by Robyn Grady
Eden gave in to the truth. ‘You were right. I don’t think I ever stopped loving him. I tried to block it out, beat it down, cage it in.’
‘And now it’s out there.’ Sabrina lowered her voice. ‘Does Devlin know?’
‘God, no! That’s the one thing saving me. After he thought I was bitten by that snake—’
‘You were bitten by a what?’
‘Turned out I’d stood on a broken shell.’
Holding her heart, Sabrina gazed down at her sister’s bandaged foot and understood. ‘Better than a set of fangs, I suppose.’
‘There was quite a bit of blood. Devlin was worried. Didn’t help that I’d been jumping off cliffs.’
Sabrina wailed, ‘Were you out of your mind?’
‘A little. And I’ve never been happier. That’s why I can’t regret it.’
‘Regret agreeing to go away with him?’
She nodded. ‘And I can’t regret telling Devlin that we can’t see each other again. He didn’t want to say goodbye. He wanted to keep his bedroom door wide open…but with no strings attached.’
‘He’s still not interested in commitment,’ Sabrina surmised, ‘and you still are.’
Eden turned more towards her sister. ‘Has Nate told you about their father?’
‘He said neither he nor Devlin really knew their dad. He’s aloof. Cold, really.’
‘Devlin told me he never wants to make the same mistake his father made.’
‘Get married?’
She expanded. ‘Before he’s ready. If, in fact, a man like his father would ever have been ready. He sounds like a real creep.’ At least Devlin wasn’t horrible; he was merely a delectable bachelor, through and through.
Sabrina was shaking her head. ‘Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic, but why don’t you just see each other and worry about talk of marriage later? Nate and I aren’t close to that yet.’
‘You and Nate don’t have a history.’ Eden lifted her chin. ‘Believe me, it’s best we both remember those days away for what they were—a delayed goodbye.’
‘But maybe if he knew that you love him—’
‘It’s over!’ Eden flinched at her raised voice and set a finger to her throbbing temple. ‘I’m sorry, hon. I’m rotten company today.’
Sabrina pushed to her feet. ‘You go rest. I’ll ring tomorrow to see how you are.’
Eden stood too and, holding her sister’s hand, kissed Sabrina’s cheek. ‘Thanks for being the best sister a girl could wish for.’
Sabrina didn’t look convinced. ‘Only you’re forgetting that if I hadn’t started dating Nate you wouldn’t have seen Devlin again and be going through this heartache, take two.’
She gripped Sabrina’s hand harder. ‘This has nothing to do with you. You enjoy what you have with Nate. One day I’ll find the right one.’
But as she saw Sabrina to the door Eden knew in her heart she had found the right one. She just hadn’t been right for him.
Devlin stood on the seventh-floor balcony of one of Monte Carlo’s most exclusive hotels, along with other special guests, watching this year’s Formula One cars scream around the city, navigating the hairpins, passing the luxurious multimillion-dollar yachts moored in the harbour.
Relishing the near-deafening roar of the engines, Devlin counted his blessings. His pit-crew friend was a real mate, extending him an offer to hobnob with his racing team’s VIPs during the French Riviera’s most revered social and sporting event.
The annual race was held on the narrow course laid out on the winding streets of Monaco, and, although the average speeds were relatively low, the Grand Prix de Monaco was the jewel of the Formula One crown, as well as possibly the most dangerous of the circuit.
The history, the spectacle, the over-the-top competition…what man worth his metal wouldn’t enjoy such a time? He might not be behind a wheel, challenging every fibre of his mind and body to perform their best, but surely this was the next best thing.
But as he sipped his French beer and gazed at the cars flying down the start-finish straight his mind drifted to memories of a quieter place.
A paradise on earth.
But the feelings that place created weren’t sustainable. Eden had known that. If she were any less of a woman, she’d have accepted his suggestion that they continue to see each other on their return. If she wasn’t so smart she’d have believed they could hold onto the magic. Perhaps even work her way closer to a proposal of marriage.
As soon as she’d fessed up—that she wanted for ever or nothing at all—he’d taken the only reasonable course of action. He’d stepped aside. Completely.
No use prolonging the pain. Not that he’d lain awake worrying afterwards. Not like last time. He’d got stuck back into life over the last few weeks. He’d hit the social scene, taking an associate’s visiting sister to an opening at the Opera House. He played squash four nights a week, and if that failed to fell him he worked into the night.
There was no use dwelling on it. He wouldn’t—he couldn’t—do the ‘love stroke commitment’ thing. He wouldn’t make his father’s mistake and misinterpret intense physical attraction for something more, then bring children into what could ultimately turn out to be an emotionally barren home. Hell, if he couldn’t give his heart to a woman like Eden—if he wasn’t prepared to take the risk with her—then the truth was clear.
He was incapable of committing to romantic love.
End of chapter.
Turn the page.
Devlin wandered to the railing, rested his forearms on the carved stone balustrade. He absently gazed into his beer as the smell of fumes slipped past on the breeze before the sound of screeching tyres seized his attention.
Below, a car was spinning wildly, circles of tyre smoke rising off the bitumen as a captive audience gasped. When the car slammed into the barrier, the crash seemed to shake the windows. Everyone on the balcony murmured or held their breath, waiting for the car to burst into flame or the driver to leap out.
An audible sigh went up when the driver scrambled from the wreck, sprinting away before removing his helmet and dashing it to the ground. The men on the balcony held their heads and moaned. What a terrible tragedy. The lead car was out of the race.
An attractive woman in a red satin dress joined in the speculation. Her olive skin was smooth, her ebony hair a shimmering dark river down her back. A weighty diamond necklace circled her throat. As if sensing his gaze, the woman looked over and smiled. The suggestion in her slumberous green eyes was clear.
Are you free?
Devlin held her gaze.
Yes, damn it. Freer than I’ve ever been.
He set his glass down and crossed over, then tipped his chin at the scene below. ‘It’s unfortunate.’
She seemed more interested in him than the race. ‘Are you English?’ Her own English was perfect but laced with a sultry southern French accent.
‘I’m Australian. From Sydney.’
One sleek eyebrow arched as she rested her champagne flute against her chin. ‘I like Australians.’
A photographer interrupted and rattled off something that translated into wanting to take their picture. Devlin bristled as he did whenever a lens was shoved under his nose, but when the lady consented he relented. He looped an arm around her waist, she leant in and the camera flashed.
As the photographer moved on the woman remained close. ‘This week is so much fun,’ she purred. ‘Are you attending the ball?’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
Her fingers, holding the flute, brushed his arm. ‘Perhaps we can share a dance?’
Terrific idea.
So why did his smile feel like a mask on his face? There wasn’t a reason in the world he shouldn’t dance with this woman. Any number of men might challenge him for the privilege. And yet he felt…odd. Strange, as he’d never felt before. As if he were cheating, and that wasn’t possible, not when he wasn’t dating anyone. When he wasn’t anywhere near committed.
He
broke through the malaise and found a slanted smile. ‘I could collect you from your hotel.’
‘If you escort me there this afternoon,’ she offered, ‘you’ll know where to come.’
His heart began to pound. He wanted to say the words, make it clear, tell the world.
‘Just so you know,’ he said, ‘I’m not the marrying kind.’
She looked confused, then laughed softly and leaned in extra close. ‘Oh, mon ami, what man is?’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
‘EE, HAVE you ever been late?’
Eden looked across the café table at her sister. ‘I like to be on time.’ She smiled. ‘You know that.’
Not once had they missed the school bus. Library books were always returned on time. As she’d got older, she’d remained almost painfully punctual. Being organised and focused had helped this last month.
After ending it with Devlin, Eden’s spirits were still low, but she was back on track, doing what needed to be done. She’d put in an order for some exciting spring fashion, and had even made final arrangements to fly to LA next month to check on a few leading fashion houses. She wanted to do Rodeo Drive.
Stirring her vanilla Chi, Sabrina qualified her question. ‘I mean late with your period.’
Eden scooped more chocolate mud cake onto her fork. ‘Oh, sure. My cycle’s never been regular.’ Then the reason behind Sabrina’s question hit like a hammer blow. Eden dropped her dessert fork on its plate with a clatter.
Even while her stomach sank to her knees, Eden tried not to sound panicked. ‘Sabrina, honey, are you late?’
‘I was. I even bought a home pregnancy test. Turned out I didn’t need it. False alarm.’
Blessed relief flooded Eden’s system and the tension pinning back her shoulders relaxed before she forked up more mud cake. ‘Did Nathan know?’
Ten weeks into their relationship the fires of love still burned bright. Eden was happy for Sabrina. Happy for them both. She’d seen them together a few times and had to admit they made a gorgeous couple. That day in the hotel suite Nathan had said he cared for her sister. Now Eden believed him.
Seemed she’d been wrong to crucify him over those tabloid stories. Recently, with Nathan retired from the limelight, the paparazzi had hooked onto the older Stone brother to get their dose of gossip. Eden had wanted to hurl that magazine in the trash when a photo of Devlin with that sleazy-looking French woman had appeared in the society pages. His smile, as well as the woman’s exposed cleavage, told Eden all she needed to know.
She stabbed her glazed cherry now while Sabrina shook her head. ‘I didn’t tell Nate about my pregnancy suspicions. I did some research first and found out that a woman’s breasts get tender and swell. Goes with an increase in appetite, then steady weight gain.’
About to slide cake into her opened mouth, Eden’s fork paused and her head cocked. ‘Tender breasts, you say?’
Eden glanced down at her snug-fitting bodice, which, come to think of it, hadn’t been so snug last time she’d worn this outfit.
‘Not everyone gets morning sickness,’ Sabrina went on. ‘But some women get it in the evenings, some the whole day through. And then there’s the cravings. Ice cream and sweets are popular.’
Eden’s horrified gaze swung to her cake as blood rushed to her cheeks. She’d still felt famished after her baked pumpkin risotto. She’d wanted something sweet, and lots of it.
As a wave of pins and needles took over her limbs, the café’s surroundings seemed to close in. ‘You said you didn’t use that pregnancy test?’ she croaked, remembering that one time she and Devlin hadn’t used protection.
‘Still have it, right here in my bag.’ Sabrina’s eyes narrowed as she studied her sister’s pallor. ‘Ee, aren’t you well?’
Eden grabbed for her napkin and held it to her mouth as chocolate cake churned in her stomach. She knew her eyes had gone wide.
‘Maybe nothing,’ she mumbled into the linen.
Sabrina’s furrowed brow morphed into a full-blown gape. ‘Oh, my…don’t tell me. You’re late?’
Eden’s stomach roiled and she groaned. ‘I didn’t think anything of it.’ Until this minute.
‘And your breasts?’
‘Touchy—’ she glanced down again ‘—and bigger.’
With a determined face, Sabrina reached for her handbag. ‘Will we use the bathroom here or can you wait till we get home to do the test?’
A fierce emotion seized Eden’s heart at the same time her palms began to sweat. It was the same feeling she had as a child when the roller-coaster climbed that first steep scary hill before it dropped.
She held her dipping tummy and bit her lip. ‘Sabrina…I’m frightened.’
Sabrina’s firm expression softened. ‘No need to be. I’m here for you, Ee. Devlin will be too.’
Clamping shut her eyes, she cringed. She and Devlin parents? Devlin the father of her baby…a baby who would be born out of wedlock. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. Yes, she’d daydreamed of having his child—but only after they were married and Devlin was a proud father and, oh, God, this was all wrong!
Grabbing her water, Eden set the cold glass to her clammy forehead. ‘Please, let’s not bring him into this until…’
‘Until you’re sure?’
Eden nodded, fighting the nausea rising to her throat. She wished Sabrina hadn’t mentioned morning sickness.
Next Eden knew, Sabrina was by her side, helping her to her feet. ‘Nothing’s certain yet. Could be a false alarm, like mine.’
But as they moved to the desk to square the bill Eden knew Sabrina didn’t believe it. She was with child. Devlin Stone’s child. She knew it as surely as she knew her own name. Just as she knew Devlin would not be pleased.
Out on the busy Sydney footpath, Eden clutched her sister’s hand. ‘Promise me you won’t try to contact Devlin about this.’
Sabrina’s eyes flooded with compassion. ‘He needs to know.’
‘And I need time to sort this out. Figure out what to do next.’
Sabrina exhaled and slowly nodded. ‘I promise, but on one condition. If you are having a baby, I want to be godmother.’
Eden wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. How she loved her little sister.
‘The godmother title comes with a lot of diaper changing and burping duty,’ she warned.
Sabrina curled her arm through Eden’s and walked her to the car. ‘What are sisters for?’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
‘ARE you asleep?’
Eden sighed at the deep voice in her dream. It belonged to Devlin and he was standing over her while she lay by their lake on le Paradis sur Terre. He was smiling down, his strong bronzed arms reaching out.
‘Eden?’ The dream’s voice came again.
‘Yes, Devlin,’ she murmured as the palm fronds rustled overhead and the blue sky shone even brighter. But she heard voices in the background and there shouldn’t be anyone else on the island. They were supposed to be alone, and time was running out…
She groaned, feeling both light as air and heavy as a brick when Devlin scooped her up off the soft blanket and into his capable arms. He didn’t speak again, merely gazed down at her, dark eyes twinkling. She knew what was in store. He planned to take her back to the bungalow where they would make love again and again.
On a delicious sigh, she twisted more into his hard bare chest, soaking up his masculine scent, wishing this time would never end. Then she remembered and frowned.
‘They’ had already ended. There was another challenge facing her now. She was having a baby, Devlin’s baby, and she needed to tell him…tell him soon.
But how…when?
The rocking motion bumped her cheek against his chest and the woodsy scent became somehow stronger, more real. A moment ago vibrant scarlet blooms had twined between lush thick foliage. Now everything seemed dark.
Shuddering, she clamped shut her eyes as her stomach twinged and her heart began to thump.
&nbs
p; She should open her eyes, face what was ahead, but she felt so very tired…
Another bump and her heavy eyelids dragged open. Her cheek rested against something dark and smooth. She was indeed being carried, but she wasn’t on their island. There were high ceilings, mahogany furniture and, in a large space, a desk with people standing around, some peering over—
Her gaze sprang up and she gasped.
‘Devlin!’
His long stride didn’t falter. ‘So, Sleeping Beauty’s awake.’
Shoving the remnants of grogginess away, she pushed against his chest, which wasn’t bare as it had been in her dream. He wore a shirt and jacket and, oh, Lord, she remembered now!
‘What are you doing here?’ she cried, pushing harder, which proved to be as big a deterrent as her previous effort. Was it this man’s mission in life to sweep her up into his arms whenever and wherever he pleased?
‘At the moment,’ he replied, his gait determined, ‘I’m finding you some fresh air. You’re obviously unwell.’
Snoozing in public, probably moaning in her sleep…guess it might have looked that way.
Mortally tired by five-thirty that afternoon, she’d only wanted to go home and collapse. But a friend had invited her to his exhibition and she hadn’t wanted to let Zack down. They’d known each other since college and tonight was his debut into the art world.
So, dragging herself home from Temptations, she’d pulled on her lilac Lisa Ho cross-over cocktail dress—more room around the middle—and had cabbed it to this inner-city hotel. Two ice waters and what should have been lively conversation with other guests hadn’t curbed her desire to curl up. She hadn’t been able to keep from yawning. So she’d had the concierge call a cab and had indeed curled up on a comfy foyer settee. Little wonder she’d nodded off.
‘I’m fine,’ she told Devlin now, trying desperately to ignore the glorious heat radiating from beneath his shirt. ‘You can let me down. I’m just…tired.’
Grunting, he strode through automatic glass doors that led to an unoccupied courtyard. The fresh air immediately filled her lungs and, damn it, she did feel a smidgen better.