Pregnant by the Desert King

The fact that they hadn’t exchanged a single personal word since Lucy had left Qalala was as much her fault as his. She’d thought it better to let things cool down, but that meant he’d missed scans, and hearing the heartbeat of their child. She felt bad about that, but he couldn’t walk back into her life and think that nothing had changed. She hadn’t been sitting around doing nothing these past few months; if he thought that, he was due a surprise.

Snow flurries were settling on the ground as she prepared to leave. It would soon be Christmas. Before then, she’d stop work and concentrate on getting ready to welcome the baby. Her mother had booked a cruise over the holidays, and Lucy planned to spend the time alone. Several friends had offered alternatives, but enjoying the festivities in the midst of a happy family would only remind her how much she missed Tadj.

Anyway, enough of that, she thought, mashing her lips together to blend in the lip gloss. If only she weren’t so pregnant and unwieldy—but she was pregnant, and she was unwieldy, Lucy concluded with a wry smile, so, suck it up!

She strode to the café with her head bowed against the wind. Otherwise, she was in no way bowed, but was striding to this meeting loud and proud. And, instead of a shapeless sack, she had shoehorned her body into a figure-hugging dress she’d been saving for Christmas. She didn’t want Tadj to think her weak, just because she was pregnant, and she was proud of her baby bump. Which was just as well, Lucy concluded, catching sight of her reflection in a shop window. There was no hiding her condition now, and why should she? With an Honours accreditation in her back pocket, and the promise of a great career ahead, she was doing okay without Tadj. If he wanted to be part of her life, he would have to...

He would just have to ask, Lucy thought wryly as she reached the café and spotted him waiting inside.

* * *

The day was transformed from grey and dismal to something vibrant as Lucy breezed in. Her presence cheered everyone up, and turned every head in the café. She approached the table he’d ‘bagged’ as instructed, in a flurry of flying scarf and watchful eyes. Her cheap red coat refused to fasten over her baby bump, which made her seem even more vulnerable to him than she had in the shop. The bitter wind had turned the tip of her nose the same colour as her coat, which he found endearing.

Standing, he held out her chair. ‘How’ve you been?’ he asked as soon as she was settled.

‘Pregnant.’ Her gaze was steady and long. ‘And busy,’ she added, softening her tone. ‘Did you see the latest drawings I sent?’

‘Not only have I seen them, I’ve approved them,’ he confirmed. His team had agreed that Lucy had a real talent when it came to capturing a person’s interest before leading them through the story of a sapphire, from its discovery as a rough, unpolished stone, to a glowing gem that added lustre to some of the world’s most beautiful women. ‘But that isn’t what I’m here to talk about,’ he said. ‘I want to know about you.’

‘Me? I feel fantastic,’ she said, ‘and very excited about the baby.’

‘And ready to talk?’

‘I am,’ she confirmed.

He wanted her alone so much it was eating him up inside. ‘I gather you’ve taken the rest of the afternoon off?’

‘I’m not being awkward,’ she said, ‘but, no, I haven’t. I really need this job, and the money it brings in.’

Fortunately, the waitress chose that moment to arrive with coffee, as well as the slices of toasted cheese he’d ordered, anticipating Lucy’s pregnancy craving for food. ‘I took the liberty of—’

‘Brilliant,’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m famished. But you decided what I should eat?’ she added, frowning deeply. Then she burst into laughter. ‘You should see your face. But, seriously, thank you. I’m hungry all the time, and this does look delicious.’

‘Tuck in,’ he encouraged.

‘It won’t make any difference,’ she assured him as she polished off the first piece of toast, wedging the last chunk in with her fist. ‘Excuse me while I munch this—the baby eats everything before I get a chance. Or, at least, that’s what it feels like,’ she said, laughing again.

‘Take your time, finish up. Are you sure you’re getting enough to eat?’ he asked with concern as she devoured every scrap of food on her plate, then picked off the crumbs with the pad of her forefinger.

‘Haven’t you heard about eating for two?’

‘Are you sure you’re not eating for a litter?’

They both laughed this time, and it felt as if the sun had just come out.

‘Quite sure,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen the scans. Just me and one baby.’

Carried away on a wave of euphoria, he insisted, ‘I still think you need someone to look after you.’

‘Do you now?’

He’d been too fast, he thought as she lost the smile, and he would have to be more measured to stand a chance of winning Lucy’s trust. Unfortunately, with Lucy sitting there, smiling her challenging smile, that proved impossible.

‘Have you finished? Shall we go?’ he pressed, standing up, ready to leave.

‘Impatient to the last,’ she commented as she stared up at him.

‘Remember that clock ticking,’ he said.

To his relief, she stood too. ‘Where were you thinking of going for this talk? I’ve only got half an hour before I have to be back at the laundry.’

‘My yacht’s berthed in the marina.’

‘Of course it is...’ There was a pause and then she said, ‘You’re not kidding, are you?’

He shrugged. ‘Do I ever?’

‘Well, I’m not going on your yacht. I don’t have time, or the inclination to risk you sailing away with me still on board.’

He curved a smile. ‘Why would I subject myself to that?’

‘Fair point,’ she conceded. ‘So, you’re really here to talk about the baby.’

‘I really am,’ he confirmed. ‘And talk about us.’

‘There is no us,’ she said as he ushered her out of the café. ‘And I haven’t changed my mind,’ she added the moment the door to the busy café closed behind them. ‘I won’t agree to becoming your mistress,’ she informed him. ‘And I can’t be late back, because they’re giving me a bit of a send-off tonight—’

‘A send-off?’ he cut in, feeling as if a cold hand were clutching his heart.

‘Yes,’ Lucy told him matter-of-factly. ‘I’ve decided to set up a small design company—just one team player, namely me. I’ve managed to save enough from my jobs for the deposit on a small rental property, so I can work from home when the baby arrives. It’s all thanks to the start you gave me. News spreads. As soon as the press got wind of the part I’m playing in the tour of the Qalalan sapphires, it was all over the news, and the phone never stopped ringing. By the time one becomes two,’ she added with a beatific smile as she cupped her hands protectively over the pronounced swell where their baby resided, ‘I should be well into my next contract.’

‘Bravo,’ he said flatly, ‘but as you won’t be working once the baby arrives I can’t see how that’s relevant.’

‘I’m sorry?’ she said.

‘Just that,’ he said curtly. ‘Once our child is born, I’ll support you both.’

She stopped dead in the street. ‘Maybe I should get back now.’

‘No—please,’ he added in a more conciliatory tone. ‘Just give me half an hour, and I’ll explain.’

‘I could give you all week, and you still couldn’t say anything to change my mind.’

‘Hear me out,’ he insisted quietly.

She stared at him for a few moments, and then conceded, ‘I agreed to make myself available to talk about our baby, and I will.’

‘Thank you.’

Available? He seethed in silence as they walked on towards the marina. He had come here to take care of Lucy and the baby, and to do his duty

by them, not to have Lucy set the rules.

‘I understand how busy you are, so you don’t have to do this,’ she said. ‘You can leave me here.’

‘And we’ll communicate via our monitor screens? I don’t think so,’ he said.