A Baby on Her Christmas List

Author:Louisa George [George, Louisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-04-19T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘THE PUDDING PLACE?’

‘The right choice?’

‘Oh, yes. Most definitely. These desserts are to die for. I couldn’t think of anywhere more perfect.’ Georgie’s gaze slid over the rows and rows of chocolate éclairs, mini-Pavlovas and baked cheesecakes in the little dessert-only café, and then landed on Liam. She regarded him with caution. Whatever had been haunting him had passed. The shadows on his face had cleared a little, leaving him pale and reserved and yet trying so hard to act normal. She hadn’t realised how emotionally distant he could make himself, even when he was in the same room.

For so many years his background had never mattered to her and she’d respected his need for privacy and put his quirky way with relationships down to immaturity at first, then pickiness, but now she believed it was meshed in fear. Of what, she wasn’t sure. But now...now it meant everything. It meant the difference between them surviving this strange set-up they’d created or failing it.

If she could understand why he held back so much, perhaps she could help him surmount it. Because although he’d shown commitment with his time, she still didn’t wholly trust that he would be there when it mattered. That he wouldn’t change his mind and run. And she wasn’t prepared to take that risk with her heart or her child’s.

A waitress arrived and asked for their order. Georgie couldn’t decide. ‘I think I’ll have one of each. To start with.’

‘You sure that’s enough?’ Liam laughed, a little more carefree. ‘Or are you just keeping it light until your appetite really gets going?’

‘This eating-for-two business is pretty damned good. I’m going to miss it after the baby comes.’

He gave his order then turned the menu over and over in his hands as he spoke. ‘In South Sudan it’s not uncommon for women to have large families, sometimes up to twelve kids. Imagine the fun you’d have then: eating for two for ever.’

‘I’d be the size of an elephant if I did that and be on a perpetual diet for the rest of my life.’ The chocolate éclair was divine. Great choice. Thick and rich and moist. It slid very easily down her throat. ‘But, listen, you never tell me properly about your trips. It’s always murky or dry or messy. But it must be way more than that.’

Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms and watched her eat. His gaze wandered over her, causing a riot of goosebumps over her skin, and she stared right back. Splatters of cream paint stuck to his old grey T-shirt. Funny, she remembered buying that for him years ago at a gig she’d been to when he’d been covering the night shift. It had been a little baggy on him back then but now it barely contained his solid biceps and stretched across a chest of muscle. His hair was sticking up in odd places, and he was dusty.

His knuckles were scratched and his skin torn. He looked rugged and edgy and it was such a turn on to watch him move she could barely think straight.

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