“Amelia, answer me. Is the baby mine?”
“Of course it is,” she snapped, pushing out of his arms.
“Well, how would I know? It’s been five months since I saw you last.”
“You don’t need to remind me how long it’s been since you…since you kicked me out of your hospital room. Why are you here, Daniel? If all you’re going to do is accuse me of…” She swallowed, her hands trembling and heart breaking all over again.
“I…shite, love.” He jerked a hand through his hair, eyes flicking between her and the front door. “Can we go inside to talk about this?”
Inside. Surrounded by her things, things that gave her comfort and security. “Sure,” Amelia said, taking her keys from her pocket and unlocking the door.
Her cottage was a fair size but with Daniel inside it felt so much smaller. He moved in behind her and stood in the centre of the main living area, filling the room. She noticed he had a slight limp now – the Gardaí, Desmond something-or-other, had smashed Daniel’s kneecap that night in the pub. Five months was a long time but when she compared it to the extent of his injuries, she knew he still had a long stretch of road to his full recovery. And that was if he recovered completely.
Being near him again brought a maelstrom of emotions to the surface, emotions she thought long locked away. He affected her in ways she never imagined. Like some magic switch, the moment he came back into her life, she wanted him. Wanted to belong to him.
From the look he gave her though, Amelia knew he couldn’t stand the sight of her.
“Holy shit, is this the guy?”
The sound of another female voice stunned Daniel. And the accent was just like Amelia’s.
“Gabby, this is Daniel, and yes, he’s the guy.” Amelia’s hands moved over her belly in a smooth arc. Back and forth. Over and over.
The woman named Gabby, a spitfire with her auburn hair, light caramel tan, and deep brown eyes, sashayed her slender hips over to Amelia and stood next to her, arms crossed, in a protective manner. Every bit the lioness of the group, she glared at him through narrowed eyes and damn if she didn’t look like she’d pounce on him with her claws at the ready if he made one false move.
“So, jerk-face.” Gabby smirked at his raised brows. “Oh, I could have gone much worse, but since I’ll be helping Amelia raise her baby, I’m trying to curb my sharp tongue.”
Her baby.
My baby.
Daniel’s heart clenched. Memories of his Da, always there, no matter what, acted like a slap to the face. Da came to every school play. He was there every Christmas morning and birthday and event. Always there, always with a smile on his face, always loving him.
“Why are you here?” Gabby asked.
Amelia mumbled something and shuffled to the counter near the front of the cottage. He watched her take the kettle from its stand and fill it up, her movements jerky and unsure.
“Douchebag, I asked you a question.”
“Gabby!” Amelia slapped her palms to the wooden counter top. Silence filled the room, until the buzz of the kettle filled the air. “Can…can you run into town and get me a few Dairy Milk bars, please? I think I finished the last row early this morning.”
“You want me to leave you alone with him?”
Amelia’s shoulders tensed under the lengthy masses of her chocolate waves, hanging just lower than the middle of her back. He remembered lying on his back on the bed in one of the places they stayed in while she straddled him. Her hair surrounded them with the sweet scent of apples and wildflowers. So silky soft. He’d buried his face at her neck and breathed her fragrance in until he was dizzy with lust. Right then and there, he’d torn his jeans off and somehow removed hers too, and then, without taking off his boxers or her panties, he’d taken her, thrusting deep.
“I’ll be fine, Gabby.” Amelia turned to her friend, blocking him out behind the curtain of her hair. “I…I trust him.”
“You trusted him with your heart and look where it got you.”
Now hold on, Daniel wanted to say, wanted to speak his piece, but Gabby – damn her – she was right. Amelia had trusted him with her heart and he’d shoved the gift of her emotions back in her face.
“Remember what the doctor said,” Gabby went on. “No stress. I think this definitely fits in the category of stress.”
“Something’s wrong?” Daniel said, his heart leaping into his throat.
“Gabby, please. Let me talk to him. If I need anything, I promise I’ll call you.” Amelia slid her arms around her friend’s shoulders, angling her bump to the side. “I promise.”