Page 193 of New Storm Rising
“Y-you really think so?”
“Of course. You will be an adequa—ehem,wonderfulmother.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” I whispered, staring up at him imploringly. “Why didn’t you say a single word?”
He simply gazed back at me, and silently cocked his head.
And I felt like banging mine against the wall. Stupid question. Why didn’t he say anything? Why didn’t he open his mouth to have a nice, long talk with me? This wasMr Rikkard Ambrose we were talking about!
“You…you…I’m going to beat you into a pulp!”
“Strenuous exercise during pregnancy is inadvisable.”
“Oh, is that a fact?” Eyes sparking dangerously, I slipped out of his grip and reached for my gun holster. “Well, then let’s go for a less strenuous method, shall we?”
His hand shot out, capturing my wrist. “Let’s not.”
Before I could retort, he pulled me into another embrace, conveniently trapping my arms at my sides.
“Why?” I demanded, burying my face in his chest. “Why me?”
“Because you engaged in sexual congress with me?”
I slammed a fist into his pectorals. “Not helping!”
“Indeed?”
“That word is not a cure-all for situations in which you have no frigging clue what to say!”
“Indeed.”
“One more time! One more time, Mister, and you’ll be sleeping in the doghouse tonight! And I’mnotspeaking metaphorically!”
“In…fact, Mrs Ambrose?”
“Oh, yes, Mr Ambrose, Sir.” Fixing my gaze on him, I stared straight into his eyes. “Why?” I demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me before? I know that you barely manage to pull your teeth apart more than twice a day, but somehow, I don’t think that’s quite enough of a reason to not tellyour own wifethat she’sbloody pregnant!”
Silence.
I narrowed my eyes at him, searching his face. It was stony, totally unmoving, and yet…and yet…
“You had a bet with Karim on how long it would take me to notice, didn’t you?”
“As the inhabitants of this land are wont to say, Mrs Ambrose, I plead the fifth.”
“You—!”
Drawing back my arm, I prepared myself to slap him six ways to Sunday—only to have my hand captured in his. Pinning me in place with his gaze, he leaned forward until I could feel his breath on my cheek.
“And…” he began.
I felt my heart make a leap. “Yes?”
His face remained as hard as granite. But I could have sworn his fathomless eyes softened just the tiniest bit. “I didn’t speak because I knew it would be better to wait. To give you time to realize what was happening and come to terms with it on your own.”
Warmth spread through my chest. Warmth that I desperately, sorely needed. Warmth that only he could give.
“You…you bloody son of a bachelor!”
