The Billionaire's Bedside Manner (5 page)

How would
this
evening end? With brandy and cigars in the study for the men, most likely. Perhaps flutes filled with Cristal offered to the ladies. And when Mateo drove her home…

Standing beside the liquor cabinet, Alex rubbed his hands together. “What can I offer you to drink?”

“I'm fine,” Bailey replied, “thank you.” Given her inquisitive thoughts regarding Mateo, better she stayed well clear of beverages that would only weaken inhibitions.

“Ice water for me, Alex,” Mateo said, moving to stand alongside her, close enough to soak in the natural heat emanating from his body. “You and Natalie can indulge a little tonight.”

“It's true.” Natalie rubbed her nose with her baby's. “It isn't often we get a night off.”

The little boy giggled and held his mother's cheeks. When his fingers caught in her perfectly coiffed hair, Natalie only laughed, but then worried over a strand wrapped around one tiny finger. Alex walked over, unwound the hair from
around his boy's finger then kissed the baby's palm with a loud raspberry that sent the child into peals of laughter.

Bailey's chest squeezed. This trio was the picture of the perfect family. The happiness they so obviously shared lit all their faces. What they had couldn't be bought.

That's what
she
wanted one day. The kind of marriage that took a person's breath away. The kind of love her parents had once shared. They'd been so happy. When she was young, she'd never stopped to think it might not last.

When she refocused, a feathery feeling brushed over her. She looked across. Mateo was looking at her, a curious light shining in those dark eyes, a sexy grin curving one side of his mouth. A pulse in Bailey's throat began to beat fast. She blinked then, uncertain of where to look, concentrated on Alex who sent her an ambiguous smile before returning to the bar to see to the drinks.

Natalie spoke to her husband as he poured a water then what looked like scotch for himself.

“Honey, I might change his diaper for Tammy before we go.” Natalie explained to Bailey, “Tammy's the wonderful lady who looks after Reece when I go into the office a couple of times a week. She's catching up on her knitting in the family room until we leave.”

“Mateo mentioned that you work outside of the home.”

“It's a great balance. Only four hours each day—” Natalie rubbed noses with her baby again “—and then I'm dying to get back to him.” She met Bailey's gaze. “Want to help me change him?”

Bailey's knees locked. She'd done some babysitting but never one so young. “I'm not sure I'd be any help.”

Natalie only smiled. “You look like a quick study.”

They left the men, who were busy discussing football, and moved into a nearby room—a downstairs nursery. Bouncing the baby, Natalie crossed to a white lacquered changing
table where she gently lay her bundle down then set about unbuttoning his suit.

“Mateo mentioned you know Mama Celeca?”

“I lived in her town for a few months.”

“I've heard so much about her. Alex says she's the biggest darling ever. He went with Mateo to Italy one summer a long time ago. Apparently Mama tried her best to get both of them married off.”

She seemed so genuine, Bailey couldn't help but like her. Couldn't help but feel relaxed and at home, even in a dress that looked more like a rag next to Natalie's exquisite creation.

Bailey brushed a palm over the baby's soft crown and carried on the thread of their conversation.

“Lucky for you Mama's matchmaking didn't succeed.”

“Lucky isn't the word.” Natalie peeled back the diaper and let out a pleased sigh. “I love when there's no messy surprises. Could you hand me a fresh diaper, please?” Natalie cast a glance to her right. “They're in that lower drawer.”

Bailey dug one out while Natalie cleaned up, shook on powder then slid the fresh diaper under the baby's bottom.

“Mateo mentioned that you're in between jobs,” Natalie said, pressing down the diaper tabs.

“I was out looking today.”
All
day.

“Find anything?”

“Not yet.”

Natalie took both the baby's feet and clapped the soles together, but the baby's smile was a little slow to bloom this time. Must be past his bedtime, Bailey thought.

“What are you interested in?” Natalie asked, scooping her baby up. “Do you have office skills?”

“Afraid not. I've been waitressing, serving and general cleanup.”

“In Italy?” Bailey nodded and Natalie beamed. “What an adventure.”

Bailey arched a brow. “It certainly was that.”

“I don't know of any waitressing positions, but we're always after good cleaners for rentals at the agency.”

Bailey's heart leapt. “Really?”

With the baby's head resting against her shoulder, Natalie headed for the door. “You're probably not interested—”

“No,” Bailey jumped in. “I mean,
yes.
I
am
interested. When do you think I could start?”

“I'm going in Monday. I'll give you the address.”

“I'd appreciate that.” A
lot.
“Thank you.”

Natalie's pace had slowed. The baby's eyelids were drooping now. He was about to drift off. “Would you like a cuddle before we leave?”

Bailey gave a nervous laugh. She would. He was so adorable and full of smiles. But what if she took him and he cried? She'd feel terrible. But, as if to reassure her, little Reece stretched his arms out to her and found a drowsy smile.

“Seems at least one of you wants a cuddle,” Natalie joked. But then she saw Bailey's hesitation. “He's a darling, honest. The worst he'll do is pull your nose.”

Bailey blew out a shaky breath. “Well, I've never had my nose pulled before.” She put out her arms.

The baby weighed more than she thought. Close up, his heavy-lidded eyes looked even bluer. And he smelled divine—all fresh and new. No wonder Natalie and Alex were so happy. They had it all.

“He likes your bracelet.” Natalie touched the dangling charms that Reece was fingering too. “So do I. Did you get it overseas?”

“It was a gift.” And then Bailey admitted what she hadn't in a very long while. “A gift from my mother.”

“Then it's doubly precious. Do your parents live in Sydney?”

“My father does. My mother passed away.”

Natalie's beautiful face fell. “Oh…I'm so sorry, Bailey.”

“It was a long time ago.”

The sudden lump in Bailey's throat made speaking a little difficult. Over a decade had passed since her mother's death. Not everyone would understand why her grief hadn't faded. But something about Natalie made Bailey feel as if she would. As if the two of them could be more than acquaintances. That, maybe, they could be friends.

Still, she didn't want to mire down the conversation, not when Reece was mumbling adorable things she couldn't quite understand and hiccuping in such a cute way.

But Natalie's expression had grown alarmed. Slanting her head, she held out her arms.

“I think you'd better give him back.”

Bailey's heart sank. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No, no. It's just I think he's about to—”

Natalie didn't move quickly enough. Reece gave another hiccup. Heaved a little. Then a lot. Next his dinner came up.

All over the front of Bailey's dress.

W
hen Natalie barged into the room, Mateo and Alex had been discussing the state's current public hospital concerns. Mateo immediately dropped the conversation and peered past Natalie's shoulder. Bailey wasn't in tow and Natalie's hands were clasped tight before her. Seemed unlikely—Natalie was one of the sweetest people he knew. But Bailey was a relatively unknown quantity. Had the women had a disagreement?

Natalie pulled up in front of her husband. “Can you ring and let the restaurant know we'll be late?”

Standing, Alex caught her arm. “Is the baby all right?”

“Too much milk after dinner, I'm afraid.”

Alex lowered his hand. “Another accident?”

“All over poor Bailey.”

Mateo was no stranger to babies' assortment of surprises. He not only cared for pregnant women before and during delivery, he looked after their concerns postpartum. Many days, his practice was filled with the sights, sounds and smells
of children of all ages. He'd been chucked up on more often than some people brushed their teeth. Part of the job. He wasn't sure Bailey would be quite so cool with it, particularly given the trying day she'd had.

Setting down his glass, Mateo rose too. “I'll take her home.”

“No need. Bailey's fine,” Natalie said. “Other than needing a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes, and I have a stack of outfits in my pre-baby wardrobe she can wear.” She ran her hand down her husband's sleeve. “Tammy's settling the baby now. I'll go see how Bailey's doing.”

As she sailed away, Alex fell back into his chair. The grin on his face said it all. “She's an amazing woman, isn't she?”

“You're a lucky man.”

Alex leaned closer and lowered his voice. “So, now we know they'll be occupied for a while yet, tell me about it.”

“Tell you what?”

“About your date.”

“She's not a
date.
”

“She's an attractive female accompanying you to dinner. If she's not a date, what is she?”

“Difficult to work out,” Mateo admitted. “Like I said on the phone, she appeared on my doorstep yesterday morning.” He went into more about the engagement and her dramatic flight from Italy, the loan and Bailey's search for a job to pay it back. “When I phoned Mama today, she confirmed that she'd told Bailey to drop in.” Mateo dropped his gaze to the glass he rotated between his fingers. “Mama also asked me to watch out for her until she can make amends with her father.”

“Trouble there too?”

“I'm sure whatever's gone on before could be sorted out with one or two calm conversations.”

“Family rifts aren't usually that easy to solve.” Alex took a long sip of scotch.

“Either way, it's none of my business.”

“So where's Bailey staying?”

“I said she could stay with me—just for a few days.” Alex coughed as if his drink had gone down the wrong way. Mateo frowned. “What?”

Alex tried to contain his amused look. “Nothing. I mean, Bailey seems very nice.”

“But?”

“But nothing, Mateo. I'm only surprised that you've opened your home to her. You haven't done that in a while.”

“You mean since Linda.” Mateo slid his glass onto the side table. “This isn't the same.”

Alex studied his friend's face and, inhaling, nodded and changed the subject.

“What's happening with the vacation?”

“I haven't made any firm decisions yet.”

“But you're still going to France, right?”

It was more a statement than a question. His annual pilgrimage to Ville Laube was a duty he never shirked. But, of course, it was more than simply an obligation. He enjoyed catching up with the people who ran the orphanage. Although seeing the children conjured up as many haunted feelings as good. Each year he saw so many new faces as well as those who had lived there for years.

One little boy was a favorite. Remy had turned five last visit. Dark hair and eyes, solemn until you pitched him a ball—any kind. Then his face would light up. He reminded Mateo of himself at that age. Leaving Remy last year had been difficult.

When he returned this year, Mateo hoped that little boy was gone. He hoped he'd found a good family who would love and support him. He wondered what kind of man Remy
would grow into. If he would learn from the right influences. Whether he'd always have plenty to eat.

Mateo confirmed, “I'll go to France.”

“Maybe Bailey would like to go too.”

Mateo all but lost his breath. Then he swore. “You're not trying to step into Mama Celeca's matchmaking shoes, I hope.”

“Just an idea. You seem…interested.”

“You saw us together for less than a minute.”

“It was all the time I needed to see that you think she's different.”

“Hold on.” Mateo got to his feet. “Just because you've found the one, doesn't mean I need to be pushed down any aisle.”

“Maybe it'd make a difference if you didn't fight it quite so hard?”

“Fight what?”

Both men's attention flew in the direction of that third voice. Natalie stood in the living room doorway. While Mateo withered—
was Bailey a step behind, within earshot?
—Alex pushed to his feet and crossed to his wife.

“Nothing, honey,” he said, stealing a quick kiss. “Is the baby okay? How's Bailey?”

“Judge for yourselves.”

When a stylish woman, wearing an exquisite pink cocktail number and glittering diamond drop earrings, slid into the room, Mateo did a double take then all but fell back into his seat.

Bailey?

While the bikini-girl turned glamour-queen crossed the room, looking as if she'd worn Chanel all her life, Natalie clasped her hands under her chin and exclaimed, “Isn't she gorgeous?”

Mateo knew he was smiling. He wanted to agree. Unfortunately he was too stunned—too delighted—to find his voice.

 

“The first time Mateo and I came to this place, we were twenty-two,” Alex explained as a uniformed Maxim's waiter showed the foursome to a table next to the dance floor.

“Twenty-three,” Mateo amended, his hand a touch away from Bailey's elbow as they navigated tables of patrons enjoying their meals and tasteful atmosphere, including tinkling background music. “You'd just had a cast off your arm after a spill on your skateboard.”

“You rode a skateboard at twenty-three?” Natalie laughed as she lowered into a chair the waiter had pulled out for her.

Alex ran a finger and thumb down his tie. “And very well, might I add.”

While the waiter draped linen napkins over laps, Bailey tried to contain the nerves jitterbugging in her belly. She'd dined at similar establishments, although not since her mother had died. In the old days her family had enjoyed dinner out at least once a week, but never to this particular restaurant. Wearing this glamorous dress and these dazzling earrings, not to mention the fabulous silver heels, she felt as if a magic wand had been waved and she'd emerged from her baby throw-up moment as a returned modern-day princess. For a day that had started out horrendously, she was feeling pretty fine now. Not even tired. Although catch-up jet lag would probably hit when she least expected it.

Until then she'd lap up what promised to be a wonderful night.

Some people you couldn't help but like. Natalie and Alex were that kind of folk. And Mateo…she'd wondered what he'd be like in friends' company. His smile was broader. His laugh, deeper. And when his gaze caught hers, the interested
approval in his heavy-lidded eyes left her feeling surreal and believing that tonight they might have met for the first time.

“I must confess,” Natalie said, casting an eye over the menu. “I love not having to think about the dishes.”

“I help with that,” Alex pointed out, teasing.

“And I love you for it.” Natalie snatched a kiss from her husband's cheek then found Bailey's gaze. “Do you like to cook?”

“I'm no expert. But I would like to learn how to prepare meals the way they do in Italy.” The dishes she'd enjoyed there had been so incredibly tasty and wholesome.

Natalie tipped her head toward Mateo. “You know your date's a bit of a chef?”

Her
date?

Hoping no one noticed her blush, Bailey merely replied, “Really?”

“We go over for dinner at least every month,” Natalie added.

Mateo qualified, “Nothing fancy. Just a way of remembering home.”

“His crepes are mouth-watering,” Natalie confided.

Bailey thought for a moment. “Aren't crepes French?”

“Mateo spent his first years there.” As soon as the words were out, Natalie's expression dropped. “That probably wasn't my place to say.”

While Mateo waved it off, Bailey puzzled over what the drama with France could be. He must have seen her curiosity.

“I lived in an orphanage the first six years of my life.”

All the air left Bailey's lungs as images of dank, dark corridors and rickety cots with children who lacked love's warm touch swam up in her mind. She couldn't imagine it, particularly not for Mateo Celeca. Her lips moved a few times before she got out a single, “Oh.”

“It wasn't so bad,” Mateo said, obviously reading her expression. “The people who ran it were kind. We had what we needed.”

“Mateo sponsors the orphanage now,” Alex chipped in as, wine menu in hand, he beckoned a waiter.

Bailey sat back. Of course. Yesterday Mateo had mentioned he was a benefactor. She hadn't thought beyond the notion that any donations would be the act of someone who had the means to make a difference to others' lives. She hadn't stopped to think his work in France might be more personal. That he was paying homage to a darker past and wanted to help those who were in the same underprivileged position he'd once been.

“It's difficult for them to find funds,” Mateo was saying, pouring more water. “A small bit goes a long way.”

“You're too modest,” Alex said.

Natalie added, “Wouldn't surprise me if one day you come back with someone who needs a good home.”

“I'm hardly in a position.”

Mateo's reply sounded unaffected. But Bailey detected a certain faraway gleam in his eye. Would Mateo consider adopting if he
were
in the position? If he were married?

She tried to focus on Natalie's words…something about looking forward to dessert. But, as much as she tried, Bailey couldn't shake the vision of Mateo playing with a child of his own with a faceless Mrs. Celeca smiling and gazing on. Not her, of course. She wasn't after a husband—or certainly not this soon after her recent hairy experience. One day she wanted to be part of a loving couple—like Natalie and Alex—but right now she was more than happy to be free.

Did Mateo feel the same way? Natalie wondered, stealing a glance at the doctor from beneath her lashes. Or could Mama's perennial bachelor be on the lookout for a suitable wife slash mother for an adopted child?

 

Finishing dessert, a moist, scrumptious red velvet cake, Bailey gave a soft cry when some chocolate sauce slipped from her spoon and caught the bodice of her dress. She slid a fingertip over the spot to scoop up the drop, which only smeared the sauce. Bailey didn't wear these kinds of labels, but she knew something about the price tags. Often they cost more than her airfare home.

With dread filling her stomach, Bailey turned to Natalie. “I'll pay to have it dry-cleaned.”

But Natalie wasn't troubled.

“Keep the dress, if you want. It's too snug on me after the baby anyway. In fact, there's a heap of things you could take off my hands, if you'd like.”

Eyes down, Bailey dabbed the spot with her napkin. She was grateful for the offer but also embarrassed. Over dinner, they'd discussed her travels and lightly touched on the Emilio affair. Mention had been made of Mateo's suggestion she stay a couple of days as well as Natalie's proposal of work. Now the offer of a designer wardrobe…

She was beginning to feel as if she constantly had her hand out.

Bailey set aside the napkin. “That's very kind, Natalie. But you don't need to do that.”

“Chances are I won't wear them again. Some mothers are eager to get back their pre-baby bodies but I quite like the fuller me.”

“Hear, hear,” her husband cooed close to her ear. “Now if you've finished dessert, what say we dance? Just you and me.”

Natalie laughed. “Oh, you love when the three of us dance together in the living room.”

“Of course.” Alex kissed her hand and found his feet. “But this moment I'm happy to have only you in my arms.”

As they headed for the dance floor, Bailey sighed.

“You're right. They're a magic couple. Have they been together long? The way they look at each other, anyone would guess they'd fallen in love yesterday.”

“They've been together a couple of years.”

“I thought they might have been school sweethearts,” she said, watching them slow dance to the soft strains of a love song drifting through the room while misty beams played over their heads.

“Natalie grew up in far different circumstances than she enjoys now. Very humble beginnings.”

Bailey was taken aback. “She looks as if she might've been born into royalty.”

“Tonight, so do you.”

Bailey's breath caught high in her chest. Was he merely being polite or was the compliment meant to have the reaction it did? Suddenly she didn't know where to look. What to say. But her mother had said to always take a compliment graciously. So, gathering herself, she lifted her eyes to his and smiled. “Thank you.”

Her heart was thumping too loudly to maintain that eye contact, however, so she found Alex and Natalie on the dance floor. Natalie was laughing at something her husband had said while Alex gazed down at his wife adoringly. They radiated wedded bliss.