Worth the Risk(23)
A muscle worked in his cheek. ‘Except her father.’
‘Yes, well, in Charlie’s case she’s better off without him!’ Ally turned back to the onion and chopped it with fierce, deliberate strokes of the knife. The man made her so angry!
‘Maybe a child is better off with a mediocre father than no father.’
‘Well, that shows how little you know about the situation.’ Controlling her temper with difficulty, Ally turned and dropped the knife into the sink, turning on the taps with more force than was necessary. ‘My daughter may only have me, but at least I’m always here for her. I don’t change my mind if I’ve had a tough day, and I don’t give her up if something better comes along—’
‘Is that what Charlie’s father did?’
She turned to look at him, her eyes blazing. ‘Charlie’s father was a complete rat.’
His gaze was ironic. ‘Well, you obviously didn’t think he was that bad when you slept with him.’
The sound of her hand connecting with his lean cheek echoed around the kitchen, and she froze with the shock of her own actions. She’d hit him. Dear God, what had got into her? She’d never hit anyone or anything in her life before.
Breathing unsteadily, their eyes met, hers wide and shocked, his thoughtful and intent.
She blushed with mortification. ‘I’m sorry…’ she began stiffly, and he gave a short laugh, rubbing his cheek with a rueful expression in his eyes.
‘Don’t be. I deserved it. It was a totally insensitive comment.’
But it was the obvious comment—that she’d loved Rob enough to sleep with him and bear his child. Still shocked by her own actions, she covered her mouth with shaking fingers, her hand still tingling from the contact with Sean’s cheek. For a moment she was severely tempted to blurt out the whole truth but then she stopped herself. Why on earth would she confide her life story to this man whom she hardly knew? She didn’t want to confide in him. Didn’t want to get close.
‘It—it isn’t how it seems. It’s complicated. Rob was a total mistake,’ she said briefly, her blue eyes wary as they watched him. It was the truth. Economical maybe, but the truth nonetheless.
He raised his hands in a comical gesture of surrender. ‘Well, as you rightly said, it isn’t any of my business.’
‘No.’ Ally stared at his cheek and bit her lip as she saw the livid red streak. ‘I hurt you. What can I do? Do you want ice or something?’
He gave her a half-smile that was so sexy her knees almost gave way. ‘You could kiss it better…’
Her breath clogged her throat. ‘Don’t be silly.’ Her voice cracked slightly and she changed the subject quickly. ‘So, what makes you feel so strongly about the subject of absent fathers?’
His jaw tightened and his expression was suddenly guarded. ‘I just happen to believe that in an ideal world children should have two parents.’
She gave a short laugh and tipped the onion into a frying-pan, stirring it gently. ‘Yes, well, this isn’t an ideal world.’
‘I’m well aware of that.’
‘So you believe in happy ever after and Father Christmas, do you?’
He laughed. ‘And the Easter Bunny? I’m afraid not. I believe in happy while it lasts.’
She frowned, still stirring the onion. ‘But you just said children should have two parents.’
‘Absolutely.’ His voice was a lazy drawl. ‘I just don’t happen to believe you should have children unless you’re one hundred per cent committed to each other. It isn’t fair on the child.’
‘But no one ever knows how a relationship will work out.’
‘True. But once you have children you have a responsibility to make it work for their sakes. You just can’t afford to be selfish.’
Ally stopped stirring. ‘You’re saying I’m selfish.’
‘I’m not saying anything of the sort.’ His voice was quiet. ‘As you rightly pointed out, I know nothing about your circumstances and it’s none of my business.’
‘So you think it’s OK to flit from one woman to another as long as there are no children involved?’
He frowned. ‘I don’t think flit would be the word I’d use but, yes, I think it’s realistic to expect to change partners. It’s better to acknowledge that rather than keep up this pretence of believing that you’re going to be together for ever and making selfish decisions based on that fantasy.’
Ally dropped the spoon and glared at him. ‘And it doesn’t matter who gets hurt in the process? That’s totally irresponsible!’