High-Society Seduction

by Maxine Sullivan

  After that, he sat by the bed and waited.

  They all arrived half an hour later, and once they saw for themselves that Jenna was okay, they turned their attention more fully on him. Vicki couldn’t quite hide her hostility, but Jenna’s parents seemed very nice and were grateful he had been there for their daughter. No doubt her parents thought Vicki’s attitude was because of Stewart. They, at least, didn’t appear to hold their son’s addiction problems against him.

  But all of them had a question in their eyes that he couldn’t answer. He knew they were wondering why he’d been with Jenna today. It was obvious her parents knew about their previous relationship. No doubt he’d be considered the worst kind of person once they learned of the baby, especially once they knew he wouldn’t marry their daughter. Hell, he felt disgusted in himself, too. He couldn’t blame them.

  “I have to go pick up the children,” Vicki said, looking at her watch half an hour later.

  “Yes, you go do that, love,” Joyce Branson said. “We’ll stay with Jenna until she wakes up.”

  “There’s no need for you to stay,” Adam said firmly, and received a speculative look from the others. “I’m happy to call you when Jenna wakes up.”

  “Thank you, Adam,” Joyce said, “but I wouldn’t feel right leaving my daughter.”

  Adam glanced away before they could see his irritation. He wanted to be with Jenna by himself. Time was running out for him. He and Jenna didn’t have much longer to be together.

  “Of course…” Tony Branson said, drawing Adam’s eyes to Jenna’s father, “Joyce and I could really do with a cup of coffee. I’m sure there must be a cafeteria around here somewhere.”

  Adam nodded at him. He knew what the other man was doing and he was grateful.

  Once they left, Adam felt the tension ease inside him. Jenna was still sleeping, and he was happy to sit by her side for now. Just him and Jenna together.

  But as he sat there, as the minutes ticked by, it began to sink in that it wasn’t fair to Jenna for him to stay too long. He’d have to leave eventually.

  For good.

  At the thought, he dropped his head into his hands, everything weighing heavily on his mind. At least he knew Jenna’s family would help look after her and the baby. They were decent people. He would provide what he could with monetary assistance, but that’s all he could offer her. She and the baby deserved better than a man who’d lost a large chunk of his heart five years ago.

  Taking a shuddering breath, he lifted his head. God, how could he have been so wrong about her? She looked so peaceful lying there, so beautiful. She was a person who touched other people. A person who touched him.

  And then it hit him.

  He loved her.

  Like an exorcism, his inner demons left him in that instant, taking his grief with them, repairing the hole in his heart and filling it with a new, stronger love.

  He loved Jenna.

  He loved their baby.

  He couldn’t let either of them go.

  Thirteen

  Jenna opened her eyes to a dimly lit room. She blinked as she tried to adjust to where she was, then she saw Adam sitting in the chair beside the bed and everything came rushing back. She was in hospital!

  “The baby?” she whispered, her heart filling her throat.

  Adam was on his feet instantly. “It’s okay. Our baby is fine.”

  She sighed with relief. Then she realized something. Had he said “our” baby? Maybe she was hearing things because of the ear infection?

  “How are you feeling now?” he asked.

  She lifted her head and tried to sit up. “I’m not as dizzy anymore.”

  “The medication must be working.” He gave her a gentle smile as he helped her get more comfortable against the pillows. “You’ll be better in next to no time.”

  There was something different about him, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Then she remembered, and panic rose inside her. “My parents? And Vicki? Did they come? Are they here? Did Vicki tell them about the baby?”

  His smile warmed even more. “Yes, they were here. And no, they still don’t know about the baby. That’s up to you to tell them when you’re ready.”

  Her shoulders slumped with relief. At least she didn’t have to face them over that just yet. “That’s good, then.”

  He nodded. “I convinced them to go home for a few hours. I said I’d call them once you woke up.”

  “Thank you.” Then she bit her lip. “You didn’t have to stay with me, Adam.”

  “Yes, my love, I did.” He placed his lips on her forehead. “I want to stay with you the rest of my life.”

  “Wh-what?”

  He eased back and looked into her eyes. “I love you, Jenna. I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”

  “But—” She tried to get her head around what he was saying. “What about Maddie and the baby?”

  He didn’t flinch at all. “Maddie’s at peace and so is our child. And for the first time since their deaths, I’m truly at peace, too.” He kissed her hand. “I have no doubt I would have had a good life with Maddie, but it wasn’t to be. You and I were meant to be together, darling.”

  She looked at him and her heart dared to hope. “Are you really sure?”

  “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. Maddie was the love of my youth, Jenna, but you are the love of my life.”

  She thrilled to the words. “Oh, Adam.”

  “And you love me, too, don’t you?”

  “I’m that obvious?”

  He leaned down to gently seal a kiss on her lips. “Love recognizes love, my darling. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes!”

  “Good. Your mother is already planning our wedding.” He smiled as she blinked in surprise. “I had to get your parents out of here somehow. Otherwise I’d never have gotten you alone.”

  “So they’re happy about it?”

  “Definitely. And I’m sure they’ll be even happier when they learn about the baby.”

  Jenna’s heart rose with sheer happiness. Everything was falling into place now.

  Adam was right. It was meant to be.

  Epilogue

  Babies abounded everywhere at Christmas later that year. Cassandra and Dominic had welcomed their second daughter, Eli, a month previously in November. Chelsea had joyously given birth to a baby boy only a week ago, making Todd a very happy father. And even Vicki and Stewart were expecting their third child in a couple of months’ time.

  For Jenna and Adam, their son, Christian Liam Roth, was born on Christmas Eve. They decided to name him “Christian” to celebrate their Christmas baby, and “Liam” in honor of the uncle he would never know, but who had brought his parents together. Laura and Michael Roth were the proudest of grandparents, as were Joyce and Tony Branson.

  Jenna was allowed to come home from the hospital on Christmas Day, on the condition that she only go to the Roth family lunch if she took things easy. It had been Adam’s one condition. He’d even arranged for her family to be at the lunch too, not that the Roths had minded sharing on this occasion. Considering that Adam had barely left her side the whole pregnancy and would make sure she didn’t lift a finger today, she found his concern both amusing and touching.

  She watched him check their sleeping son again in the bassinet, and she smiled with love. “You can relax now, darling.”

  He grinned ruefully. “I’ll try.”

  As a new mum, she felt nervous herself, but this was more than that. She knew he’d never fully be able to relax and not worry about them. And she understood. She felt the same. She could only imagine what it would be like for him to let himself love so much when he knew the pain of loss so well.

  Looking at their son now…looking at her husband…she wasn’t so sure she would be quite as brave to love again. She thanked God that Adam had been able to open his heart. He loved her and Christian with an intensity that took her breath away.

  “Did I tell you that
you’re my idol, Mr. Roth?”

  He smiled adoringly at her. “I seem to remember you called me something entirely different when you were giving birth to our son yesterday.”

  She chuckled. “Don’t let that fool you. I’m usually a very polite person.”

  He gave her a soft kiss. “Sweetheart, you fooled me the moment I met you. I didn’t see you coming at all.”

  Jenna looked into Adam’s eyes, her happiness true and complete. Love had found a way to heal all wounds, and now they could fully focus on the future.

  And that looked very bright indeed.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7478-9

  HIGH-SOCIETY SEDUCTION

  Copyright © 2010 by Maxine Sullivan

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