Billionaire Baby Dilemma by Barbara Dunlop Page B

responded.
    With a final nod, the mayor withdrew.
    The band had started a break, and a recorded, soft rock song wafted through the speakers.
    â€œThirsty?” asked Lucas, stepping close, one hand going to the small of her back as the crowd made their way off the dance floor.
    â€œSure,” she responded, taking his lead back toward their table. “I take it you gave a big donation?” She couldn’t help wondering if her words at the barbecue had influenced Lucas on that front.
    â€œPacific Robotics made a big donation,” Lucas corrected. “That includes Amelia.”
    Was it thousands? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? “How did you decide? I mean, how do you decide how much to donate?”
    â€œIt’s tough,” Lucas acknowledged. He flagged a passing waiter and they ordered a bottle of sparkling water. “I bet we get a dozen requests a week from worthy charitable organizations. And from scam artists, of course.”
    â€œThat many?” Devin hadn’t given any thought to that side of being in business.
    They arrived back at their table. All eight of the chairs were vacant, and Lucas pulled out the one draped with Devin’s light wrap.
    She sat down. “I assume you say no to most of them?”
    â€œIf you didn’t, you’d be bankrupt in a year. For better or worse, you have to pick your priorities, allocate an appropriate sum of money and hope what you’re doing helps out.”
    Devin found herself admiring this side of Lucas.
    â€œAmelia needs to learn this,” he continued, gaze going thoughtful. “This and about a million other things. I don’t want to sound patronizing, but there are complexities to running a corporation that you couldn’t possibly imagine.”
    Devin tried not to bristle. “How could that possibly sound patronizing?”
    He gave a hard sigh.
    â€œIs this the latest sales pitch for you as her guardian?” Devin asked.
    â€œThis is context to help you understand why I’m doing what I’m doing. This isn’t a game, Devin. Hundreds of millions…billions of dollars are at stake. Jobs for people in five different countries. The well-being of the family.”
    â€œI don’t think the Demarcos are doing too badly.”
    â€œAnd it’s going to be partly up to Amelia to see that many more generations of Demarcos keep the corporation healthy. It’s not just about boats and sports cars. It’s about hospitals and scholarships and ordinary peoples’ livelihoods.”
    â€œShe’s nine months old, Lucas.”
    He paused, and some of the intensity went out of his eyes.
    The waiter arrived, opening the ornate bottle of water and pouring it into two glasses over ice.
    â€œYou’re right,” said Lucas as the man left the table. “Before she decides if animal welfare is more important than inner-city youth programs, we need to get her potty trained and teach her to use a knife and fork. Back to the nanny conversation.”
    â€œBefore the weight of the world crashes down on the poor girl’s shoulders, we need to let her have a little fun.” Devin raised her glass for a sip. “Back to the nanny conversation.”
    Â 
    Devin clipped the portable baby monitor into the waistband of her jeans as she pulled the door shut between Amelia’s nursery and the ensuite that connected it to her own bedroom in the mansion. She’d promised Lucas they could discuss what they’d each thought of this morning’s nanny interviews once Amelia was down for her afternoon nap.
    On the way past the mirror, Devin checked her reflection. Her hair was messy from Amelia playing with it, and she had a streak of dirt across one cheek. Who knew where that had come from. And the left shoulder of her blue T-shirt was one big wet blob where Amelia had sucked on it while rocking to sleep.
    Telling herself it wasn’t vanity, and it certainly