Modern Romance December Books 5-8. Дженнифер Хейворд

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       CHAPTER SIX

      Three months later...

      FROZEN TO THE spot on the tiled floor of the restaurant where she was working her second job on King’s Dock, Lucy was stunned to see Tadj again. How many more shocks could she take?

      As many as necessary, she told herself firmly after taking a few steadying breaths. Only an hour or so ago she had received a panicked phone call from her mother, to warn Lucy that her stepfather had unexpectedly received parole, and was due to be set free from prison, which meant they were both in danger. She had felt sick inside knowing there was an unborn child involved now.

       And now this...

      ‘Get away from here,’ her mother had pleaded. ‘It’s the only way you can help me. You have to get out of the country, because if your stepfather finds you, he’ll find a way to hurt me through you. Our lives are in danger, Lucy. I can’t rest until I know you’re safely out of his reach.’ This was no exaggeration. Lucy knew only too well from past experience how dangerous her stepfather could be, and how utterly ruthless.

      Holding Tadj’s gaze steadily, she stamped on the urge to tell him everything right away. She knew her eyes might give her away. Tadj had always been able to read her, and the fact that she was carrying his child couldn’t be hidden for long. She didn’t want to hide it—she was happy to think that in a few months’ time there would be a baby—but she wasn’t so certain how she felt about the fact that a child would bind them together for life, whether either of them wanted that or not.

      ‘We meet again,’ the Emir of Qalala intoned without a flicker of emotion on his dazzlingly handsome face.

      She knew immediately that this was not the fun-loving guy from the café, but a very different animal, as Tadj regarded her as coolly as if they’d shared nothing more than a passing acquaintance. He’d drawn to a halt just a few steps away, and she could see nothing of the man she’d known in his eyes, yet somehow she must persuade this hostile stranger to take her away from here. This wasn’t just a shock encounter, but a lucky quirk of fate that she must take advantage of. She’d go to Qalala, if she had to—whatever it took to keep her mother and baby safe.

      All these thoughts were jangling in Lucy’s head as they confronted each other. She would have liked more time to frame her argument and persuade him to take her with him, but there was no time.

      With an almost imperceptible nod of his head, the Emir of Qalala summoned the maître d’. ‘Lucy and I haven’t seen each other for some time,’ Tadj explained, ‘and would appreciate your giving her the night off.’

      This wasn’t a question, but an instruction, Lucy thought as the maître d’ gushed a response. Of course she could leave. ‘Whatever suits you, Your Majesty,’ he insisted.

      The lift of one ebony brow was all it took for Tadj to remind the maître d’ that the Emir of Qalala was eating in his restaurant incognito, and that he didn’t welcome reference to his royal status. This sent the hapless maître d’ into a tailspin. ‘I’ll get your coat,’ he told Lucy, rushing off.

      At least fate was on her mother’s side, Lucy thought as Tadj continued to stare at her. She’d had a genuine reason for leaving him three months ago, and could only hope that he didn’t harbour grudges for long.

      The distinguished gentleman who had been sitting with Tadj at the table made no complaint when his dining experience was brought to an abrupt end. Bowing politely over Lucy’s hand, he excused himself, and within moments she noticed an official limousine sweeping away. So far, so good, she thought, as Tadj indicated that she should now sit down. ‘We won’t be staying long,’ he told her. ‘A glass of water, perhaps?’

      If it hadn’t been for her condition, a stiff brandy might have been more appropriate, Lucy reasoned, trying to dredge up some humour from what was a not so funny situation. Tadj’s mention of leaving the restaurant was an additional reminder to keep a clear head. ‘A glass of water would be nice,’ she agreed, swallowing down her apprehension on a dry throat.

      ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ Tadj frowned. Cold as he was towards her, he was fundamentally a decent man. ‘The shock of seeing me again hasn’t been too much for you?’

      The irony in his tone was the only warning she needed to be cautious, and she shot him a sharp look. Tadj’s expression remained stony, while she remained silent. They had so much to say to each other, but the door of communication between them had slammed shut, and the mouth that had kissed her into oblivion remained set in a harsh line. Obviously, he was angry that she’d walked out on him. Who would do that to the Emir of Qalala? Who did that to anyone without a word of explanation? Lucy reflected unhappily, knowing she had to find a way to make this right, or the opportunity fate had so unexpectedly provided, to escape the country, and tell Tadj about their baby, would be lost.

      She downed the water gratefully, and then plunged right in. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye that night on the Sapphire, but you were asleep.’

      ‘And you didn’t think to wake me?’

      He wasn’t going to make this easy for her, and more than anything she wanted to tell him about the baby, but not here in a busy restaurant. It was such momentous news, she wanted to tell him in private so they could both take in what it meant.

      ‘Perhaps you need something stronger than water?’ Tadj suggested, in a way that warned he could read her easily.

      Determined that she would not be bounced into blurting out the facts, she stated firmly, ‘I never drink on duty, and I still have work to do.’

      ‘You won’t be working again tonight, so I don’t see that’s an issue.’ His black stare dared her to disagree СКАЧАТЬ