November Harlequin Presents 2(53)

‘Because you wanted your baby back? Sorry, it’s a done deal.’

‘No. Because I only realised when I got here why it was so important I see you. Because I love you.’

For a split second she didn’t react, and he held out hope that he’d said the words she most wanted to hear. But then she scoffed, holding a hand to her head. ‘Is that supposed to be a joke? Because, if you’re serious, I have to say you’ve sure got a funny way of showing it.’

‘Tegan, I’m so sorry. For the things I said, for the way I treated you. I’m sorry for everything. I didn’t realise you were so sick yesterday. I should never have got stuck into you like that at all, but while you were so sick it was inexcusable.’

‘You thought I was faking it, so everyone would know I was pregnant and you’d be forced into marrying me.’

He turned his head away, ashamed because what she’d said was true.

‘There is a reason,’ he said.

‘A reason you treated me like crap?’

‘I told you about Tina.’

‘The PA who left you so scarred and cynical. She lied to you. She got pregnant. That’s what you told me.’

‘She did.’

‘As did I! I lied to you about who I was. I got pregnant. Obviously I deserved the worst.’

‘It’s not the same.’ He took a deep breath, raked his hands through his hair. ‘I thought it was, but it’s not. Tina’s baby wasn’t mine. She got pregnant and decided it was her meal ticket. We were working late one night and she made a move on me. She was from a Greek family, and had very striking looks…And, well, one thing led to another. A few weeks later she told me the baby was mine and that her family would disinherit her. I had no reason not to believe her. So I did the honourable thing—I told her I’d marry her.’

‘How did you find out?’

‘Just before the wedding. I overheard her boasting about it to a friend, about how she’d sucked me in completely and had already booked the abortion clinic. She was planning to destroy the child she’d used to trap me with as soon as our honeymoon was over.’

‘Oh my God. How could she?’

‘When I learned you were pregnant, it was Tina happening all over again. I was angry at you, but I was madder at myself for letting it happen. It’s not an excuse. I’m not trying to claim that what happened all those years ago excuses my behaviour. But I just want you to understand why I acted the way I did, and why I jumped to the conclusions that I did—the wrong ones, I know now.’

She blinked and just stared at him, and he was brave enough to walk to her side and sit down on her bed. ‘I guess it didn’t help to have it all dumped on you yesterday like that. I hadn’t planned it that way. I did try to tell you before, several times. Honest.’

‘I know. I didn’t give you a chance to tell me.’

She reached out a hand to his arm. ‘You really believe that?’

‘I didn’t before.’ He caught her hand in his, then spread his fingers wide, matching hers palm to palm before wrapping it once more in his. ‘I was too blind with anger to see anything. I wasn’t thinking. I was reliving the past, and I failed to see you. I only saw Tina and what she’d planned. What she’d done. But I do believe you now. I remembered the times I cut you off. I remembered you asking me not to keep doing this to you. I remembered your frustration. And it all made sense.’

She frowned, and moved to pull her hand away. ‘You know, Maverick, I still haven’t been completely honest with you.’

He wouldn’t let go. ‘What’s that supposed to mean? It is my baby?’

‘Yes, of course it’s yours. There’s been no one else. There is no one else. But do you remember when you told me about Tina? You were just back from Milan. I asked you about her because I needed to know where I stood with you—how you felt about me before I told you the truth, because I knew you’d hate me then. And, when I asked you what she’d done to you, you said those two things—that she’d lied to you and she’d got pregnant. And I got scared. I was guilty of the very same sins. So I got out of bed while you were on the phone and got dressed, because I knew you’d throw me out the minute I told you. But then Nell asked that I be at the lunch if she was going, and you insisted, and I told myself that I was doing it for Nell. I told you that in my defence. Nell gave me a gold-plated reason not to tell you.’

‘I know. I understand.’

She shook her head. ‘But you don’t. Because I didn’t do it for Nell. Not entirely. You were right when you mocked me. Because I did it for me. I took the option of staying your mistress for two more weeks over being honest with you then. I took the path of least resistance. Oh, I liked Nell, and wanted her to be happy, but I wanted to be happy even more. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, and I knew that if I told you that’s exactly what would happen. I knew I was taking a risk, and it couldn’t help but end ugly, and it did.’