Wedding-Night Baby (19 page)

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Authors: Kim Lawrence

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‘Kiss,' she corrected him happily. ‘First kiss.' I'm really enjoying this story, she thought, giving a small, ecstatic sigh.
‘My first thought when I woke was how was I going to get you to accept I'd been in your bed under false pretences. I'd been too jet-lagged to stay conscious the night before and tell you I was the dreaded nephew. As it happened, that wasn't a problem, as you weren't in the bed, or the room, or the hotel,' he recalled grimly.
‘I thought you'd be relieved that I'd gone,' she said anxiously. ‘I knew I couldn't act as if it meant nothing to me so it seemed sensible to...'
‘Run away.'
She nodded guiltily, wondering how differently the last few months might have turned out if she'd stayed. ‘I thought you'd cringe if I was there the next morning gushing about how marvellous it was.'
‘I thrive on a moderate amount of gushing.'
‘You were hateful to me,' she reminded him.
‘Too right!' he said, his eyes gleaming. ‘I'd been stupid enough to break all my own rules and fall for a scheming, sexy body and a pair of innocent eyes. I wanted to believe every rotten thing I could about you. I wanted to see you crawl. I sort of liked it when you didn't,' he admitted, stroking the receptive peak of one breast, cupping her flesh and sighing with hoarse delight as it overflowed from his hand. ‘I liked lots of things about you.'
‘You hid it well,' she told him teasingly. Her head dropped against his chest as her knees sagged; the relief and joy of the occasion was taking a physical toll. ‘I was pretty miserable too, if that helps. I was so scared when I first realised I was pregnant.'
‘It doesn't help at all,' he said hoarsely. ‘When I think of you—alone, carrying our baby,' he groaned.
‘I wanted to tell you,' she confided, burying her face in his shoulder. ‘But I thought you'd think it was just another of my devious schemes. I was sure that even if you accepted the situation it would only be out of a sense of responsibility. I didn't want your obligation, Callum, I wanted your love,' she revealed huskily.
‘I suppose I can't blame you for thinking I'd reject you,' he said, his voice anguished. ‘I wanted to kill May when I thought the baby was his. And when I knew she was mine I...I hated myself for letting you go through all that alone.'
‘You can't blame yourself,' she protested.
He gazed fondly into her indignant face and laughed. ‘I could get used to having you in my corner,' he confessed.
‘It's somewhere I didn't think you wanted me to be. You were always with Josie.'
‘Inevitably I was some of the time,' he agreed, rubbing the side of her nose with his thumb and gazing at her upturned face tenderly. ‘But not as much as I let you think. Incidentally, I didn't string Josie along; I told her I'm in love with you. I did think a bit of healthy jealousy might be justified, considering the urgency of my need.'
‘You heartless rat,' she said with mock severity. The blaze in his eyes recompensed her for the anguish she had suffered.
He grinned wickedly. ‘The night before Rachel was born I was out driving all night. I parked in some Godforsaken spot. I couldn't trust myself not to touch you when we were together and you'd made it pretty clear you didn't want me to. I thought it might get easier after the baby was born but it's got gradually worse; you've been pushing me further away!' He tilted her chin up and looked reproachfully into her eyes.
‘I thought it was Rachel you wanted, not me. I needed you to love
me
.'
He gave a brilliant, savage grin. ‘It's ironic when you think about it. We've both been immersed in our separate cells of self-induced solitude. If we'd actually said what we were feeling we could have saved ourselves months of misery. I wanted to confront you with the Simon May thing as soon as Mary let the truth slip but you were so wrapped up in our daughter I was going to wait until you weren't so exhausted.'
‘When will that be, do you suppose—eighteen years' time?'
‘I've heard that's when the trouble starts,' Callum said solemnly.
‘About the legacy from Oliver,' Georgina said, trying hard not to be distracted by the erotic movements of his hands over her body from explaining the one major obstacle that stood between them.
‘What about it?' he said, reluctantly raising his head when she repeated herself nervously.
‘You don't sound very interested,' she said a shade indignantly.
‘It's a long time since I could convince myself you were an avaricious little go-getter. The fact that I knew you must have overcome strong moral objections to sleep with me that night convinced me that you felt a strong sexual attraction at least. I'm sure Oliver had his own obscure reasons for giving you the money, but I'm not losing any sleep over them. Convincing you you need me as much as I do you has occupied most of my thoughts recently,' he confessed bluntly.
‘He was an old flame of Mother's before and after she was married. He also tried to make her leave my father and contributed to the eventual breakup of their marriage. I think the money was his way of making amends.'
‘Terminally selfish old devil,' Callum muttered angrily. ‘I should warn you to expect more of the same when my mother grants you an audience. I can't wait to show you off to everyone at Wollundra, and Rachel can meet her new cousin.' Tricia had produced a son eight weeks before Rachel was born.
‘It was very nice of your mother to send us a congratulations card,' Georgina said tentatively; she knew that she had to tread carefully where Callum's relationship with his mother was concerned.
‘It'll kill her to admit she's a grandmother,' he laughed. ‘Don't look so solemn,' he admonished her. ‘I stopped letting my mother's shortcomings affect my life the moment I fell in love with you, my darling. You were and are a sweet revelation. The more I tried to put you out of my mind, the worse it became. I hope you don't mind that we put the cart before the horse a little, having Rachel before the wedding?'
‘Aren't you being a mite premature?' she teased happily. Did life get any better than this? she wondered, her heart soaring.
‘I've been incredibly patient, woman, and don't expect it to continue!' he warned, kissing her parted lips. ‘You'll marry me.'
‘I'm not sure it's a good idea for us to work together as well as being married—if the offer still stands?' she quizzed mischievously.
‘I seem to recall you saying you wouldn't work
for
me but would deign to work
with
me. That arrangement sounds pretty good to me. Just say when you feel ready and we'll organise things with Rachel. I have a very flexible maternity policy.'
‘You mentioned patience,' she said, a smile curving her lush mouth.
‘Uh-huh,' he said huskily, and she could feel his body throbbing.
‘I'm feeling a little impatient myself.' She looked up at him with half-closed eyes, her lashes casting a shadow over the high curve of her cheekbones.
‘Parents should take any opportunity for rest and relaxation they can. I read that somewhere.'
‘Sounds like good advice. I don't mean to sound pushy but babies don't sleep for long—at least, ours doesn't.'
‘Wanton hussy,' he said, sweeping her up in his arms and laying her across the bed.
‘I could learn to be,' she said as he joined her. ‘With a little assistance.'
Callum, she learnt, could be very generous with his guidance...
ISBN : 978-1-4592-5205-9
 
WEDDING-NIGHT BABY
 
First North American Publication 1999.
 
Copyright © 1997 by Kim Lawrence.
 
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
 
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
 
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books SA
 
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

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