Despite Ann’s cool appearance there was a welcoming twinkle in her blue eyes. “Oh, yes, he might have said something about that. I have to say, Avery, that we are all thrilled to be representing the collection. Your father was well respected in the art world and his taste and acumen were flawless. I was sorry to hear of his passing. You must miss him very much.”
Avery felt the familiar sting of loss pierce her chest, but it was not quite as debilitating as before. As if the edges had softened somehow. Was being in love with Marcus the reason why she missed her father a little less now? Or was it because she’d found the courage to let go of the material things that she’d bound Forrest Cullen to her with?
“Yes, I do,” she answered simply.
Ann gave her a light touch on the arm, as if in understanding. Anxious to shift the focus of their conversation away from sadness, Avery congratulated Ann on Waverly’s latest success.
“Yes, getting the D. B. Dunbar manuscript has been a real coup for us,” Ann agreed. “Although it’s a shame that The Last Ninja will now be his final work.”
“He was a schoolteacher, wasn’t he? That probably explains why he was so capable of hitting the mark with his audience.”
“He taught at a private school in D.C., I believe. And, yes, he certainly struck his audience with the right stuff at the right time. There wasn’t one that didn’t hit the New York Times bestseller list.”
“Quite an achievement. His family must have been devastated about the crash,” Avery murmured, referring to the accident that had taken Dunbar’s life in October the previous year.
“Not so devastated that it’s stopped his only heir, a distant cousin, I believe, from liquidating his entire estate.”
“Well, that’s good for Waverly’s at least,” Avery commented drily.
“Indeed. Interest in the auction next month is extremely high already.”
Their conversation drifted on to more general topics for a while, before Ann excused herself. Avery watched her walk gracefully away, a part of everything that was going on in the room, yet still holding herself slightly aloof at the same time. Given the negative press the woman had been given Avery had been relieved to find Ann Richardson to be warm and friendly. She found it hard to believe that the rampant rumors of dealing in stolen artifacts had any basis in truth.
Another wave of weariness hit her and Avery looked around for somewhere she could sit while she waited for Marcus, who was still locked in conversation with a group on the other side of the room. As she did so, he looked up and caught her eye. His expression changed swiftly to one of concern and she watched as he left the group and cut through the crowd to be at her side.
“Are you okay? You’ve gone very pale,” he said, hooking an arm around her waist.
She leaned gratefully into his strength. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m not usually such a lightweight at parties.”
“I’ll take you home,” he said firmly.
“No, I’ll be okay. If necessary I’ll take a cab back to your apartment. You can’t leave the party already. It’s important to you,” she protested weakly.
“You’re more important.”
His words were simple but they hit her with an impact that brought unexpected tears to her eyes. “Thanks,” she said with a watery smile. “Shall we say our goodbyes, then?”
“Let me just tell Ann we’re leaving. She can let anyone else know if they’re asking. I’ll be in the office tomorrow anyway.”
It wasn’t long before he was back with her and guiding her out to a waiting limousine.
“What’s wrong with a cab?” Avery laughed when she saw the car.
“Ann said to use her car, I wasn’t about to argue.”
They edged across the wide leather seat, Marcus putting his arm around Avery’s shoulders and holding her close. She snuggled into his warmth feeling safe, secure, treasured. Marcus had to wake her when they arrived at his building and he solicitously helped her get ready for bed and slide between the decadently smooth cotton sheets before easing his body in behind her. Before she drifted off again, she was aware of his strong arm curled around her waist and the press of his lips against her shoulder.
* * *
Marcus was up early the next morning and was surprised to see Avery up and selecting clothes for the day when he exited the bathroom. He was pleased to see she had more color in her face than she had when they’d returned home last night, but there were still shadows beneath her eyes.
“Are you sure you should be up yet?” he asked, reaching for a tie to thread through the crisply pressed collar of his pale blue business shirt.
“Of course. I’ll be fine. Besides, if you’re going to be at work all day I thought I might spend the day at the Met. There’s a gallery talk I’m keen to hear.”
“I don’t want you overdoing things,” he grumbled.
He really meant it. He’d had a nasty surprise when he’d seen how ill, for want of a better word, she’d looked when he’d spied her across the room last night.
“Look, I’ll even eat breakfast here before I go if it’ll make you feel better,” she teased, grabbing her things and slipping past him into the bathroom.
She closed the door behind her and Marcus turned his attention to creating the perfect knot in his tie. He was just about to leave the room when he heard a muffled thump through the bathroom door.
“Avery?” he asked, his hand immediately reaching for the door handle.
No answer.
“Avery!” His voice was louder this time. “Are you okay in there?”
Still nothing. He twisted the knob sharply and pushed open the door, his stomach lurching in fear as he saw her crumpled form collapsed on the tiled floor. He was at her side in an instant, checking her for injury, even as her eyelids began to flutter open.
“Did I faint?” she said, sounding surprised.
“I’ll call an ambulance,” Marcus said, grabbing for his cell phone in his trouser pocket.
“No, don’t do that. I’ll be fine. I just got a bit light-headed, is all. Seriously, Marcus. Don’t call an ambulance, please,” she begged.
“Avery, you’re not the kind of person to just faint like that. I insist you at least see a doctor today.”
“Don’t be silly. Seriously, I’m fine,” she said.
He helped her get up, only to feel her sway on her feet. Without another thought he swooped her into his arms and took her through to the bedroom.
“Fine, hmm?” he said, pulling the covers up to her chin. “You’ll stay there until I’ve spoken to a doctor.”
It was a measure of how bad she probably felt that Avery didn’t argue. Her eyes looked huge in her pale face and he was gripped with an anxiety he was unaccustomed to feeling. He genuinely cared for Avery, perhaps even more than cared for her. Seeing her collapsed on the bathroom floor had been the kind of scare he didn’t want to go through again.
He bent to give her a kiss, relieved that her skin was cool to the touch. Sitting down on the bed beside her he scrolled through his cell-phone contact list until he found the number he was looking for. The mother of Daniel Morrison, one of his closest old college friends, had a medical practice right here in Manhattan. Although Marcus knew the practice was closed to new patients, he wasn’t above using bribery to get Avery the treatment he demanded, even if it meant relinquishing ownership of the landscape by an acclaimed New Zealand artist that she’d long coveted and which currently resided in pride of place on his office wall at Waverly’s.
An hour later they were in a cab and on their way. Avery had eaten a light breakfast in bed, under his supervision, before he’d helped her to the bathroom to bathe and dress. She was cranky as anything by the time they got down to the street but he didn’t care. Something was up and they needed to get to the bottom of it.
/>
At the practice they were invited to sit in the tastefully appointed waiting room, a blank wall reminding Marcus of exactly where his friend’s mom, Dr. Susanna Morrison, would be hanging the landscape in the next day or two. He shrugged inwardly, it didn’t matter. Avery’s health was far more important right now. Giving up ownership of the painting had been a small price to pay.
Eventually they were shown through to Susanna’s consulting room and Marcus felt Avery relax a little when she realized the doctor was female.
“Hi, Marcus,” Susanna said, coming out from behind her desk. “And this must be Avery, pleased to meet you. I’m Susanna Morrison. Now, tell me, what seems to be the problem?”
“Marcus is overreacting. I was a little light-headed this morning, that’s all. It’s probably jet lag, we did just fly over from London yesterday,” Avery said with a smile.
“I found her unconscious on the bathroom floor. I’m no doctor, but that’s a bit more than a little light-headed, I’d say.”
“You’re right,” Susanna agreed, much to his relief. “Have you done this before?”
“No, I generally keep very good health. Life’s been a bit up and down lately, that’s all. My father died a few months ago and it hit me hard. Maybe it’s all just built up?”
Susanna nodded slowly. “Could be, but let’s just run a few basic tests before we go any further, okay?” After Avery nodded her assent, the doctor continued. “Would you like Marcus to wait outside while we start?”
Marcus felt himself bristle instantly but conceded that if she was going to have an examination that she’d probably appreciate the privacy. He was surprised, however, when Avery shook her head, her hand creeping into his as if for reassurance.
“No, it’s fine, I’m happy for him to stay.”
“Okay,” the doctor said on an expelled breath and giving Marcus a look with an arched brow.
He met the look squarely. He knew there’d be questions later. He’d never brought the same woman twice to dinner with the Morrison family. It had become a standing joke amongst them. And now, here he was, with a woman in tow and demanding Susanna’s medical assistance. Not his usual style, for sure.
“Let’s start with your blood pressure,” the doctor said, slipping a cuff on Avery’s arm. “Hmm,” she said after taking the reading. “It’s a little on the low side. Do you remember when you had your last period?”
“About a week ago, I had a light bleed. My cycle’s been all over the place since Dad died, actually even before that, while he was ill. Lately I’ve just been really tired, out of routine I expect.”
“Okay, let’s just do a urine test to rule out a few things.”
She showed Avery to a bathroom across the hall from her consulting room. “You’ll find everything you need in there. Just take your sample to the nurse’s room next door when you’re done and she’ll do a couple of dip tests and get the results to us immediately.”
Marcus fidgeted as the door closed behind Avery and Susanna gave him a hard-edged look. “Care to tell me what this is all about?” she asked in a no-nonsense voice.
“She needs a doctor. You’re a doctor, right?”
“Oh, Marcus, this is more than that. I can see the way you look at her. When did you get so serious?”
“It’s not…” he started, then stopped abruptly.
He’d been about to deny their relationship emphatically. But he’d suddenly realized it was serious. Whatever this thing was between him and Avery, he hadn’t had time to examine it thoroughly. Maybe hadn’t really wanted to. He’d been a single unit for so long—operating on a mandate of reaching one goal after another in his pursuit of that one elusive success. The chance to pay his Grampa back for his sacrifice twenty-five years ago. Avery had been a means to the end in achieving that goal. When had it all changed so drastically?
“It’s complicated,” he settled for, finally.
“You’re not kidding,” Susanna teased him. She patted him on the shoulder. “I can’t wait to tell the rest of the family the mighty Marcus has fallen—and fallen hard.”
“Yeah, well, don’t be in too much of a hurry,” he answered, standing up as Avery reentered the room. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, Marcus, really,” she said, sitting back down in her chair and squeezing his hand before letting it go. “The tests are just a formality, aren’t they?” she asked Susanna.
“They’re basic, but I’d like to request a full set of blood tests, too, just in case.”
The computer on Susanna’s desk pinged a chime and she gave them both a smile. “That was quick. Looks like our nurse has completed the preliminaries for us.”
Marcus felt his stomach knot. “Already?”
“Like I said, these are just preliminary.” Susanna fell silent as she scanned the screen. After what felt like an age to Marcus she leaned back in her chair and looked directly at Avery. “It’s all looking good. There’s no obvious sign of infection or elevated levels of protein in your urine and your glucose seems fine.”
“Great, so we can go now?” Avery said, then gave a small laugh. “Not that I don’t appreciate you seeing me so promptly and all that but I told Marcus there was nothing to worry about.”
“There’s certainly nothing medically wrong with you—”
“But?” Marcus interrupted. Susanna wasn’t giving them the full story and he wanted to know everything, now.
“But your test does appear to show elevated hCG levels,” Susanne continued, looking directly at Avery.
“Elevated hCG? Doesn’t that mean…” Avery’s voice trailed off and she paled again, enough that Marcus put his arm around her just in case she toppled off her chair.
“Mean what?” he demanded.
Susanna looked him square in the eye. “It very likely means that Avery is pregnant.”
Twelve
Avery felt a hot flush race through her body. Pregnant?
“But that’s impossible!” she cried.
“Apparently not. Look, we’ll do blood tests to confirm but given your symptoms and the urine-test results I’d say it’s the strongest consideration.”
Avery faced Marcus who looked every bit as stunned as she felt. “But we used protection. Every single time!”
“Nothing’s a hundred-percent effective, except for abstinence, of course. I guess you guys haven’t exactly been abstaining?”
“I had a period.”
This couldn’t be happening to her. It just couldn’t.
“I’m guessing that was probably an implantation bleed. Look, I can see this is a shock to you both and clearly there are some decisions you’re going to have to make.”
“Decisions?” Marcus’s voice cut coldly through the fog of shock that had enveloped her body.
“About what you’re going to do next. Clearly, if Avery is pregnant, she’s going to have to decide if she wants to continue the pregnancy.”
Avery felt as if she had been trapped on an ice floe, floating aimlessly on a dark and dangerous sea. Words failed her. She could barely begin to imagine she was pregnant, let alone consider what came next.
“Anyway,” Susanna continued, “we will need proper confirmation so I’ll give you the forms for the blood tests and pending those results I’ll see you back in a few days, okay?”
She must have responded—good manners were as intrinsic to her as breathing was necessary to life—but she couldn’t remember what she’d said. In fact the entire journey back to Marcus’s apartment was a blur. Before she knew it they were seated opposite one another, on matching sofas, in his living room.
Marcus looked about as shocked as she felt.
“Are you okay?” she asked, wishing he’d sat beside her rather than so very far away. Right now she could have done with the security of his touch, his w
armth.
“I should be asking you that,” he replied, his eyes now the murky green of a fathomless lake.
“I’m fine, I guess. A bit shocked.” She gave a shaky laugh. “A lot shocked, actually.”
“I know. It’s a helluva lot to take in.”
He fell silent for a while but then his expression changed, as if he’d hit on a solution to a complex puzzle. He rose from his chair and came to her side. She inwardly rejoiced at his nearness, feeling some of her tension ease away just by having him close.
“I’ve worked it out,” he said firmly.
“Worked what out?” What was he talking about? Until they had the tests done and had concrete confirmation there was nothing to work out, surely?
“This—” He gestured toward her, toward her lower belly to be more precise.
Avery had a sudden inkling that she didn’t like where this was heading.
“We don’t even know for sure that there is a—” she mimicked his gesture “—this!”
But Marcus carried on as if she hadn’t spoken. “Marry me, Avery.”
Marry him? Avery felt all light-headed again. Not a single word of love had passed his lips and he was suggesting they marry? But even though caution urged her to keep her mouth firmly closed, a tiny part of her, the part that beat solidly for him, ached to say “yes.”
“It makes perfect sense,” he insisted, holding both her hands and bringing them up to his chest. “Seriously, this is the best solution for us both. Sure, it’s old-fashioned, but I think we’re both sensible enough to realize that the feelings we have between us can only strengthen. We can make this work, for both our sakes and for that of our child.”
When she continued to remain silent he pressed again, “You love me, don’t you? Marry me, please?”
It was the unexpected injection of vulnerability in his “please” that was her undoing. And he was right. She did love him. It was a new emotion to her, this type of love. She’d never before felt this level of need for another person the way she did with Marcus. It was terrifying and exhilarating—much as the concept of marriage with him would be.
A Silken Seduction Page 11