Читать книгу Modern Romance May 2016 Books 1-4 - Julia James, Andie Brock - Страница 21

CHAPTER TWELVE

DURING THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, Luke focused on his work to the exclusion of everything else.

He spent more time in the office than he had done for years, even if his staff didn’t appreciate having him on their backs every minute of the day.

But it was only at work that he could escape the torment of his thoughts.

Since leaving Abby at her flat, he’d done everything he could to get what she had told him into some kind of perspective.

He knew his life would never be the same again. That was a given. And the shock he’d experienced at her news had made him speak without considering his words. But, dammit all, he was only human. He was just afraid he’d blown any connection he might have had with her big time.

And why did he care so much? He kept reminding himself of what she’d done to Harry Laurence. For God’s sake, he had only her word that she was pregnant. She could have made the whole thing up to see what his reaction would be.

But in his heart of hearts he knew that wasn’t true. As much as he might tell himself that he despised the way she’d treated her husband, he sensed there was an element of truth in everything she’d said.

Which meant what? That Harry Laurence had been no saint, and Luke had jumped to the wrong conclusion? She’d tried to tell him why she’d done what she had, but he’d never been prepared to listen to her.

Nonetheless, she had lied to her husband when she’d come to meet him. And nothing could alter the fact that she’d remained Laurence’s wife for at least a year after those events. Surely, if Laurence had been as bad as she’d said he was, she would have got a divorce.

Maybe it was simply that she’d enjoyed the luxury of being a pampered wife, he speculated bitterly. She wouldn’t be the first woman who’d wanted to have her cake and eat it, too.

He’d met a number of women like that, when he’d been obliged to enter the social circuit. Or should he say ‘circus’, he amended wryly, mocking the concept. He had to admit that that was one aspect of being a successful entrepreneur that he didn’t enjoy.

He scowled down at the plans he’d been studying, and wondered what Harry Laurence was doing these days. He’d heard that he’d left the Stock Exchange soon after his divorce.

At the time, Luke had assumed that Harry had wanted a fresh start. That it might have been hard for him to face his colleagues after such a personal defeat.

It might be interesting to find out why Abby’s husband had sued for a divorce. If it was Laurence who had done so. He couldn’t believe Abby had made a habit of having extra-marital affairs. She didn’t seem the type. Although, in all honesty, he didn’t know why.

Still, there was no way of finding out what had happened now. He knew no one who had been a friend of Abby’s at that time. Had there been someone she’d confided in? Someone who knew why the marriage had broken down?

It was a problem that occupied his mind for the next few days. An unnecessary problem, he conceded, but at least it took his mind from other things.

Like what Abby was doing now. Had she meant what she’d said when she’d insisted she wouldn’t have a termination? Ironic as it seemed in the present circumstances, Luke didn’t want her to lose the child either.

His child!

Their child!

Of all the people in his life, it was Felix who noticed Luke’s preoccupation. The two men had been close since they were in the army, and, despite the difference in their circumstances these days, Felix had always felt able to speak his mind.

Driving his employer home from a meeting in Oxford some days later, he remarked casually, ‘Have you made any plans about when you’re going to deal with those shops in Ashford-St-James? You said there was some sort of petition going round. Did that come to anything, or shouldn’t I ask?’

Luke, who had been studying his laptop in the back of the Bentley, now lifted his head. ‘According to our solicitors, they don’t stand a chance of halting the development. But I have given the type of development it’s going to be some thought.’

‘Oh, yes?’

‘Yes.’ Luke hesitated, and then said, ‘I’m having discussions at present with the architects, and we’re seriously considering amending the plans.’

‘Amending them?’

Felix sounded amused, and Luke gave him a warning look. ‘Yeah, amending them,’ he said shortly. ‘To incorporate a small shopping mall that leads into the supermarket proper. The shops in the mall would be rented, of course. Perhaps some of the tenants from South Road would be interested.’

‘Perhaps they would.’ Felix met Luke’s eyes in the rear-view mirror and arched a brow. ‘Maybe even a certain café-cum-bookstore owner?’ he offered ingenuously. ‘I’m sure it would be a great relief to her and all the other tenants.’

Luke scowled. ‘Don’t look so smug. It’s not a done deal yet.’

‘But it will be,’ said Felix assuredly. ‘I liked—Abby. That is what you called her, isn’t it? She was certainly a looker. And nice with it, as well.’

‘Looks aren’t everything,’ muttered Luke broodingly, and Felix inclined his head in agreement. ‘In any case,’ Luke continued, ‘I’m not doing this just for Abby Lacey.’

‘Of course not.’

But Felix didn’t sound convinced, and who could blame him? Luke didn’t believe it himself.

Tossing and turning in bed that night—not an unusual occurrence these days—Luke was forced to admit that he was doing it for Abby. Despite everything that had happened, despite the fact that she’d said she wanted nothing more to do with him, he couldn’t accept it. He wouldn’t accept it.

He cared about her, dammit. He suspected he always had.

Okay, maybe she’d acted selfishly in the past; and maybe she’d had some justification, as she’d claimed. Whatever the truth of the matter was, he wanted to see her again. He wanted to be with her. He loved her. And he’d never felt like that about any woman before.

Unable to sleep any longer with that scenario buzzing around in his head, Luke got up and went downstairs to make himself some coffee. And found Felix, sitting in the kitchen, drinking tea and getting a march on the morning’s newspapers.

Mrs Webb was there, too, gossiping away about the latest episode of her favourite soap. But he doubted Felix had heard a word of it. He was too busy absorbing what he’d found in the Daily Globe.

‘Oh, Luke!’ Mrs Webb gazed at him in surprise, and even Felix put the newspaper aside with an apologetic grin. ‘You’re an early riser. It’s barely half past six. Is something wrong?’

‘What could be wrong, Mrs Webb?’ Luke walked across to the cooker and helped himself to a mug of coffee. ‘I couldn’t sleep, that’s all. I thought I’d get an early start.’

‘An early start?’

It was Felix who echoed his words, and Luke nodded. ‘Yes. I’m driving down to Ashford this morning. And I’m sure the roads will be busy with holiday traffic, so the sooner I start, the better.’

Felix slid off his stool. ‘I’ll get the car.’

‘No, there’s no need, Felix. I’m going to drive myself.’

Felix frowned. ‘You sure?’

‘I’m sure.’ Luke gave him a wry look. ‘You can have the day off. Go and visit that daughter of yours.’

Felix had had a brief liaison before he’d gone into the army and his daughter was the result. And despite the fact that he’d never married her mother, he and his daughter were surprisingly close.

‘She’s away,’ said Felix glumly. ‘She and her boyfriend are in Majorca, enjoying the sun.’

‘Oh.’ Luke considered. ‘Well—do something else then.

‘I tell you what: try and find out what a guy called Harry Laurence is doing these days.’

* * *

Abby had had her first trip to see her doctor that morning.

She’d decided to close the café for the day, as Lori couldn’t cope with the morning rush and attend to the bookstore at the same time.

Still, as she walked back to South Road she was feeling pretty good, and she was wondering whether she should open up that afternoon. It would mean contacting Lori, but, as it was a pretty miserable day, she didn’t think her friend would mind.

Everything changed when she saw the car, parked illegally, across the road from the café.

She didn’t recognise it, but it was an expensive vehicle.

An Aston Martin, if she wasn’t mistaken. The type of car Luke had driven years ago. And although she wanted to remain calm and collected, her pulse started racing madly.

If it was Luke, what was he doing here? Had he come to give her and the other shopkeepers their notices to quit? If so, she might have less than six months to find another home and another job. And not just for her, she acknowledged anxiously. In less than seven months, she would need a home for her baby, as well.

Almost instinctively, she ran a hand over her stomach.

Was it only her imagination, or could she feel a slight mound beneath her shirt?

She was over eight weeks now and the doctor had said that in another two weeks, she should have her first ultrasound scan. The idea of being able to see the baby inside her was tantalising. To have living proof her son or daughter was real.

Ought she to ask Luke if he wanted to go with her to the hospital? She didn’t want to, but it was his baby, too. He was just as responsible for its existence as she was. And she had the feeling that he wouldn’t refuse such an invitation if he could fit it into his busy life.

As she neared the car a door was thrust open and, as on that other occasion, a long jean-clad leg emerged. It was Luke, lean and dark, and endlessly appealing, in a black button-down shirt, and deck shoes.

To her surprise, he looked relieved to see her. And she guessed he’d already read the notice on the café door. Where did he think she’d been? she wondered. She was tempted to say she’d been looking for a new place to live. But she didn’t want to start lying to him now.

He came across the road as she neared the café. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked, regarding her closely. ‘When I saw the café was closed, I thought you must be ill.’

‘Did you try the side door?’ she asked, without answering his question. She could imagine the uproar Harley would have caused if he’d heard someone hammering on the door.

‘I knocked,’ agreed Luke, ‘but when Harley started barking, I guessed you couldn’t be there.’

‘Or I’d have come rushing down to greet you?’ suggested Abby drily, and Luke pulled a face.

‘Uh, no,’ he said defensively. ‘But he wouldn’t have continued barking if you’d been there to shut him up.’

Abby inclined her head, conceding the point. Then, glancing across at his car, she said, ‘You’ll get a parking ticket. The wardens are pretty active around here.’

‘So I’ll pay the fine,’ said Luke indifferently. ‘Or rather, Felix will. He handles all that sort of thing for me.’

Abby shook her head. ‘So why are you here? Have you come to tell us when we have to leave? If so, I’ll ask the other tenants—’

‘I’m not here to ask anyone to leave,’ retorted Luke between his teeth. He paused. ‘I wanted to see you.’

‘Why?’

‘Do I have to have a reason?’ He sighed. ‘Let’s go inside and we can talk.’

Abby looked up at him, despising herself for the way her stomach clenched at the sight of him. Why was he really here? It could only be about the baby. She tensed at the thought that he might be considering trying to take over the child’s life as soon as it was born.

Surely even Luke would not be that cruel. Though his careless comments about parking his car proved that abiding by the rules meant little to him.

But she had to find out, one way or the other, and, with a shrug, she walked past him into the alley beside the café.

She was conscious of him following her, of his powerful body behind hers as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. But, before she could even close the door, he backed her up against the wall in the hall and gripped the back of her neck, tipping her face up to his.

His mouth was hot and demanding, and she was incapable of resisting him. Desire shivered through her, and, although he was supporting himself with his free hand so he wouldn’t crush her, Abby felt the unmistakeable thrust of his powerful arousal against her abdomen.

‘I’ve been worried sick about you,’ he muttered, cupping her face with his hands, his thumbs brushing her parted lips. ‘Where the hell have you been?’

Abby was breathless. ‘Why do you care?’

‘Because I do, all right?’ He kissed her again, this time giving in to the urge to push himself against her. ‘I’ve been waiting for the better part of an hour. I’ve even had to pacify a few of your customers, who turned up expecting their morning fix.’

His hands curved down her spine to her hips, lifting her until his sex fitted neatly into the hollow between her legs. ‘I want you, Abby. I don’t know how I’ve stayed away.’

‘Because I asked you to.’

Somehow, Abby managed to slide out from between him and the wall and slam the open door. She could imagine Greg Hughes’ reaction if he’d passed by as Luke was kissing her.

Turning back to her visitor, who was now unwillingly leaning back against the wall, she said quietly, ‘I’ve been to see the doctor. Why didn’t you ring before you left London? I could have told you not to come.’

Then she hurried away upstairs. Harley had started barking again, and she didn’t want him to attract any more attention, not with Luke’s car parked significantly across the street.

Or that was her excuse.

The truth was, she was too vulnerable at the moment. Whether it was her hormones, or simply the knowledge that she loved this man, whatever his faults, she didn’t trust herself not to say or do something she would later regret.

In consequence, she had to keep him at arm’s length, however impossible that might prove to be.