He grinned at her as he got to his feet. ‘So you think my skin’s OK, then, do you?’
She stepped up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. ‘Everything about you is perfect, Daniel.’
Hayley took a deep breath as she stood in front of the intercom panel outside Jasper’s house. She decided against pressing it and used the code instead. She still had a key to his house and approached the front door with it shaking slightly in her hand.
She opened the door and listened for sounds of movement but all was silent. She stepped inside, her ears still straining, but there was no indication anyone was at home.
Disappointment surged through her. She had been building herself up to this for the whole afternoon. It didn’t seem fair that no one was here to receive her.
She sat on one of the sofas, her spirits sagging as she wondered if Daniel had got it wrong. Jasper might be out with a new lover, or even worse bring someone back with him.
She jerked upright when she heard the roar of his car nosing its way into the garage. She waited with bated breath for the sound of his footsteps, her legs wobbling as she got to her feet as he came into the room.
His eyes widened in shock when he saw her, his face visibly draining of colour. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.
‘I wanted to see you.’
‘What about?’
She tried not to be put off by his curt and too rapid response. ‘I thought you might like an update on your child’s progress,’ she said.
His gaze flicked to her swollen abdomen before returning to hers. ‘You seem pretty sure it is mine, but I’d like confirmation first.’
‘That can easily be arranged.’
‘So you’ll agree to it?’ he asked.
‘I have no reason not to.’
Her response had obviously not been the one he’d been expecting. She could see the flicker of uncertainty in his dark eyes. ‘What’s happened to Lederman?’ he asked.
‘Last thing I heard he was sailing off into the sunset with a buxom blonde with a fortune in stocks and shares,’ she said.
‘So he’s left you in the lurch.’
‘No,’ she said. ‘You have.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘I’m having your baby.’
‘You expect me to believe that?’
‘Yes as a matter of fact I do.’
‘Why are you here?’ he asked.
‘Because Daniel told me you loved me.’
‘And you believed him?’
‘He’s a nice kid,’ she said. ‘He doesn’t have any reason to lie.’
‘But you do.’
‘I have never lied to you, Jasper. I told you I loved you and I meant it. I’m having your baby even if you don’t want to acknowledge it as yours.’
He looked at her, his eyes growing darker by the second, the glisten of moisture unmistakable. ‘Is it really my baby?’ he asked, his voice cracking over the words.