by Sue MacKay
What do I care about my appearance? We’re going for a drive and I’m going to tell him about the baby and then he’ll bring me home and life will go on as it has for the past few weeks.
Picking up a twist tie, she bundled up her hair and aimed for the door, not bothering with make-up. There’d be no drive anywhere. She couldn’t sit beside Nathan pretending all was well in her world on the trip to the Blue Mountains.
Nathan was leaning against his fancy car, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes fixed on her from the moment she stepped outside. ‘Molly, I’ve missed you.’
She didn’t bother with the rejoinder about seeing each other every day at work. They both knew that’s not what he meant. Her mouth flattened. Where to start?
He continued, ‘You look pale, and those shadows under your eyes are a worry.’
She stared at the man she loved, the man she was about to rock off his pedestal. ‘You’re not looking so perky yourself.’ Then she looked harder. Wrong, Mol. There was something assured about him, a confidence—No, Nathan was always confident. Today he looked comfortable in his own skin. ‘Forget I said that. You look great.’ Might as well start out as she meant to go on.
‘You think? I’ve not been sleeping very well.’
‘Me neither.’ Nights spent tossing and turning, trying to solve the riddle that was her life.
Come on, get this over. Before we get into the car, and then I won’t have an agonising hour on the road sitting beside him as he takes in what I have to say.
The words stuck in her throat, refused to budge.
‘Come on. Let’s get on the road.’ He held the driver’s door open for her.
Finally she managed to speak. ‘Nathan, I’ve got things to tell you first.’
‘Same. But let’s not do it out on the street. I’d like to take you to the mountains where we can talk all day if necessary. Please.’
The trip home afterwards might be long and cold. Or—or it might be the greatest trip she’d ever made. It might also be her last time with him. ‘Okay. But you drive.’ She wouldn’t be focused enough.
‘Now you’re worrying me.’
There was a small smile coming her way and she ran with it, gave a tight one back. ‘Let’s go.’
They rode in silence, tension building as the kilometres flew by. At one point Molly wanted it over, then she wanted to continue driving the highway right into the night.
Nathan finally pulled into a parking area and turned off the engine. ‘Want to walk a bit?’
‘Yes.’ It would be easier saying what was bottled up inside her if she was moving, not sitting looking directly at Nathan. But when he took her hand as they strolled along a path heading out to a bush-clad hillside, she nearly cried. She’d missed his touch. Face it, she’d missed everything that was Nathan. Even his grumpiness, though there had been some of that at intense moments in the department.
‘Molly, I’ve screwed up big-time.’
Hello? She tried to pull her hand free, but he tightened his grip.
‘Hear me out, please?’
‘Nathan, there are things you need know first.’ Panic started squeezing her chest. ‘I haven’t been entirely honest with you.’
‘Stop, Molly. I could say the same.’
What? Nathan was so honest it could be brutal. Or was that wishful thinking? By hoping for the man of her dreams to push away the past, had she overlooked his faults? No. She wouldn’t believe that for a moment. This was the man she trusted completely, did not expect to turn into a monster once she’d given him her heart. ‘Go on.’
He stopped walking and turned to face her, reached for her other hand. ‘I love you. I think I have from the first time I set eyes on you.’
Her knees sagged. This was not what she had been expecting. Not that she knew what he’d been going to say, but it sure hadn’t been this. ‘I—’
He shook his head. ‘Let me finish. Yes, I love you with all my heart. But I don’t want to rush you into anything you’re not ready for. I hear your uncertainty about being ready for a relationship. I’ll wait for you, Mol, for as long as it takes.’ He swallowed, tightened his hold on her hands. ‘And if you decide I’m not the man for you then I’ll deal with that too.’
Tears spurted down her face. Nathan loved her. The man she’d fallen for loved her. They could make this work. Be a family. She could forget the past, be happy again. Tell him first she loved him? Or about the baby? He mustn’t think her love was because of the baby, and that she needed him onside for that only. ‘I’m pregnant.’
‘What?’ He rocked forward like he’d taken a blow to the solar plexus. ‘You’re—we’re—pregnant?’
‘Yes.’ She stepped back, tugging free of his grip. And he let her go. ‘I don’t know how it happened as we were always careful, and my chances of getting pregnant were slim.’
‘We didn’t use protection that first time. Besides, those condoms had been lying in my drawer for a while. Hang on. Why were your chances slim?’ Then understanding dawned in his eyes, tightened his mouth. ‘That scar on your tummy. He did that, didn’t he?’
She nodded. ‘I was four months along. Paul was jealous of our unborn baby. Said he wasn’t sharing me with anyone, not even his own child.’
‘Oh, Mol.’ As Nathan wound her into his arms, he asked, ‘Has that got anything to do with why you said you couldn’t go on seeing me?’
Leaning back to read his expression, she nodded. ‘I’ve only got one Fallopian tube, and even that’s not in the best shape for conception. Or so the specialist thought. It seems he was wrong.’ Nothing showing in Nathan’s face said she shouldn’t continue. ‘You want a family, I couldn’t guarantee you one, so in a way I lied. I didn’t want to hurt you in the future when a baby didn’t come along. If I’d told you, you might’ve felt sorry for me and pretended everything was all right.’
‘I’d never do that.’
She nodded. ‘Deep down I knew it, but I’m still insecure about knowing I’m right when it comes to understanding you. But I know for certain my love for you is real, and everlasting.’
‘You love me?’ A smile that was pure Nathan split his face, and melted the last band around her heart. For the first time in years she relaxed totally. ‘You love me.’ His hands were on her waist, lifting her, and then they were spinning in a circle. ‘And I love you. That’s all that matters.’
He believed her—he didn’t think she’d said it because she needed a father for her baby. There was so much happiness in his face she knew he meant what he’d said. ‘It is. You make me whole again,’ she whispered, just before his mouth claimed hers.
Then he stopped. Pulled back, still holding her. ‘Molly, please say you’ll marry me. I promise to love you for ever and ever.’
‘Yes, Nathan, I will. Because you love me. Not because of the baby.’ That she’d have on her own if he didn’t love her. But he did. He’d said so, and Nathan always told the truth.
‘Yes, Mol, I do, with all my being and then some. And I love the baby already.’
The next kiss rolled into another and then another, and turned them towards the car and the picnic and the blanket. Especially the blanket and the thick bush not too far away.
Six weeks later
‘I pronounce you man and wife,’ announced the marriage celebrant. ‘Nathan, you may kiss the bride.’
The house rocked with laughter and cheers as family and friends, dressed to the nines, crowded round.
‘That’s enough. Some of us have only got the weekend off.’ Cole nudged Nathan when the kiss went on for ever.
Nathan came up for air and gave his mate a glare. ‘Thank goodness for that. I couldn’t put up with your crassness for any longer.’
Molly grinned as she shook her head at them. ‘Boys, stop it.’
Cole hauled her in for a big hug. ‘I’m so glad he f
ound you.’
‘So am I,’ Molly admitted, sudden tears threatening.
‘He didn’t find her, I pushed them together.’ Vicki grinned.
‘Here, you’re soaking your dress.’ Nathan handed her a handkerchief.
Molly laughed. ‘Who has these any more?’ She carefully wiped her eyes, aware of not messing her make-up, done by a woman Vicki had hired from the cosmetic department of one of Sydney’s large stores for them and Lizzie.
‘You want me to produce a handful of tissues instead?’ her husband asked.
Her husband. She pinched herself. No, she wasn’t dreaming. This was real. She’d found love again, this time with the right man. Hadn’t had to fake a thing. Looking at him as he waved to the waiter with a tray of champagne glasses, her heart swelled till it hurt. Damn, but she was so lucky.
‘Molly Lupton, you lucky girl.’ Lizzie swept her into a hug. ‘I am so happy for you.’
‘I glad you made it in time.’
Lizzie gave an awkward laugh. ‘Well, you know me. Stubborn to the end.’
‘You won’t lose your job because you’ve taken these few days off?’ She’d been working on intense negotiations in Hong Kong until two days ago.
‘Let them try. I might be the only person to come from Perth, but I’m the best.’
Molly hugged her friend. ‘You are so right.’
‘Your mum’s thrilled, by the way.’
Molly looked across the lawn to where her parents and Dad’s new lady stood together, watching the proceedings, as though unsure how welcome they were. ‘I know, and this time when she says she likes my husband I’m going to accept that. We both made mistakes, and I don’t want those to ruin the future. My babies need their grandparents to be there for them like Gran was for me.’
‘Babies? As in plural?’ Nathan had appeared beside her, two glasses of champagne in one hand.
She stretched up on the tips of her beautiful, pointy cream shoes and whispered, ‘Twins.’
He shoved the glasses at Lizzie, reached for Molly and spun her around and up into his arms. ‘Twins,’ he yelled. ‘We’re having two little blighters, not one.’
So much for keeping the pregnancy quiet until they got through the first trimester and well into the second. Clapping and cheeky comments exploded around them, glasses were raised, and finally Molly got one of her own to take, not one or two, but three small sips from before putting it aside. No more for her until the babies were born. ‘My husband, baby one and baby two. I love you all.’
And months later:
Nathan rushed through the Saturday afternoon crowd, elbowing people out of his way. Typical bloody weekend. Everyone was getting out amongst it, and in his way.
The ED had been flat out, dealing with idiots who’d had too much food and alcohol when he’d got the call to go to the maternity unit. Molly had gone into labour at thirty-five weeks. It had been fast, almost too much so, but the babies were in good shape, tiny and absolutely beautiful. Like their mother.
Two teddy bears and one enormous bunch of irises was a lot to protect from these idiots who weren’t looking where they were going, but at last the main entrance to the hospital loomed up in his line of vision. Why the hospital gift shop had to be closed today of all days he didn’t know.
The lift was slow to arrive, and when it came, people surged past him to fill it to capacity. ‘Typical,’ he muttered as he charged up the stairs, reaching the maternity floor out of breath and having to bend over double while his lungs recovered.
Then he was racing down the corridor, out of breath for a different reason. Excitement gripped him, and his face ached as his smile knew no boundaries. ‘I’m a dad, I’m a dad.’ Spinning into Molly’s room, he rushed up to the bed to hug her, forgetting he had his arms full. Slamming on the brakes, he swallowed. Both babies were snuggled against her breasts, eyes closed, cute little pink noses. He couldn’t hug her anyway. ‘I’m married to the most wonderful woman on the planet. Mrs-Beautiful-Molly-Mother-of-Two-Lupton.’
‘Glad you remembered.’ Molly laughed tiredly. ‘Want to hold someone?’
‘Yes, you.’ He placed the teddies on the only chair and held out the flowers. ‘I bought every last Dutch iris in the shop.’
‘Did you get some vases? There’s only one jar in here.’ She was grinning at him now, sending his stomach into a riot of longing and happiness.
Damn, he loved this woman so much. His son and daughter were a bonus. It was Molly he woke up for every day. ‘I love you, Molly Lupton.’
She nodded. ‘I know. Love you back. Now, about names.’
That was an ongoing debate. Hopefully they’d have it sorted by the time everyone went home. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow.
‘Joshua and Karina?’
Molly nodded, a look of glee at having won the battle on her face. ‘Joshua and Karina.’
How could he refuse her anything?
* * *
If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Sue MacKay
Taking a Chance on the Single Dad
Redeeming Her Brooding Surgeon
The Italian Surgeon’s Secret Baby
ER Doc’s Forever Gift
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from A Weekend with Her Fake Fiancé by Traci Douglass.
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin eBook.
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
A Weekend with Her Fake Fiancé
by Traci Douglass
CHAPTER ONE
CERTIFIED NURSE-MIDWIFE Carmen Sanchez swiped the back of her wrist across her forehead, careful to avoid the blood staining her glove. “One more strong push and the baby will be out.” She gave Teena, her twenty-eight-year-old patient, an encouraging smile. “You can do it.”
“I can’t!” Teena panted, her head lolling to one side on the pillows. “I’m too tired.”
Fifteen hours of labor would do that to a person, but there was only one way out of this and it was through. Having Teena’s husband there for moral support would have been ideal, but the poor man was working on a fishing boat somewhere in the Bering Sea right now and couldn’t be reached.
“I know you’re exhausted, Teena,” she said, her Caribbean accent drawing out the name. “But you’ve done such a wonderful job so far. All you need is the strength to push one more time on your next contraction and you’ll have your son in your arms. Don’t you finally want to hold him? After all these long months? Think of your husband’s face when he sees his son.”
Teena bit back a sob and nodded.
“Right.” Carmen used her most authoritative voice. “Then push as hard as you can when I tell you, okay?”
The patient nodded and took a deep breath.
It was Teena’s first pregnancy, and she’d been a difficult case from the outset, with sickle cell anemia complicating matters. Carmen had worked in conjunction with an obstetrician and a hematologist to monitor the patient and provide a safe delivery.
Another contraction hit and time seemed to slow as Teena groaned.
“Go!” Carmen got into position. “That’s it. Good. Good. Push!”
Teena leaned up on her elbows and bore down hard, toes curled and muscles straining. Finally the baby’s head crowned, followed in short order by one shoulder, then two. At last the tiny infant slipped into Carmen’s waiting hands and her patient flopped back onto the bed, exhausted.
Carmen cut the umbilical cord, then handed the baby to a waiting nurse, who wrapped the new arrival in a blanket
and suctioned its tiny mouth and nose. Soon the boy’s wailing filled the room and Teena cried again, this time with relief and joy.
Once the afterbirth was dealt with, Carmen took a moment to enjoy the wonder. Even after years in practice the addition of a new life into the world still amazed her.
She slipped out into the hall, walking over to the desk at the nurses’ station so she could decompress and document the backlog of charts awaiting her.
Before she’d finished with the first one, she was interrupted.
“Just the woman I was looking for.”
Carmen’s heart tripped at the deep male voice, and she glanced up to see Zac Taylor. The zing of attraction she felt was decidedly inconvenient, given he was a paramedic and they saw each other a lot, both in the course of their work and hanging out with mutual friends. Also, they’d spent a steamy night together a few months back, after copious amounts of alcohol at the Anchorage Mercy Hospital holiday staff party, and since then things had been a bit awkward.
Flings weren’t her usual MO. Actually, love—the romantic kind—wasn’t even on her itinerary, so the way her heart continued to flutter whenever he was around, despite her wishes, was beyond annoying.
It wasn’t that she was against hearts and fluff. It was just that she didn’t have time for such nonsense. Not with her mother to care for, in the early stages of dementia. Some days her mother was fine, other days she didn’t recognize her own family. It was heartbreaking, the slow loss of the person who’d been the one constant in her life. Plus, Carmen was saving to put her younger sister through nursing school at the University of Alaska this fall, after she graduated high school. Between her own busy work schedule and her responsibilities at home Carmen was lucky to have time enough to eat and sleep, let alone date.