Brought Together by Baby

Author:Margaret McDonagh [McDonagh, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460377437
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

AFTER George’s departure, Holly spent a few moments bringing order to her room and putting her toiletries in the space Gus had made for her in the shared bathroom. Before heading downstairs she stopped by the nursery, recalling Gus’s surprise the night before when he’d seen the results of her efforts. His reaction had made the long hours she’d spent on the task worthwhile.

Since the previous night Gus had added finishing touches and organised the room. He’d even hung in the window the rainbow spinner she’d bought to entertain Max. An inbuilt mini solar panel absorbed the sunlight and turned the crystals hanging beneath, reflecting rainbows of colour around the room.

Excited by Max’s imminent arrival home, she went down to the kitchen. Gus was sitting at the table, and she sensed a reserve in him that hadn’t been there a short while ago. Maybe the act of her physically moving in had hit him as forcefully as it had hit her, slamming home the reality that they were confined under this roof together with Julia and the past hanging over them. Forbidden territory. But not forgotten…certainly not by her.

Would having Max at home make things easier? Holly hoped so. With any luck they’d be so focused on the baby’s needs there wouldn’t be time to notice the tension—or for her to brood over Gus, and what she’d lost. Once they returned to work their paths would only cross as they exchanged responsibility for Max. Or so she hoped. Again and again she repeated the mantra she’d used to reassure her friends…she was doing the right thing for Max. But doubts still nagged at her.

Gus looked up from the notepad on the table in front of him, his sultry green eyes guarded. ‘Has George gone?’

‘Yes. She had some errands to run.’ Covering her nerves, Holly accepted the coffee he offered and sat down, keeping the solid width of the table between them. ‘You’ve finished the nursery so well.’

‘Its success is your doing, not mine.’

Although his gruff praise gave her a warm tingle, she was aware that her presence unsettled him. ‘We’ve both done our part.’ She sucked in a steadying breath and decided to tackle things head-on. ‘Gus, I know this situation is far from how you planned it, and I know you don’t really want me here, but this is about Max—not about us.’

‘There is no us,’ he pointed out, with a harshness that pierced her like a knife.

‘No. I know that.’ She knew it all too painfully, without the huge dose of salt being rubbed into a wound still deep and raw. Tears stung her eyes and she looked away, fighting against them and the emotions churning within. It was a struggle, but she regained control, although bitterness and sarcasm laced her words. ‘I don’t need reminding of the choice you made, Gus.’

‘Holly…’

He fell silent, his frown deepening, and she watched as he dragged a hand through his hair, always a sure sign of his discomfort. Before he could say more, she pressed on.

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