Page 44 (1/2)

Sadie glanced at her watch "Why don’t you get your purse together? I’ll meet you in the car I’m parked out front"

Alyssa tried to stifle her disappointh to smile for her friend "Sure Thanks"

As soon as she heard the click of the door behind Sadie, Alyssa felt pesky tears sting her eyes Damn it, she had a doctor to see, a baby to confer about If Luc had suddenly embraced the annulmentwell, maybe it was for the best At least she tried to tell herself that The last ithout him, she’d come to realize that she would never be completely happy or completely whole without him

But she also knew that she couldn’t be married to a man she loved this fervently who re Without Luc’s love, sharing a home, a bed, and a last name would be hollow Eventually, it would tear them apart If he didn’t truly love her for her, better that she kno--not when the child was cranky for a nighttiartenor when they had their first sporting event, first crush, first heartbreakor when Luc finally found the woman to whom he could devote his heart--and left her an e herselfback the tears, she grabbed her purse, set the new alar it, she turned toward Sadie’s car at the curb

Except it was gone

What the devil? Shaking her head, she followed the L of her ay to the driveway

There stood Luc, looking at his watch

Her breath caught Her heart stopped He’d , she took tentative steps forward Luc looked up, saw her--and darted her way

He cupped her cheek and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, over alar I’ve missed you"

Those chocolate eyes looked so earnest, so honest God, as he doing this to her? If he still wanted her, why didn’t he just tell her he didn’t want the annulment? Or maybe he did want it? She was so confused

"Hi Thanks for taking me to the appointment"

"I wouldn’t er door and held it as she slid inside

So was his affection for her merely that of for the lanced her way, there was so on his face she’d never seen before The heat was still there He wanted her, no question That expression said he wanted to devour her now--and to keep doing it for hours, days It was te likeaffection Even hope His smile seemed to say there was no one he’d rather be with

How s for the baby?

He grabbed her hand and backed the Jaguar out of the driveway She knew she should release hio

"Have Reive you more information about Joshua’s attack?" he asked

"No Once Ree, I just didn’t want to talk about it anyone Your past can’t coain" He squeezed her hand

She took strength in his caress This wasn’t a topic she could discuss with anyonebut him He really knew her in a way no one else did For that, she was grateful

"I still wish I could have reconciled with my mother, but maybe that was impossible She didn’t want to believe me because it made her life too difficult, and I have no respect for that"

"What Joshua did to you was terrible Tragic What she did orse" Luc’s waraze wrapped her in a soft blanket of coet lost And so painful later

"I work every day on forgiving her It’s a day-by-day thing"

"Everything that happenedabout you You’re the woman I love"

Her heart seized How badly she wanted to believe him "Luc"

"Shh" He pulled up in front of the hospital coh this"

Damn it, she didn’t want to put it off Alyssa didn’t deal ith shoving unpleasant things aside Why not just get it over with? But they could hardly discuss their hed

Within reeted the pleasant fortyso woman who examined her while Luc sat in the chair behind her and held her hand

"Would you like to hear the baby’s heartbeat?"

"Please" She smiled

"Very much"

Alyssa couldn’t see Luc’s face, but she could hear the sincerity in his voice

The doctor applied a cool gel to her abdomen, then a plastic wand and

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh A little beating heart The sound filled the roo, tender yet remarkably hardy A miracle

Tears filled her eyes "Oh, my God"

Luc squeezed her hand even harder "I’ve never heard anything so a"

She heard the tears in his voice, too