Chapter 1
She stared at the stick as if looking at it long enough would change the result. It remained the same. For the third time. The others were on the counter and said the same thing.
Placing it carefully on the sink, Leanne leaned against the counter and stared at herself in the mirror. So, it was not cancer. She should be relieved. She was only pregnant.
After feeling sick like two dogs for the past month and a half and unable to function, she had finally googled the symptoms. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and generally feeling like crap warmed over combined with the reluctance to drag herself out of bed, she had decided to do something about it.
The missed periods for the second month in a row of an otherwise regular cycle had not occurred to her that this is what it could be.
She couldn't be pregnant. She had a career, a very demanding one that takes all of her focus. And her two weeks leave was up next week.
She was tired and listless. As a cruise director for a very prestigious cruise line, she was expected to look her best and be preppy and smiling all the time.
Right now, after puking her breakfast out again, she looked like hell. Her thick dark brown hair was matted to her forehead and in a tangled heap. She certainly hadn't been to the salon since her vacation. And her mother had been calling and wondering what on earth was going on with her.
She could just imagine the conversation. "Hey mom, guess what? I'm pregnant. Oh, and the father is..."
Oh God! She stared at her image in wild-eyed consternation. The father.
Grabbing her phone, she marched into the bedroom and stared at the dark screen. Throwing it on the bed, she started pacing. It had been reckless, foolish, and romantic.
But a man like him. She shook her head. It would never have worked out. So, she had done the first sensible thing since they started and broke things off.
Now this. "Oh, good God." She whispered, sinking down on the edge of the bed. She was going to have to tell him of course.
He was her employer, or sort of her employer. Which was the very reason it had been unwise and stupid to say the least to get involved.
Picking up the phone again, she scrolled through until she found his number and punched it before she could change her mind. If he didn't answer she could leave him a message. And maybe he was out of town. He...
"Leanne."
His deep voice had her closing her eyes in memory. Her effort to get over him had proved fruitless.
"Hi. I wasn't sure I would reach you. How have you been?"
She knew she was stalling, but the need to steady herself was important.
"I've been better. What's this about? The last time we spoke, you said you wanted nothing to do with me."
She plucked at the sheet. "Well, yes. I... er... Are you in town?"
"Until tomorrow, yes. Why?"
"Could you come over?"
There was a pause and she waited.
"Again, why?"
Biting off a sigh and telling herself he was entitled to be a prick, she took another deep breath. "I need to discuss something with you, and it cannot be done over the phone. It's important."
The pause again which had her holding her breath.
"Half an hour." He said briefly before hanging up.
She sat there for a few minutes before pushing herself off the bed. Pregnant or not, she had no intention of having him see her like this. She had her pride.
Rushing into the bathroom, she had to brace against the sink as the dizziness assailed her again.
