mother, but to prove she could be a good parent she had to get this house, and her life, on track fast. Finding a job was the first place to start.
‘Kit, I want to barter an exchange of labour with you.’
‘A …’ She stilled. ‘Why?’
‘Because I think it would be to both our benefits.’
An exchange of labour?
‘I’d really like you to finish that book project for McBride’s.’
‘Alex—’ she lifted her hands and then let them drop again ‘—there are any number of people at Hallam Enterprises more than capable of finishing that project. Didn’t you read my report?’
‘It was your passion that had that book offer tabled to us in the first place. It was your passion that sold me on the deal. It’s your passion that will make it a success.’
‘Your name on the cover will do that—your experience, your expertise.’
‘I can’t write the thing, though. You’re the one who translates all that so-called experience and expertise into a compelling, readable account. That’s where your expertise lies. We make a good team, Kit.’
She stilled at his words. A team—her and Alex?
‘I want you to finish overseeing the work on the book because you are the best person for the job. With an Internet connection here you can work remotely. You won’t need to go into the office.’
‘You said a barter of labour. What will you be doing?’
‘Fixing your house.’
Her jaw dropped. ‘Alex, you’ve just returned from a month abroad. You can’t afford to take more time off work.’
His chin tilted at an arrogant angle. ‘It’s my company. I can do what I want. Besides, Donald has everything under control in the Sydney office.’ He shrugged and the arrogance vanished behind the beginnings of a smile. A wry smile admittedly, but potent for all that. ‘He’s doing a good job and I am only a phone call away if there’s an emergency.’
‘But …’ Her mind wouldn’t work.
‘I’ll fix the hole in your roof and the hole in your wall. I’ll repoint the piers on the southern side of the house and replace the guttering. I’ll check for dry rot and—’ his lips twisted ‘—not-so-dry rot. I’ll modernise the bathroom and give the whole place a lick of paint, inside and out.’
Her eyes widened as his list grew. Whatever he saw in her face made him leap to his feet and stalk over to the window, hands shoved deep into his pockets.
She moistened her lips. ‘It sounds as if I’m getting the better end of that deal.’
‘Financially you’d be better off if you stayed on the books at Hallam Enterprises, took the maternity leave you’d be entitled to, and paid a builder to make the repairs.’
She needed a job and she needed the house ready for when the baby came. Alex was offering her both in one fell swoop. He didn’t want to be a father, but he didn’t want to leave her in the lurch. That much was clear.
Maybe the truth of the matter was that Alex couldn’t walk away from his child and he just hadn’t realized that yet.
She remembered the expression on his face when he’d talked about Chad. He had glowed with love, his face soft with it, before the anguish had taken over. He’d wanted a child once.
She lifted her chin. ‘Will you help me decorate the nursery?’
He shuffled his feet, rolled his shoulders. His lips turned down but his chin didn’t drop. ‘Consider it added to the list.’
‘Then, Alex Hallam, we have ourselves a deal.’
‘Excellent!’
Just for a moment, his smile bathed her in light.
‘Ready for breakfast yet?’
‘Yes, please.’ Suddenly she found she was ravenous.
The doctor unwrapped the blood pressure monitor from around her arm. ‘I’m delighted to say you’re as fit as a fiddle.’
To her left she was aware of Alex sagging in his chair. Relief? She wouldn’t be privy to that particular emotion until after the scan. She gripped her hands together and prayed her illness hadn’t harmed her baby in any way.
‘I’d like you to keep taking it easy for a bit, though. Rest when you get tired. You also need to make sure you finish the course of antibiotics.’
She could practically see Alex file those instructions away in case he needed to bring them out and wave them under her nose and recite ‘doctor’s orders’ at her. It made her feel looked after, cared for, as if someone had her back. It was why she hadn’t kicked up a fuss when he’d accompanied her into the doctor’s consulting room. He’d looked after her so comprehensively these past few days. Besides, this was his baby too. He deserved to know if it was healthy and developing normally.
‘Okay, let’s do the scan. Jump up onto the table.’ The doctor gestured to an examination table.
Alex leapt to his feet, paled. ‘I’ll … um … wait outside.’
‘Alex, no!’ Kit grabbed his hand, her stomach twisting and her heart pounding. If the news wasn’t good she didn’t think she could face it on her own. His mouth whitened. His shoulders clenched, but he didn’t shake his hand free from her grip. Eventually he nodded.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered. She tried to release his hand, but found that she couldn’t. Finally he smiled, just a slight drawing up on the right side of his mouth, but it helped ease some of the tension that had her wrapped up tight.
‘C’mon, Kit, up onto the table.’
He helped her up onto it, which was just as well because her legs had turned to putty. He held her hand when the doctor squirted cold gel onto her stomach.
‘There’s your baby, Kit.’
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