“I can’t!” he grated. “Forgive me. I should never….”
He’d left the bed. Was picking up his shirt, sweater…shoes he’d somehow discarded.
“You can’t…go like this!” she gasped jerkily, raising herself on her elbows.
He stopped, his back to her. “I must!” he insisted.
“But…why? You wanted me!” she accused, deeply hurt, and unable to pacify her demanding body.
He remained silent, biting back an urge to tell her why he couldn’t make love to her. Pounding relentlessly into his head had come the realization that he couldn’t make love to the open and trusting Jodie under false pretenses. Either he had to tell her the whole truth of the situation or he had to leave her alone….
He’s a man of cool sophistication.
He’s got pride, power and wealth.
At the top of his corporate ladder, he’s a ruthless businessman, an expert lover— His life runs like a well-oiled machine….
Until now. Because suddenly he’s responsible for a BABY!
HIS BABY
A miniseries from Harlequin Presents®.
He’s sexy, he’s successful…and he’s facing up to fatherhood!
There’ll be another HIS BABY title out soon.
Morgan’s Secret Son
Sara Wood
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
JODIE looked around the immaculate apartment, gave a satisfied twitch to her hip-hugging skirt and went to unbolt the door.
‘Hi, Chas! Come in,’ she invited amiably.
A flurry of New York’s winter snow hurled itself past Chas’s muffled figure and settled on the newly polished wood floor.
‘You’ll have to clear that up before it stains,’ he directed, frowning at the innocent flakes. ‘Hurry up! Fetch the—’
‘No, Chas,’ she purred, very cat-got-the-cream. ‘I won’t!’
She had no intention of slaving away for him. She was waiting for his reaction to her outfit, and when it came it was highly satisfying. Startled by her refusal, he looked her up and down and then did the tour again, all the way from her high-heeled red thigh boots to her new and classy hair-style.
‘Wowee, babe! You’re a real knockout!’ he declared in surprise.
She smiled to herself, thinking of the blow she was about to deal him. ‘In more ways than one, Chas. Would you help me on with this?’ she asked sweetly.
‘Sure… Uh…are we going somewhere?’
He was more than puzzled by her assertive attitude, and his fingers hesitated on the warm amber-red jacket she’d handed to him.
‘Just me!’ she trilled.
Wonderfully in control, Jodie slipped her arms into the jacket then flung a heavy honey-gold cape around her shoulders, her once-nervy hands as steady as a rock. Then she dropped her bombshell.
‘I’m leaving. Permanently. Here are my keys. The apartment’s all yours. You go wipe the floor!’
He gaped. Jodie noticed for the first time that his teeth were rather uneven and his lips were thick and wet. She shuddered. Love really had been blind!
‘But…but you’re crazy about me!’ he protested. ‘And…I love you!’
‘No,’ she corrected, feeling contemptuous because he’d deliberately turned on his low, sexy voice. It was so gravelly it could have gritted Manhattan. But it did nothing for her. He was out of her system! She jammed her fabulous felt hat over her shiny chestnut bob and set the brim at a wicked angle. ‘You love yourself and you love the person you tried to create,’ she said, exulting in her coolness. ‘Ever since I came into your office as a junior you’ve done your best to make me into what you wanted: a cross between a domestic servant, a hard-nosed career woman and an insatiable tigress in bed. I’m fed up with being on anti-depressants because I don’t measure up, and I’m sick of trying to work out some PR promotion for you whilst scrubbing saucepans in a thong!’
‘You’re exaggerating!’ he gasped.
‘Perhaps, but you can’t deny that would have been your wildest dream come true!’ Her eyes flashed, green and sparkling, as she warmed to her theme. ‘No wonder I was a bag of nerves! No wonder this kitchen’s seen more charred remains than a fire fighter on overtime! Well, if you want Superwoman, go train someone else. I want out.’
‘You can’t!’ Chas said in desperation, as she picked up her new suede gloves purposefully.
‘Watch.’
‘But…we could have babies!’
She froze at his last-ditch, sneaky attempt to keep her, then swivelled around, her jade eyes glittering with such ferocity that Chas quailed. For the past six years she’d longed for marriage and children. Chas had refused.
‘Goodbye!’ she said coldly. ‘You can pick my car up from JFK airport!’
‘You’re not serious! Where’s your luggage?’ he scorned.
‘In the car already.’ Feeling free as a bird, she opened the door.
‘Wait a minute! Where—where are you going?’ he wailed.
‘England,’ she replied more softly, happiness lighting her face. ‘To be with my father.’
‘Whaaat? You’re mad! I know he wrote to you, but that was six months ago and you haven’t heard anything since! If he’s the sort of guy to abandon you and your mother when you were barely a year old, he’s hardly going to cheer when an emotional cripple lands on his doorstep!’ Chas bellowed nastily.
‘I’ll ignore that vicious remark,’ she said, utterly calm and collected. ‘I fully understand why he might have changed his mind about seeing me. Anyone can get cold feet over a situation like this. But I’ve realised that I have to meet up with him. He’s my only living relative and I have to try.’
Taking charge of her life was such fun! Why hadn’t she done it long ago? Seven years she’d worked for Chas! For six of those she’d been living with him! She gave the stunned Chas an amused glance.
‘You’ll find the thongs and the push-up bras in my top drawer,’ she murmured. ‘Enjoy.’
Elated, she swept out into the snow. She felt gorgeous, dressed in new and sensual—rather than uncomfortable and tacky—underwear. Over it she wore an outrageously expensive tangerine silk T-shirt, the slim-fitting amber suit with its shockingly brief skirt, a theatrical cape, hat and boots. She had become a new woman in every way—and she was setting out on an adventure.
Seemingly all legs and slim suede boots, she wriggled into the driving seat, gave a little wave to