A Scandal, a Secret, a Baby by Sharon Kendrick

Author:Sharon Kendrick [Kendrick, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460894118
Publisher: Mills & Boon Sexy
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘DANTE WANTS TO KNOW whether you’ve received the brochure, Miss Perry?’

Justina’s fingers tightened around the telephone receiver as she listened to the transatlantic accent of Tiffany Jones and wondered why the hell she hadn’t just let this call go through to her answering service. She was feeling lumpy and lethargic enough without having to endure yet another of these polite and all-too-frequent queries which had been coming from Dante’s personal assistant in his New York office.

But it would be demeaning to give in to what she really wanted to say, which was: Are you sleeping with the father of my baby? Surely a situation like this demanded that she act with an unflappability equal to that of the cool-sounding Tiffany.

‘Yes, thank you. I’ve received it,’ said Justina, recalling the ritzy attachment which had pinged through on to her computer last week, offering a cornucopia of luxurious items for the more privileged baby.

‘And did you like it?’ Tiffany’s voice was eager. ‘Would you like us to go ahead and order the crib for you—and the stroller?’

Us? Us? Justina’s hand wrapped itself around the receiver as if it was Dante’s neck she was squeezing. Resisting the urge to tell the woman that in England they were called a cot and a buggy, she walked into the smaller of her two bedrooms to see one of each standing there, all new and shiny-bright. The primrose-yellow walls of the nursery been adorned with a giant jungle scene, and a mobile of tigers and lions swirled down from the ceiling, adding to the storybook feel of the room. A smile of satisfaction curved her lips. From all the fuss that Tiffany had been making from New York you’d have thought that decorating and furnishing a nursery was right up there with brain surgery.

‘Can you please tell Dante that none of that will be necessary?’ she said crisply.

‘I can tell him,’ said Tiffany doubtfully. ‘But I think he’d prefer to speak to you himself, Miss Perry.’

Well, why didn’t he pick up the phone himself, instead of asking his wretched assistant to make the call? ‘I’m afraid that I don’t really have the time—’

‘Justina?’

Dante’s velvet-edged drawl came on to the line and Justina could have screamed. Why weren’t any of them listening to what she was saying?

‘What do you want?’ she questioned ungraciously.

‘I want to know how you’re feeling today.’

‘Honestly? I’m tired, and I’m feeling like a whale, and I’m fed up with these regular interrogations of yours—’

‘And have you given any more thought to my question?’ he interrupted smoothly.

‘I’ve given it a good deal of thought and my feelings haven’t changed.’ She sucked in a deep and determined breath. ‘I don’t want anyone there with me at the birth—especially you. It isn’t mandatory to have a birthing partner, you know.’

She could hear what sounded like Dante tapping his finger against the phone. ‘I know it isn’t mandatory,’ he said. ‘But it’s certainly preferable. You can’t do it all on your own, Justina.’

‘On the contrary, I can—and what’s more, I intend to.

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