The Pregnancy Bond

A book in the Maybe Baby series, 2002

CHAPTER ONE

ON KELLY’S eighth wedding anniversary she gave a party to celebrate her divorce.

Strictly speaking it was ‘their’ divorce, but of course Jake was missing, as he had been for most of the big events in their marriage. He probably wasn’t even in the country, so it was natural that he didn’t show up.

That, plus the fact that she hadn’t invited him.

She had a lot to celebrate and she was going to do it in style. She’d just embarked on the college course she’d rejected eight years ago in favour of marriage, and this time she was going to stay. She was going to graduate with honours. And she was going to forget Jake Lindley had ever existed.

Not that that would be easy when his face seemed to crop up every time she turned the television on. ‘Jake Lindley, reporting in the thick of the riots… Jake Lindley digs deep and finds the truth you weren’t supposed to know…’

Jake Lindley was a hero, a handsome, hard-bodied, daredevil, sexy icon of the media age, with keen eyes and a wicked smile that said ‘come hither’ to every red-blooded woman within radius. But he’d broken Kelly’s heart and she was well rid of him.

This was her world now, this cosy apartment filled with the friends she’d made since joining college a few weeks ago. At twenty-six she was older than most of the students, and there was also a sprinkling of the younger professors, especially the handsome Carl, her teacher on the archaeology course. He was in the middle of the floor, dancing madly, apparently with two partners at once. He waved for her to join them, and she waved back, but indicated that she had some drinks to serve first. He winked and mouthed a wolf-whistle.

‘He fancies you,’ said a voice at Kelly’s elbow. She turned and saw Marianne, Carl’s sister, sipping champagne.

‘He winks at everything in skirts,’ Kelly said, with perfect truth.

‘You’re not wearing a skirt,’ Marianne said, frankly envious. ‘You’re wearing a skin-tight black satin trouser suit that makes me want to kill you just for being able to get into it.’

Kelly chuckled, pleased. Four months ago, when she’d thrown Jake out, she couldn’t have squeezed into this revealing creation. But the misery of their breakup had destroyed her appetite, and by the time she’d pulled herself together she’d lost twenty pounds without even trying.

Her reward was a face that had developed seductive hollows beneath the cheekbones, a crystal-clear jaw-line, and a figure that slid into that tight black satin as though it had been crafted onto her. And she looked fantastic. She knew it. And if she hadn’t known it, the yearning stares of every man there would have told her.

Marianne, a beautician by trade, had completed the transformation, cutting off the mane of hair that Kelly had kept shoulder-length ever since that long-ago day when Jake had run his fingers through it and said he liked a woman with luxurious hair. Now it was barely an inch long, nestling against her head in wispy feathers that gave her a gamine look.

In addition Marianne had ruthlessly banished the sandy colour in favour of a glamorous red, and replaced Kelly’s sedate scent with a musky perfume that was ‘the new you’!

‘It can’t be me,’ Kelly had protested, slightly shocked.

‘It can be if you believe in yourself,’ Marianne had insisted. ‘Go for it!’

So she had, and knew almost at once that the perfume, the flaming hair and the outrageous satin suit were made for each other. Whether they were made for her she still wasn’t quite sure, but it was fun finding out.

Tonight was the start of her new life as a bright single young woman, sailing once more under her maiden name, making her own way in the world instead of trailing behind a man because she loved him more than he loved her, until at last he hadn’t loved her at all. As well as her looks she had rediscovered her brains, and it was like being a new person. The final pleasure was the revelation that she could be the pursued and not the pursuer.

Carl managed to pounce on her and sweep her into the dance.

‘Mmm,’ he murmured, inhaling her scent. ‘You smell too good to be true. You look too good to be true, and you feel-mmm!’

‘And who did you last say that to?’ she asked, amused.

He was shocked. ‘I lay my passion at your feet and you doubt me. Talking of your feet, I love those golden sandals.’

‘Marianne made me buy them, plus the perfume. I’m really her handiwork.’

‘It’s not Marianne who makes you go in and out in all the right places,’ he mused, allowing his hands to move around hopefully.

‘Down, Fido,’ she said, wagging one gilt-taloned finger at him in mock rebuke. She liked Carl, but she hadn’t quite made up her mind about him.

‘All right-for the moment. You know why Marianne has got involved, don’t you? She’s set her heart on seeing me get married.’

‘Well, she’s wasting her time with me,’ Kelly said with spirit. ‘No more husbands, ever.’

‘Was he really that bad?’

‘Couldn’t tell you. He no longer exists.’

‘Quite right. A lover is far more exciting,’ he murmured in her ear.

‘Maybe, but it can’t be you.’

‘Why?’ he demanded in comic outrage.

‘You’re my tutor. It wouldn’t be proper.’

‘I’ll throw you out of the class tomorrow.’

They laughed together. He drew her close and nibbled her ear, which made her laugh even more, giving him the chance to plant a kiss on her mouth. She kissed him back. Carl was nice.

He wasn’t allowed to enjoy his triumph for long. Frank, another mature student about Kelly’s age, whisked her away.

‘Great little place you’ve found here,’ he yelled above the din.

‘Lovely, isn’t it?’ she yelled back. ‘Thanks for your house-warming present.’ He’d given her a pair of black and white avant garde prints that added the finishing touch to her walls.

‘How are you enjoying your freedom?’ he asked.

‘If I’d known it felt this good I’d have gone for it long ago.’

‘Harmon is your maiden name, right?’

‘Right!’

‘Who was your husband?’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Kelly said, repeating the mantra that had sustained her through the miserable weeks. ‘He’s in the past.’

‘Good for you. That’s the only way to do it.’

When the dance ended they were by the bar. Frank danced off with somebody else while Kelly downed an orange juice.

Marianne sidled up to her. ‘You really are a dark horse, aren’t you?’

‘How do you mean?’

‘I mean that fantastic man who’s just walked in; the one with come-to-bed eyes and that “I’ll have any woman I like” look.’

‘I don’t know any man like that,’ Kelly said regretfully. ‘Where?’

‘Over there. He looks a bit familiar. Now, where have I seen his face before?’

‘On television,’ Kelly said, stunned. ‘And he wasn’t invited.’

‘Well, I’ll be only too pleased to take him off your hands. Honestly, he shouldn’t be allowed out alone. It’s not safe-for any of us. I want everything you know. Starting with “Is he married”?’

Kelly pulled herself together. ‘Not since ten-thirty this morning.’

‘You mean he’s-? He isn’t-?’

‘My ex.’

‘All that was yours, and you let it go?’

Kelly surveyed Jake Lindley, trying to see him through Marianne’s eyes. She knew about the eyes, and the look of knowing that women were clamouring for him. It wasn’t his fault. Women were clamouring for him, and Jake had no false modesty. Or much of any kind, if the truth be told. He’d made a brilliant career as a television journalist by being accurate, hard hitting, colourful and drop-dead gorgeous.

He was thirty-two, in his prime, with a lurking devil in his eyes and a sensual quirk to his mouth that was worth any amount of good looks, except that he had them as well.

But as for him being hers? Had he ever really been hers? She’d been his in every possible way, but she’d never felt, in her heart, that she’d been vital to him. Nor had she ‘let him go’. She’d merely faced the fact that in all important ways he’d gone already.

Marianne murmured, ‘You really don’t mind if I try my luck?’

‘You’re welcome to him,’ Kelly said firmly. Oh, it felt good to be able to say that; not to have to watch jealously. ‘Come on, I’ll introduce you.’

As they weaved their way through the throng of guests Kelly tried to calm down. The sight of Jake had given her a shock because she wasn’t expecting him, but that was all. She was a little annoyed with him for gate-crashing, but apart from that she was cool. A few feet away from him she waved gaily.

‘Jake, how nice to see you,’ she carolled.

He gave her his practised smile. ‘I’m sorry, have we m-? Kelly?’

The sheer blank astonishment in his eyes gave her heart a lift. That had knocked him off his feet. Yes!

‘Let me introduce you to Marianne,’ she said. ‘Marianne-my ex.’

‘If he was mine he’d never be allowed to be an ex,’ Marianne laughed, taking the hand Jake offered her.

‘Kelly just discarded me,’ he sighed. ‘Tossed aside like an old shoe when I’d outlived my usefulness.’ He was looking warmly into Marianne’s eyes.

‘Oh, really, Jake!’ Kelly said in disgust. ‘You can think of a better line than that.’

‘No probs,’ Marianne said hurriedly. ‘That one will do just fine. Jake, why don’t you come and cry on my shoulder…?’

They drifted off together. Kelly grinned unwillingly. She might have known Jake’s poise couldn’t be shaken for more than a moment. Whatever the place, the time, the circumstances, he could simply walk in, be instantly at home, and everyone would act as though they’d been waiting just for him. Right now, for instance, he was the only one at this party not dressed up. He wore the battered denim jeans and jacket over a black vest that he kept for travelling. Far from making him look out of place, the effect was to make everyone else seem overdressed.

His hair was shaggy and unkempt, and his skin lightly tanned. In fact he looked as if he’d just got off a plane after a long flight. Exhausting too, probably, with plenty of turbulence, which tensed him up inside, although only Kelly had ever known that. But, hey, nothing a stiff drink wouldn’t put right! That was Jake for you.

Marianne had corralled him into a corner, fending off all-comers, and after only five minutes they seemed to be getting on very, very well. Kelly started to turn away, but then resolutely looked back. What he did could no longer hurt her. Besides, she had some serious flirting of her own to do, and a plentiful supply of men to help her do it.

She concentrated hard on enjoying herself, and it was an hour before she encountered Jake again, at the drinks table.

‘Just what do you think you’re doing here?’ she demanded.

‘You said it was nice to see me.’

‘I was lying.’

‘Oh, great!’ he complained. ‘I took an early plane back to join the party, and look at the welcome I get.’

‘It wasn’t a welcome. You weren’t invited. You ought to be shot for just marching in like this. I don’t want you here.’

‘Why not? It’s my divorce too.’ He sounded put out.

‘It’s a house-warming party. This is my new place.’

‘Oh, yeah? You’ve been here three months.’

‘It’s taken time to do it up,’ Kelly improvised. ‘And it’s a sort of Christmas party too-’

‘Christmas is next month. But our divorce became final today.’

‘Fancy you remembering.’

‘I didn’t,’ he said in swift chagrin. ‘I thought it wasn’t until next week, and I-never mind! Admit it. You’re celebrating getting rid of me, aren’t you?’

‘Yes!’

He gave her a crooked grin. ‘No need to do it this way. You could have said, “Jake-vanish!”’

‘I did.’

But it was useless. He’d gone into clowning mode, which he often did when something had affected him more than he wanted to show, although she couldn’t think why he was bothered about this. He’d gained the freedom from her that he’d always secretly wanted.

‘You should have dropped me a hint, sweetheart,’ he went on. ‘I could have jumped off a bridge, vanished into the jungle-instant disappearances are my speciality.’

‘You’re impossible!’ she said, exasperated.

‘Of course I am. That’s why you divorced me.’

‘That and other reasons.’

‘It’s also why you married me.’

‘Let’s draw a line under that.’

‘Some lines aren’t so easily drawn.’ For some reason there was real anger in his voice.

‘You stop that,’ she said swiftly. ‘You messed up my life once before, but I escaped and you’re not going to do it again.’