Page 97 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

Theirfamily.

He’d give their child the love he’d never had when he was young. Though he had a lot to learn, he’d be the best father, the best husband.

Jubilation filled him. ‘I know you only met them last night but my family like you. They’ll be thrilled with our news.’

But not as thrilled as he was. Lex wanted to shout the news to the whole of Athens. He wanted to gather the family together and announce it today.

‘About that.’ Portia paused, her forehead wrinkling. ‘I want to wait.’

‘Wait? What for?’

The sooner they married the better as far as he was concerned. He wouldn’t feel completely at ease, he realised, till he had his ring on her finger and their marriage certificate in his hand.

‘Let’s sit.’

She led him towards the bed and sat down. The movement opened his partly buttoned shirt to reveal one slender thigh and an intriguing hint of shadow between her legs that threatened to distract him.

‘Good idea.’ As if the idea of delay didn’t bother him, or the temptation of her nearly naked body mess with his head. Deliberately he released her hand and moved away to grab a small table to put beside her, then placed the tray on it. ‘You can have your breakfast while we talk.’

Though he’d much rather ignore breakfast and her idea of delaying and simply make love to her again.

Lex gritted his teeth. He was a civilised man. Wasn’t he?

He waited until she’d taken a sip of tea and a bite oftyropita, forcing himself not to watch the way she slipped her tongue along her lips to catch an elusive crumb of filo pastry. Instead he looked towards the window and the view of the white city beyond.

‘Why delay, Portia? There’s nothing to stop us moving ahead now.’

She put the plate down and lifted one shoulder. Instead of an insouciant shrug, the gesture looked defensive. Her eyes met his and he sensed something there, something he couldn’t read.

‘Give me another six weeks before we share our news.’

‘Six weeks?’ That seemed like an inordinate amount of time. She was already two months pregnant.

Portia nodded. ‘In the meantime I’ll go back to London, to work.’

Lex scowled. ‘You don’t want to be with me?’ He’d thought everything had changed after last night and her announcement just now. ‘I’m going to be your husband. I want to be with you, look after you and the baby.’

Did he imagine she stiffened? He didn’t understand. What was wrong with him caring for their child and her?

‘Those are my conditions, Lex. I want to carry on my normal life until then. If everything is all right in six weeks’ time I’ll come to Athens or your island, wherever you’re living, and we’ll tell your family.

Flummoxed, Lex stared as she picked up her breakfast.

Watching her eat, those neat bites and those lush lips, he was reminded of the way she’d used her mouth on him last night. She’d undone him in so many ways. Yet here she was, munching away as if unmoved by the intimacies they’d shared or the bond he was so sure they’d forged.

Then it struck him. The need for secrecy. The desire to keep her job when clearly he could support her.

She was thinking about the possibility of miscarriage. If there were no baby there’d be no need to marry and she’d want to keep her job.

It was a sucker punch to his belly, winding him and making every muscle spasm. He breathed through the pain, telling himself it wouldn’t happen.

His joy dimmed.

‘You’re young, fit and healthy. The doctor was pleased with you. There’s no need to imagine—’

‘There are no guarantees with pregnancy, Lex.’ Portia spoke softly but her unsteady voice revealed anxiety. It curdled his belly because he knew there was nothing he could do to assuage it. ‘No one, not even the doctor, can be completely sure. So let’s take our time. There’s no need to rush.’

Lex exhaled slowly. ‘Okay. In a month’s time you’ll be twelve weeks through the pregnancy. Everything I’ve read says that’s when it’s most likely something could go wrong.’

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