sorry.’ She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. He must think her an idiot. ‘Not used to it, I guess.’ Better to let him think he was a crazed driver than for him to know how much her body longed for him.
Jake cast a long look over his shoulder and ahead, down the dimly lit, deserted street, and then at her home. ‘I’ll walk you to your door.’
‘Thanks, but I’m fine. I can get to my own door without help.’ She could see there was a light on through the lacy curtains of the front windows. The outside light shone onto the intricate paintwork she’d had done to bring the worn old masterpiece back to her former glory. The house was brick but all the trims were timber, now a glorious rich cream.
‘A gentleman wouldn’t have a lady go to her door alone in the dark.’
‘What gentleman?’ she scoffed, trying to lighten the mood between them. ‘I don’t see one.’ She looked around the pristine car, and outside, up and down the quiet street, wishing fervently that Jake would just let it go and drive away.
‘You’re not looking,’ he said in what sounded like all seriousness, and he alighted from the car before she could say anything else.
‘Oh, really?’ she called after him. She dug her nails into the soft leather of her handbag as Jake opened her door. ‘I can do it myself.’
‘I have no doubt of that. But I’d like to show you how my manners have improved.’ He held out his hand to her.
Meg eyed it suspiciously before surrendering hers to him. She felt the surge of blood from her fingertips to her toes—he was radiating his charm and she had to be mindful not to succumb again.
He released her and cupped his hand gently under her elbow, steering her up the shadowy path to her door.
His touch was torture; her traitorous body responded instantly with shivers down her back. ‘I’m sure Vivian is thrilled with your manners.’ Meg needed to remind him as well as herself where his loyalties lay to still her body’s frenzy.
Jake didn’t falter.
Meg crossed her fingers. Nearly there. Her heart beat faster with every step closer to her front door. She wanted desperately for him to go, to turn around right there and speed off in his car, without looking back and definitely without going any closer. But she knew it was useless. Any more argument or protest would make him suspicious.
Meg extracted her elbow from his touch as soon as she reached the doorstep. She fumbled for her keys in her bag, cursing them under her breath for being so elusive at a time like this.
‘Well, thanks for a lovely evening. I hope you didn’t mind me being honest with you.’ She hoped she sounded calm and composed.
‘Not at all. Though I sort of expected a bit more.’ He regarded her with a speculative glance. ‘Is there something you’re not telling me?’
A cry from inside made Meg cringe.
‘What was that?’ There was an edge of concern in his voice. He tilted his head and looked at her uncertainly.
‘A cat?’ Meg prayed he’d accept it and leave.
‘There’s no way that sounded like a cat.’ She could see his jaw clench in the soft light, and his eyes narrowed and bored into hers as if he could hunt for an answer in her face.
The cry sounded again, more urgent, curling Meg’s stomach into knots. ‘I share the place with a girl with a baby,’ she blurted. She shoved the key into the lock and turned it.
‘Meg?’ Jake said hesitantly.
She paused, turning to him. ‘Yes?’ she asked innocently.
The door flung wide. The young girl’s eyes were wide and full of concern, the toddler on her hip reaching out. ‘Thank God you’re back. He’s been crying for you for ages. He just won’t settle.’ She thrust the little boy into Meg’s arms, ignoring Jake next to her.
‘Mama,’ the toddler cried. He wrapped his small arms tightly around Meg and buried his face in her neck.
Meg couldn’t bring herself to look at Jake. What could she possibly say?
CHAPTER FOUR
JAKE’S mind whirled at a sickening speed. Meg so tense, making excuses…a child…this baby boy…Meg a mum…Every drop of blood seeped to the pit of his stomach.
A wild giddiness attacked him. His baby…?
He clenched his hands and tried to still the onslaught of feelings flailing around inside him. He had to think clearly, rationally, not jump to any rash assumptions.
Logic always helped him through his difficulties at work, had always worked before—there was no reason for it not to work now.
He raked his hair with his hands and eyed Meg warily. She wouldn’t have left him if she was pregnant. She wasn’t like that. Surely to God she would have told him if she was pregnant with his baby, would have known he would never turn his back on her. If he was his.
‘Meg.’ His voice was barely a whisper.
She stiffened as though he’d struck her.
‘I’ve got to get going.’ The sitter grabbed a cardigan off a chair by the door, appearing oblivious to the bombshell she’d dropped.
Meg seemed to suddenly register the young woman. She turned to her and shifted the little boy to her hip. ‘Thanks. Ring you later. About tomorrow.’
Jake barely noticed the girl step past him. He forced air into his lungs. All he could do was stare at the little bundle of human being wrapped in Meg’s arms and at the woman he’d wronged. So badly.
He should have spent more time around kids. He could do the maths in his head if only he knew how old this baby was.
One thing was for sure. She wouldn’t have had time to meet another guy, have a nine-month pregnancy, then a baby this sort of size and a business all in the time they’d been apart. He clamped down on the hot fist of pain in his gut. She couldn’t have!
Meg stepped into the hallway. The light reflected well off the high ceilings and the ornate plasterwork, lighting up Meg’s face. She was tense, almost harrowed, her brow creased and her eyes wide.
The ache was unbearable. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her, kiss away her fears. He could make it right. He had to. ‘Where’re you going?’ His voice erupted too sharply, too demanding.
Her head snapped around. ‘Inside.’ The baby made a gurgling noise, his tiny chubby fingers gripping her tighter. Meg straightened and glared at him. ‘I don’t consider standing on the doorstep a long-term activity.’
Jake raised his hand, reaching out to her as she turned her back to him. ‘Meg?’ he pleaded. Couldn’t she see what this was doing to him?
She finally turned, halfway down the hallway. ‘You’d better come in for coffee, then.’
‘Something
