Читать книгу One-Amazing-Night Baby! - Heidi Rice - Страница 16

‘YOU’RE a late person, aren’t you?’

Sophie frowned at the analogue clock on the dashboard as Cooper navigated the western suburb streets. Eight-forty-five. Penny’s invitation had said seven.

She watched lamppost shadows chase over Cooper’s classically chiselled profile as he replied. ‘Only in so far as time is concerned.’

Sophie refrained from exhaling heavily. Late people drove her insane.

‘Don’t you have to meet with clients and be in court at specific times?’ she asked. ‘Surely you can’t be late for appointments?’

‘I compensate.’

‘How? You make excuses? Buy gifts?’

He flicked her a got-it-covered look. ‘I set my electronic reminder to go off thirty minutes before time. I also set my watch seven minutes early.’

Uh-huh.

‘You don’t get mixed up?’

He turned the wheel. ‘Never.’

She thought about pointing out how crazy it all sounded, but if she had a right to be herself, she guessed he did too. This trial wasn’t supposed to be about who was right or wrong, but rather the grey area in between—what worked as individuals as well as a couple. Not that she had any real faith that two people as different as they were could find enough space ‘in between’ to make a go of marriage.

Given their current highly sensitive states, wearing next to no clothes—particularly animal print—wouldn’t work. Although feeling Cooper’s loincloth pressed up against her hadn’t been unpleasant. In fact, his fiery hands on her arms, his hot breath on her neck, had felt deliriously good.

So good she’d almost surrendered.

But if they became intimately involved again, she wouldn’t be able to see the forest for the trees. He’d charm her into marriage and then, for better or worse, she’d be stuck. Divorce was an out, she supposed, but how would she fare in court? Cooper was a respected expert in divorce and custody issues. No. Best not to go there.

If they married, Cooper would still carry on with his life his way. No one and nothing could stop him. But she wanted to make her own choices too. Could she ever hope to do that married to a man like Cooper? She had intelligence and options. She didn’t need to get married—and certainly not for convenience’s sake.

A single-parent household wasn’t the ideal, but their baby would be better off in that situation than with two parents who couldn’t get along. Sophie needed only to remember her own childhood to be certain of that. How often had she wished her parents would admit that everyone’s lives would benefit, not suffer, if they lived apart? They were still gritting their teeth, doing the ‘right thing’—as if Auntie Louise and her father’s friends at the bowling club wouldn’t rather they separate and be happy individuals.

And if on Monday morning Mr Myers, the principal, suggested that wedding bells might save the school some embarrassment, then, as she’d told Cooper, she wouldn’t waste her energies fighting but would rather find another job. Plenty of schools would happily hire a motivated and caring teacher who happened to believe she had a right to be a single mother too. Thank heaven most schools weren’t stuck in the Dark Ages.

They found a parking space within walking distance from Penny’s single-storey brick house. Cooper’s thumb grazed a button on the steering wheel and the CD noise was shut off. Sophie eased out a breath. That particular blues collection was so not her favourite.

From the console, Cooper claimed the defining piece of his costume. He left the car and a moment later swung open her passenger side door. Before her stood Erik, super-sexy Phantom of the Opera.

After realigning his simple white mask, which covered only half his face, he swirled and flicked his long black cape. His Transylvanian accent was impressive. ‘How do I look?’

She grinned. She loved this lighter side of his personality.

She accepted his leather-gloved hand and eased out into the cool night air. ‘Wrong horror movie. You’re doing vampire central.’

He glossed a hand over his slicked-back hair. ‘I thought at a pinch Mr Hyde …’

Cooper was no angel, but Sophie didn’t want to think about him being that brutish.

She shook her head. ‘Sorry. That voice is not Phantom, not Hyde. Definitely Dracula.’

Taken by surprise, she squealed when he tipped her back forty-five degrees. His nose rested one side of hers. ‘That could fit in nicely with my new sucking preference.’

His fresh-mint breath and the rumble in his chest almost undid her, but she wouldn’t let him know her bones had already begun to dissolve and she’d like nothing better than to feel his teeth dance over her skin.

Light-headed, she managed to push out a rebuke. ‘Put the fangs away, Drac-boy.’

With a flourish, he swept her back onto her feet. ‘You’re no fun tonight, Christine. That costume is misleading.’

She smoothed the nineteenth-century replica peignoir which covered her corset and white stockings. Her hairstyle hadn’t changed from Jane’s—long, curly, loose.

He looped her arm through his and, bathed in the golden glow of the full moon hanging in the Southern Cross sky, meandered up the sidewalk.

He checked his watch. ‘A couple of hours should wrap this up.’

She started. ‘We haven’t even said hello yet!’

Jaw tight, he tampered with his cravat. ‘I’m not much for parties.’

Or was it that he was eager to get her back home?

However, Sophie could admit she wasn’t much for party small talk either. Nothing worse than those long awkward pauses with someone you’d only just met. Except when they stole a glance over your shoulder to see who might rescue them.

However, that wouldn’t be a problem tonight. ‘These are my friends.’

‘Hopefully not all as transparent as dear Penny.’

Sophie cringed. Would Cooper like her friends? Nowadays she more often went out with her teacher friends than anyone here tonight, but irrespective of that … would Cooper be the kind of husband who backed a girls’ night out? Or would he turn into a leave-’em-pregnant-and-barefoot type?

And what about that? Maybe he wanted a dozen children? She hadn’t thought past one. Not that they were getting married. They were not getting married. It was impossible.

Wasn’t it?

Pocahontas—aka Penny—opened the door. On seeing Phantom, her face, between the long black braids, lit up. Her full lips slanted.

‘My John Smith couldn’t make it.’ She acknowledged Sophie briefly. ‘Mind if I borrow yours?’

‘The name’s Cooper Smith,’ he reminded her politely.

‘Cooper. Of course.’ Penny’s white moccasins and endless tanned legs made way as she gestured them through into her party-in-full-swing abode. Somewhere nearby a champagne cork popped and cheers went up. ‘Care for a cup of my special punch, Cooper? It packs quite a—’ She blushed. ‘Well … punch.’

Cooper’s smile managed to be both dazzling and thin. ‘I’m sure Sophie would enjoy one too.’

Sophie didn’t have to think this time. Purely for Penny’s sake, she gave Cooper a private smile. ‘We did work up quite a thirst this afternoon—didn’t we, hon?’

Cooper’s brows lifted. First in surprise, then in approval. He didn’t need more encouragement.

Fooling with her peignoir’s lacy neckline, he stage-whispered, ‘Darling, you promised not to mention that once we got here.’ Appropriately embarrassed, he turned to their hostess. ‘Thank you, Penny. Punch would be great.’ He touched his throat and rasped, ‘I am rather dry.’

As they moved off, Penny prattled on about her house renovations. Cooper stopped and held a hand out to Sophie. ‘Coming?’

The time seemed right for payback for crossing the loincloth line earlier tonight. ‘You’ve so looked forward to catching up with Penny.’ She blew a kiss. ‘I’ll see you both later.’

Above a knowing half-grin, his unmasked eye shot playful daggers as Penny dragged him and his billowing cape away.

Left alone, Sophie inhaled the aroma of the hot finger-food doing the rounds, then appraised the milling crowd—Terminator, Dorothy from Oz, Edward Scissorhands and, if she wasn’t mistaken, Pamela Anderson, in a red one-piece that didn’t come close to covering her famous bust.

Sophie rearranged her peignoir and smiled. Cooper was the kind of man most women dreamed about. Completely and irrevocably masculine. Confident to the point of arrogance. But Sophie didn’t feel the least concerned that she would lose his attention tonight. Not because she considered herself more attractive or entertaining than any woman here, or because they were close to being in love. But rather because she was the mother of Cooper’s unborn child, and right now that was all he could see. She would be a fool to think otherwise.

From behind, a set of hands swept over her eyes and Sophie jumped. She pulled them off and spun around to see Kate’s razor-cut red hair hidden beneath a thirties-style blonde wig.

Kate circled her. ‘Oh my God, Sophie—look at you!’

In a shredded dress and rope bracelets, Sophie was guessing Kate was King Kong’s date, Fay Wray.

Kate’s brow wrinkled. ‘Have you lost weight?’

For once in her life Sophie felt wonderful saying, ‘I’ve put a little on.’

Kate’s gaze sharpened. ‘What happened after Wendy’s wedding? You didn’t return any of my calls.’ She craned a look around the busy, dimly lit room. ‘Are you with that guy tonight?’

‘As a matter of fact …’ She buffed her nails.

Kate pressed a palm to her chest. ‘I lost my breath when he carried you away like that.’

‘Knocked me out too,’ Sophie admitted.

That night had been one of a kind—overflowing with colour-filled magic. Every woman should be lucky enough to experience a night with a lover as expert as Cooper. Sophie’s body flashed hot whenever she thought of the heights to which he’d taken her. Release had become more intense, more necessary, each time.

But would she enjoy those same kinds of thrills again? Though she would never admit it to him, she couldn’t imagine being with anyone but Cooper.

Kate absently rearranged her ropes. ‘I can’t think why Evangeline cut him loose. I tried to dig a little, but she wouldn’t give even a hint.’

Sophie’s antennae picked up. ‘You know Cooper’s ex?’ The woman who had tried but failed to conceive while they were an item …?

‘Evangeline’s a friend on Wendy’s husband’s side. Didn’t come to the wedding for obvious reasons.’ She mouthed, ‘Too awkward,’ then nudged Sophie’s ribs. ‘Good thing for you, though.’ She tilted her wavy blonde wig towards the kitchen. ‘I saw her earlier. Guess she didn’t realise her ex would be here.’

Someone nuzzled her neck from behind, and Sophie jumped, higher this time, then spun around.

Cooper, minus the mask, waved a cracker and spread under her nose. ‘Chilli-cheese dip. I can get another.’

Spicy food upset her stomach—particularly now she was pregnant. She tried not to screw up her nose. ‘You enjoy.’

He popped the cracker in his mouth, but stopped mid-chew as he stared off over her shoulder. His bright blue eyes doubled in size at the same time as his olive complexion came over all pasty. His voice was little more than a rasp.

‘Evangeline?’

Nausea rolled up and down inside Sophie’s tummy. Swallowing hard, she followed Cooper’s eyeline while Fay Wray, obviously sensing hazards ahead, quietly slipped away.

A petite woman waved once, looked around, and, finding no escape, moved to join them.

When she came close, Sophie saw the woman’s eyes were almond-shaped and deep hazel in colour. She smelled like roses—soft and subtle—and looked like an oriental princess—or was it geisha? She probably would even out of costume.

Her gentle tone was no surprise. ‘Hello, Cooper. It’s been a while.’

Cooper finished swallowing his cracker. ‘Nice to see you.’

Madam Butterfly forced a smile. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’

A pulse leapt twice in his jaw. ‘Small world.’ He placed an arm around Sophie’s corseted waist. ‘I’d like you to meet Sophie.’

She could have kissed him for leaving off her last name.

Evangeline had the kind of face that reminded Sophie of angels—beautiful, serene. First impressions were everything, and although Sophie knew their background, she had a hard time believing this woman had taken matters into her own hands about starting a family with Cooper.

Sophie accepted her hand. ‘Good to meet you.’

Cooper’s gaze had dropped to Evangeline’s waist. Seeing his frozen expression, Sophie stole a look too. She was no expert, but she’d place the gestational age of Evangeline’s baby somewhere around six months.

A hot tingling flashed from the base of her skull all the way over to her beading forehead.

Oh, God … how long ago had Cooper said he and Evangeline had broken up? Surely this wasn’t his baby too? Evangeline would have said something long before now.

Wouldn’t she?

Cooper blinked rapidly at the half-egg shape under Evangeline’s red silk dress. He coughed out a dull laugh. ‘Got a pillow under there?’

‘No pillow. I’m having a baby.’ Evangeline bowed her head, cupped her belly and smiled. ‘Actually, two. I’m having twins.’

Cooper pulled in his chin as if he were trying to digest the news. Or maybe he was counting backwards too. A fine sheen broke across his gelled back brow. ‘That happened quickly.’

‘Robert and I met the week after we broke up.’ Evangeline shrugged an apology. ‘Yes, it was very quick.’

Evangeline’s unspoken words hung in the thick air.

It wasn’t me who couldn’t fall pregnant, Cooper. It was you.

After an awkward silence, in which the other woman held her stomach, Cooper knocked back his punch and Sophie withered in her shoes, Evangeline glanced over her shoulder.

‘He’s around somewhere. My fiancé,’ she explained, looking back with a weak smile. ‘You’ll have to meet him.’

Cooper’s smile was practised, but his eyes hinted that he’d been struck hard.

‘Another time,’ he said. ‘We really ought to go.’ He drew Sophie closer. ‘Sophie needs her rest.’

Sophie did a double-take. Had she understood Cooper correctly? Had he just let his ex know that she was pregnant too? She hadn’t even told her parents yet.

While Sophie got her bearings, Evangeline’s fine eyebrows arched in astonishment, then delight. She looked as if she didn’t know if it was safe to smile. ‘That sounds like an announcement. Am I reading too much into that?’

Lifting his chin, Cooper eased back his caped shoulders. ‘Triplets run in Sophie’s family.’

Sophie almost spluttered. Then she almost slapped his face. How dare he use her like this. Divulge something so private and important merely to bolster his wounded sense of masculinity and show up his former girlfriend.

Ears burning with indignation, Sophie found Evangeline’s eyes and pushed out through gritted teeth, ‘We’re keeping it quiet at the moment.’

Evangeline nodded her understanding even as she threw out her arms and drew Sophie in. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’ She stretched on silk slippered tiptoe to place a no-hard-feelings kiss on Cooper’s cheek. Her eyes smiled her good wishes. ‘Obviously I just wasn’t the right one.’

Sophie and Cooper said their goodbyes and left five minutes later. Cooper was uncommonly quiet on the drive home. That was fine, because if Sophie had opened her mouth, she’d have torn him to shreds. Did he have any idea how it felt to have your feelings dismissed like that? He constantly told her he wanted this to work, yet how could it when Cooper’s point of view and concerns were the only ones that counted? She was so upset with him she wanted to cry.

When they entered his house, Sophie began to stride off without a goodnight. But Cooper held her back with a gloved hand on her forearm.

She spun back to see him drag the cravat from around his throat. ‘Tomorrow I’ll move your things down to the guest room on this floor.’

Sophie studied the shadows in his usually clear blue eyes. Why did he want her to move? And what gave him the right to demand like that? She thrust back her shoulders. ‘I’ll stay where I am.’

‘This is non-negotiable!’ His expression cut from stone, he glanced up at the stairs spiralling towards the mezzanine floor. ‘Those stairs are dangerous. I won’t take any chances.’

Sophie’s laugh was devoid of humour. ‘Don’t I get a say in what’s dangerous and what’s not? Don’t I get a say in anything at all?’ She wrenched her arm from his hold. ‘How dare you tell your ex-lover that I’m pregnant?’

His gaze ran over her like a belligerent hot press. ‘You can’t hide from this situation for ever, Sophie. I have as much right to share the news as you do.’

‘Without even consulting me first? That was nothing more than grandstanding at my expense.’

He looked down to rip off his gloves. ‘We won’t discuss it now.’

She knotted her arms over her waist. ‘Now who’s hiding from the situation?’

His gaze pierced hers, and the pulse in his jaw kicked off again. ‘We were discussing where you’ll sleep from now on.’

‘How does my own bed at my own place sound?’ She shook her head, tears of frustration filling her eyes. ‘You’ve tried to push me around since I told you about the baby, but now you’ve gone too far.’

He moved forward till he towered over her. His voice lowered, more gravel than steel. ‘I’ll go as far as I need. Some things are too important for compromise, and my child’s safety is one of them. You’re staying here, and you’re moving downstairs.’

Bully. ‘No. I. Won’t.’

Exhaling, he rushed a hand through his dark hair, then gave her a warning look. ‘I won’t argue with you, Sophie. In the morning you’ll see that I’m right—about everything.’

He moved off towards an archway that led to the adjoining private theatre/TV room, but turned back to set a kiss on her forehead before disappearing.

Trembling, hating his kiss but wanting it too, Sophie let out a long exhausted breath. She knew he could be over-protective, domineering. But seeing Evangeline had brought those qualities out tenfold, and she knew the deepest reason why.

It wasn’t me. It was you.

When she and Cooper had fallen pregnant so easily, he’d assumed that Evangeline’s difficulty in conceiving must be hers. But with his ex falling pregnant as quickly as Sophie had, the question of fertility—and infertility—had been tossed into the air again.

Turning slowly, Sophie eyed the varnished timber, took several deep breaths, and then, lifting her peignoir skirt, ascended each stair carefully.

Cooper had made it clear he wanted a family more than anything. It didn’t take a mind-reader to know that now he must wonder …

Had the difficulty between he and Evangeline lain with him? Was this time—this baby—a fluke? No doubt he would get a specialist’s opinion, but Sophie doubted he would get it next week.

Cooper had a light side, but ultimately he was a man who possessed determination. He’d funnel all his energies into making certain this baby was born safe and healthy. Incorporated into that objective would be his resolve to continue to keep this child under his watchful eye and protection.

From the top of the stairs, Sophie gazed down at the soft flicker of the television dancing across the timber floor below.

A part of her couldn’t help but sympathise with Cooper. Tonight had been a shock. But, damn it all, even if he did have a point about the stairs, it didn’t mean he had the right to bring down the law and expect her to jump.

Removing her drop earrings, she headed for her room.

Tonight she would let him unwind.

Tomorrow she needed to decide whether it was time to call this charade off.