AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘You don’t want me here. You’ll relax more without me.’
The words fell into resounding silence as he waited for her to deny it and admit shedidwant him.
He raked his hand through his hair.
What was he doing?
Inviting rejection? Again?
Between his parents and his wife he’d had enough of that to last several lifetimes. His skin crawled and his bunching muscles hunched his shoulders as he turned for the door.
‘I thought you’d stay.’ He swung around, wondering if he’d find an invitation in her eyes. Instead there was simply bemusement. ‘This place was your idea...’
He had no trouble completing her words. It had been his idea and she expected him to press his advantage now he had her isolated from her home and friends.
That had been his plan.
Until his conscience intervened. It refused to let him push when she was so stressed.
Anger was metal sharp on his tongue. Anger at himself and at her.
‘I have things to do. Business to see to.’
For once it was a lie. Leanne had put everything on hold, all his meetings deferred and urgent matters delegated so he could sort out their marriage.
His wife stared, mouth compressing in disapproval as she rose. ‘You can’t go yet. We need to talk about the baby.That’sthe most important thing right now.’
Impatience stirred. Of course it was. Hadn’t he dropped everything to be here? Yet he needed to leave. Elisabeth wasn’t the only one whose world was in turmoil at the news of her pregnancy. Jack felt as if he’d spun out of control, grappling to hang on to something solid and make everything stable again. All the time the need to reach for her grew and grew, threatening his good intentions.
His control was slipping.
She stopped before him, so serious. Yet to his chagrin he couldn’t help noticing the sweet curve of her parted lips and the way her breasts pressed against the taut fabric of her dress. Were those lovely breasts plumper?
Arousal was a ripple of sparks across his palms and fingertips, making him shove his hands into his pockets.
‘I need to understand what you want, Jack. You said you wanted to be involved so I assume you want access.’
‘Access?’ The word sounded like a lawsuit.
She tilted her head as if to read his expression better. ‘Howmuchdo you want to be involved? Occasional visits? Photos?’
He frowned. ‘I don’t wantaccess. I’m going to be father. I intend to be there all the time.’
Her indrawn breath was a sharp hiss as the colour leached from her face. ‘You expect to bring up our baby?’
Jack’s frown ground into a scowl at her dismay. Did she have to be so appalled? He mightn’t be a natural father but he’d work hard at it. She couldn’t know his fears that he’d fail. He reminded himself that with his father’s pathetic example as a warning, surely he could do better.
‘That’s exactly what I mean.’
But she was already shaking her head, her eyes huge in her face. She clasped her hands together so tight it looked like she’d cut off the circulation.
‘What are you going to do? Try to buy the baby from me? Or try to take it by force?’
Jack’s head snapped back as if from a blow. ‘Force? What are you talking about?’
She swallowed, the movement jerky. She looked physically frail yet the fire in her eyes threatened to burn him to cinders.
‘You’re rich and can afford the best lawyers. I don’t have much by comparison.’ Her chin shot high. ‘But I won’t let you take sole custody. No matter what, I’ll find a way to stop you.’
