by Anne Mather
Did he give the tumbled cushions on the sofa a longer appraisal, or was that only her imagination? Was he remembering, as she was, exactly what had happened there some weeks ago? From his enigmatic expression, she doubted it. Had he ever intended to contact her again?
Luke came to stand on the other side of the breakfast bar, and she felt her stomach muscles tighten. But all he said was, ‘I’m assuming this isn’t a social call.’ He arched a brow inquiringly. ‘What’s happened? Has Hughes had a positive response to his petition?’
Abby’s lips parted. ‘You really think I’d tell you if he had?’
‘Well, I can’t think of any other reason for inviting me here,’ he retorted shortly, and she shook her head in disbelief.
‘I gather from your remarks that you didn’t intend to come back,’ she said, trying to control her indignation.
She had been such a fool where this man was concerned. Well, now she was going to pay for it, but she’d be damned before she’d let him have it all his own way.
Luke’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did you expect me to?’ he remarked half mockingly now. ‘Oh, Abby, I’m not denying you’re a beautiful woman. Or that I wanted to have sex with you. I did. I still do. But I did warn you, I don’t do commitment. And particularly not to a woman I can’t trust.’
The arrogance of his remarks left her speechless for a moment.
Then, gathering herself, she said coldly, ‘You know nothing about me, Morelli. And even less about my life!’
‘I know you cheated on your husband,’ retorted Luke at once. ‘I didn’t like the bastard, but, God knows, he didn’t deserve to be made to look a fool.’
‘You think?’ Abby was incensed. ‘You don’t know the first thing about Harry Laurence. Like all men, you think the woman must be to blame. He was a bastard. I agree with you on that. But don’t underestimate your own abilities. When it comes to being a bastard, you’ve made the team.’
Luke scowled. ‘If the only reason you’ve brought me here is to insult me—’
‘It’s not.’ Abby swallowed convulsively. This wasn’t how she’d hoped to tell him, but he wasn’t giving her any choice. ‘I’m pregnant, Morelli,’ she said coldly. ‘And before you ask the question, it’s yours.’
* * *
Luke felt as if he’d just been punched in the gut.
It couldn’t be true, he thought incredulously. He always took precautions. He never had sex without wearing a condom.
Apart from anything else, he’d never wanted to find himself in this position. Even when he was married to Sonia, he’d made sure there would be no unwanted babies.
Had he known even then that their marriage was unlikely to last? Much as he’d wanted to deny it, Abby Laurence—Lacey—had ruined him for anyone else.
So how the hell...?
And then he remembered the first occasion he’d come to the apartment. It had been raining and he’d been virtually soaked to his skin. Abby had been straight out of the shower, all soft and warm and fragrant, and, stupidly, he’d lost his head.
God!
He stared at her, cupping the back of his neck with both hands and trying to get a handle on his emotions.
He was shocked; who wouldn’t be shocked in the circumstances? But it was more than that. The realisation that he was going to be a father had stunned him. This girl—this girl he’d fought against caring about for so long—was going to have his child.
Abby’s cheeks were flushed now and, although she was still wearing that belligerent expression, he realised what it must have cost her to blurt out a thing like that.
Particularly to someone who had just insulted her.
‘Well?’ she said, and he could see she was nervous. ‘Aren’t you going to call me a liar? After all, you’ve just said you can’t trust me.’
Luke shook his head. ‘How long have you known?’
Abby shrugged. ‘I bought two testing kits a week ago. They were both positive.’ She was trying to sound indifferent and failing abysmally. ‘What can I say?’
‘And—and how far along are you?’
She stiffened. ‘I’m not having a termination.’
‘Did I ask you to?’ Luke spoke tersely and then lifted a hand, palm outward, to mitigate his words. ‘I just meant—do you know how many weeks—?’
‘Well, let me see.’ She was sardonic. ‘The first time we slept together was about five—six weeks ago. So I guess that sounds about right.’
Luke shook his head. ‘Unbelievable.’
‘What?’ She looked contemptuously at him. ‘I didn’t want this, you know.’ She paused. ‘But—when a friend discovered what had happened, she insisted that I ought to tell—the father.’
Luke stared at her for a moment longer and then he said flatly, ‘You know, I think I could do with that cup of tea now. Do you mind?’
Abby shrugged, but she turned back to the kettle she had been filling and set it on the ring. Then, taking down two cups from the shelf, she dropped a teabag in each.
‘Sugar?’ she asked, glancing briefly up at him, and Luke nodded.
‘Two spoons, please,’ he said, and then turned and made his way back to the sofa where he’d left his jacket.
Sitting down, he closed his eyes and raked back his hair with hands that weren’t quite steady. Dear God, he’d never expected this. Abby was having a baby. She was having his baby. He was going to be a father!
His hands dropped between his spread knees and he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. A damp nose nuzzling his palms was surprisingly comforting. Harley was now gazing up at him with his warm dark eyes, and he realised the dog had sensed something was wrong.
‘Hey, boy,’ he said, trying to get his head around what had happened. He managed a rueful grin. ‘What are you going to do when there’s a baby in the house?’
‘That won’t be your concern,’ said Abby shortly, coming to set his cup on the low table in front of the sofa. ‘Drink your tea while it’s hot.’
Luke glanced up into her set face. Then he patted the sofa beside him. ‘Sit down, Abby. We need to talk.’
Abby regarded him coolly for a few moments, then she collected her tea from the breakfast bar and seated herself in the armchair at right angles to the sofa.
‘There’s not a lot more to be said,’ she declared. ‘I’ve done my duty. You know the score. And when the baby’s born, I won’t stop you from seeing him—or her—if that’s what you want.’
‘Hold up.’ Luke, who had taken a couple of mouthfuls of his tea, now set his cup back on the table. ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Since when have I said that you and our child will be living apart from me?’
Abby caught her breath, trying to pull that absurdly short skirt over her knees. ‘It’s not your decision to make. And I hope you’re not implying what I think you’re implying.’
‘And that would be?’
‘That we live together.’
‘Why not?’
The words were out before Luke could stop them, but they didn’t have the anticipated effect.
She shook her head. ‘Oh, no, Morelli. You don’t get to call the shots here. You said it yourself, you don’t do commitment. And I have no intention of putting my baby—’
‘Our baby!’
‘—at the mercy of your casual liaisons with other women.’
Luke got angrily to his feet. ‘What right have you to accuse me of having casual liaisons?’
Abby rose, too, though he noticed she stepped away from him before replying. ‘Well, what was this?’ she demanded, spreading a hand to encompass the apartment. ‘You had no intention of seeing me again. You’ve just admitted as much.’
‘I didn’t say that.’ Luke’s jaw was clenched so tight, he could feel the pulse racing beneath his e
ar. ‘In any case, that was—before,’ he said inadequately, and Abby gave a short laugh.
‘Before I’d trapped you, is that it?’ She lifted her chin.‘Well, I’ve got news for you, Morelli—’
‘Stop calling me Morelli!’
‘—I’ve got no intention of trapping you. Or of living with you, for that matter. This is the twenty-first century, Luke. Women don’t need to rely on men to support them. Right now, I’ve got the café, and when that closes, I’ll find a job. Or other premises, who knows? Whatever, you won’t be involved.’
Luke’s frustration knew no bounds. ‘You can’t stop me from being involved.’
‘Oh, I think I can.’ She lifted her hands to release her hair from its ponytail. ‘There’s no law that says I have to do anything more than I’ve already done. You know about the baby now. And after it’s born, you’ll have your chance to share custody or not. That’s up to you.’
Luke scowled. He knew she was right, but that didn’t stop him from resenting the ultimatum she’d given him. And while he had said the things she’d accused him of, the truth was he had wanted to see her again, damn her.
‘I need to think about this,’ he muttered, aware that she had never looked more desirable than she did at that moment.
He’d always admired her legs and the short skirt showed them to perfection. Add to that the sleeveless vest that outlined the pert fullness of her breasts, and exposed the moist hollow between, and he was fascinated. A pearl of perspiration invited him to taste, and he could already feel his erection tightening his jeans painfully across his crotch.
‘Abby...’ he began roughly, but she was already walking towards the door.
‘I think you’d better go,’ she said, without a trace of expression in her voice. ‘Thank you for coming. Goodbye.’
Luke followed her across the room, but when she stepped aside to allow him to leave, his hand hit the wall beside her head, backing her up until there was scarcely a breath between them.
‘This isn’t over, Abby,’ he said harshly, his mouth hot against her neck, and he heard her catch an unsteady breath.
‘It is,’ she insisted, her voice barely audible as she pressed him away from her. ‘Just go, Luke. I wish I never had to see you again.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
DURING THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, Luke focused on his work to the exclusion of everything else.
He spent more time in the office than he had done for years, even if his staff didn’t appreciate having him on their backs every minute of the day.
But it was only at work that he could escape the torment of his thoughts.
Since leaving Abby at her flat, he’d done everything he could to get what she had told him into some kind of perspective.
He knew his life would never be the same again. That was a given. And the shock he’d experienced at her news had made him speak without considering his words. But, dammit all, he was only human. He was just afraid he’d blown any connection he might have had with her big time.
And why did he care so much? He kept reminding himself of what she’d done to Harry Laurence. For God’s sake, he had only her word that she was pregnant. She could have made the whole thing up to see what his reaction would be.
But in his heart of hearts he knew that wasn’t true. As much as he might tell himself that he despised the way she’d treated her husband, he sensed there was an element of truth in everything she’d said.
Which meant what? That Harry Laurence had been no saint, and Luke had jumped to the wrong conclusion? She’d tried to tell him why she’d done what she had, but he’d never been prepared to listen to her.
Nonetheless, she had lied to her husband when she’d come to meet him. And nothing could alter the fact that she’d remained Laurence’s wife for at least a year after those events. Surely, if Laurence had been as bad as she’d said he was, she would have got a divorce.
Maybe it was simply that she’d enjoyed the luxury of being a pampered wife, he speculated bitterly. She wouldn’t be the first woman who’d wanted to have her cake and eat it, too.
He’d met a number of women like that, when he’d been obliged to enter the social circuit. Or should he say ‘circus’, he amended wryly, mocking the concept. He had to admit that that was one aspect of being a successful entrepreneur that he didn’t enjoy.
He scowled down at the plans he’d been studying, and wondered what Harry Laurence was doing these days. He’d heard that he’d left the Stock Exchange soon after his divorce.
At the time, Luke had assumed that Harry had wanted a fresh start. That it might have been hard for him to face his colleagues after such a personal defeat.
It might be interesting to find out why Abby’s husband had sued for a divorce. If it was Laurence who had done so. He couldn’t believe Abby had made a habit of having extra-marital affairs. She didn’t seem the type. Although, in all honesty, he didn’t know why.
Still, there was no way of finding out what had happened now. He knew no one who had been a friend of Abby’s at that time. Had there been someone she’d confided in? Someone who knew why the marriage had broken down?
It was a problem that occupied his mind for the next few days. An unnecessary problem, he conceded, but at least it took his mind from other things.
Like what Abby was doing now. Had she meant what she’d said when she’d insisted she wouldn’t have a termination? Ironic as it seemed in the present circumstances, Luke didn’t want her to lose the child either.
His child!
Their child!
Of all the people in his life, it was Felix who noticed Luke’s preoccupation. The two men had been close since they were in the army, and, despite the difference in their circumstances these days, Felix had always felt able to speak his mind.
Driving his employer home from a meeting in Oxford some days later, he remarked casually, ‘Have you made any plans about when you’re going to deal with those shops in Ashford-St-James? You said there was some sort of petition going round. Did that come to anything, or shouldn’t I ask?’
Luke, who had been studying his laptop in the back of the Bentley, now lifted his head. ‘According to our solicitors, they don’t stand a chance of halting the development. But I have given the type of development it’s going to be some thought.’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘Yes.’ Luke hesitated, and then said, ‘I’m having discussions at present with the architects, and we’re seriously considering amending the plans.’
‘Amending them?’
Felix sounded amused, and Luke gave him a warning look. ‘Yeah, amending them,’ he said shortly. ‘To incorporate a small shopping mall that leads into the supermarket proper. The shops in the mall would be rented, of course. Perhaps some of the tenants from South Road would be interested.’
‘Perhaps they would.’ Felix met Luke’s eyes in the rear-view mirror and arched a brow. ‘Maybe even a certain café-cum-bookstore owner?’ he offered ingenuously. ‘I’m sure it would be a great relief to her and all the other tenants.’
Luke scowled. ‘Don’t look so smug. It’s not a done deal yet.’
‘But it will be,’ said Felix assuredly. ‘I liked—Abby. That is what you called her, isn’t it? She was certainly a looker. And nice with it, as well.’
‘Looks aren’t everything,’ muttered Luke broodingly, and Felix inclined his head in agreement. ‘In any case,’ Luke continued, ‘I’m not doing this just for Abby Lacey.’
‘Of course not.’
But Felix didn’t sound convinced, and who could blame him? Luke didn’t believe it himself.
Tossing and turning in bed that night—not an unusual occurrence these days—Luke was forced to admit that he was doing it for Abby. Despite everything that had happened, despite the fact that she’d said she wanted nothing mo
re to do with him, he couldn’t accept it. He wouldn’t accept it.
He cared about her, dammit. He suspected he always had.
Okay, maybe she’d acted selfishly in the past; and maybe she’d had some justification, as she’d claimed. Whatever the truth of the matter was, he wanted to see her again. He wanted to be with her. He loved her. And he’d never felt like that about any woman before.
Unable to sleep any longer with that scenario buzzing around in his head, Luke got up and went downstairs to make himself some coffee. And found Felix, sitting in the kitchen, drinking tea and getting a march on the morning’s newspapers.
Mrs Webb was there, too, gossiping away about the latest episode of her favourite soap. But he doubted Felix had heard a word of it. He was too busy absorbing what he’d found in the Daily Globe.
‘Oh, Luke!’ Mrs Webb gazed at him in surprise, and even Felix put the newspaper aside with an apologetic grin. ‘You’re an early riser. It’s barely half past six. Is something wrong?’
‘What could be wrong, Mrs Webb?’ Luke walked across to the cooker and helped himself to a mug of coffee. ‘I couldn’t sleep, that’s all. I thought I’d get an early start.’
‘An early start?’
It was Felix who echoed his words, and Luke nodded. ‘Yes. I’m driving down to Ashford this morning. And I’m sure the roads will be busy with holiday traffic, so the sooner I start, the better.’
Felix slid off his stool. ‘I’ll get the car.’
‘No, there’s no need, Felix. I’m going to drive myself.’
Felix frowned. ‘You sure?’
‘I’m sure.’ Luke gave him a wry look. ‘You can have the day off. Go and visit that daughter of yours.’
Felix had had a brief liaison before he’d gone into the army and his daughter was the result. And despite the fact that he’d never married her mother, he and his daughter were surprisingly close.
‘She’s away,’ said Felix glumly. ‘She and her boyfriend are in Majorca, enjoying the sun.’
‘Oh.’ Luke considered. ‘Well—do something else then.
‘I tell you what: try and find out what a guy called Harry Laurence is doing these days.’