The Unexpected Baby

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE evening sun was low, spreading misty purple shadows in the valleys. Elena moved around the kitchen preparing supper. Sautéed clams with garlic and lemon, and parsley from her garden. Her eyes were inevitably drawn from the task in hand over the terrace, to where Jed was dragging the hose around the garden, dressed only in worn denim cut-offs and espadrilles.

A sensation that was near to pain clutched at her heart. Oh, dear heaven, how she loved this man! Over the two days they’d spent here the new intensity of their love had revealed itself in every touch, every caress, every look and every word. Their love for each other doubly precious because they had so nearly lost each other.

‘Would you prefer it if we stayed here until the baby’s born?’ he’d asked her this morning as they’d stood on the terrace contemplating what needed to be done today in the rioting garden, not wanting to set foot outside their secluded paradise. His arms had come around her, pulling her into his body, his hands softly cradling her breasts through the gauzy aqua cotton of the loose sundress she’d been wearing over nothing at all.

‘Would you mind?’ She’d tipped her head back, nuzzling her lips against his throat, feeling the beat of his pulse, feeling her breasts swell invitingly beneath his tormenting hands.

‘I’d prefer it. This place suits you, and it’s certainly grabbed my affection. We could visit Netherhaye once in a while, just to keep the old place aired, and have Christmas there every year and invite the Mums. Because I’ve been thinking; I can just as easily keep an eye on the business from here. We could spend the bulk of our time here, making babies.’ His voice had teased, taking every last one of her senses and giving them delight. ‘Would you like that?’

She’d turned in his arms then, pushing herself against him, holding him to her heart, closing her eyes on a ragged breath as she’d felt his body stir with desire. ‘I want to give you babies,’ she’d told him, her voice ferocious with love. ‘Dozens of them!’

And now this big-hearted man of hers was winding the hose back on its reel, and the play of muscles across his powerful back and shoulders mesmerised her, making her throat tighten with emotion. He was so beautiful.

And he would be hungry. He’d worked hard in the garden all afternoon, wanting her with him but not allowing her to do more than idly dead-head the blossoms. He was very determinedly taking care of her.

She finished tossing the salad as he straightened up from his task. He’d be with her in a matter of seconds. All the ingredients were ready; she could cook the clams while he had his shower.

The phone rang. She dried her hands and took the receiver from the wall-mount, and Liam said aggressively, ‘You got it?’

Her heart stopped, then punched at her savagely. ‘Where are you?’ She’d gone cold all over, shaking. Everything had been so wonderful, Jed had been so perfect, so understanding, and she had put Liam and his demands to the back of her mind.

Now he was filling her head with panic. She wanted to put the receiver down, go on pretending he didn’t exist.

‘Close.’ He answered her question. ‘I’m looking at the front of your property right now. Nice place. Must be worth a bomb. So when and where do we meet?’

Her stomach was churning sickly, her brain in a tumult. But she had to think. And quickly. Jed would walk in at any moment.

She cast a wide-eyed, frantic glance at the door and said tightly, ‘Then you will be able to see the big door in the wall. The package will be outside it tomorrow at dawn.’ And she hooked the receiver back just as Jed walked through, and felt her face flood with guilty colour.

‘You OK?’ His eyes narrowed with concern. ‘Who was on the phone—not bad news?’

She had to get herself together. Stop shaking. Look normal. She pulled in a deep breath, willed herself to carry this off.

‘No, of course not. Just my agent reminding me I’m due to give my publishers a synopsis of my next book any time now,’ she invented, hating having to do this, reminding herself that she was doing it for his sake, trying to feel better about it and failing miserably.

‘Sweetheart...’ He came closer, his easy smile making her want to weep. ‘Don’t let them pressure you.’ He folded his arms around her and her head dropped gratefully against the wide span of his chest. His skin was warm, slick with sweat. She parted her lips, tasting him.

‘You never need write another word,’ he said firmly. ‘Not unless you want to. And if you do, then you tell them you do it on your own time, at your own pace. That clear?’

He was making a stand for her, taking her side as she knew he always would. That it was inappropriate didn’t matter a damn. He would shoulder her problems, deal with them fairly and firmly, always on her side.

She wound her arms around his neck and said fiercely, ‘I love you!’

‘Hey! You think I don’t know that? That’s why I’m here. That’s why I married you, remember.’ He was smiling as his lips took hers.

Very gently, Elena moved Jed’s arm, holding her breath, afraid he would wake.

She hadn’t slept, increasingly edgy as the hours of night slipped past her. Constantly reminding herself that she was doing this for his sake alone was the only way she could stop herself from breaking down and confessing everything.

He had slept, wrapped around her. His conscience hadn’t been stinging, keeping him awake. Tomorrow—today, actually—they were going to Seville.

Over supper Jed had told her he was due to meet the designer he’d contracted to gut the present building and turn it into something discreetly impressive, glamorous yet restrained, the international hallmark of a Nolan’s showroom.

‘I’d like you to be involved—if only to give your opinions. Besides—’ his eyes had glinted at her ‘—I want you with me. I can’t bear to be away from you for a second, let alone the best part of a day.’

‘You think I’d let you go without me!’ She’d smiled for him, hanging onto the thought of the trip to Seville. By then the business with Liam would be over. He’d have taken his bundle of crisp notes and run. And she could put him out of her mind and get on with her wonderful life with Jed.