The #1 Bestsellers Collection 2011(134)

“And so says the man who has everything.” Holly couldn’t stop the bitter words from escaping her mouth and desperately wished them unsaid when she saw his face. His eyes glittered darkly and his lips settled in a straight line.

“Not everything, Holly. Some things you can’t buy.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” “Come on, it’s getting late and you look like you’ve done about ten rounds in the boxing ring. I’ll take you home.”





Six


Connor stared out the window of his penthouse apartment, watching as the world hurtled by regardless of the late hour. Try as he might, he couldn’t get Holly out of his mind. What was it with him and women that it always came down to money? She’d made no bones about how important money was to her, yet, if that was the case, why did she live where and how she did? She was a conundrum. One he had every intention of figuring out even though logic told him he should just forget their night together, as she had so conveniently managed to do.

Logic could take a hike.

He turned from the window and flipped open his cell. One press of a quick-dial would take him a step closer to the answers he needed.

The summarised report, when it came through to his private fax line in the morning, did little to calm his disquiet. It was clear Holly had major financial issues, not least of which were large sums of money being paid out on a very regular basis—most of her wages in fact. No wonder she lived in such squalid conditions. Something, or someone, drained every dollar she earned. The only savings account she’d had was well in the past, and it had been cleared out completely several months ago. But all the financial information aside, the report did nothing to shed any light on exactly who she was.

The memory of the conversation he’d overhead between Holly and another person yesterday tickled at the back of his mind. She had financial pressure from somewhere, but where? Was it gambling, or worse?

He called his private investigator again.

“I need you to go deeper. Find out who she is, where she’s from. Everything. I don’t care how long it takes.”

Holly let herself into the house and locked the door behind her before making her way to the bathroom. The past week had been interminable. Wearying queasiness still plagued her and kept her from visiting Andrea. While the staff at the hospital understood, it didn’t help assuage the guilt she felt at not being able to be there herself.

To make matters worse, not only had she been sick at work again but this time Janet had seen her and had been full of overwhelming fuss. To gain some respite, Holly had agreed to Janet’s suggestion that she should go home for the day. Connor was tied up in a video conference call when she’d gathered her things and headed for the door. The last thing she’d needed had been his concern, as well.

As she’d searched for change for the bus in the bottom of her bag she’d come across the emergency sanitary items she kept in a small cosmetic purse. Connor’s question from last week rung hollowly in her ears. She’d been adamant at the time that she couldn’t be pregnant, but could she? Really? She couldn’t hide from the possibility any longer.

Holly put the pharmacy packet she’d brought home onto the vanity of her tiny bathroom and removed its contents. The instructions were simple. Too simple really, when it was something so terrifyingly important. She followed the steps to the letter, then paced the tiny confines of room like a caged animal, an analogy that rang a little too close to the truth for her comfort.

She forced herself to calm down, to take stock of the situation. To breathe. And started to pace again. Her mind whirled in ever-diminishing circles—bringing her back to the same conclusion every time.

She couldn’t be pregnant. She just couldn’t. Life couldn’t be so unfair as to twist its jagged blade into her so cruelly. Not with so many questions unanswered and certainly not in her current financial position. Never in her worst nightmares had she ever imagined this happening to her. She’d promised herself never to have a baby until she knew she wouldn’t be bringing ill health and unhappiness to another life and, even then, only if she could provide it with the things she’d never had—a background, the unconditional love of two parents and the financial security to meet all its needs.

The sound of a car pulling up outside her house brought her pacing to an abrupt halt. There was only one person it could be. A bolt of queasiness hurtled from her stomach. She swallowed against it and willed her body back under control.

Footsteps echoed on the path—pounding inexorably closer to her front door. A heavy knock made the flimsy door rattle angrily inside its frame. Holly dragged a steadying breath through tightened lips.