Page 41 of An Heir Made In Hawaii (Hot Winter Escapes)

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to follow you home.”

She blinked and looked up at him. “You mean ‘Anika, may I follow you home?’”

His eyes narrowed even as his lips curved into a reluctant smirk. “Yes. That.”

She sighed. “Yes, you may.”

Ten minutes later, Anika drove down the lane. She’d barely parked the car when Nicholas appeared at her door and opened it for her.

“Do you have any guests tonight?”

“No. January is our slowest month,” she said as he followed her inside. “I need to come up with something for next year’s skiing season. Although,” she added with a yawn, “I’m not disappointed this year. Half the time I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“Why don’t you head up to bed? I can lock up on my way out.”

“I will in a bit.” She hung up her coat and pulled the photos out of her pocket. “I think I’m going to make myself a cup of tea, light a fire in the library and stare at these for a while.”

She looked up to find Nicholas watching her intently.

“You’re happy, then?”

“Very.” She crossed over to him and held up the photos. “How could I not be? I got to see our baby today.”

She traced a finger over the tiny head, that sense of wonder returning. It might not be how she’d imagined starting a family. But it was happening. She was going to be a mother.

“I’ll make the fire for you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I don’t. But I’d like to.”

She huffed to cover her spurt of pleasure. “Well, thank you.”

By the time she walked into the library, a fire blazed in the hearth. Nicholas had turned on a couple of the banker’s lamps, the green glass lampshades glowing in the darkening room. Nicholas himself had stretched out on one of the leather sofas.

Suddenly and inexplicably nervous, Anika walked into the library.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were staying, or I would have brought another cup of tea.”

“May I see the pictures?”

“Oh. Of course.” She pulled the pictures out of her pocket and handed them over. He took them with a light touch, as if he were afraid he might rip them just by handling them. She focused on her tea as he shuffled through them. He would pause on one, turn it this way and that, then continue on to the next, still wearing that unreadable expression he’d had in the doctor’s office.

Finally, he laid them on the coffee table and leaned back into the couch, staring at the fire.

“Is everything okay?” Anika finally asked.

“Yes.”

Nicholas turned to her. He reached out, took the teacup from her grasp and set it on the table before turning back and taking her hands in his.

He’s going to end it.

Anika sucked in a deep breath, mentally steeling herself. It had been too much, too much seeing the actual evidence that their night in Hawaii had created a child.

“I knew you were pregnant, had accepted it from the moment you told me.” He glanced at the photos again, then back at her. “But seeing it...actually seeing the baby...hearing you say ‘our child’ cemented it.” His hands tightened on hers. “I told you before I’m not sure what kind of father I’m going to make. But I know I’m going to try to be the best one I can be. For you and for the baby.”

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