Page 16 of Flynn

“I never noticed.” The laughter tinging her cultured voice had him smiling.

“Thank goodness for small mercies.” His lips curved into a smile, and he felt the awkwardness melting. “I just called to check on you.”

“Thanks.”

He wanted to ask her if she was suffering any ill effects from what happened at the function some time ago, but he did not want to bring back the bad memories. “Well, if you need anything- “

“I will be sure to call you. Thanks, Flynn.”

The sound of his name coming from her sent his heart racing. Closing his eyes briefly to settle himself, he murmured something appropriate before hanging up from her.

He had never spoken to her other than a casual greeting now and again. His mother was always speaking highly of her, but he had not taken much notice. Besides, he and she had been involved, so there was no need for honest conversation between them.

She was also a lawyer, and he despised them on principle. He had a contingent of the best law minds on his payroll and bowed to their expertise in legal matters, but he made it a duty to avoid them at all costs.

Now, one was carrying his heir; if he was honest, it had become much more than a business arrangement for him. Ever since she had agreed to become his surrogate, he was having a tough time separating business from personal.

Now, it was even worse. She was pregnant with his child, even though technically, it was not a child yet, but there was a connection there, and he had to squelch the urge to rush over to her place and check for himself that she was all right.

Not to mention the fact that he had wanted to shield her from the hurt and humiliation of the encounter with that asshole, the rage inside him had shaken him to the core and had been difficult to hide.

Shaking his head, he finished the drink and put away the glass. Neither of them needed the complication of a personal relationship. Putting her firmly from his mind, he reached for the document and tried to return to work.

*****

It was getting better. She was getting better, she corrected as she stood before the mirror and pressed a hand against her stomach. She was carrying a man’s seed inside her uterus. It would not be her baby in the end, but just the thought of helping create another human being was giving her a rush.

She was certainly not going to allow the negativity to weigh her down. Things in her career were not going according to plan, and the more she tried to get ahead with the case, the more resistance she came up with, but she was carrying a life and was entirely responsible for that life. It was a scary prospect but one she was embracing.

With that in mind, she had systematically gone through her fridge and cupboard, removing everything that was not healthy for a pregnant woman. She had stocked up on milk, something she hated, and reluctantly handed Michael several bottles of excellent vintage.

She was accustomed to chilling with a glass of wine as soon as she entered her house. Now, she is getting used to drinking tea.

The nausea had not started yet, and she was even looking forward to it. Shaking her head, she made her way downstairs and into the kitchen. It was the end of January, and the weather was predictably icy.

They have been getting a combination of snow and rain, which has left patches of ice everywhere. She has someone coming in to clean up, clear away the snow, and sprinkle salt on the ice. More now than ever, she has had to be especially cautious.

Putting the kettle on, she hummed softly as she reached for the box of herbal tea.

*****

“Thanks for meeting me.”

“You would not stop calling.” Julia glanced over at Mario and saw the look of extreme disgust on his handsome face. She knew he was not pleased, but he would keep his distance out of respect for her.

Turning her attention to the man seated across from her, she felt despair assailing her. Lionel was a gambler with stunning good looks who used them to his advantage. His black hair was stylishly cut, and he wore an expensive silk sweater.

“Who is the female?” She asked bleakly as she sipped her tea.

He flashed her a charming smile and stirred his tea slowly with the spoon provided.

“Someone older.” He shook his head at the look of disgust on her face. “I am who I am, Jules, and I cannot change.” A look of remorse settled over his features as he stared at her. “My only regret is hurting my nephew. You have to realize that I did him a favor.”

Her eyes widened incredulously, and a soft laugh escaped her. “How do you figure?”

“Gracie wasn’t good enough for him. I was testing her, you see. I wanted to know what kind of female she was.”

She continued to stare at him in derision. “So, you are telling me that you slept with her out of pure selflessness.”

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