Free Accidental Baby by Kim Lawrence

her eyes.
    ‘Self-pity isn’t going to help Aunt Maggie.’ She dampened her first instinct which ran vaguely along the lines of throwing herself into his arms. The last thing he needs is me going all cloying and tearful, she decided.
    ‘Go and help Dad, Jo.’
    I want to help you, she wanted to cry. The rejection nearly cracked her fragile composure. Just as well she didn’t take the emotional option. ‘He needs you, Liam.’
    Whatever divisions the revelations of his prospective fatherhood had brought about, this tragedy threatened to widen the gulf between father and son. She couldn’t take
     responsibility for that and she couldn’t watch that gulf become unbridgeable.
    ‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘Well, I know so, please , Liam.’ He met her pleading glance with all the appearance of disinterest. Jo wasn’t fooled—she knew how much he was hurting; she knew the coldness was a façade. She knew how much his father’s rejection had hurt him. ‘Are you so afraid of the possibility he’ll turn his back on you?’ She had to taunt just to get through to him.
    ‘I’m not. . . !’ he began, turning on her furiously.
    ‘Swallow your stiff-necked pride, Liam. Don’t let your guilt come between you and your father.’
    A slow, reluctant smile entered his eyes. ‘You always were an interfering little minx.’
    ’Go on,’ she said, giving him a little push, ‘what’s the odd bloody nose between family?’
    It didn’t come to that. She watched Liam sit beside his father and begin to speak, his voice low. He hadn’t spoken for long when she saw the older man’s shoulders begin to heave.
    Arms around his weeping father, Liam cast a look of deep gratitude in Jo’s direction.
    It hit her then. It didn’t really shock her as much as it might have—perhaps she’d secretly known all along. Perhaps that was why she hadn’t been in any hurry to find a man of her own. Perhaps that was why she had instinctively recoiled at the idea of formalising her tepid romance with Justin. There was no perhaps about the emotion that engulfed her now. She didn’t just love Liam, she was in love with him.

CHAPTER FOUR
    ‘I T COULD have been worse.’ Jo winced as the platitude slipped so readily from her lips.
    This need to fill the silence was a new thing. In the past they hadn’t needed words to fill comfortable silences—but then this silence wasn’t comfortable. It was tense and awkward. Every time Jo looked at Liam she was afraid he would read her thoughts. I don’t want his pity, she thought defiantly—he shan’t know.
    Liam just nodded. ‘Are they the day shift?’ he wondered out loud as they drove m the opposite direction to the steady stream of traffic entering the hospital. He glanced at his wrist-watch. ‘I’d lost track of time,’ he observed. ‘I suppose I should feed you.’
    ‘I’m easy.’
    His lips twitched and the faint flicker of movement became a proper grin. ‘No, you’re hard work most of the time, but usually worth it.’
    She didn’t read too much into this comment. It was relief, a manifestation of the euphoria that had been obvious in him since he’d spoken to the doctors.
    ‘You can just drop me off at Dad’s.’ She hoped he was still in bed. He’d probably go ballistic if he saw her getting out of Liam’s car. She wanted the chance to explain about Aunt Maggie before he waded in demanding blood.
    ‘Dare I take the risk? He might have his shotgun handy.’ Liam’s thoughts were obviously running along similar lines to her own. ‘Come to our place, Jo, and I’ll cook you
     something. I need to drop in there. I promised Dad I’d take him in a change of clothes and shaving gear.’
    ‘He needs a rest; you both do.’ She shot a swift, covetous look at his profile. He looked as though he hadn’t slept in days.
    ‘He won’t leave her.’
    ‘No,’ she agreed quietly. ‘I am quite hungry,’ she admitted lightly.
    ‘I’m not surprised after last night,’ he observed,