Right from the outset Jilly had explained that Nick hadn’t wanted to meet the surrogate…that he wanted to imagine the child as his wife’s. Candace had accepted the explanation. She’d so badly wanted to be convinced that she’d done the right thing—even after the stomach-churning second thoughts had started to creep in.
Now she challenged him. “You can’t walk away—this is too important. You must listen to me.”
“Okay, you’ve got my attention…” he glanced at his watch “…for one minute.”
That was better than nothing. Speaking rapidly, she said, “Jennie’s a baby. She needs a parent. I gave her to you and Jilly. I trusted you to look after her…to love her and—”
“You gave her to me and Jilly?” Nick hooted with derisive laughter.
Something wasn’t adding up. “You and Jilly needed a surrogate,” Candace said slowly.
“Stop this!” His brows jerked together and glared at her again. “I’m not listening to any more of your crazy creations. My wife was pregnant… I witnessed her debilitating morning sickness, saw the pregnancy develop. Jilly gave birth to Jennie.”
Jilly hadn’t been pregnant!
Candace couldn’t help herself. “You’re crazy.” She advanced on the stroller that he’d let go and grasped the handles. “I’m not leaving Jennie alone with you.”
He tussled with her and the stroller jerked.
“You’re going to wake Jennie,” she warned.
“If you think I’m going to let some deluded woman kidnap my daughter, you can think again.”
“I have no intention of kidnapping her. I’m coming with you back to your home. I’m not letting Jennie out of my sight—and if you think you can brush me off, think again. I’ll walk up to every customer in this garden center and tell them I’m your baby’s mother and you’re trying to pay me off.”
He went very still. “Don’t threaten me. I’ll call the police.”
“You think I’m bluffing? Do you really want to stage a scene here…and get the police involved?”
“We’ll finish this discussion at the house.” Nick gave her a killing glare, and Candace knew she’d won a temporary reprieve.
The drive back to the Valentine mansion passed in Arctic silence.
Once the tall, imposing electronic gates swung soundlessly shut behind them, Candace started to lose her nerve. What if Nick Valentine truly was crazy? What had she done to put herself—and Jennie—at his mercy?
The Daimler came to a stop behind a Lexus parked in the circular driveway edged by clipped boxwood hedging. The evidence that someone else was at Nick’s house eased Candace’s apprehension.
It would be okay; they would get this sorted out, she reassured herself. But whatever happened she wasn’t abandoning her baby to Nick’s negligent care. He might have all the money in the world, but she’d seen firsthand what kind of parent he was. She wasn’t leaving Jennie alone with him.
A glance into the backseat showed that Jennie was still sleeping. By the time Candace had gathered up the diaper bag at her feet, Nick had the rear door open and was carefully taking the baby out of the car. Watching him, Candace had to shove aside the momentary doubt that he was the uncaring, crazy man she knew him to be. Mr. Busby, Nick’s chauffeur and handyman, had arrived and taken the stroller out of the trunk, and was carrying it up the white marble stairs to the front door.
Nick followed, cradling the baby. Jennie’s mouth twitched in her sleep.
Mrs. Busby was standing inside the front door. “Mrs. Timmings is in the living room.”
Relief filled Candace. Alison Timmings was a sensible woman—even if her brother was crazy.
“I’ll take Jennie to the nursery.” Nick’s stare dared Candace to argue with him. To Mrs. Busby he added, “Tell my sister I won’t be long, please.”
“Nick?” In the archway that opened into the living room appeared the tall brunette that Candace had first met when Jennie was admitted to hospital while Nick was away. “I heard your voice. I tried your office, but Pauline said you’d left hours ago. Where have you been?”
Without waiting for an answer, Nick’s sister came toward them, her high heels tapping on the marble tiles. She smiled a greeting to Candace before making a beeline for the baby in Nick’s arms. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Jennie woke and smiled at Alison, holding her short arms out wide.
Her aunt swept her up in a swarm of cooing sounds. Jennie immediately clutched a handful of pearls and thrust them into her mouth.