Читать книгу Men of Power - Кэрол Мортимер, Кэрол Мортимер - Страница 18

‘I HAVE the distinct feeling,’ Dominick murmured as he returned to the bedroom after seeing the doctor out and found Kenzie glaring at him from across the room, ‘that if I were to even dare to question the paternity of your baby at this moment I might end up with more than I bargained for!’

‘Your feeling is correct!’ Kenzie bit out between gritted teeth, not even close to coming to terms with her pregnancy.

It hadn’t even occurred to her—

She hadn’t thought—

She was expecting the baby she had so longed for six months ago!

Dominick’s baby…

That realization was enough to take her breath away. In fact, she was surprised she hadn’t fainted all over again when the doctor had announced his prognosis.

Pregnant.

But not, as she had always dreamt, within the confines of a close and happy marriage. She and her baby’s father didn’t even live together any more, and would be divorced as soon as possible after Dominick signed the papers.

She really was pregnant. With Dominick’s baby. And while it was something he didn’t want or need, Kenzie knew that she would love this baby enough for both of them.

‘I have no idea what you’re thinking now, Kenzie,’ Dominick said gruffly as he watched the emotions flickering across her face. ‘Although I could take a pretty fair guess!’ he added ruefully. ‘But whatever it is, I think we should hold off discussing—any of this, until after you’ve had something to eat.’

Inwardly Dominick wasn’t quite as calm. In fact, he had no idea what he was.

Kenzie was pregnant!

With his baby?

Or was it Carlton’s?

His heart constricted at that thought. ‘I’ll go through to the other room and order you some food while you put a call through to your parents—’

‘It’s far too early to tell them of the pregnancy yet,’ Kenzie instantly protested. She hadn’t got used to the idea herself yet, let alone sharing it with the rest of her family.

Dominick grimaced. ‘I wasn’t suggesting that you tell your family about the pregnancy,’ he assured dryly. ‘After your collapse earlier, and all those snap-happy reporters downstairs as I carried you up here, your parents may find some of the headlines in tomorrow’s newspapers a little—disturbing. It may be as well if you were to call them before that happens to let them know that you’re okay.’

Kenzie stared at him for several long seconds, surprised that he had even considered how her parents might feel.

‘Okay,’ she finally agreed quietly, feeling wary of Dominick in this mood.

Where was the Dominick she knew who wouldn’t have hesitated to make accusations and recriminations?

Maybe it was just that he was as stunned as she was.

‘Is a club sandwich okay or would you prefer something more substantial?’ he enquired with that same calm she was finding so disturbing.

‘A club sandwich will be fine,’ she answered slowly.

‘With coffee or juice? I really have no idea whether pregnant women are supposed to drink coffee or not.’ He grimaced.

‘Juice will be fine,’ Kenzie murmured, still eyeing him with unease.

He nodded. ‘I shouldn’t be long. If you would like to call your parents…?’ he reminded her before disappearing into the adjoining sitting room.

Kenzie stood rooted to the spot for several seconds after Dominick had left, still puzzled by his behaviour.

Five months ago, even five weeks ago, she would have had no doubts as to his reaction on learning she was pregnant, and would have known exactly how he felt about the prospect of fatherhood. Now she had no idea what he was thinking or feeling.

But that was probably because he didn’t know whether the baby was his or not, she instantly reasoned. Why should he? The two of them had made love once in the last five and a half months, whereas he thought she and Jerome were virtually living together.

That had to be the answer to his odd behaviour; Dominick wasn’t sure whose baby she was expecting.

Whereas she knew it couldn’t be anyone else’s but his!

Which put her in a precarious position. Did she tell Dominick the baby was his? Or did she let him go on thinking she might be pregnant by another man?

Whichever she decided to do, one thing she was sure of: Dominick wouldn’t want this baby to be his!

As Dominick put through the order for Kenzie’s food, his mind was whirring with questions.

He and Kenzie had made love five weeks ago, so depending on how pregnant Kenzie was, it could be his baby.

How did he feel about that?

He had no idea how he felt about the baby itself, and couldn’t even begin to quantify or rationalize emotions about something so far beyond his comprehension, but the thought of Kenzie being pregnant with his child was something else entirely…

If it was his baby—and it was a big if, he acknowledged grimly—then he wanted to be there for her, by his physical presence and support, financially, or in any way she would let him be there for her.

The question was, would she want him to be there for any of those things…?

‘Are your parents okay?’ he queried evenly, returning to the bedroom to find Kenzie sitting on the side of the bed beside the telephone.

She turned to him blankly, having been lost in thought. ‘Fine,’ she dismissed quickly as she stood up.

Get a grip, Kenzie, she told herself firmly; there would be plenty of time to think of the enormity of what was happening to her once she was alone later tonight.

‘How is your father now?’ Dominick asked lightly.

‘Much better,’ she answered a little impatiently. ‘Dominick, if you want to start hurling out those accusations now, it’s okay. I’m feeling less—stunned, than I was a few minutes ago,’ she assured him wryly.

‘I don’t—’ He shook his head, his face slightly pale beneath his tan. ‘I have no idea what to say,’ he finally acknowledged.

He knew that whatever he said in the next few minutes it was sure to be wrong!

‘That has to be a first,’ Kenzie murmured ruefully.

He shrugged. ‘All of this is a first for me.’

‘But you do want to know whether or not the baby is yours?’ Kenzie questioned.

Did he?

He wasn’t sure what he wanted. If Kenzie told him the baby definitely wasn’t his, then there would be no going back from that. Carlton was sure to want his baby, as well as Kenzie, and Dominick would have lost her for ever.

Whatever else their time together five weeks ago, and seeing her this evening had shown him, it was that he could no longer stand the thought of losing her. He couldn’t bear the thought of never being able to hold her, to talk to her, to laugh with her, ever again!

‘Don’t look so worried, Dominick,’ Kenzie derided as she saw his expression. ‘Whether or not this baby is yours, it isn’t going to affect you in the slightest—’

‘Don’t be so damned stupid, Kenzie!’ he rasped impatiently, thrusting his hands into his trouser pockets as he began to pace the room. ‘Of course it will affect me. It would be my son or daughter, for God’s sake!’ He frowned darkly.

She raised her dark brows. ‘And that would bother you?’

‘Of course it would bother me!’ He paused to glare at her. ‘Admittedly fatherhood isn’t something I ever thought about—’

‘Or wanted,’ Kenzie put in quietly, remembering just how badly he hadn’t wanted it—enough for it to end their marriage!

‘Or wanted,’ he accepted harshly. ‘But there is a distinct difference between talking about a mythical baby and being presented with a fait accompli!’

A fait accompli…

Was that how Dominick thought of the child she carried?

Her mouth tightened angrily. ‘Well, just put your mind completely at rest, Dominick, because this baby isn’t yours!’ In her mind it wasn’t, because knowing as she did how Dominick felt about the prospect of fatherhood, this baby was hers. Hers, and no one else’s.

Dominick felt as if all the air had been knocked out of his lungs and closed his eyes to block Kenzie out of his sight for the time it took him to regain his breath and fight down the nausea that rose up in his throat.

It wasn’t his baby!

He wanted to shout, to rage, to hit out at someone, anyone, as the disappointment and pain threatened to overwhelm him.

How he had wanted Kenzie’s baby to be his, how he had wanted Kenzie to come back to him.

And after the last five agonizing weeks of knowing he hated his life without her in it, he wouldn’t have cared if it had only been the existence of the baby that made her come back.

But now he had lost her for ever. There was no way she would ever want to come back to him when she was expecting another man’s baby.

He straightened, forcing himself back under control as he looked at her. ‘How do you think Carlton will feel about the baby?’ he asked through gritted teeth.

Kenzie gave a dismissive laugh. ‘I don’t really think that’s any of your business, Dominick.’

Maybe it wasn’t, but he wanted to know anyway!

Carlton was shallow and selfish, and at forty-two had so far managed to avoid making a long-term commitment to any woman. And if Carlton didn’t want Kenzie—

What was he thinking now?

That if Carlton didn’t want her or the baby, maybe he could persuade Kenzie into coming back to him?

Kenzie decided she had had enough for one night, and needed to get away from Dominick, as far away as possible, in order to consider what she was going to do next.

‘I think—’ She broke off as a loud knocking sounded on the outer door.

‘Masters, open the damn door!’ Jerome shouted to accompany the knock. ‘I know Kenzie is still in there and I want to talk to her!’ he added as he rapped on the door again.

‘No, don’t bother to answer,’ Kenzie told Dominick as he turned grimly to reach for the handle. ‘I’m going back downstairs, anyway,’ she announced lightly.

‘Kenzie…?’ Dominick questioned in surprise.

She stopped to give him a derisive smile. ‘I told you not to worry about it, Dominick,’ she said softly. ‘I’m a big girl now, and more than capable of looking after myself and my baby, if the need arises.’

His mouth tightened. ‘I’ll kill him if he doesn’t accept his responsibility—’

‘And what would that achieve?’ she asked.

‘It would make me feel a whole lot better!’ he snapped.

‘I have no idea why.’ Kenzie still smiled. ‘Haven’t you forgotten that you left Caroline on her own downstairs?’ she reminded him ruefully.

‘Caroline definitely is a big girl who can take care of herself!’ he dismissed without concern.

‘Kenzie, are you in there?’ Jerome was rattling the door handle now.

‘I really do have to go,’ Kenzie told Dominick firmly. ‘I—thank you for all your help earlier this evening,’ she added briskly.

‘You still haven’t had anything to eat,’ Dominick pressed impatiently.

‘I’ll order something downstairs,’ she assured him. ‘I—goodbye, Dominick.’ She gave him one last shaky smile before leaving.

Just as if he were a stranger she had to offer polite thanks to, Dominick fumed once left on his own.

Was that what he was going to become to her in future? Would she marry Carlton once their own divorce was final, and so be lost to him for ever?

Could he really just stand by and let that happen?

Did he have a choice?

Yes, of course he had a choice. Kenzie had loved him once, maybe it wasn’t too late for her to feel that way again.

Unlike five and a half months ago, he wasn’t going to give her up without a fight…!