In the Boss's Arms: Having the Boss's Babies / Her Millionaire Boss / Her Surgeon Boss. Abigail Gordon

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      ‘I—I don’t want you to feel under any obligation,’ she said.

      ‘And you would reject an offer of marriage?’

      Marriage? A jolt, like an electric shock, scorched through her. An offer of marriage was the very last thing she’d expected to hear from this man. It wasn’t possible.

      She’d thought he might offer her money…or friendship…even a long-term affair. ‘You—you can’t mean that.’

      His face was so stiff and proud it might well have been cast in bronze. ‘Why not?’

      ‘You’re not available.’

      He frowned. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

      At first she thought she might not get the words out but somehow she managed. ‘Your wife.’

      ‘My what?’ He released a short, disbelieving huff that might have been a laugh. ‘What are you on about? I’m not married, Alice. I’ve never been married. I told you that.’

      She pressed a hand against the savage beating wings in her chest. ‘Mrs Conway, the woman who arrived with you today—’

      ‘Julia? She’s not my wife. She’s my sister-in-law.’

      She stared at him, saw naked emotion in his eyes and knew that he was telling the truth. A sister-in-law. Why hadn’t she thought of that? ‘W-was she the family emergency?’

      ‘Yes. Julia’s been in hospital. Unfortunately, she has to deal with medical complications that crop up from time to time.’

      Now that she was adjusting to this news, anger began to surface. ‘It might have helped if you’d telephoned.’

      ‘Yes.’ With his hands on his hips Liam stared at the far wall. ‘I can see now that it was a mistake to wait, but I thought it would be wiser to explain it all when I got back. For heaven’s sake, Alice, I told you I wasn’t married. Couldn’t you believe me? Why would I lie?’

      ‘I don’t know.’ Her hands flapped at her sides as she struggled to justify why she’d doubted him.

      ‘Men lie. For all sorts of reasons.’

      ‘That’s a wild generalisation.’

      ‘Todd lied to me. He told me he’d had medical tests that proved our fertility problems were my fault.’

      Liam muttered an oath. ‘I’d appreciate it if you didn’t draw parallels between me and that toad.’

      ‘You’re nothing like him,’ Alice said softly. She drew a deep breath. ‘Mrs Conway—your sister-in-law—I only caught a glimpse of her, but I thought she looked rather nice.’

      ‘She is. Julia’s wonderful.’

      ‘And she’s married to your brother?’

      ‘My brother’s dead.’ This was uttered with such jaw-clenched finality that Alice accepted it without daring to comment.

      But then Liam’s face broke into a heartbreakingly sad smile. ‘This isn’t how tonight should be happening, Alice. I feel so—so distanced from you. It feels like we’re fighting.’

      ‘I don’t want to fight,’ she whispered, her eyes brimming.

      In two steps Liam was beside her again and the next moment he was scooping her up and a beat later he was in her armchair and she was in his lap and his arms were about her and she was clinging to him.

      Hooking a strand of hair with his finger, he tucked it behind her ear. His warm lips caressed her cheek. ‘We’ve made a baby together, Alice. It’s a night for celebration.’

      ‘Celebration?’

      ‘As I remember, we’re rather good at it.’

      ‘But it’s what got us into this trouble.’

      ‘We’re not in trouble.’

      Perhaps he was right. Besides, she couldn’t resist his kiss. And he gave her little option. His mouth claimed her, calmed her. With her eyes closed she relaxed into him and it was perfect—a deliciously sensual and unhurried kiss, different from the passion and fire of their kisses in the past.

      There was a tenderness, a loving lingering, as if they both felt just a little overawed by the astonishing, deeper connection of impending parenthood.

      When at last they broke apart, Liam buried his face in her hair. ‘Even without a baby in the picture, whatever has happened between us is more than just sex, Alice.’

      ‘I know,’ she whispered.

      His lips brushed her ear. ‘I think you should marry me.’

      Marriage. Alice went very still in his arms.

      Here it was again; another proposal. Every part of her wanted Liam. But marriage? Could she make a commitment like that? So soon?

      It was so tempting, but was it just an easy way to avoid the problems of pregnancy out of wedlock?

      She knew she was madly attracted to this man—almost certainly in love with him. But how could she be sure it wasn’t for all the wrong reasons? Liam Conway was powerful and rich, a sensational lover and oh, so divine looking—in other words, every woman’s dream.

      But did she know the real man?

      At sixteen, Todd had been the epitome of most high-school girls’ dreams and she’d fallen for the whole gorgeous-footballer thing. But when she got to know Todd inside the harsh day-to-day realities of married life there had been so many disappointments. Those disappointments had created little rifts at first, but over time the gaps had widened and deepened until the damage was irreparable.

      One failed marriage had been a nightmare; another would be more than she could bear.

      Liam was waiting for her answer. She could feel the tension in his arms as he sensed her struggle. She closed her eyes, wishing this wasn’t so hard.

      ‘It’s too soon, isn’t it?’ he said.

      A little sigh of relief escaped her. He understood. She nodded against his shoulder, but then she lifted her head. ‘That’s not the only reason.’

      ‘You have a string of reasons for rejecting me?’

      It was impossible to discuss this while she was curled on his lap. She hoisted herself onto her feet and stood facing him.

      It was time to be sensible.

      ‘You know I’ve just ended one marriage, Liam. I’m not ready to dive into another.’

      He nodded slowly, his eyes stern, his reactions unreadable.

      ‘And, as I said before, I wouldn’t want you to marry me just because you feel obliged to.’

      Liam’s СКАЧАТЬ