The Sheikh’s Secret Heir(38)
The time had come to make the announcement, and face the inevitable.
In an effort to get down to serious business, something she couldn’t do while naked, Kira sat up and covered herself with the rumpled sheet, bringing about Tarek’s groan of protest. If she only knew how to begin without blurting, “I’m pregnant.” A plan started to form, one that involved guiding him into the information minefield without tossing a verbal grenade.
She grabbed a pillow from behind her and put it in a choke hold. “Have you considered maybe getting a playmate for Yasmin?”
He scowled. “A pet does not qualify?”
“I meant a human playmate. A brother or a sister. I grew up as an only child and know firsthand how lonely that can be, although I did have the good fortune to have the Mehdis as surrogate brothers.”
He frowned. “I also grew up as an only child and I fared well. Since Yasmin is not officially my offspring, giving her a sibling would be impossible. You have also pointed out I do not carve out enough time for her. If I took in another orphan, I would be depriving them both.”
Time to test the paternity waters. “Perhaps you should consider finding someone special to share the child-rearing responsibility.”
“As I have stated before, I have an exceptional au pair.”
Could he be more obtuse? “Special as in a spouse. Since you’re a couple of years away from forty, don’t you think it’s time to consider settling down? If you’re like most men I know, surely you’d like to have a son who can inherit your fortune and carry on your legacy.”
“I have that option with Yasmin.”
“Yet you haven’t made a move to adopt her and give her your name, although I sense you truly care about her. What makes you steer clear of anyone who gets too close to you?”
He pushed off the bed and began to pace. “Love comes with conditions and, many times, lies.”
Kira clutched the covers tighter in her fists as her anxiety increased. “Who lied to you, Tarek? Another woman? Athena? Believe me, I know what it’s like to be betrayed by a lover. But it’s important to move on and not let that experience guide your choices and keep you closed off to all the possibilities.”
He stopped and streaked a hand over his nape. “This has nothing to do with a lover, and it does not matter now. I prefer to leave the past in the past.”
Stubborn, stubborn man. “That sounds good, but I don’t think you’re doing that at all.”
“You do not know all there is to know about me, Kira.”
“And you don’t know all about me either, Tarek. Honestly, I’ve tried to tell you several times since we’ve been here, but you somehow always manage to distract me.” She sighed. “Or maybe I thought if I avoided revealing everything it would somehow all go away. But this is not going to go away.”
After slipping his pants back on, Tarek moved to the end of the bed and braced his palms on the footboard. “Are you wed to someone else?”
She found that almost laughable in the midst of a humorless situation. “Of course not.”
“You have a secret lover?”
“No. Not even close.”
“You have a secret child?”
“You’re definitely getting warmer.” And from the stern look on his face, she was poised to walk right into the fire.
“No more guessing games, Kira. Tell me what you have been keeping from me.”
“I’m pregnant with your baby.” There, she’d said it, and the sky hadn’t fallen. Tarek’s expression did, right before recognition dawned.
“How long have you known this?” he asked, his tone teeming with anger.
She’d dreaded this part most of all. “I confirmed it at the doctor’s appointment on the day you asked me to come to Cyprus with you. That was part of the reason I agreed to make the trip.”
“Yet you did not afford me the courtesy of telling me the news before we left.”
The indictment in his tone made Kira shiver. “I wanted to get to know you better and try to find out how you would react. It’s fairly apparent you are not happy about it.”
He laced his hands behind his head and turned his back on her. “You assured me you were protected against pregnancy. Was that a lie as well?”
Her own anger reached the boiling point. “If you think for a minute I trapped you by intentionally getting pregnant, think again. When I heard the news, at first I was devastated, then confused. But once I became accustomed to the idea, I decided I am going to have this baby and love it and care for it whether you come along for the ride or not.”
Without responding, Tarek began to put on the rest of his clothes. Kira wrapped up in the sheet and climbed out of the bed, intent on forcing him to express his feelings. “Don’t you have anything else you want to say to me, Tarek?”