Page 44 of Strictly Business

‘No.’ Alice couldn’t contemplate that option. Scared as she was, this baby was a miracle. ‘I just mean I’ll manage on my own. I don’t need –’

‘Me?’ His hands clenched tightly against his sides and his face flushed dark red. Corded sinews stood out on his forearms. ‘Is that what you’re saying, Alice? You don’t need me? You don’t want me involved?’

No. I need you, Liam. I need your arms about me. I need the touch of your lips on mine, on me, anywhere, everywhere.

‘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.’

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