happened between them? Or would she be prepared to try and make a life together?
He didn’t have a clue.
And he didn’t even know how to begin to ask.
BY WEDNESDAY MORNING, the frustration was too much for Oliver. Usually he was self-contained, but right now he really needed to talk this over, preferably with someone he could trust to keep this to themselves.
The best person he could think of was Sebastian. Prince Sebastian Falco of Montanari had been one of his best friends since they’d met during Seb’s first week at university, when Oliver had been nearing the end of his medical degree; they’d hit it off immediately, despite the four-year difference in their ages. Given his position as the heir to the kingdom of Montanari, Sebastian knew about the importance of privacy. And it didn’t matter that Sebastian and Oliver hadn’t actually seen each other for a few months; they always picked up their friendship exactly where they’d left off.
Oliver looked at the scan photograph again, then picked up his mobile phone and called Sebastian’s private number.
To his relief the prince answered immediately. ‘Hello, Olly. How are you?’
All over the place. Not that Oliver was going to admit it. ‘Fine, fine,’ he fibbed. ‘Seb, have I caught you in the middle of something, or do you have a few minutes?’
‘I’ve probably got about ten minutes,’ Sebastian said ruefully, ‘and then I really do have to be in a meeting. It’s good to hear from you, Olly. How are things?’
‘Complicated,’ Oliver said wryly.
‘Would this be as in female complications?’ Sebastian asked. ‘Or is it the new job?’
‘Both—and thank you for the case of champagne, by the way.’
‘It’s the least I could do,’ Sebastian said. ‘So what are these complications? I take it that’s why you’re ringing me—to get an impartial point of view?’
‘And a bit of perspective.’ Oliver blew out a breath. He really didn’t know where to start. Or maybe he should just do the whole mixed-up lot at once. ‘It’s crazy at work, what with the winter vomiting virus wiping out half the staff, and Sienna’s going on maternity leave any day now. And I’m going to be a father.’
There was silence on the other end of the line.
‘Seb? Are you still there?’
Was his friend really that shocked by the news of Oliver’s impending fatherhood? Oh, hell. That didn’t bode well for his family’s reaction. Sebastian was much more laid back than Oliver’s parents.
‘Sorry, Olly. Someone needed me for a second. You were saying, half of your department’s having babies?’ Sebastian asked.
‘Not half of us—that’s the virus wiping everyone out—though it does feel as if everyone’s going on leave. Just Sienna. Obviously you know her from when she did the training at the hospital for you.’
‘Yes. She did a good job—thank you for recommending her.’
There was something in Sebastian’s voice that Oliver couldn’t quite work out. Or maybe it wasn’t the best line. He didn’t always get great mobile phone reception in his office.
‘So Sienna got married when she came back to England?’ Sebastian asked.
‘No, she’s still single. But she knows we’re all there for her and she’s got a very willing rota of babysitters when the baby arrives. It’s due somewhere around the beginning of February.’
‘I see.’ There was a pause. ‘So you’re going to be a dad. Should I be offering congratulations or commiserations?’
‘Both,’ Oliver said wryly. ‘Though at least this one’s definitely mine.’
‘Not a repeat of Justine, then.’
Trust Sebastian to come straight to the point. It was one of the things that Oliver appreciated about his friend: his ability to focus on the important thing and cut through all the irrelevancies. ‘No. And Ella’s nothing like Justine. She’s open and honest. And very independent.’
‘So she won’t let you boss her about.’
Oliver knew his friend was teasing him—or was he? Was he really as overbearing and bossy as Ella said he was?
‘When’s the baby due?’ Sebastian asked.
‘In seven and a half months.’
‘It’s very early days, then.’
‘Yes. Ella only told me a few days ago. She had the dating scan yesterday. Seeing the baby’s heart beating on the screen…’ It had been a real game-changer. Because now everything was real. His baby. And he wanted to be a much better father than his own father had been.
Yet wasn’t he making the same mistakes? Insisting that everything should go his way? It was a knee-jerk reaction to the way Justine had behaved—and Ella deserved better.
‘So what’s the complication with the baby’s mum?’ Sebastian asked.
Trust the prince to ask the awkward question. ‘It’s tricky. I’m not her direct boss, but I’m the Assistant Head of the Department.’
‘Well, it wouldn’t be the first workplace romance in history.’
When Oliver didn’t reply, Sebastian continued, ‘I assume it is a romance?’
‘Yes and no.’ Oliver sighed. ‘I admit, I’ve been attracted to her since the moment I met her. She’s gorgeous—all soft curves and red hair and green eyes.’
‘The way you describe her makes her sound like a Picasso painting,’ Sebastian commented dryly.
Oliver laughed. ‘Hardly. It’s not just how she looks—I’m not that shallow. She’s nice. I can be myself with her. But you know I don’t do relationships. So I’ve kept it platonic.’
‘Obviously something changed, or you wouldn’t be preparing for fatherhood in seven and a half months’ time,’ Sebastian pointed out.
‘I danced with her at the annual Hallowe’en charity ball. Then I gave her a lift home.’ Which sounded pathetic. ‘I meant to see her safely indoors and leave, but she invited me in for coffee. And then I just gave in to the urge to kiss her, and…’ Oliver sighed. ‘I guess one thing led to another.’
‘How does she feel about you?’
Good question. One Oliver had been asking himself rather a lot, and he hadn’t quite worked out the answer. ‘I don’t honestly know. Obviously there’s something there between us, or we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in now. But the baby has complicated things a bit. I don’t know whether she wants me for me,’ he
