The #1 Bestsellers Collection 2011(138)

“You don’t know that!” Holly stared at him in horror. How could he know?

He slid the car to a halt in his designated park and turned and raised one eyebrow. While he didn’t so much as murmur, he told her in no uncertain terms he knew far more about her than she was willing to say.

“And we need to talk about the baby, and how long you can keep working, if at all.” Connor reached across and unclicked her seat belt when she made no move to do it herself.

Shock sent a tremor of fear through her. Her job! She couldn’t afford to lose her job. Holly slumped deeper against the expensive upholstery, helpless in defeat.

Connor knew the instant she gave up. It was there in the slump of her shoulders, the droop of her lips, the incline of her delectable, slender neck. All fire, all life, all hope extinguished. A flicker of compassion ignited briefly before he ruthlessly quelled it.

He couldn’t afford compassion now, not when his mind still reeled in disbelief. She might never have told him about the baby if he hadn’t pushed her. Who knew what crazy decisions she’d have reached on her own, especially given her precarious financial state. Anger roiled violently inside him. By all that defined him, there was no way anything was happening to his child. The truth had been hidden from him before with disastrous consequences. No way on this earth would he let that happen again.

He exited the BMW, barely managing to resist the urge to slam his door, and walked around to her side to help her from the car. She was about as responsive as a rag doll, a far cry from the woman who’d argued with him at the doctor’s surgery—even further from the woman whose passion had ignited in his arms and who’d since invaded his dreams and virtually every waking thought.

As he guided her towards the elevator, Connor flipped his cell phone from his pocket and punched in a few digits. “Thompson, could you arrange dinner for two on the pool patio please.” He paused while Thompson, his general factotum at his residence responded. “No, the guest suite won’t be necessary. We’ll be there soon.” He snapped his phone shut.

“I’m coming back tonight?” Holly lifted her head, hope flaring like a struggling beacon in the depths of her dark-blue eyes.

“Why would you think that?”

“Well, you said no extra room.” Her voice trailed off, sounding suddenly unsure.

“You’re sleeping with me, where I can keep an eye on you.” He baled her up with a glare. “At all times.”

Like it or not, she’d be sleeping with him. He wasn’t taking any risks. Not with something as precious as his baby. He couldn’t help the involuntary blistering flood of desire, that pervaded his body. Sharing a bed with Holly would bring its own gruelling brand of torture, but each night his son or daughter would lie secure in his arms. That was a promise.

“I don’t recall agreeing to come and stay with you. We’re supposed to be talking.” She paused, giving emphasis to her next words. “Just talking.”

“We’ll be talking all right. Don’t worry on that score.”

“But I still have to stay with you?”

“Yes.” He wasn’t prepared to negotiate on that one.

He watched as Holly nibbled at her lower lip.

“One night, then. So we can sort things out.”

Connor let go of the breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding, relieved that he didn’t have to answer his own question about what he might have done if she’d refused. But one night wouldn’t be enough to satisfy his concerns. He’d do his best to ensure that he was there to protect his child at all times.

Their silent journey to the helipad on the rooftop was uninterrupted. At this late hour of the afternoon most of the staff had already gone home. Holly tried to settle the cascading fear that threatened to tip her over the edge as the elevator sped to the top of the building.

Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? The plea rose within her, sharp and powerful, but never made it past the obstruction lodged in her throat. She knew darn well the reason why. Her hand fluttered to her lower abdomen, settling there briefly before dropping back to her side. The baby.

Her baby.

Life couldn’t get any worse.

The corporate chopper, a sleek shining black Agusta, custom detailed for Knight Enterprises, crouched with ominous intent on the helipad. The pilot was already at the controls, the rotors swinging in an inexorable circle and boiling up a wind that buffeted stinging dust into Holly’s eyes.

Connor drew her close to his side, sheltering her from the worst of the wind with his body, and guided her to the open chopper door. Inside, she clipped her belt, then sat still in her seat, hardly daring to move as her heart began to race and her stomach lurched a fierce warning that it’d had about enough excitement for one day. Although she’d travelled in the Agusta before, she’d never made the short hop to Connor’s private sanctum.