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She was trying to brazen it out, that much was obvious. But the quake in her tone betrayed her. He couldn’t answer, but his eyes never left hers until, abruptly, she slid her gaze away, her cheeks flushed.
‘Possibly from that day we returned from the rainforest that first time. And it was the only time we didn’t use protection.’
The time in the pool house, he remembered. Only too vividly. And now he was going to be a father.
Again, if he counted Brady, because for all intents and purposes, he was the closest thing the boy was going to have to a father.
‘How long have you known?’
‘Ever since the doctor told me in the hospital room that day. It was extremely early days, usually too early to tell, but I guess this little guy or girl was a fighter from the start.’
‘I was in the room,’ he realised with sudden clarity, and felt a tremor of impatience. But nothing like he might have expected.
That was the moment that had replayed in his head all this time. And then another thought slammed brutally into him.
‘The bushmaster bite...?’
‘The baby seems fine.’ She practically fell over her words. ‘I had tests and so far everything has checked out, but they’re monitoring it.’
‘I have a contact,’ he growled, pulling out his mobile and beginning to punch in numbers. ‘I met him this summer.’
‘It’s fine. I have someone already.’
He wasn’t prepared for the way she placed her hand out to stop him. The contact seared straight through him.
‘Why didn’t you tell me? As soon as it happened?’
‘I don’t know.’ She dropped her shoulders, her eyes meeting his imploringly. ‘I was going to, but I didn’t know how to. And then...’
‘And then I told you that I couldn’t put Brady through losing someone else he was close to,’ he realised, and Flávia nodded awkwardly.
‘But still...’
It was odd, but he couldn’t quite decide how he felt. Both about the baby, and about the fact that Flávia had concealed the pregnancy from him.
‘I didn’t know if the baby was going to be all right at that point. Also, I didn’t want you staying out of duty. Then resenting me.’
‘I should never have put you in that position,’ he rasped, because it was finally starting to sink in.
‘You were looking out for Brady. I can understand that.’ She shook her head, and he couldn’t bring himself to elucidate.
Not yet. Not until he knew exactly what he wanted to say.
‘I have to go into Paulista’s. There’s someone I need to speak to. Fancy a ride?’
She looked at him as though she was about to say something, then changed her mind.
‘Sure.’ She shrugged. ‘They’ll be surprised to see me here when I’m meant to be on a plane to London, but they won’t complain.’
Jake took her keys, unlocked her door and deposited her cabin bag back inside, trying to make sense of these emotions sloshing around inside him. Was he angry or happy? He couldn’t be sure. And until he was, he didn’t want to confuse the issue.
He just knew he wanted to find a solution. Quickly.
* * *
Flávia left her lab late that evening, her mobile phone in her hand and the text from Jake still illuminating the screen.
She’d spent the day working since Jake had been in with the board all day and, to some degree, it had been a relief. At least it had distracted her from all the worries racing around her head.
