Page 54 of Be My Baby

“Max!”

She had to tell him. She’d wait until she’d done a few more, but she would—

Her phonebleepedhis message tone, interrupting her thoughts.

A startled huff of laughter puffed out of her as she saw his name come up on the locked screen.

Was he psychic, or something?

She tapped at it while getting another test out and unwrapped.

Hey Mil. Would Trey have a few minutes this morning to see me? It’s really important.

Millie frowned and bit her lip. She picked up the phone.

Hi! Of course. Come in at quarter to nine. I’ll message him and let him know you need to see him a bit early. Everything ok?

Not sure yet.

Millie’s stomach sank. What had happened?

I’ll see you then.

Thanks.

Short and sweet. Sure, Max was often concise, but she didn’t like the ominous feeling spreading through her bones at his words.

She glanced at the tests while she sent the text to Trey. She’d do some more then she would talk to Max at the office after his chat with the solicitor, in person. Nodding to herself, she picked up the next one and couldn’t help the wide grin that resulted.

This was a good thing. A very good thing indeed.

*

Millie jumped atthe crack of thunder above her head as she shut the office door behind her. Although the office building in downtown Kurrajong Crossing was heavily insulated, a storm as vicious as this one appeared to be gearing up to be still made enough noise to jar her. She loved storms, loved the sounds, the light show, the smell of rain on a hot pavement.

But she didn’t like being directly beneath the darned thunderhead.

She flipped the sign on the door toOpenand hurried through to the staffroom to store her bag and hang up her light jacket and umbrella. One hit to the switch on the kettle had the light inside illuminating and the familiar grumble of the old stainless steel base make its morning creaks and noises as it heated the water.

She placed her hand on her stomach and looked at the wall clock happily ticking away to itself. She hadn’t been able to stop the happy little smiles leaking onto her mouth the whole way to work.

Max would be there in under five minutes. She’d be able to tell him straight away, to his face, and see his reaction. She couldn’t wait! Good news like this was something he needed desperately. It would give him something to focus on while the Cow was being rebuilt. She grabbed one of the tests and slipped it into her palm and hurried out to the reception area. She slid it into her desk drawer, so she’d be ready when he walked in.

Trey wasn’t there yet, so she had a few minutes grace before he turned up.

The front door squeaked and she looked up to see Max step through. Butterflies surged and flooded her stomach. She couldn’t help the big smile that seeing him brought. She slid the drawer shut and hurried over to him and stood on tiptoe to peck a kiss to his lips.

Her hand rested on his chest, right above his fast-beating heart. A strange expression clouded his eyes, then disappeared as he smiled at her.

Or, tried to smile.

It came out more of a grimace. He stepped backward and her hand fell from his chest, clenching into a fist in the open air between them.

She covered her confusion at his strange reaction and straightened her slim-fit work shirt.

“I have some—”

“Mil, I think—”

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