It was true that up until this moment, he’d believed that fatherhood was not for him. But he’d been talking about a concept, a theoretical child, and Nola knew that as well as he did.
His chest tightened with anger.
‘That doesn’t mean I don’t want to know when I am going to be one. In fact, I think I have a right to know. However, if you’re saying that you really don’t know who the father is, then I suggest we find out for certain.’ His eyes held hers. ‘I believe it’s a fairly simple test. Of course it would mean you’d have to miss your flight...’
Imprisoned by his dark grey gaze, Nola gritted her teeth.
He was calling her bluff, and she hated him for it.
But what she hated more was the fact that in spite of her anger and resentment she could feel her body unfurling inside, as though it was waking from a long hibernation. And even though he was causing mayhem in her life, her longing for him still sucked the breath from her lungs.
Glancing at his profile, she felt a pulse of heat that had nothing to do with anger skim over her skin. But right now the stupid, senseless way she reacted to Ram didn’t matter. All she cared about was catching that plane—and that was clearly not going to happen unless Ram found out, one way or another, if this baby was his.
So why not just tell him the truth?
Squaring her shoulders, she met his gaze. ‘Fine,’ she said slowly. ‘You’re the father.’
She didn’t really know how she’d expected him to react, but he didn’t say or do anything. He just continued to stare at her impassively, his grey eyes dark and unblinking.
‘I know you don’t want to be involved, and that’s fine. I’m not expecting you to be,’ she said quickly. ‘That’s one of the reasons I didn’t tell you.’
‘So you had more than one reason, then?’ he said quietly.
She frowned, unsure of how she should respond. But she didn’t get a chance to reply, for as though he had suddenly become conscious of the sidelong glances and the sudden stillness surrounding them, he reached down and picked up her suitcase.
‘I suggest we finish this in private.’
Turning, Ram walked purposefully across the departures lounge. Inside his head, though, he had no idea where he was going. Or what to do when he got there.
You’re the father!
Three words he’d never expected or wanted to hear.
Then—boom!—there they were, blowing apart his carefully ordered world.
His chest grew tight. Only this wasn’t just about his life anymore; there was a new life to consider now.
Through the haze of his confused thoughts he noticed two empty chairs in the corner, next to a vending machine, and gratefully sat down in one.
His head was spinning. Seeing Nola pregnant at the office, he’d guessed that he might be the father. But it had been just that. A guess. It hadn’t felt real—not least because he’d spent all his life believing that this moment would never happen.
Only now it had, and he would have expected his response to be a mix of resentment and regret.
But, incredibly, what he was actually feeling was resolve. A determination to be part of his child’s life.
Now all he needed to do was persuade Nola of that fact.
Glancing over to where Ram now sat, with that familiar shuttered look on his handsome face, Nola felt resentment surge through her. How could he do this? Just stroll back into her life and take over, expecting her to follow him across the room like some puppy he was training?
He had said he wanted to know the truth and so she’d told him, hoping that would be the end of their conversation. Why, then, did they need to speak in private? What else was there to say?
Her eyes narrowed. Maybe she should just leave him sitting there. Leave the airport, catch a train, or just go and hide in some nameless hotel. Show Ram that she wasn’t going to be pushed around by him.
But clearly he was determined to have the last word, and trying to stop him doing so would be like trying to defy gravity: exhausting, exasperating, and ultimately futile.
The fact was that he was just so much more relentless than she could ever be, and whatever it was that drove his desire—no, his determination to win, she couldn’t compete with it. Whether she liked it or not, this conversation was going to have to happen, so she might as well get on with it or she would never get on that plane.
Mutinously, she walked over to him and, ignoring the small satisfied smile on his face, sat down next to him.
Around her people were moving, picking up luggage and chatting, happy to be going home or going on holiday, and for a split second she wished with an intensity that almost doubled her over that it was her and Ram going away together. That she could rewind time, meet him in some other way, under different circumstances, and—
Her lip curled.
And what?
She and Ram might share a dizzying sexual chemistry, but there was no trust, no honesty and no harmony. Most of their conversations ended up in an argument, and the only time they’d managed to stay on speaking terms was when they hadn’t needed to speak.
Remembering the silence between them in the lift, the words left unspoken on her lips as he’d covered her mouth with his, she felt heat break out on her skin.
That night had been different. That night all the tension and antagonism between them had melted into the darkness and they had melted into one another, their quickening bodies hot and liquid...
She swallowed.
But sex wasn’t enough to sustain a relationship. And one night of passion, however incredible, wasn’t going to make her change her mind. It had been a hard decision to make, but it was the right one. A two-parent set-up might be traditional—desirable, even—but not if one of those parents was always halfway out through the door, literally and emotionally.
Breathing out slowly, she turned her head and stared into his eyes. ‘Look, what happened three months ago has got nothing to do with now...’ She paused. ‘It wasn’t planned—we just made a mistake.’
For a moment, his gaze held hers, and then slowly he shook his head.
‘We didn’t make a mistake, Nola.’
‘I wasn’t talking about the baby,’ she said quickly.
His eyes rested intently on her face.
‘Neither was I.’
And just like that she felt her stomach flip over, images from the night they’d spent together exploding inside her head like popping corn. Suddenly her whole body was quivering, and it was all she could do not to lean over and kiss him, to give in to that impulse to taste and touch that beautiful mouth once again—
Taking a quick breath, she dragged her eyes away from him, ignoring the sparks scattering over her skin.
‘You said you wanted to finish this, Ram, but we can’t,’ she said hoarsely. ‘Because it never started. It was just a one-night stand, remember?’
‘Oh, I remember every single moment of that night. As I’m sure you do, Nola.’
His eyes gleamed, and instantly her pulse began to accelerate.
‘But this isn’t about just one night anymore. Our one-night stand has got long-term consequences.’ He gestured towards her stomach.
‘But not for you.’ She looked up at him stubbornly, her blue eyes wide with frustration. ‘Whatever connection we had, it ended a long time ago.’
‘Given that you’re pregnant with my child, that would seem to be a little premature and counter-intuitive,’ he said softly. ‘But I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by continuing this discussion now.’ He grimaced. ‘Or here. I suggest we leave it for a day or two. I can take you back to the city—I have an apartment there you can use as a base—and I’ll talk to my lawyers, get some kind of intermediate financial settlement set up.’
Nola gazed at him blankly.
Apartment? Financial settlement?
What was he talking about?
This wasn’t about money. This was about what was best for their child, and Ram was not father material. A f
ather should be consistent, compassionate, and capable of making personal sacrifices for the sake of his child. But Ram was just not suited to making the kinds of commitment and sacrifices expected and required by parenthood.
She had no doubt that financially he would be generous, but children needed more than money. They needed to be loved. To be wanted.
Memories of her own father and his lack of interest filled her head, and suddenly she couldn’t meet Ram’s eyes. Her father had been a workaholic. For him, business had come first, and if he’d had any time and energy left after a working day he’d chosen to spend it either out entertaining clients or with one of his many mistresses. Home-life, his wife and his daughter, had been right at the bottom of his agenda—more like a footnote, in fact.
Being made to feel so unimportant had blighted her childhood. As an adult, too, she had struggled to believe in herself. It had taken a long time, her friendship with Anna, and a successful career to overcome that struggle. And it was a struggle she was determined her child would never have to face.
But what was the point of telling Ram any of that? He wouldn’t understand. How could he? It was not as if he’d ever doubted himself or felt that he wasn’t good enough.
‘No,’ she said huskily. ‘That’s not going to happen.’ She was shaking her head but her eyes were fixed on his face. ‘I don’t want your money, Ram, or your apartment. And I’m sorry if this offends your romantic sensibilities, but I don’t want you in my baby’s life just because we spent eight hours on a sofa in your office.’
Recognising his own words, Ram felt a swirling, incoherent fury surge up inside him. Wrong, he thought savagely. She had belonged to him that night, and now she was carrying his baby part of her would belong to him for ever.
Leaning back, he let his eyes roam over her face, his body responding with almost primeval force to her flushed cheeks and resentful pout even as his mind plotted his next move.
What mattered most was keeping her in Australia, and losing his temper would only make her more determined to leave. So, reining in his anger, he stretched out his legs and gazed at her calmly.
‘Sadly for you, that decision is not yours to make. I’m not a lawyer, but I’m pretty sure that it’s paternity, not romantic sensibilities, that matters to a judge. But why don’t you call your lawyer just to make sure?’
It wasn’t true but judging by the flare of fear in her eyes, Nola’s knowledge of parental rights was clearly based on law procedural dramas not legal expertise. Nola could hardly breathe. Panic was strangling her. Why was he suddenly talking about lawyers and judges?
‘Wh-Why are you doing this?’ she stammered. ‘I know you’re angry with me for not telling you about the baby, and I understand that. But you have to understand that you’re the reason I didn’t say anything.’
‘Oh, I see. So it’s my fault you didn’t tell me?’
He was speaking softly, but there was no mistaking the dangerous undertone curling through his words.
‘My fault that you deliberately chose to avoid me at the office today? And I suppose it’ll be my fault, too, when my child grows up without a father and spends the rest of his life feeling responsible—’
He broke off, his face hardening swiftly.
She bit her lip. ‘No, of course not. I just meant that from everything you said before I didn’t think you’d want to know. So I made a choice.’
Ram could hear the slight catch in her voice but he ignored it. Whatever he’d said before was irrelevant now. This baby was real. And it was his. Besides, nothing he’d said in the past could excuse her lies and deceit.
‘And that’s what this is about, is it? Your choices? Your pregnancy? Your baby?’ He shook his head. ‘This is not your baby, Nola, it’s our baby—mine as much as yours—and you know it. And I am going be a part of his or her life.’
Nola stared at him numbly, her head pounding in time with her heart. She didn’t know what to say to him—hadn’t got the words to defend herself or argue her case. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t listening to her anyway.
Shoulders back, neck tensing, she looked away, her eyes searching frantically for some way to escape—and then her heart gave a jolt as she suddenly saw the time on the departures board.
The next second she had snatched her suitcase and was on her feet, pulse racing.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
Ram was standing in front of her, blocking her way.
‘I have to go!’
Her voice was rising, and a couple of people turned to look at her. But she didn’t care. If she missed this flight she would be stuck in Sydney for hours, possibly days, and she had to get away—as far away from Ram as quickly as she could.
‘They’ve called my flight so I need to check in my luggage.’
For a moment he stared at her in silence, and then his face shifted and, leaning forward, he plucked the suitcase handle from her fingers.
‘Let me take that!’
He strode away from her and, cursing under her breath, she hurried after him.
‘I really don’t need your help,’ she said through gritted teeth.
Tucking the suitcase under his arm, he smiled blandly. ‘Of course not. But you have to understand I don’t fly commercial, so all this rushing around is very exciting for me. It’s actually better than watching a film.’
He sounded upbeat—buoyant, almost—and she glowered at him, part baffled, part exasperated by this sudden change in mood.
‘That’s wonderful, Ram,’ she said sarcastically. ‘But I’m not here to be your entertainment for the evening.’
‘If you were my entertainment for the evening you wouldn’t be getting breathless from running around an airport,’ he said softly. And, reaching over, he took her arm and pulled her towards him.
Her breath stuttered in her throat, and suddenly all her senses were concentrated on his hand and on the firmness of his grip and the heat of his skin through the fabric of her shirt.
‘You need to slow down. You’re pregnant. And besides...’ he gestured towards the seemingly endless queue of people looping back and forth across the width of the room ‘...I don’t think a couple of minutes is going to make that much difference.’
Gazing at the queue, Nola groaned. ‘I’m never going to make it.’
‘You don’t know that.’ Ram frowned. ‘Why don’t we ask at the desk?’
He pointed helpfully to where two women in uniform were chatting with a group of passengers surrounded by trolleys and toddlers. But Nola was already hurrying across the room.
‘Excuse me. Could you help me, please? I’m supposed to be on this flight to Edinburgh but I need to check in my baggage.’
Handing over her boarding pass, she held her breath as the woman glanced down at it, and then back at her screen, before finally shaking her head.
‘I’m sorry, the bag drop desk is closed—and even if we rush you through it’s a good ten minutes to get to the boarding gate.’ She grimaced. ‘And, looking ahead, all Edinburgh flights are full for the next twenty-four hours. You might be able to pick up a cancellation, but that would mean hanging around at the airport. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful...’
‘That’s okay,’ Nola said stiffly. ‘It’s really not your fault.’
And it wasn’t.
Turning away, she stalked over to where Ram stood, watching her unrepentantly.
‘This is your fault,’ she snapped. ‘If you hadn’t been talking to me I’d have heard it when they called my flight and then I would have checked in my luggage on time.’
He gazed at her blandly. ‘Oh, was that your flight to Edinburgh? I didn’t realise it was that important. Like I said, I don’t fly commercial, so—’
Nola stared at him, wordless with disbelief, her nails cutting into her hands. ‘Don’t give me that “I don’t fly commercial” rubbish. You knew exactly what you were doing.’
He smiled down at her serenely. ‘Really? You think I’d deliber
ately and selfishly withhold a vital piece of information?’ He shook his head, his eyes glittering. ‘I’m shocked. I mean, who would do something like that?’
She was shaking with anger. ‘This is not the same at all.’
‘No, it’s not,’ he said softly. ‘I stopped you catching a flight, and you tried to stop me finding out I was a father.’
‘But I didn’t do it to hurt you,’ she said shakily. ‘Or to punish you.’
And she hadn’t—only how could she prove that to Ram? How could she explain to him that she had only been trying to prevent her child’s future from inheriting her past? How could she tell him that life had taught her that no father was better than a bad father.
She shivered. It was all such a mess. And she didn’t know what to do to fix it. All she knew was that she wanted to go home. To be anywhere but at this noisy, crowded airport, standing in front of a man who clearly hated her.
Her eyes were stinging and she turned away blindly.
‘Nola. Don’t go.’
Something in his voice stopped her, and slowly, reluctantly, she met his gaze.
He was staring at her impassively, his eyes cool and detached.
‘Look, I don’t think either of us was expecting to have this conversation, and even though I think we both know that we have a lot to talk about we need time and privacy to do it properly. I also know that I need to get home, and you need a plane. So why don’t you borrow mine?’
She looked at him dazedly. ‘Borrow your plane?’
He nodded. ‘I have a private jet. Just sitting there, all ready to go, thirty minutes from here. It’s got a proper bedroom and a bathroom. Two, in fact, so you can get a proper night’s sleep. I guess I am responsible in part for making you miss your flight, so it’s really the least I can do.’
He looked so handsome, so contrite, and clearly he wanted to make amends. Besides, all her other options involved an effort she just couldn’t summon up the energy to make right now.
Biting her lip, she nodded.
* * *
Exactly thirty-three minutes later, Ram’s limo turned into a private airfield.
As the car slid to a halt, Nola glanced over to where Ram sat gazing out of the window in silence. ‘Thank you for letting me use your plane,’ she said carefully.
Kidnapped for the Tycoon's Baby Page 8
