Falling For Her Billionaire Baby Daddy

"What now?" Rachel asked with wide eyes.

"I don't know, but I think the first thing to do is to leave Atlanta," said Derek.

He had taken off his cap and glasses and was now drinking lemonade with Zoe who was completely oblivious to her parents' distress. "Leave Atlanta? Where would we go?"

"Definitely not New York because that's where they would expect us to go next. I'm sure the paparazzi over there are already aware that I've been found, and with a child too. I don't want Zoe's face to be posted all over the internet or on TV. We need to protect her identity for her safety."

Rachel felt her stomach roll. "What are you talking about? Is Zoe in danger?"

"Not right now, no, but I would be more comfortable if she is largely unknown to the public," said Derek vaguely.

"You're scaring me, Derek. Why do we need to hide our child? Are you some kind of a mafia boss or what? Do you have enemies who may want to harm my daughter?"

"Please, calm down, Rachel. I didn't mean to alarm you," said Derek when he realized how uneasy Rachel had become.

"I am a public figure and anything about me is news. Nobody knew that I was in any sort of romantic relationship let alone having a daughter. This discovery is going to have bloggers and the like start sniffing around my life for something to share with their audience."

"Oh, dear," Rachel groaned.

"I don't want Zoe to be exposed to harassment from the paparazzi or anyone else who wants to use her as content for their website," Derek continued. "I want her to have a normal life even if it means keeping her hidden from public view. Do you understand that?"

Rachel sighed heavily. She understood what he was saying because it was what her friends had been telling her during the video conference call.

Being with someone like Derek will undoubtedly launch her into the public eye because everyone wants to know everything about someone like him.

He was a young, handsome, and successful billionaire who had managed to remain single and unattached for so long despite being surrounded by beautiful women over the years.

Derek Fraser was an enigma and anything that concerned him automatically became juicy news to the public.

"I'm going to call my security detail to fly into town as soon as they can," he said. "We will need to be with us constantly from now on, especially when we go out."

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe this is happening," said Rachel. "Now, we'll have to walk around with bodyguards?"

"I know you don't like this development and I am sorry about that, but our safety comes first," Derek told her calmly.

"I may be a very successful man but I am definitely not everyone's favorite. I wouldn't want to expose you, Zoe, or myself to any kind of danger."

"This is crazy. How did they even know where to find you?"

"I'm suspecting that Cassie might be responsible for ratting me out. She and Jonah are the only ones who know where I am. Jonah couldn't have been responsible for this leak because I've been here for several months undetected until Cassie showed up."

"That figures," Rachel agreed. "Do you think she was in love with you and felt scorned when she came here and discovered that you were with me?"

Derek scoffed. "Cassie doesn't love me. We had an understanding which served both of us well until now. My relationship with her was purely for convenience, and nothing more."

"That sounds cold."

"I know, but it's the truth."

"So, what do we do now? Stay locked up inside my apartment until the calvary comes?"

He gave her a lopsided smile. "Not an exciting thought, but that just about summarizes it."

"And where do we go from here?"

Derek shrugged. "I'm thinking we could travel abroad for a couple of days and let the buzz die down before we return. What do you think?"

The thought of traveling out of the country excited her because it was something she and Rob enjoyed doing. Unfortunately, they never got to do it as often as they liked because they were always too busy grinding and hustling to make time for vacations.

"I think that's a fabulous idea mostly because I've been itching to go on a trip for so long but I just never got around to it," she said honestly.

"Where would you like to go?"

A smile slowly spread across her face when she thought about where she wanted to visit. "I've always wanted to travel to Bermuda," she said wistfully. "But Rob would kill me if I went there without him. We always vacation together." "Why don't you invite him to travel with us then?"

"Really?"

"Sure, why not? The more the merrier," said Derek with a laugh.

"Great! I'll call him right away."

"You do that while I get this little miss off to bed for her nap," said Derek, as he carried Zoe in his arms and took her into the bedroom.

Rachel felt her heart melt at the sight of Derek lovingly carrying Zoe to bed. He was such a great dad and Rachel felt so blessed to be raising her daughter with such a caring man. She picked up her phone and walked over to the den to dial Rob's number.

"Hey, kiddo. What's up?" He said when he answered the call.

"I'm great, bro," said Rachel.

She was in high spirits and couldn't wait to tell her brother about the latest development. She gave him a quick rundown of how things turned out with Derek and Zoe this afternoon and then invited him to travel with them to Bermuda. "Wow, this is a whole lot of information to digest," said Rob when Rachel had finished speaking. "Bermuda, huh?"

"Yeah... we've always talked about going there, remember? Now is a perfect time to go especially because we are not paying for it. You know I'm not a freeloader, but I'm not going to say no to an offer like this. So, what do you say?" Rob sighed. "Oh, Rachel... your life is the stuff dreams are made of and I am so happy for you. I am glad to know that Derek is looking after you and Zoe and doing everything in his power to keep you two safe. That makes me very happy." Rachel noticed how Rob's voice broke as he spoke, and she too became emotional.

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"Don't you dare cry, Rob, because you know I'm gonna cry too and I don't want to do that. Besides, you haven't answered my question. Are you coming?"

"Heck no, are you kidding? This is a beacation, Rachel. This is going to be your first vacation with Derek and Zoe as a family, and I'm not about to butt in and kill the love vibes."

She laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. You're obviously not going to share a bed with us. Come on, Rob, you've always wanted to visit Bermuda."

"I know but I'd rather go there with Taylor than with you and Derek and be the fourth wheel."

"The fourth wheel?"

"Yeah, Zoe is the third and I'm the fourth. That doesn't sound like fun to me."

Rachel laughed again. "Ok, Rob. If you say so."

"I'm so happy for you, Rachel. You finally got your happily ever after."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because it's true. You've got your dream man and you have a child with him, and he's head over heels in love with the two of you. Not many women get that lucky in this lifetime, especially baby mamas." "Ok, that last part is rude, and the rest of your analysis is exaggerated," she said with a giggle.

"I know how you feel, Rachel. Your relationship with Derek seems too good to be true, even to you, and that's why you try to downplay it. It's ok to let your guard down now darling, you deserve this happiness so enjoy it and stop overthinking

it."

"Gee, thanks, Dr. Phil. Now I have my whole life figured out," she laughed.

"You're welcome, little sis. Go ahead and have the time of your life. You have my blessings!"

Rachel laughed harder. "Thanks a million, boo. I didn't even know that I needed your blessings. Now, I feel so much better!"

She felt a whole lot better after the phone call and when Derek returned from Zoe's bedroom to join her in the den, he couldn't help but notice her heightened mood.

"What's the good news? Is Rob coming?"

"Nope," she said with a grin.

"Why are you so excited then?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I'm just happy with the way things have turned out with us so far. I'm taking off my thinking hat now and just going with the flow from now on." Derek grinned. "I like this new Rachel. I think she was the one I met at the club about two years ago, ordering margaritas and having so much fun." "Ooh, speaking of which, my birthday is in two weeks!"

"Perfect. We could celebrate it in Bermuda."

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"I thought we were only going there for a few days?"

Derek shrugged. "We could stay there for as long as we want, Rachel. We both deserve a long vacation after how chaotic things have been between us in the past. I told you that I was ready to make up for the lost time and I meant it." Rachel was touched. "Aww..."

"Yeah," he said with a smile. "And you know what? I am in the mood for an extended break from work. I'll send an email to that effect to my assistant to let her know. I haven't taken a proper break from work in so many years, and now is the perfect time for it."

"Are you sure?" Rachel asked, her heart swelling with hope and excitement.

"Yes. I don't want to be distracted by business calls and emails during this trip. I want to be one hundred percent focused on you and Zoe because that's what quality time means."

She felt tears pooling around her eyes and she blinked them back. "Derek Fraser, sometimes, you're too good to be true," she said softly.

He joined her on the couch and gathered her into his arms. "You, Rachel Lane, have given me a new life that feels too good to be true all the time."

She grinned. "That's good to hear."

He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. As the kiss continued, Rachel wondered if this was the right time to profess her feelings to Derek. They were in a cozy spot right now, the mood was light and mushy, and they were on the same page emotionally, so...

"I think I'm falling in love with you, Derek," she said softly against his lips.

He paused. "That - that is breathtaking," he whispered in response. Welp, that wasn't the response she had hoped for, but it was something.

She smiled and said, "I'm glad you feel that way."

"How do you feel about getting a quickie in before Zoe wakes up?"

She giggled. "Sounds super exciting! Let's put a twist to it, shall we?"

"How?"

"I've always wondered what it would feel like to make love on the kitchen island," she said with a coy smile. "Very unsanitary but very enticing."

"We'll scrub it down with a disinfectant when we're done," he laughed and carried her in his arms to the kitchen.

Rachel did her best to ignore her disappointment and simply focus on the moment. Maybe Derek was uncomfortable with saying the words, 'I love you,' but she'd given him the chance to say them and he'd avoided it and said something else instead.

He had not said that he loved her but she wanted to believe that he did because why would he do so much to be there for her and Zoe if he didn't?

She was going to take Rob's advice and stop overthinking her relationship with Derek and simply go with the flow.