His Perfect Match by Elaine Overton

Author:Elaine Overton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.
Published: 2009-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Later that day, Darius was beginning to feel the effects of some recently administered painkillers when he felt a presence in the room. He opened his eyes to find Liz standing beside the bed watching him with watery eyes.

“How’s Marc?” His drowsy voice startled her.

“I thought you were asleep.” Liz smiled, and the water spilled over to her cheek. “He’s doing fine.”

“Good.”

“How are you?”

“Good. The doctor said I should be released in three days.”

“That’s standard. Marc should be coming home around the same time.” She toyed with the arm of the bed. “Darius, I want you to come home with us when you leave here.”

“No, Liz, thanks, but I couldn’t impose on you that way. And in a few days I’ll be heading back to New Zealand anyway.”

Her eyebrows crinkled in confusion. “Already?”

“I’ve been away too long as it is.”

She shook her head firmly. “Okay—but I insist you stay with us until you leave.”

“Liz, really—”

“I insist.”

“All right. If you insist.” Darius sighed, knowing he was in no shape to argue with her, and besides, the idea of spending his recovery time alone in a sterile hotel room, as opposed to spending it in Liz’s cozy, small home with his son didn’t come close to being appealing.

“Look…about what happened earlier in the stairwell.”

“Forget it.” Darius turned his head away and reached for his water cup. The sting of that particular burn was still too fresh, and he had no intention of letting her know that she could still inflict that kind of hurt on him. “We were both angry and it got out of hand. But I meant what I said, Liz, I want to be a part of Marc’s life.” He glanced at her. “It bothers me that he calls me Uncle Darius. What is he going to think when he learns the truth?”

“You think I don’t worry about that?”

“We need to explain it to him in a way he can understand.”

“I’ll explain it to him.”

“When?”

“Soon.”

“Three months.”

“What?”

“In three months you’ll be coming to Tairua, and if you haven’t told him the truth by then, I will.”

They simply stared at each other, the silent challenge was palpable.

His eyes narrowed. “I mean it. You have three months to tell him the truth, Liz. One way or another my son will grow up knowing who his father is. Are we clear?”

“Perfectly,” she said softly, then turned and started toward the door. “I just wanted to check and see how you were doing. Just let the nurse know if you need anything and I’ll see you at check out.”

“Liz.”

She paused in the doorway.

“If you want to withdraw the invitation to stay at your house, I’ll understand.”

“Why would I do that?”

He simply looked at her knowing they both knew why.

“One thing has nothing to do with the other, Darius. You have given my son something no one else could, and for that I will always be grateful. The fact that you require a price for it shouldn’t surprise me. After all, making a profit has always been your highest priority.

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