Free A Baby on Her Christmas List by Louisa George

arguing. It’s not like us. We don’t argue.’
    So many firsts for them. ‘You do realise that not once have you asked me for any details about the baby? About when it’s due. Or if I’ve had any scans. Which I have.’
    ‘I didn’t know where to start.’ Dropping the hammer to the floor, he looked lost. Shame faced. Terrified. ‘This is all so new. It’s pretty intense to get my head round.’
    He was a long way behind her in this. For the last few months she’d been wondering whether her child having a father around mattered. Whether, in the long term, it would matter to him.
    God, there were so many things she hadn’t thought of when she’d gone hurtling into this process. Things she should have talked to him about. Things that could make or break their friendship for ever. It was already spinning out of control.
    She pulled a scrap of paper from her purse, taking another risk at rejection. If he baulked at this then she’d reconsider. She got up and walked over to him. ‘Here, have a look. An early scan. More of a blob really, but there she is.’
    ‘She?’ He took the paper in a shaking hand but didn’t look at it. His face paled, he swallowed. And again. ‘Too early to talk about gender, isn’t it?’
    She shrugged. ‘I just think of her as a girl. Don’t know why.’ She pushed the paper closer to him. ‘Take a look.’
    His fingers closed over the top corner of the paper. He took a deep breath and looked down. No sound. No emotion. Nothing flickered across his face. Nothing to register that this was his child. That she was carrying his baby. Then he raised his head and gave her the scan picture back. ‘My God.’
    His voice was hollow and raw and she wondered what he was thinking. Maybe he was happy that she was happy but didn’t know how to show it.
    Her throat filled. ‘I don’t know what to say or do to make this easier...or less complicated. I know this is going to sound very selfish, but I want everything, Liam. I want this baby, but I don’t want to lose your friendship.’
    ‘And I...’
    She thought he was going to say more but he didn’t. His hands dropped to his sides as he shook his head and turned away.
    Despite his doubts, he’d given her this gift. How could she have been so angry with him? He looked so empty and confused that she stepped forward and wrapped her arms round him, pulled him to her, and he responded by holding her close.
    Her hands ran over muscles, dips and grooves of naked hot skin, slick with a light sheen of sweat. Her heart began to pound as awareness surged through her. His smell of surgical soap, aftershave and pure male heat filled the air. She inhaled it. And again.
    His face was inches from hers. His breath feathered her skin. But she daren’t move. Something stirred inside her deep and low. Her breasts tingled for his touch. Was he feeling this too? She hoped...but then what? This whole crazy messed-up situation didn’t need complicating further. If he knew what was running through her brain right this second he’d probably walk away and never come back. For all she knew, he was probably planning that anyway.
    Keeping her eyes tightly closed, she held her breath, felt him relax against her, felt his grip on her lessen. She didn’t want him to let go. She wanted...
    ‘Thanks for that, you old bat,’ he whispered, lips pressed against her cheek, his scent intensified along with the tingling through her body, pooling in her groin. She couldn’t think of anything but him, being in his arms, how good this felt.
    Heat swamped her. There was no point pretending that what she felt for him wasn’t real, that this was just a hormonal response. For goodness’ sake, she’d been struggling with these weird emotions for months now. And, yes, she wanted to kiss him. She had to know what he tasted like. How he would feel.
    With every risk of him leaving
—
and with no thought for the consequences
—
she turned her head, met his mouth. Felt his surprise