Free Her Secret, His Love-Child by Tina Duncan Page A

speechless.
    She remembered their first kiss that very same evening, when she’d trembled in his arms as if she’d never been kissed before.
    But she also remembered each and every time he’d returned to his apartment, leaving her with the smell of him on her skin, the taste of him in her mouth and only the lingering heat of his body to keep her warm.
    She looked him in the eye. ‘Yes, we had some good times. But it wasn’t all a bed of roses. At least, not for me.’
    Alex frowned. ‘Are you saying I made you unhappy?’
    Katrina swallowed. ‘Not entirely. I’m just saying I wasn’t particularly good mistress material.’
    His eyes narrowed to slits of blue. ‘You wanted more than I could give you.’
    It was a statement, not a question. Her fork clattered down on to her plate. ‘You knew?’
    He nodded. ‘Although you didn’t say anything, you weren’t very good at hiding your feelings. I warned youin the beginning that I didn’t plan on getting married or having children. You should have listened to me.’
    She inclined her head, an empty feeling attacking her insides, draining her of warmth. ‘You’re right. I should have. The point I’m trying to make is that I don’t want to keep revisiting the past. If we’re going to make this work we should start afresh.’
    ‘Considering we have a daughter together, don’t you think it’s a little too late for that?’
    She gestured with one hand. ‘You know what I mean. Can’t we just be friends for now? Until…you know…we get used to each other again?’
    Alex looked as though the idea was totally alien to him, and Katrina guessed he’d never had a platonic relationship with a woman in his life. ‘We’re meant to be building a lasting relationship.’
    ‘Then friendship is an excellent place to start, don’t you think?’
    ‘I don’t know if that will work.’ He picked up his wine and took a sip before saying slowly, ‘You can’t just pretend we don’t want each other, Katrina. It won’t make it go away.’
    Picking up her fork, Katrina skewered a honey king-prawn and doggedly began eating without giving him a reply.
    Alex obviously got the message, because he sighed and picked up his chopsticks.
    ‘Are your rooms OK?’ he asked a couple of minutes later.
    He’d put her and Samantha in adjoining rooms with their own bathroom. Her bedroom was large, spacious and luxuriously appointed.
    Their daughter’s bedroom had already been furnished as a nursery, complete with animal motifs on the walls and a pile of toys that must have cost a bomb.
    ‘They’re fabulous. How did you manage to decorate the nursery so fast?’
    His mouth twisted. ‘Money talks. I’m glad you like it.’
    She smiled with genuine warmth. ‘How could I not like it? It’s fantastic. And whoever chose the toys did a wonderful job. Sam already loves the pink teddy-bear.’
    Alex looked away, seemingly fascinated by the rice he’d picked up with his chopsticks.
    Instinct prompted her to ask, ‘Who bought the toys, Alex?’
    He looked up somewhat sheepishly. ‘I did.’
    ‘I see.’
    Katrina was stunned. Although why she should be she didn’t know. Alex was nothing if not thorough; when he did things he went all out, crossing every t and dotting every i.
    ‘I wanted to get Sam something from me,’ he said in that same sheepish tone. ‘I guess I got a little carried away, didn’t I?’
    She gave him a warm smile. ‘Maybe just a little bit. You bought enough toys to last her until she’s five. I don’t want her spoilt.’
    Alex smiled back. ‘I don’t want her spoilt either. I’ll try not to get so carried away in future.’
    Katrina’s heart turned over, then wrenched hard.
    This was so difficult.
    Alex had virtually blackmailed her into moving in with him. Now that she was here, she had two choices: she could either be as uncooperative as possible—in which case Alex would sue for custody and she wouldlose her baby—or she could try and make their