The Bridesmaid's Baby Bump

Author:Kandy Shepherd
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-07-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

JAKE USUALLY NEVER had trouble sleeping. But late on the night of the launch party, back in his waterfront apartment, he tossed and turned. The place was luxurious, but lonely. He’d had high hopes of bringing Eliza back here this evening. To talk, to try and come to some arrangement so he could see more of her. If they’d ended up in bed that would have been good too. He hadn’t been with anyone else since her. Had recoiled from kissing the women he’d dated.

Thoughts of his disastrous encounter with her kept him awake for what seemed like most of the night. And then there was Walter’s observation to nag at him. Finally, at dawn, he gave up on sleep and went for a run. Vigorous physical activity helped his thought processes, he’d always found.

In the chill of early morning he ran up past the imposing Victorian buildings of the New South Wales Art Gallery and through the public green space of The Domain.

He paused to do some stretches at the end of the peninsula at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair—a bench cut into a sandstone slab where it was reputed a homesick early governor’s wife had used to sit and watch for sailing ships coming from Great Britain. The peaceful spot gave a panoramic view of Sydney Harbour: the ‘coat hanger’ bridge and the white sails of the Opera House. Stray clouds drifting around the buildings were tinted pink from the rising sun.

Jake liked Sydney and thought he could happily live in this city. Brisbane seemed all about the past. In fact he was thinking about moving his company’s headquarters here. He had wanted to talk to Eliza about that, to put forward the idea that such a move would mean he’d be able to see more of her if they started things up between them again. Not much point now.

The pragmatic businessman side of Jake told him to wipe his hands of her and walk away. Eliza had made it very clear she didn’t want him around. A man who had graduated from a dating after divorce workshop would know to take it on the chin, cut his losses and move on. After all, they’d only been together for four days, three months ago.

But the more creative, intuitive side of him, which had guided him through decisions that had made him multiple millions, wouldn’t let him off that easily. Even if she’d lied to him, tricked him, deceived him—and that was only a suspicion at this stage—he had a strong feeling that she needed him. And he needed to find out what was going on.

He’d never got a chance to chat with her again at the party—she had evaded him and he’d had official duties to perform. But he’d cancelled his flight back to Brisbane, determined to confront her today.

Jake ran back home, showered, changed, ate breakfast. Predictably, Eliza didn’t reply to his text and her phone went to voicemail. He called the Party Queens headquarters to be told Eliza was working at home today.

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