Free Accidental Baby by Kim Lawrence Page B

practically.
    ‘Of course you do, sorry.’
    Liam’s plate was only half empty when he put his own knife and fork aside and, with his chin resting on steepled fingers, watched her demolish her food.
    She was aware of his eyes but she willed herself not to react to his amusement. ‘You’re a good cook,’ she admitted with a sigh as she pushed her empty plate to one side.
    ‘I had a good teacher.’
    ‘Thank you,’ she accepted the compliment. ‘Actually I think I’d have done my own sex a greater service if I’d
     refused to give you lessons,’ she observed tartly. ‘ Pulling females isn’t the purest motive for learning the culinary art.’
    ‘It was a great incentive though, and it worked.’
    ‘You did mention it at the time,’ she recalled sourly.
    ‘I was young,’ he excused himself. ‘For boys of a certain age “pulling”, as you so delicately phrase it, is a fundamental urge.’
    ‘You mean it changes?’
    ‘So young and so cynical.’
    ‘Perhaps I’ve got reason to be.’ As a mood-breaker this was in a class of its own. As she watched, Liam assumed the appearance of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
    It was heartbreaking. If he’d loved her, this baby and all it entailed wouldn’t have been a burden. It would have been an adventure, one to be shared and cherished.
    ‘I was talking to Dad.’
    ‘I thought you might have been,’ she said slowly. She knew Liam well enough to know this part had been coming. ‘I don’t suppose my name came up, did it?’ She eyed him warily. ‘I’m surprised you waited this long to share the pearls of your joint wisdom.’
    ‘I thought you might be more. . . amenable after I’d fed you.’
    ‘Don’t bank on it.’ A girl didn’t need to be psychic to anticipate an industrial-strength dose of moral blackmail heading in her direction.
    ‘Mum can’t be upset at the moment, the doctors made that quite clear. Stress could make all the difference between recovery and. . . ’
    ‘I understand that, of course I do.’ Did he think she was stupid?
    ‘You don’t want to marry me,’ he said flatly.
    I’d walk across hot coals to get to the altar if you loved me. ‘No,’ she agreed firmly, ‘I don’t.’ She frowned. She’d expected him to push this option even harder—he had a lot more at stake now.
    ‘Would an engagement be a compromise you could live with?’
    ‘Doesn’t the one usually lead to the other?’
    ‘Not in this case. Hear me out, Jo,’ he pleaded urgently, reading the rejection on her face. ‘It’ll be a cosmetic exercise. Mum will be happy.’
    ‘I can see that it would solve the short-term problem, but what about later on?’
    ‘She’ll be stronger then.’
    ‘You’ve got it all worked out.’ She glared at him resentfully. Of course she was going to agree; how could she not? Liam knew she’d do anything for Maggie.
    ‘Desperate circumstances call for desperate action.’ There was something scarily uncompromising about his expression.
    ‘Uncle Pat is in on this, then?’ She felt trapped. She knew lies had a way of spiralling out of control.
    Liam nodded slowly. ‘His main priority is getting Mum better. If you can think of another way around this, Jo, I’m all ears.’
    It wasn’t his ears she had a problem with, although they were rather nice; it was his legs, his washboard-flat stomach and wide, well-muscled chest. Just thinking about the curve of his strong back made her stomach go into spasm. She was even fond of that beaky nose. Once she reached his face she couldn’t actually decide which was more disturbing: his glorious eyes or that sinfully sexy mouth.
    ‘That’s generous of you. You know I’ve got to say yes, don’t you?’ The distress in her voice made his jaw set.
     ‘Do you expect me to lie to my dad too? Can you imagine how hurt he’ll be when he finds out?’
    ‘That’s up to you, but the fewer people who know the truth, the better. Uncle Bill isn’t the world’s