Blush

by Nicola Marsh

  CHAPTER TEN

  Reid remained silent the entire cab ride back to his hotel. He had to, because if he opened his mouth and acknowledged the taxi driver’s attempts at conversation, the rage bubbling beneath the surface would erupt in a tirade that no one, let alone a stranger, should have to deal with.

  He’d fucked up.

  But so had Adele. Big time.

  How had he got this so wrong? He’d headed over to her place, ready to declare his feelings with the monumental news he was leaving politics, only to have her blindside him.

  He was going to be a father.

  And she wasn’t going to tell him.

  He sat on his fists to prevent from punching the window in disgust.

  What type of a guy did she think he was, that he’d give up contact with his child because of his job?

  Sure, she had a fair point, implying he wouldn’t want to have anything to do with his child because of the way he’d wanted to keep their relationship a secret. But he’d thought they’d connected on so many levels, that she could see past his outer layer.

  His career may have meant everything to him in the past but not any more. He was willing to walk away. For her. And now, for their child.

  But Adele didn’t feel anything for him. They’d had sex, that’s it.

  He wanted to scream ‘bullshit’, but knew the driver wouldn’t appreciate that either.

  So he gritted his teeth during the interminable ten-minute ride from Adele’s to his hotel, biting down on a host of curses and resisting the urge to punch the crap out of something.

  After flinging way too much money at a baffled driver, he headed for the sanctity of his room.

  A room still occupied by his sister when he flung open the door.

  “You need to leave,” he said, making straight for the mini bar and pouring himself a double whisky.

  “I thought you might need someone to talk to?” Jess took a tentative step toward him but stopped when he shot her a disgusted glare.

  “You knew about the baby and didn’t tell me?” He drained the whisky, slammed the empty glass on the bar and folded his arms to stop from throttling his sister. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

  “Could ask the same about you.” Her unflappability made him madder, as she calmly sat and relaxed into a chair. “For a guy who’s just discovered he’s going to be a daddy, you’re lacking the parental glow.”

  “Fuck you,” he muttered, topping up his drink and downing it in three gulps.

  Jess sighed. “What did you do?”

  “What did I do?” Reid thumped his chest. “How in God’s name do you think this is my fault?”

  “Because when you left here, you’d finally pulled your head out of your ass and were running like a man possessed to the woman you love. A woman who just happens to be carrying your baby. So excuse me while I try to figure out what has you in such a tizz.” Jess searched his face. “Is it because she didn’t tell you? Because she had her reasons, you know.”

  “Oh yeah, she told me some of those reasons.” Finally running out of steam, Reid sat next to Jess. “She threw the possibility of a relationship back in my face. Said she didn’t want a part-time dad for the kid, a dad who’d keep the kid secret because of his job, even after I told her I’d leave politics.”

  A frown creased Jess’s brow. “Really? Because the reason Del didn’t tell you about the baby was to protect you from making a choice. The baby or your job.” Jess tapped her temple. “And if she thinks the way I do, like any woman does, she wouldn’t want you sticking around her out of obligation.”

  “It wasn’t like that.” But as his sister’s words sunk in, a sliver of remorse pierced Reid’s stubbornness.

  Jess made sense. If that’s what Adele thought, that he wanted a relationship because of the baby, no great surprise she didn’t want a bar of him. Adele was a savvy, intelligent, independent woman who didn’t need a guy in her life. He could imagine her being a brilliant mom too, without help from anyone.

  Jess’s eyes narrowed. “You did mention you wanted a real relationship and were leaving politics before you found out about the baby, right?”

  Reid’s heart sank. “Well, no. We kinda got sidetracked when I arrived. Then she didn’t tell me about the baby, I guessed. The rest turned to shit after that.”

  “You’re a moron.” Jess made loopy circles at her temple. “Don’t you get it? You’ve given her no reason to want to be with you.” Jess rolled her eyes. “She thinks you want to be with her because of the baby, not because you love her. Which I assume you’ve told her?”

  Reid pinched the bridge of his nose, understanding why he’d avoided commitment all these years. He was clueless when it came to deciphering the inner sanctum of the female psyche. Love was a bitch.

  “Uh…no. She threw my offer back in my face so we didn’t get to the declaring undying love stage.”

  Jess stood, one hand on her hip, the other pointed at the door. “You need to go back there and fix this.”

  “I can’t.” He looked away, focusing on the flat screen TV hanging on the wall, rather than see the pity in his sister’s eyes when he told her the rest. “One thing she made perfectly clear? She doesn’t feel anything for me.”

  Jess snorted. “Yeah, right.”

  “It’s true, that’s what she said.”

  “So let me guess. Your pride took a massive hit and you stormed out of their in a huff, blaming everything on her.”

  Reid eyeballed Jess when he heard her audible amusement. “You think this is a frigging joke?”

  Some of the teasing sparkle in Jess’s eyes faded. “No, but I know you, bro. You’ve never had a committed relationship in your life so you have no idea how to go about it.”

  “Like you and Jack were any better,” he muttered, sounding like a sulky child.

  Jess grinned. “Exactly. We were a couple of clueless clowns too, stumbling around, not admitting the truth to ourselves let alone each other. I think you and Del are the same.”

  He shook his head. “But there’s a baby involved and she didn’t tell me…”

  “Get over it. You know now.” She made a shooing gesture toward the door. “Go do something about it.”

  He winced, not proud of his parting shot. “I may have inferred I’d fight her for the baby when I left.”

  Jess bent down and punched him in the arm. “All the more reason to head back there and start groveling, dufus.”

  “No.”

  “No?” Jess’s eyebrows almost touched her hairline.

  “Think I have a better idea.”

  Because Jess was right about one thing. He hadn’t had a chance to tell Adele how he felt and once he’d learned of the baby, it had been too late. Everything had gone pear-shaped. She’d become defensive, he’d become angry and it went downhill from there.

  He needed to show Adele he loved her. A grand gesture she had no hope of mistaking. He knew just the way to do it.

  But first, he needed to enlist the help of Adele’s closest friend.

  “Do you have Chantal’s number?”

  A mischievous smile curved Jess’s mouth. “Yeah, why?”

  “I’ve got a plan and this time, I’m fighting for the woman I love and our baby.”

  Jess let out a loud whoop and he stood, hauling her in for a hug.

  “Thanks, Sis. You’ve been amazing.”

  She smacked him on the chest when he released her. “Nah, I just want a decent sister-in-law, someone I know will whip your ass if you step out of line.”

  Reid tweaked her nose. “I need that number.”

  “You got it.”

  As Reid fired off a text message to Chantal and received a reply that made him hope, he knew one thing.

  From here on in, he’d make sure there were no mixed messages or missed opportunities.

  He wanted to make a declaration to Adele and he’d make damned sure she listened this time.

  An hour later, feeling drained and limp, Ad
ele managed to shower before donning her favorite cotton PJs and crawling under the covers. Where she intended to stay. Until the baby was born.

  When a loud knocking on the door startled her, she ignored it. Last thing she needed was for Reid to come back to harangue her some more. She couldn’t face him. Not now. Not ever. Though she’d have to change her tune if he was serious about being a part of their child’s life.

  Hell, what a freaking mess.

  Her cell pinged and she reluctantly grabbed it off the bedside table and checked the screen, to find a message from Chantal.

  OPEN UP, SUNSHINE, I KNOW U R IN THERE.

  URGENT.

  Adele was tempted to ignore the message, but the last thing she needed was to piss off her boss and friend. She needed a steady income now more than ever to provide for her child.

  She threw off the blanket and struggled into a sitting position, feeling a hundred years old. Without bothering to run a comb or fingers through her hair, she shuffled to the front door and opened it.

  “Yikes. You look like shit.” Chantal bustled past her, a picture of perfection in a slim-fitting crimson sheath dress and matching heels. “Lucky for you, I’ve got just the remedy.”

  “I don’t feel well,” Adele said, not above faking an illness or using her pregnancy to get rid of Chantal so she could wallow in misery alone. “Morning sickness.”

  “That’s crap and we both know it.” Chantal’s critical gaze started at her toes and moved upward. “You need to get dressed pronto. Do your hair and makeup too.”

  “This isn’t a good time for me—”

  “We could spend the next hour arguing, but I’m not leaving here without you.” Chantal crossed her arms and drummed her fingers against her forearms. “I’m on a tight schedule so hurry the hell up.”

  Damn it, Adele had hoped to avoid telling Chantal the whole sordid story of her encounter with Reid, but looked like nothing would budge her bossy friend bar the truth.

  “I’m not going out,” Adele said, shaking her head. “Reid knows about the baby. And we’re finished. So if you don’t mind, I need to go back to bawling or eating a tub of ice cream or something—”

  “I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to show you this, but if it’s the only thing that will move your sorry ass…” Chantal fished her cell out of her designer handbag and held up the screen.

  Adele peered at it, shocked to see a message from Reid to her friend.

  I LOVE ADELE.

  NEED 2 PROVE IT.

  GET HER 2 THE AIRPORT PLEASE.

  AM A DESPERATE MAN.

  “The guy loves you.” Chantal waved the phone in her face. “How could you not do what he says?”

  Reid loved her?

  At no point had he mentioned love. Then again, would it have made any difference? Letting him into her life permanently meant telling him the truth. All of it. How long would his love for her last after that?

  “Why the airport?”

  Chantal shrugged. “How the hell should I know? I’m just Cupid’s go-between.”

  “Traitor more like it,” Adele muttered, curious despite her adamant stance to not see Reid again if she could help it. “I’m not going.”

  “Honey, I’m not averse to using force, so unless you get moving?” Chantal’s manicured thumbnail tapped at the cell’s screen. “I’m going to send him a reply guaranteed to make your life hell.”

  Weariness crept through her, mixed with a healthy dose of resignation. Adele didn’t have the energy to fight any more. She’d do this. It would give her a chance to clear the air with Reid and listen to his plans to be part of their child’s life.

  She needed to establish a polite relationship with him, if only for the baby’s sake. She didn’t like how they’d ended things earlier. Stress and animosity wasn’t healthy for her or the baby. This situation needed to get sorted. Now.

  “Okay, give me five minutes.” Adele held up her hand, fingers spread.

  Chantal took one look at her hair and screwed up her nose. “Make it fifteen, hun. You really do look like shit.”

  For the first time since Reid had stormed out, Adele felt like laughing.

  While Chantal flicked through a stack of glossy magazines, Adele set about restoring some of her dignity. She would need a polished exterior when she saw Reid again. Because inside, she’d still be a quivering mess.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Reid kept one eye on his watch, the other on the private jet being refueled. Everything was in place and according to Chantal’s text she was on her way to the airport with Adele.

  The first stage of his plan had been put into motion. The rest? Would be tough. Convincing Adele to get on a plane with him would be damn difficult. But if what Jess said was true, and Adele really did love him, he hoped she’d give him a chance to prove it.

  His cell vibrated in his jacket pocket and his heart plummeted. If this was Chantal saying Adele had changed her mind, he had no idea what to do next.

  He slipped the cell out of his top pocket and glanced at the screen. Jack. Who had probably been filled in on the whole sorry saga via Jess.

  Reid hit the answer button. “Hey, butt face.”

  “G’day, asshole.”

  Reid grinned at their longstanding greetings. He loved how Aussies said the opposite of what they meant, turning everything into a joke.

  “What’s up?”

  Jack sniggered. “Not you, considering how you’ve fucked up your love life.”

  Reid rolled his eyes. Yep, news traveled fast. “Not discussing this with you.”

  “Didn’t think so.” Jack chuckled. “Take it from me, mate. Women aren’t from Venus. They’re from some frigging outer space planet we wouldn’t want to discover let alone navigate. Just say yes to everything she wants and admit nothing.”

  “Is that how you treat my sister?”

  Jack snorted. “Not discussing that with you.”

  “Touché.” Reid grinned. “So if you didn’t want to give me grief over my botched relationship, what did you want?”

  “Remember Zane, my mate who’s the gun Aussie Rules footballer?”

  “Yeah.” Reid searched his memory banks, vaguely recalling meeting the strapping Aussie when he visited LA with Jack five years earlier. “He’s the one who can get a girl just by looking at her, right?”

  Jack laughed. “Yeah, though here in Oz he can’t walk down the street because guys mob him too, he’s that good at kicking around the footy.”

  “Something happen to him?”

  Jack snorted. “Nothing bad ever befalls that lucky prick. Nah, he’s about to land in Vegas and I thought once he gets settled you could give him the grand tour?”

  “Love to, but I’m at the airport about to head back to LA.” As Reid caught sight of Chantal striding toward him, with a reluctant Adele lagging behind, inspiration struck. “Hey, how about I get Chantal to show him around? She just arrived with Adele and if all goes well, she’ll be heading back into town alone.”

  “Chantal playing tour guide for Zane?” Jack wolf-whistled. “Wow, those two are an explosion just waiting to happen. Two hardheaded, go-getters? Brilliant idea.”

  As Adele spotted him and stalled, Reid gripped the phone so tight it almost cracked. “Gotta go. What flight is the big guy on?”

  “DL893.”

  Reid tore his eager gaze off Adele long enough to check the overhead arrivals board, to see Zane’s flight had landed and was disembarking in the gate opposite.

  “I’m on it.”

  “Thanks, mate.” Jack cleared his throat. “And good luck. I know what it feels like to be blindsided by a woman. Schmucks like us don’t stand a chance.”

  “Too right. Later.” Reid disconnected and strode toward Chantal and Adele, torn between wanting to pick Adele up and never let go, and berating her for putting them through this.

  “Here you go, Slick.” Chantal slung an arm around Adele’s shoulders and nudged her toward him. “My present to you.”

&
nbsp; Adele elbowed Chantal in the ribs and Reid grinned. A grin not matched by Adele, who continued to glower at him.

  “Thanks.” Reid dropped a kiss on Chantal’s cheek and held out a hand to Adele.

  Predictably, she ignored it. Not a problem. He had all the time in the world to break down her resistance. He wouldn’t give up on her, not this time.

  “Think you could do me another favor, Chantal?” Reid said, glancing over at the passengers disembarking nearby and spotting the tall, blond Aussie footballer cutting a path through the crowd. “There’s a friend of Jack’s who has just arrived and we were wondering if you could show him around town a bit?”

  Chantal’s crimson glossed lips pursed in disapproval. “What do you think I am, a freaking babysitter?”

  “Zane’s a good guy.” Reid hid a smirk. “Won’t hurt you to take pity on an Aussie tourist his first time in town?”

  Chantal shook her head. “No way.” She gently shoved Adele toward him. “Here’s the first and last favor I’ll be doing for you.”

  Reid shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Too bad. Zane’s heading this way and he’s looking a little lost.”

  Chantal’s curious gaze swung left and Reid registered the exact moment she caught sight of Zane.

  Her mouth dropped open before she snapped it shut. “That’s him? The tall, tanned, freaking unbelievably gorgeous one?”

  Reid nodded. “Don’t worry, it’s okay, I’ll get someone else to show him around—”

  “Like hell.” Chantal squared her shoulders and smoothed a hand over her red dress. “It’d be plain churlish of me to refuse doing you another favor.”

  “And doing yourself one,” Reid said, risking a wink in Adele’s direction.

  Adele’s lips twitched and it was the first sign she may be thawing a little.

  “Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Reid held up his hand and called out, “Zane. Over here.”

  The Aussie glanced across, a small puzzled frown creasing his brow before he spotted Reid. He strode across the concourse toward them and Reid could’ve sworn every woman within thirty feet stopped to watch the footballer. Including Adele. Reid wanted to kill the guy on the spot.