Did she look like a panda?
This was not like her at all. She wasn’t a woman who did this kind of thing—one-night stands. Not that there was anything wrong with it, if it suited the people involved. But she’d always imagined herself as the going-steady type, waiting before she’d allow anyone the intimacy of her bed. That might be boring to some, but it had suited her perfectly until last night. It had given her a standard to uphold so that she didn’t make her life complicated. Not letting anyone in because, really, what was the point? Life was complicated all on its own.
Now he lay on her bedsheets. Still here. The next morning! He wasn’t meant to have stayed.
‘Didn’t I say you had to go? Remember? Just after midnight?’
‘You exhausted me. I must have fallen asleep.’
He seemed oblivious to the fact that she wanted him out of there. Gorgeous or not. Seemed content to stay in her bed.
Leah clutched the quilt even tighter and glanced at her alarm clock beside the bed. Seven thirty-two a.m. She had slept with a strange man for over six hours, and him lying there looking like a wonderful breakfast delicacy was not helping. She had a new job to get to. An important job. Lives that might need saving.
Thinking about it, she really ought not to have agreed to going to the club.
‘Look, last night was great, but—’
‘Don’t say but. Nothing ever great happens after someone says but.’
She smiled. ‘But I’m going to take a shower, and when I get out of the shower I don’t want to find you’re still here. You need to...’ her gaze travelled along his wonderful torso, eyeing the hunk of gorgeousness she’d allowed herself last night ‘...put some clothes on and leave. Is that understood? You get what I’m saying, right?’
He nodded and smiled. ‘Seems a shame to end something so great.’
Embarrassingly delighted, she smiled back. ‘Maybe so, but that’s the way it’s going to be.’
She saw his trousers and designer underwear discarded on the floor of her living room, exactly where she’d torn them from his body, and picked them up, threw them at him.
‘Start with these.’ She gave him a broad, embarrassed smile. “It was a pleasure knowing you.’
Leah opened the shower door and listened for any strange sounds. The flat sounded pleasingly empty, so with one towel wrapped around her body and another around her hair, she unlocked her bathroom door and stepped out, listening once again just to make sure.
All she could hear were outside noises—singing birds, the odd car driving by. Nothing internal.
Thank God he’s gone!
What had she been thinking? To do such a thing! Sleep with a stranger! Was that the behaviour of an expectant mother? Okay, to be fair, she wasn’t the one expecting herself. She had a surrogate. Sally. Who was pregnant with Leah’s baby.
Perhaps that’s why I did it? One last mad fling? And I did choose a very nice candidate!
She smiled to herself. She would never find a guy like that in real life. And even if she did he’d probably run a mile as soon as she explained she was going to have a baby in seven months.
Leah paused to look into her spare room before she passed it. It was still filled with boxes from her recent move here. She really ought to get a move on and get it sorted into some sort of nursery. There was a cot in there somewhere, still waiting to be unfurled from its flat pack.
She padded through to her bedroom and then stopped, surprised.
He’s made the bed! Wow. Did I manage to find the only hot, sexy, neat-freak?
The pillows had been fluffed, the sheets and duvet straightened and smoothed. He’d even picked up the bed runner from the floor and put it back on. And what was that on her pillow?
She bent to pick up the small piece of paper. Unfolding it, she saw a telephone number and a short note.
We had fun. Call me.
Leah bit her lip and smiled. He liked her. Wanted to see her again! She picked up the phone and dialled.
‘Hello?’
‘Sally, it’s me. You’re never going to believe what I did last night. Or rather, who.’
She heard a gasp from the other end. ‘Naughty girl! Do tell. You know I’ve got to live vicariously through your adventures for the next two trimesters.’
Leah sank onto the edge of her bed. ‘His name was Ben and he...er...stayed over.’
‘What? Damn! I knew I should have tried harder to get babysitters for these monsters. Then I could have met him. Come on. I need details. What was he like? Tall? Dark, Handsome?’ She giggled. ‘Girthy?’
Leah laughed. ‘Yes, to all of those.’
‘You lucky girl.’
‘And he was also polite and charming and funny—and he made the bed before he left.’
‘You let him leave? He sounds like a keeper.’
‘He’s left me his number.’
‘So call him!’
‘I can’t do that! He’s only just gone. I need to leave it for a bit, don’t I? Act cool?’
‘Darling, you don’t do cool. Get your first day out of the way, then give him a ring. Have fun whilst you can. Make hay whilst the sun shines—isn’t that what they say?’
‘Who?’
‘I don’t know. Farmers?’
Leah laughed. ‘I’ve got to get ready for work. I did miss you last night.’
‘Clearly. Look, I’ve got to go—William’s just tipped orange juice over his brother.’
‘Okay. I’ll call you soon. Take care.’
‘Bye.’
She could just imagine Sally’s small brood descending into chaos. They were good kids, really. And she would have one of her own soon. Her own child. Thanks to Sally.
A man like Ben would probably run a mile at the sound of a baby. It wouldn’t bring the kind of sleepless nights he’d be interested in.
Regretfully, she screwed up the piece of paper and dropped it in the bin.
It was time to get ready for work.
The baby was screaming its head off.
If ever I needed to hear a healthy set of lungs...well, this kid’s got them.
Ben Willoughby smiled patiently at the mother as she tried her best to calm her distraught child, but her soothing words had no effect.
Clearly the baby did not like a strange man looming over him to try and listen to his heartbeat. Ben sat back. He felt sure the baby was absolutely fine, but it would be nice to check.
The mother had brought in the child, terrified by a strange rash that had appeared on her son’s legs, especially his knees and the tops of his feet. It was red and raw-looking.