And Baby Makes Three

There were so many things they must still discuss, but none of them mattered beside what was happening to her now, and the new person she was becoming.

All too soon they reached the hotel, returning reluctantly to the real world. They must climb out, speaking and acting normally until Kaye had been shown to her room and the door had closed on the porter.

He took a step forward. ‘I was so afraid you wouldn’t come.’

‘I can’t believe this happened,’ she murmured. ‘Those lawyers- money-’

‘But of course. I should have been supporting the two of you already, so it’s only right to make up for it.’

‘I wish you’d told me that earlier. I thought-’

He stared. ‘Thought what?’

‘All that talk of money-’ She took a deep breath and said in a shaking voice, ‘I didn’t think I’d see you again.’

‘You thought I was trying to buy you off?’ he said, aghast. ‘Just claiming my fatherly rights and keeping you at a distance? How could you-?’ But he checked himself with a groan. ‘No, of course you thought that. It’s my fault for being so clumsy. I did it all in a rush-calling the lawyers from the airport as I was getting ready to board. I should have told you first. Kaye, I swear to you, this isn’t about money.’

She gave him a long, heart-searching look, knowing that at last it had come: the moment for which she’d waited years. ‘Isn’t it?’ she murmured. ‘You may have to convince me.’

A faint, self-mocking smile illuminated his face as he reached for her, whispering, ‘I think I’ll enjoy doing that.’ His hands became more possessive as he drew her closer. ‘Let me show you what it really is about.’

CHAPTER FOUR

AFTERWARDS she slept in his arms in a state of peace that she hadn’t known for years. She’d made love not only with her body, but with her heart and soul-something she had never thought to do. But it had felt right. The wariness and mistrust had released her, like bonds falling away, and suddenly everything about being with Jared felt right.

Waking, she lay curled up against him, trying to remember how things had been earlier that same day, when she’d believed he’d rejected her again. Now she seemed to have stepped into another universe.

‘What’s that sigh for?’ he asked.

‘I was just thinking about the way things happen. You just can’t plan for anything, can you? When I woke up this morning I worked for Brent. Then I go in, get fired, and now I’m working for Cannonball.’

‘It’s fate,’ he said. ‘That’s what it is.’

‘It must be-otherwise it would be scary to think what a big part chance plays in life. Who could have predicted that someone would see us together and tell Salcombe that I must be passing on secrets?’

His head turned slightly, and she looked up to find him regarding her with wry humour.

‘What is it?’ she asked, as some inkling of the incredible truth began to dawn on her. ‘Jared, what did you do?’

‘Let’s just say I don’t believe in leaving things to chance.’

‘You-are you telling me-?’

‘Actually, I’m trying not to tell you, because I’m not ready to die,’ he said, looking warily at her face.

‘You fixed it,’ she breathed.

‘I arranged for someone to pass certain information on to Salcombe.’

‘And got me fired?’

‘It was necessary.’

‘Why? I could have given in my notice.’

‘That would have taken weeks. I wanted you today.’

‘You scheming, manipulative, devious, conniving-’

‘I prefer Machiavellian. It’s more dignified. Hey, don’t hit me.’

Laughing, he dodged her flying hands, which were slapping him nineteen to the dozen.

‘I should do more than hit you,’ she seethed. ‘How dare you simply organise my life to suit yourself, without asking what I wanted?’

‘But it’s simpler that way,’ he declared, with an air of innocence that made her fight back her own laughter. ‘You might not have wanted the same as I wanted, and then what would I have done?’

‘Backed off? Given up?’

‘Oh, no, I never do that,’ he said solemnly. ‘If I want something, I take it. Always in charge. Always in the driving seat. That’s me.’

There was mischief in his eyes, but also a warning. This was how he was. Take it or leave it. He would use any means to get what he wanted. Only yesterday she would have taken warning from that, and blamed him. But in this new world where she found herself she only saw that what he wanted was herself.

Overjoyed, she ignored the warning and threw herself back into his arms.

That night was the happiest of her life.

Next morning she awoke to find herself alone, Jared having slipped back to his own room. The press was out in force, and they would have to be careful. After breakfast with the team her day would be spent at the track.

They met briefly going down the stairs, and she seized the chance to show him Mike’s picture.

‘I meant to give it to you as soon as we met,’ she said. ‘But-er-’

‘But we got distracted,’ he supplied wryly. ‘Hey, this is great.’

‘I told you he was an artist.’

‘As well as a computer genius. What a kid. Just a minute.’

He whipped out his cell phone, dialled, and a moment later his face lit up.

‘Mike? Great to talk to you. That picture-wonderful. Did you really do it yourself? I can’t believe it.’

He went on in this way for five minutes, while Mike squealed his pleasure so loud that Kaye heard it.

‘I’ll hand you over to your mum now,’ Jared said at last. ‘But don’t keep her long. We have to get to the track.’

She could have hugged Jared for the way he’d accepted Mike right from the start. He was going to be a wonderful father. She felt that her happiness was surely too great to be real. But it was real. That was the best of all.

Now all his thoughts were of the race, but it was enough to be near him,