Billionaire Bosses Collection. Кэрол Мортимер

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СКАЧАТЬ a blissful time. Christmas is magical for her and she’s turning it into magic for us.”

      “That’s great, Will,” Zach said with sincerity.

      “Even Muffy is enjoying the snow. We have to clear paths for her or she’ll sink out of sight. Give some thought to joining us.”

      “Thanks. Bye, Will,” Zach said and ended the call without giving Will a chance to prolong it.

      Zach returned to staring at smoldering logs in his fireplace while Emma filled his thoughts. Did she miss him or was she immersed in family Christmas activities? He held up his phone, tempted to call her, finally giving in to the temptation.

      At first he thought she wasn’t going to answer, but then he heard her voice and his heart skipped beats.

      “Zach, you’re calling from Italy?”

      “I haven’t gone yet. I’m going to New York first,” he said. “Ready for Christmas?”

      “Hardly, but I will be soon. Something’s always going on around here. People coming over or someone wanting me to do something or Mom needs help. I’m busier than ever. Have you heard from Will or Ryan?”

      “Will today. They’re having a great time,” he said, longing to be with her. The phone call only made him miss her more and he felt ridiculous for calling. “I’ll have to admit, the place seems empty with you gone.”

      There was a long silence. “I miss being there.”

      “No, you don’t, really,” he said, smiling, certain she didn’t, but he hoped she missed him.

      “I do miss you,” she said solemnly in a quiet voice that made his heart lurch. He inhaled deeply, wanting her with him, in his arms now.

      “Will you go out with me for New Year’s Eve? I’ll come home if you will.”

      There was another long pause and he held his breath. “Yes,” she said. “The sensible part of me says no and I’m sure you feel the same.”

      “We’ll have a good time,” he said lightly, his heart racing with eagerness that he would see her again and go out with her. He settled back to talk, asking about her family, enjoying listening to her, glad for this tenuous connection that was still a link with her.

      They talked for over an hour before Emma broke in. “Zach, my family is calling me. I promised I’d go shopping and they’re waiting for me to join them.”

      “Sure. See you New Year’s,” he said.

      The connection ended and he felt more alone than he had in years. He wanted Emma with him. How could she have taken such a place in his life that he couldn’t get along without her now?

      New Year’s Eve seemed an eternity away. He stretched and walked around restlessly. He couldn’t concentrate on work. He didn’t want to go to Italy. He didn’t want to join Will because all he would do was think about Emma.

      He left to head for his gym while he stayed lost in thought about her.

      Emma hurried out to join her sisters and mother to spend the afternoon shopping, but the entire time, she couldn’t keep Zach out of mind. She was going out with him for New Year’s Eve. Surprise had been her first reaction. She was astounded he wanted to pursue a relationship. She had debated only a moment with herself. Now that she was carrying his baby, everything had changed. Whether she or Zach liked it or not, she would be tied to him for years. Unless he totally rejected his child and she didn’t think he would. Not when he seemed to care so much for his niece. She still couldn’t accept having a casual relationship with him, but she would just have to see how he reacted and what he wanted.

      The aching gloom that had enveloped her when she parted with him had lifted, leaving only worry over his reaction to her news. Excitement, joy over the prospect of an evening with him was tinged with concern over when and how to break the news to him about their baby. If he rejected this child, he would break her heart. Even though he had rejected her lifestyle and hadn’t wanted her in his life permanently, this baby was more important now and life had changed.

      By five in the afternoon, she was exhausted from shopping and wanted to go home and take a nap. She suspected her mother might be wearing down also, so she told Mary Kate she thought they should call it a day.

      It was almost six before they actually unloaded the car and were settled back at home. Emma headed to her room, leaving her packages to get later. All she wanted to do was stretch out and get a quick snooze.

      She hadn’t been in bed five minutes when there was a knock on her door and Mary Kate appeared.

      “Can I talk to you a minute?” she asked, stepping into the bedroom and closing the door. She shook her dark brown hair away from her face as she crossed the room. Her tan sweater emphasized gold flecks in her hazel eyes.

      “Sure, come in. Does Mom need help with dinner?”

      “No, she’s lying down, too, and Sierra has gone home with her brood. So has Lynne to relieve Connor of watching their kids. They all promised to come back after a while.” Mary Kate sat on the edge of the bed.

      “You’ve got all the energy,” Emma remarked.

      “How are you feeling?”

      “Tired. We did a lot of shopping and I guess the work I’ve been doing and the Christmas stuff has caught up with me. I’m sleepy.”

      “Sure. You were sick this morning when I came.”

      Emma sat up slightly. “Whatever it was, it passed.”

      “You know I’m here for you,” Mary Kate said, her hazel eyes filled with concern and Emma took a deep breath.

      “How did you know?” Emma asked, certain her sister had guessed she was pregnant.

       Nine

      Mary Kate shrugged. “I’ve been there,” she said, tugging up the sleeves of her tan sweater.

      Emma sat up. “You haven’t been there as a single mom. Not in this family. MK,” she said, reverting to the nickname, “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” she said. Tears threatened and she tried to get a grip on her emotions.

      Mary Kate hugged her and Emma clung tightly to the sister who had stood by her through so many childhood scrapes.

      As she released her sister, Emma wiped her eyes. “This was unplanned, unexpected and shouldn’t have ever happened. I’m carrying Zach’s baby.”

      “Zach Delaney. Boy, you picked one. That’s what I was afraid of. Does he know?”

      “No, not yet.”

      “Do you have any idea how he will react?”

      “Not really. He seems crazy about his niece, but he’s taken no responsibility for her. When her father was killed, Zach’s older brother became guardian. Zach is solitary, a total СКАЧАТЬ