The Payback Adventure (Billionaire Matchmaker #2)

PROLOGUE

September

Just call me the billionaire cupid!

With anticipation thrumming in his veins, Henry Davenport pushed open the door to the labor and delivery suite with his shoulder.

One hand carried a bouquet and the other a teddy bear.

He’d been awake for more than thirty-six hours.

Dash Cabot had texted their group chat that Iris’s water had broken at ten last night, and sleep wouldn’t come.

Henry knew it wouldn’t until his newest godchild had arrived safely.

Not that he was tired.

He’d been waiting for this moment since Iris and Dash announced her pregnancy at Henry’s birthday party in Hawaii on April Fools’ Day.

It had been the best present on record. Second only to Cade Armstrong Waters proposing to Cynthia Sterling after the island adventure Henry had sent them on as part of his birthday celebration.

That had been the last time he’d played matchmaker, but he didn’t do it with everyone.

No, he made sure the couple belonged together.

Like Dash and Iris Cabot.

And now they’d even had their child on a holiday—Labor Day. How fitting was that?

Henry entered the room quietly, keeping his steps soft in case anyone was sleeping.

It had been a long night and an even longer day for the couple, and though Dash had texted him that it was okay for a visit, Henry wanted to be mindful of what they’d all been through.

Something he’d learned after the birth of Noelle Matthews, his goddaughter.

The sight of Dash holding his newborn and staring at a sleeping Iris stopped Henry in his tracks. They were a family in every sense of the word. Dash smiled softly and wiped his eyes.

Henry’s heart stilled. The love flowing from husband to wife was almost palpable. His vision blurred, and he blinked, refocusing on the hospital bed.

I knew they belonged together.

He’d known the way he had with so many others. Henry had a gift for matchmaking that would continue to benefit his friends, even though they all told him to stop.

But Henry had no intention of stopping. That wouldn’t be fair to the other couples who needed him to push—though shove might be a more apt description—them together the way Dash Cabot had required him to open his eyes to the perfect woman, who happened to be his best friend.

“Congratulations.” Henry approached the new family. “Being a dad suits you.”

“Dad.” Dash stared at the baby. “I like the sound of that. What do you think, son?”

Iris and Dash had kept the gender a secret during the pregnancy. Henry set the flowers on the bed tray but held on to the stuffed animal. “You had a boy.”

Dash nodded.

Iris didn’t stir. “She must be tired.”

“Exhausted and taking a well-deserved nap.” Dash smiled at his wife. “I’ve always been so amazed by her, but the way she gave birth to our son… Incredible.

“Meet Brecken Henry Cabot.”

Henry nearly fell over. “You—”

“You are his godfather.”

His vision blurred once again. “I am.”

“Brecken, this is your uncle Henry.”

He showed the baby the teddy bear, not that a newborn could focus on anything except the color. Then he set the stuffed animal on the bed to take a closer look at the baby swaddled in a blanket and wearing a pink-and-blue striped cap. “He’s handsome like me.”

Dash laughed. “Iris said you’d say that. Would you like to hold him?”

“Please. Let me wash my hands.” Henry did that quickly in the nearby sink and returned to the bedside. He carefully took the baby from Dash, making sure to support Brecken’s head. “He’s perfect. Oh, you and your uncle Henry will have great fun together. I promise you that.”

“Thank you.”

Henry glanced at Dash. “For what?”

“For my family. Without you, I’d probably still be a workaholic staying up and playing video games on the weekends, missing Iris after she quit.”

“You’ve come a long way, Master Dashiell.” Dash was the youngest of the Billionaires of Silicon Forest. He was the smartest of the group but had few social skills, especially when it came to women. “And you’re lucky Iris loves you so much. Not many women would have put up with what you did.”

Dash hung his head and reached out to stroke Iris’s hair. “Don’t I know it, but I’ve tried to make it up to her since then, and I’ll keep trying. I love her so much.”

“I know you do. That’s why I couldn’t give up on you, either.” Henry cuddled Brecken closer. Thank goodness Henry hadn’t. Now, he had two godchildren, and he wanted more.

Who would he play matchmaker with next?