can’t!”

“Listen, you little gold-digger, leave my son alone,” said his mother hotly, instantly seeing through the fake tears and innocent act. “He has better things to do than take up with the likes of you.”

Then she walked away, leaving Mia standing among the four waiters shrieking with rage. They quickly led her back to her own table, where two other women awaited her rather than the man she had described.

“I’m going to get him, you know,” she said with a scowl, her normally high-pitched voice sounding low and mean as she practically spit the word out. “You just watch. I could have had him by now if it wasn’t for Kady Ross. But she’ll get hers in the end, and I’ll get Archer all to myself.”

Chapter 18

“Hey! Kady, wait for me, will you?” Archer called after her, finally catching up. He was breathing hard by the time

he pulled up even with her long strides. “Will you stop running? You’re going to hurt your ankle even more. Come here, will you?” He reached for her arm, trying to pull her to a stop, or at least slow her furious pace down a bit. She finally slowed, careening into him as he cradled her against his solid chest. The steady sound of his heart beat was loud and calming under her ear and she paused for a moment, just drinking in the wonderful sound. The amazing feeling of being wrapped in Archer Devonshire’s tender grasp.

“I’m sorry, I know I promised not to let her ruin the evening, but I guess it happened anyway, huh?” Kady said, her words were slightly muffled as she wiped her tears off on the front of his expensive suit coat. Archer didn’t even care if she ruined it, as long as he was able to make her feel better about all of this.

“You really missed out, hon,” he said with a laugh. “I guess my mother was also up there. She showed up right after you headed for the door.”

“Oh, wow, I’m sorry!” Kady gasped, feeling even worse for abandoning him to deal with the fall out of their ruined evening. “I’ve heard enough stories about you two to be sure that didn’t go very well. How did you handle it?”

Archer smirked. “I left that little bitch Mia with her and came after you, of course. The old bird’s useful for some things, anyway.”

“Oh, now come on, Archer, she can’t be that bad,” Kady grumbled in automatic defense. Although the whopper of a lie that his mother told to the judge told a different story, at least she had done that while trying to protect her son. And where would Kady be without that lie, anyway? It might just be because of that she was there at all, instead of broke and homeless in Central Park.

Their car showed up and Daryl got out, opening the back door, so she climbed inside.

“Not to anyone else, I don’t suppose, but she’s really got it in for me,” he replied. “She doesn’t get that just because I spent the last ten years acting like some sort of party-crazed playboy doesn’t mean I’m still the same guy I used to be. I’m a reformed party animal nowadays, and I don’t have the slightest interest in being with more than one woman anymore. It just got old, and I’d never want to go back to it, especially now that I’ve got you. I wish she would understand that.”

Daryl closed the door behind them and headed back to the driver’s seat. “Ready, boss?”

“Yeah, Daryl, go ahead: we’ll just go get an ice cream or something,” said Archer. “You could have some too.”

“Thanks, sir,” he said, and started driving.

“You know what, though?” Kady said. “I never see you call and talk to her or anything. If you’re not willing to talk to each other about all this, you’re never going to understand each other.” She looked up at him, seeing his serious gaze brighten in sudden humor.

“I understand my mother just fine,” Archer laughed, albeit ruefully. “She rules her businesses with an iron fist and throws herself into the work she loves. What’s not to understand, since I do exactly the same thing? It’s just that I’d fallen in with a pretty jaded crowd, and working my way to the top was all I cared about. Well, now that I’m up here, I don’t have to play their games anymore.”

“But you still didn’t tell her that, did you?” Kady pointed out.

“No, I don’t suppose that I did,” he agreed with a sigh. “Maybe I’ll talk to her once we get past this damned court date.”

“Does everything have to revolve around that stupid court date?” Kady snapped irritably. “Damn thing’s driving me crazy.”

“What is it with you, Kady?” Archer asked. “You’re usually never this cranky.”

“I don’t know, I just can’t seem to quit wanting to kick the crap out of something.”

“Almost sounds—hormonal,” Archer said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Hey, Kady, were you dizzy when you tripped on the stairs?”

“What? Why does that matter?” she asked. “Maybe a little.”

“And you felt ill after breakfast,” Daryl pointed out, as he pulled into a parking stall at the ice cream parlor.

“You’re right, I did,” she agreed, catching on to the thought process. “And to tell the truth, I’ve had a few other suspicions as well.”