Page 24 of His Best Friend's Baby

‘Sorry. That was a bit harsh.’

‘But it’s the truth,’ she admitted. ‘I know that flat is too small. As soon as I get a better job, I’ll be moving.’

If she was prepared to eat into her nest egg, she could move now, actually, but those savings were precious, her lifeline. She was hoarding them so she could eventually put a deposit on another place, a proper home for herself and Summer. All she needed was a new steady income flow.

‘I was hoping to have something settled before Summer was born,’ she said.

‘But I imagine it won’t be easy for you to go job hunting right now. Most women take maternity leave.’

‘Oh, I don’t think I’ll need much time off. Summer’s a good baby and I’m feeling stronger every day. And all I really need is my laptop.’

Seth smiled at this. ‘My new place has Wi-Fi.’

Oh, Lordy, the temptation.

‘And I have a spare small sedan sitting around in the garage. I gave it an overhaul recently, so it’s in good nick and I could easily fit it with a baby carrier. And I’ve already put one in my ute, so I can pick you up tomorrow. Oh, and I know several women who’d happily lend you a bassinet.’

Help. Seth really was throwing every kind of temptation at her. And it was all too easy for Polly to imagine herself settling into his lovely house, sleeping in that enormous bed, fixing meals in that gorgeous kitchen, even setting up her laptop near a window, enjoying those inspiring views of lush bushland while Summer slept close by.

Battling with these thoughts, Polly was aware of Seth taking several steps back, as if he was conscious of the pressure he’d just piled on her.

She didn’t know what to say. The scenario he’d presented to her was so incredibly alluring, but if she accepted, she would also complicate their simple friendship. She was already excessively grateful to Seth, but she was in danger of looking on him as some kind of hero.

It was as if she was inside some crazy kind of dream, a fairytale, where a prince had rescued her and whisked her away from her humble hovel to his beautiful castle. Except that, for Polly, there would be no magic, no fairy godmother. Certainly, no promise of happy ever after.

Those fantasies were fine in books and movies, but Polly had seen very little evidence of them in real life.

Seth’s parents had been an exception, of course. Polly could remember how his mum and dad had always seemed very fond of each other. She’d watched them hugging once. A middle-aged couple, hugging each other for no apparent reason, except that they were happy and needed to share the joy.

It was a moment that had filled her with wonder at the time, a moment she’d never forgotten.

‘Look, Pollster.’ Seth’s voice broke the awkward silence. ‘I understand you want to be a single mum. I respect that. And I know you’ll be brilliant at caring for Summer. But right now, you’ve had a shock. Hell, you went into early labour and you’ve had to learn how to manage a pre-term baby and that’s quite a lot to handle on your own. And I happen to know that you don’t have any family to fall back on.’

Polly had just about banished the stinging threat of tears, but now that threat was back, making her tremble.

‘Let me help,’ Seth said gently. ‘Even if it’s only offering temporary accommodation.’

It was too sweet of him and she would blame her hormones, but suddenly Polly was nodding and trying to offer him her thanks, but she was also sobbing and stumbling into his arms.

*

Seth’s apprentice, Rory,had just parked the blue Hyundai, complete with baby carrier, in his boss’s carport, and now he grinned cheekily, as he observed the bags filled with groceries that Seth was carrying into the house. ‘So, you say this chick is an old friend?’

‘First up, she’s no chick, and yes, she’s a good friend.’ Seth sent the cheeky youngster a withering glance. ‘What of it?’

Rory’s grin disappeared and he gave a slightly helpless flap of his arms. ‘Thought it was a simple enough question.’ A beat later, ‘But I mean—she must be pretty special—getting this house, the car and—everything.’ He waved a hand to indicate the groceries.

‘It’s not a long-term thing.’ Seth tossed Rory the front door keys. ‘Here, make yourself useful and open up for me.’

‘Wow,’ the kid said, as he obeyed, and caught a glimpse of the house’s interior. ‘So this is what you’ve been working on all those weekends.’

‘Yep.’

‘It’s awesome, boss.’

Seth merely grunted as he carried the groceries through to the kitchen. He would put the cold stuff into the fridge, but leave the rest on the counter where it would be easy for Polly to find.

He might have gone slightly overboard, not just getting food items, but also supplies especially designed for new mothers. He’d asked one of the nurses at the hospital if she could give him a list of things Polly might need and she’d been happy to oblige.

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