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‘Awhat?’
‘A business arrangement.The pregnancy was unplanned and we’re going into partnership to deal with it.’
‘Cally—’
‘It’s fine, Mel.It is what it is.’
Mel frowned.‘Hell, you can’t be my chief bridesmaid anymore.’
‘Why not?’
‘You’ll have to be matron of honour.’
Matron?
‘God, Mel, I’m going to be huge for your wedding.I’m so sorry!’
Mel laughed then suddenly turned and hugged her.‘I’m not.I’m thrilled for you.It’s kinda romantic.’
Cally felt a prickle in her eye.
Three hours later not only did they have the frock, but they had shoes, frilly undies, flowers, accessories and had even managed a manicure.This meant they had less than two hours to put the lot together.
In her small apartment Cally showered while Mel threw two packets of soup into the microwave and pressed buttons.Then she sat in her robe and let Mel paint a ‘natural’ look on with seemingly vast amounts of make-up.
Then she wriggled into the tiny scraps of silk, refusing to think about whether she’d be alone to wriggle out of them again.Failing.She wanted.She didn’t want—her hormones had her saying one thing, thinking another and doing something else entirely.She couldn’t see straight any more.And the source of all her turmoil was Blake.
She stepped into the dress, letting Mel stitch her in as the seamstress had shown; her final touch was to slide into her hair the diamond-encrusted clip that her father had given her when she turned ten.She was sorry he couldn’t be there.He, more than anyone, would have understood.
Squaring her shoulders and the suppressing the fleeting melancholy, she turned to Mel.‘Showtime.’
In the taxi Cally dampened the rising nerves and nausea.Half hoped he wouldn’t be there.But of course he’d be there.She thought about heading for the airport instead.But knew, without doubt, he’d follow her.She’d do this now and worry about the consequences later.It was for the baby.All for the baby.
Right?
He was waiting in the foyer, accompanied by a tall, extremely pregnant woman.
Cally recognised her.‘You haven’t had your baby yet.’
Faint colour rose in the other woman’s cheeks.‘Another week and I’ll have to be induced.I’m sorry if I—’
‘Judith is my PA.’Blake butted in.‘She came to your shop under my instruction.’
Cally gave him a frigid look.‘I’d worked that one out myself.’
She watched Judith send her boss an apologetic look and then slip to the side muttering something about checking the paperwork.
Mel gave Cally’s arm an encouraging squeeze and darted after Judith.
Cally stood, trying to keep cool, icily cool.Blake was ignoring the frost in her face and taking his time giving her the once over.Her frost stood no chance in his heat.
He took a step nearer and his voice dropped.‘You look beautiful.’
A line she refused to believe.She turned it back on him—a rightful beneficiary.‘You’re the one who looks beautiful.’
And he did.In a made-to-measure suit that enhanced the line of his shoulders, the iron hard strength of his chest and tight abs.She knew how tight and strong he was.As everything in her body softened her temper started to fray.How could it be that here she was forced into a life-altering action and all she wanted to do was jump the man who was making everything so difficult?Why couldn’t she control this?
‘Thank you for coming.’
