‘Josie.’ He strode towards her. ‘How are you today?’ and bending over her, he brushed the hair from her brow. ‘Black and blue but not so swollen.’ He eyed the bruise on her face clinically as if he were the doctor.

‘Apart from having no memory, I’m fine!’ she said dryly, colour flaring in her cheeks at the touch of his hand on her brow.

‘Is she?’ he asked bluntly, glancing in the direction of the doctor. ‘She looks a little flushed.’

‘I was just telling your wife she’s going to make a full recovery, but I would like to keep her under observation for a few days. She needs a bit of reassurance with her temporary loss of memory.’

‘How temporary?’ Conan demanded hardily. ‘A day? A week?’

‘One can’t say with this kind of thing.’ Dr Ferguson gestured with his hands. ‘It could be five minutes, or five months. As I told you yesterday, time and patience and no forcing the issue is all your wife needs. Now, if you will excuse me, I have my rounds to complete.’

‘So, you need reassurance, according to the doctor. Is that true?’ Conan asked when they were alone.

‘I don’t know, but the doctor said something about an air ambulance. What exactly happened?’ she demanded, sitting up in bed in agitation, sure Conan was not telling her the whole story.

‘Your accident was at our place in the country. You spent a day in a local hospital, then I arranged to have you flown down to this clinic.’

‘So I was out for three days, then?’ She watched him carefully but he avoided her gaze.

‘More like a week, but it’s all over now so stop worrying. ’

But she could not help worrying. Exactly how long had she been out? She sat up straighter in the bed, about to challenge him, when she felt her baby kick, and unthinkingly grabbed Conan’s hand.

‘Quick, the baby moved.’ She felt his resistance for an instant, and then his large hand splayed over her stomach. She glanced up at him and caught the oddest expression in his dark eyes, then, as the baby kicked again, a look of total surprise and wonder.

‘My God! Does it hurt?’ he demanded, snatching his hand away.

‘No, of course not.’ Josie suddenly felt very foolish; she had the fleeting notion that even though Conan said he was her husband, and they were having a child, they had never been very close. ‘How long have we been married?’ she suddenly asked.

Conan sat down on the side of the bed and took her hand in his, his eyes fixed on her hand lying over her stomach. He twisted the rings around on her finger. ‘We were married last year—a quiet wedding, after a whirlwind romance.’

‘A whirlwind romance!’ Josie exclaimed, in disbelief.

‘You don’t look the type to rush into anything.’

‘That’s true. I was a very staid banker until I met you.’ His deep voice softened. ‘But I took one look at you and knew I had to have you. Fate, kismet, call it what you will.’ He held her hand, his dark eyes roaming lovingly over her small face. ‘You have been with me ever since,’ he drawled huskily. ‘In mind and body. You are my wife; never doubt it.’ And, lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed her slender fingers one by one. Watching her carefully he folded her hand in his and, leaning forward, pressed his lips to her mouth.

Josie’s lips parted, their breath mingling, and she sighed with pleasure. Her body remembered him instantly, and the passion of his kiss knocked every thought out of her head.

‘That’s better,’ Conan declared some time later, his dark eyes gleaming with sensual amusement. ‘I can’t wait to get you home and in my bed.’

Josie flushed vividly at his suggestive comment and tried to ease away from him. He touched her and she melted, but with no memory of the past she felt a bit like how she imagined a virgin must feel on her wedding night. It was stupid, she knew, but the sense of fear made her wary.

Sitting back, Conan smiled. ‘Have I told you how lovely you look today?’ With one long finger he traced the scooped outline of her nightdress over the soft curve of her breasts and back again, the knuckles of his other fingers grazing across her nipples.

Warmth spread right through her body, her breasts hardening at his seductive touch, her nipples clearly outlined against the fine silk fabric. ‘Please, you’re embarrassing me,’ she murmured. ‘Someone might come in.’

He threw his head back with a great shout of laughter. ‘Oh, Josie, you’re priceless. You’re

my wife, and pregnant, and you still blush like a rose when I touch you.’ Dropping his hand, he shook his head in mock exasperation.

At the word ‘rose’, she remembered his flowers of that morning. ‘I forgot to thank you for the roses,’ she said quickly, glad of the chance to change the subject.

But it did not work as Conan responded. ‘So thank me properly—a kiss might do it!’ He grinned wickedly, his dark eyes daring her to accept the challenge.

Her own eyes mirrored her uncertainty. But why not? she asked herself. Any husband would expect as much, and Conan was her husband. There was something in the air between them—the familiar sensation, the glimmer of recognition she had experienced last night, appeared to be growing stronger in her mind every time she saw him.

‘Does it really take so much thinking about?’ Conan demanded, his gaze direct and serious. ‘I have gone through hell the past few days, imagining I might lose you. I could do with some reassurance myself.’

Tags: Jacqueline Baird Billionaire Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net