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So, who was Candice?
Merida soon answered. ‘Abe’s partner.’
Thankfully Merida was looking down at Ava so she didn’t see the look of horror wash over Naomi’s face.
‘His partner?’ Naomi echoed, struggling to keep her voice even.
‘Yes, they’ve been together for a couple of years.’
‘They’restilltogether?’
Merida frowned at either the sudden inflection or the sudden interest in Abe Devereux’s love life and Naomi had to think quickly. ‘It’s just I thought I’d read somewhere that they’d broken up.’
‘You probably did.’ Merida nodded. ‘They’re always breaking up—he constantly cheats and she always ends up taking him back, but, no, they’re definitely together. She came in to visit with him tonight.’ Merida looked up. ‘Believe me when I say he’s an utter bastard.’
Oh, Naomi believed her.
She had just found that out for herself.
CHAPTER FIVE
ABEHADAPARTNER!
Merida’s words had left Naomi reeling but she’d had to remain calm and dig deep to smile her way through the rest of the visit.
That didn’t end at visiting time, though, when she wished she could walk home from the hospital, if only to gather her thoughts. Instead, after a visit spent reassuring Merida, and with her own head spinning, Naomi stepped out of the hospital to the car waiting for her.
She wanted to cry but she refused to.
More than that she wanted to erase the day. Her wonderful, beautiful day, she simply wanted it gone, and to never, ever have known how it felt to be held and kissed by Abe, and to be utterly fooled by those dark eyes.
So she chatted away to Bernard on the drive back and then the door opened and there was Barb, anxious for news about mother and baby.
‘How’s Merida?’ she asked as Naomi took off her coat.
‘She’s doing well.’
‘And little Ava?’ Barb checked, taking the coat and clearly anxious for a more detailed update.
‘Gorgeous.’
‘Will they be home tomorrow?’
Her mind felt as if it was wading through mud just to formulate a response. ‘I think it might be a couple more days,’ Naomi said, and then she saw Abe, coming out of the drawing room. His jacket and tie were off and he was holding a glass. He looked exquisite. She quickly jerked her eyes away, refusing to even allow herself that thought.
‘I’ve got dinner ready for you...’ Barb said, and her voice seemed to be coming from a long way away. She could feel Abe’s eyes on her.
‘That’s lovely, but I’m really tired. I’ve walked for miles today and I think jet lag has finally caught up with me.’
She knew.
Instantly, Abe was certain that she had found out about Candice. He could tell from her pinched expression and the way she turned away from him.
Damn!
Candice had met him at the hospital, as had previously been arranged, except he’d forgotten. His driver had dropped him off, and there, beside the elevators to the private wing, had been Candice.
‘What the hell is that?’ she had asked when she’d seen the bear.
