A Touch of Temptation(57)

Liv joined her at the dining table, her gaze brimming with concern—and something else. Almost fear.

“Hey, Liv.”

She lifted her fork to her mouth and took a bite of pasta. She chewed on it, forcing herself to keep at bay the nausea that had been threatening all day. It had become worse the moment she had returned—as though her body had gone into fully fledged revolt the minute she had got off the plane from the island.

Away from Diego.

Liv pulled a chair out, sat down at the table and studied her.

“You look like hell, Kim. You shouldn’t look like this.”

Kim nodded, and ran her palm over her midriff. She raised her head and met Liv’s gaze. “I just haven’t been sleeping well. I have been taking good care of myself, Liv,” she said guiltily. “I’ve cut down my hours. I’ve been eating lots.” She pushed her chair back and hugged Liv. Hard. “You look wonderful, though.”

Liv’s arms tightened around her. “Please tell me this is just you being hormonal. Because you’re scaring me.”

Kim bit her lip, striving to hold back the raw ache in her throat. “You and Alex okay?” she said softly. Every time she saw one of them she felt the knot of guilt in her stomach relent a little. As different as they were, Alex was the perfect man for her sister.

If Diego hadn’t stopped her Alex wouldn’t have fallen in love with Liv, and she wouldn’t have the babies growing in her womb... A shiver went over her.

“I’m not here to talk about Alexander and me.”

Kim laughed and pulled back from her. “That means you’re fighting again?”

Liv shrugged. “He’s angry that I forged his signature on Emily’s parental release form so that she can screen-test for a movie role,” she replied, a guilty blush stealing into her cheeks.

“You forged his...? God, Liv. I know how he is about his sister. How could you?”

“Acting’s in her blood, Kim. She was going to do it whether he agreed or not. And Alexander...when he loves someone...it’s just so...” She hesitated, a little shiver spewing into her words. “Emily doesn’t realize how easily she can hurt him. And I would rather he be pissed off with me than—”

“Than be hurt by her?” Kim finished for Liv, her gut folding in on itself.

She stared at her twin, a fog falling away from her eyes. They looked similar, yet they were so different on the inside. Even before their mother had left Liv had always somehow understood their mother’s pain.

Hadn’t that always been the difference between them? Liv’s ability to put everything she loved before herself? To take that leap again and again, even if it pained her? To risk everything for love?

Kim had always assumed that she was the stronger one—the one in control, the one with no weaknesses. What if her strength had only been a self-delusion? Was she a coward after all? A coward who didn’t believe herself worthy of being loved?

She had been so sure she loved Diego, but apparently only if there were no risks involved, only if she was sure that he would return her feelings.

“I’m worried about you, Kim,” Liv said. “Alexander told me you asked him to recommend a good custody lawyer. And yesterday Diego came to see me.”

“He did what?” Kim’s fork clattered to the table. “He was in New York?” And he hadn’t even called her.

Liv nodded, worry creasing her brow. “He...he wanted me to give you something. He said he didn’t want you to open it alone. I think he’s worried about you. When I asked him why he didn’t do it himself, he said he was done running after you.”

Liv opened her handbag and pulled out an envelope from it.

Fear curled up in her stomach and Kim braced herself.

He hadn’t called her. He hadn’t responded to her email. Every second of every day for the past week she had been on tenterhooks, waiting to hear something, anything from him. And she had a terrifying feeling about the contents of that envelope.

He was going to sue her for custody. He was going to take the babies away from her.

Just the passing thought was enough to plunge her into an abyss of panic. Her hands moved to her stomach and she shuddered. Her lungs felt as if they were seizing up on her.

She sagged to the floor and tucked her head between her legs.

Her palm on Kim’s back, Liv whispered something, but Kim could hear nothing past the terror clawing through her. She couldn’t even bear the thought of being forced to part with her children, the thought of not seeing them every day for the rest of her life.

How cold-hearted had her mother been to walk away so easily from them? Kim couldn’t imagine making that choice if her life depended on it.