Free Baby Benefits by Emily McKay Page B

money or resolve could solve.
    Raina’s gaze automatically drifted in the direction of her mother. Though weak and confined to her wheelchair, her expression was as curiously eager as Cassidy’s was.
    “Derek, this is my mother, Rose Huffman.” She hesitated before adding, “You may remember meeting her.”
    Derek jerked his gaze from the doorway through which Lavender and Isabella disappeared. “Yes. Of course. I remember.”
    Raina felt a blush creep into her cheeks. Of course he did. He had an excellent memory. Especially when it came to money.
    He’d met her mother the first time she’d quit, eight years ago. At the time, her mother’s health was still declining. She’d only just been confined to a wheelchair and their home was not yet handicap accessible. Raina had seen no option other than quitting her profitable job at Messina Diamonds to take another job that would allow her to work from home, where she could help care for her mother during the day.
    Derek, however, had been unwilling to accept her resignation. He’d come to her home then, too. When he’d found out why she’d quit, he’d hired a construction crew to retrofit their tiny suburban home, giving Rose back her mobility and independence. He’d forbidden her from telling anyone in her family he was footing the bill. He’d insisted on calling it a bonus for making it through the first year.
    His generosity had affected everyone in their home. When she’d thanked him profusely, tears pooling in her eyes, he’d merely cleared his throat and said, “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the best assistant I’ve ever had. I’m not going to let you quit simply because the doors in your house were improperly sized.”
    That had been it. The very moment when she’d begun to love him. It had been all downhill from there.
    And now, here he was, in her home once more and this time he was the worried one. Whatever annoyance she’d felt with him earlier in the day disappeared in the light of his current situation.
    Since a display of sympathy was as likely to make him uncomfortable as her tears had all those years ago, she turned toward her family and began making introductions. “You already met Lavender, but this is my youngest sister, Cassidy. And Kendrick, my brother, is there by the door. My middle sister, Jasmine, is away at school.”
    Kendrick rushed forward, with his hand extended. “So, you’re the diamond guy.”
    Derek shook Kendrick’s hand automatically, but it took him a moment to refocus his attention. Finally he said, “Yes. I suppose I am.”
    “Cool.” Kendrick scrubbed a hand over his spiky black flattop. “I’ve never met a billionaire.”
    “Kendrick,” Raina chided. Kendrick may poke fun of Derek, but he was as fascinated by wealth as any teenager.
    She glanced toward her mother for backup, but Rose merely smiled, apparently unconcerned.
    Derek blinked, either surprised or embarrassed, she couldn’t tell which. She hoped he was surprised, because frankly she was embarrassed enough for everyone.
    Kendrick ignored her. “So, Mr. Messina, do you have any advice to pass on?”
    “Um…” Derek glanced in her direction. It may have been the first time she’d ever seen him at a loss for words. “Work hard and stay in school.”
    A nervous chuckle slipped forth from her lips.
    “But,” Kendrick pointed out, “didn’t you drop out of school when your father discovered the site of the first Messina Diamond mine in Canada?”
    “Kendrick!” This time it was Rose who protested. Apparently it was okay to grill guests, just not to bring up their lack of education.
    “That’s enough, Kendrick. Mr. Messina merely took the GED in lieu of graduating early. By then he was nearly finished with his course work anyway,” Raina defended.
    “No, Raina. It’s fine.”
    Other than a momentary spasm of his jaw, Derek gave no indication that the question bothered him. Raina was sure it did though. No matter how many times she’d