Read Online The Great Baby Caper by Eugenia Riley - Free Book Online

highly approved of her choices of attire, which made her appear much
warmer and more feminine than she had in her stuffy suit. Watching the fading
sun glint in her lovely, wheat-blond hair, he caught her glancing at him covertly.
“Something on your mind, my dear?”
    “Yes,” she admitted. “What
happened to your glasses?”
    He tapped his breast pocket.
“They’re in my jacket.”
    “But you were wearing them
earlier.”
    “I sometimes do for reading.”
    “Ah—so you were reading the menu
at the bar?”
    He broke into a sheepish grin.
“Very well. I wore them deliberately, hoping the specs might make me appear
more genteel.”
    “I see. So you were out to con
me?”
    “You think I’ve not genteel?” he
countered innocently.
    Ignoring that, she demanded, “And
what is your real name? It can’t be Wiggleshaft.”
    Mark laughed. “You’re right, that
was but another ploy. Actually, my first name is Mark, but my surname is
Billingham, not Wiggleshaft—though there is a Wiggleshaft or two on our family
tree.”
    She shot him a chiding look.
“Admit it—you used ‘Wiggleshaft’ just to rattle me.”
    He pretended a look of horror.
“Me? Attempt to rattle a lovely lady such as yourself? Never.”
    “Come on, ’fess up.”
    He chuckled. “Very well. It was
rather fun watching you squirm.”
    “Thanks loads.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “So you’re Mark Billingham, then.”
    “In the flesh.”
    She frowned. “Wait a minute. I can
see how you got the ‘Billingham’ from your grandfather, but what happened to
the ‘Bootle’?”
    He chuckled. “As a young man, my
dad had a falling out with my grandfather, so he had his last name legally
changed to ‘Billingham’ as a sort of rebellion.”
    “Wow, what a fierce revolt,”
Courtney commented drolly.
    “Truth to tell, I think Dad
changed it more because of all the ribbing he took at Cambridge for the ‘Bootle.’”
    “No doubt. Where are your parents
now?”
    His features tightened in sadness.
“Passed away, I’m afraid. They perished ten years ago in a ferry accident near Thailand.”
    At once she felt keen sympathy for
him. “How awful.”
    “Those are the sorts of risks
taken by world travelers, I’m afraid.”
    “So your grandfather must be—”
    “Like a second father to me?” he
supplied.
    She nodded.
    “He is, indeed.”
    She touched his arm. “Mark, I am
really sorry.”
    Pleasantly surprised, he asked,
“Why?”
    “Well, that you lost your parents.
And also for the way I’ve . . .”
    Intrigued, he pressed, “You’ve
what?”
    She gave a sigh. “It’s true that
I’m furious at your grandfather, and not particularly thrilled that you were in
on his little charade. But I’ve said such terrible things about him, thinking
only of my own situation, not realizing how important he must be in your life.”
    Touched by her words, Mark smiled
wryly. “Thank you, Courtney. And never fear. Grandfather may be dear to me, but
let me assure you that I’m hardly blind to his faults.”
    “Tell me about it. Like trying to
order our marriage by corporate decree.” She snapped her fingers. “Hey, when
you said your family had picked out a young lady for you, were you referring
to—”
    “Grandfather and his matchmaking?”
he supplied. “Yes. He picked you, all right, though I never dreamed he’d try to
serve you up on the spot like fast food.”
    Courtney had to chuckle there.
    He winked. “Of course, we could
always defy the old chap and have a torrid affair.”
    Courtney’s mouth dropped open.
    “Courtney, I’m ribbing you.”
    “Right,” she agreed with a nervous
little laugh.
    But as he took her arm and guided
her around a corner, Mark wondered if he really was. He couldn’t remember when
he’d had more fun with a woman. Courtney was clever, brash, and outspoken, very
American, but also feminine, vulnerable, and appealing. Irate though she was,
she had agreed to see him for the evening, demonstrating a grace