Page 31

Aidan strolls in, bag slung over one shoulder, phone still in his hand. His azure-blue eyes search the room until they meet mine, then his lips curve into a smile. He strides over, his long jeans-clad legs eating up the space between us. Just for a moment, my heart melts at the sight of him, but before he reaches me, I harden it again.

“You’re cutting it fine!”

He shows no sign of being bothered by my tone. In fact, he looks truly pleased to see me, and the way his gaze sweeps over every detail of my appearance sends a ripple of self-consciousness through me. If I’m honest with myself, there’s a spark of excitement too. I don’t entirely dislike his attention.

“Aye, well, I did come from the Highlands for this. It was a bit of a trek. Anyway, I had you down as a hugger!” He throws his arms wide.

“Grace Adefope?” a voice calls.

“Here!” I stand. “All right, Aidan, that’s us. Let’s go.”

I use the interruption as an excuse to avoid a hug and follow the woman who called my name. She introduces herself as Ruth and explains she’ll be our sonographer for the appointment.

As much as I want to concentrate on the present moment, I can’t help but worry about Aidan. It was hard enough resisting his charm on the video calls; I hadn’t appreciated how much more difficult it would be in real life. He’s only just arrived, and already his magnetic presence is threatening my resolve. But that’s what he does—he picks up women—and I can’t be taken in by it. It wouldn’t be fair on me or the baby.

Ruth leads us into a dimly lit room then indicates for me to lie on the bed. Aidan takes the nearby chair, sitting so close to me I can smell the Highlands off him, like he’s just strolled through a forest.

Pulling some blue paper from a dispenser, Ruth comes to my side. “Can you lift your top for me, Grace?”

Pretending Aidan isn’t right next to me, watching everything, I tug up my white smock-style top, revealing my lower abdomen.

“Good, and bring your leggings down a little more. That’s it.”

My cheeks warm as the top of my bikini line is exposed. Ruth tucks the paper into my leggings to protect them from the cold gel, which she applies next.

I glance at Aidan and see he’s observing the proceedings with interest, although I do catch his gaze briefly shifting to my breasts. They’ve grown since I got pregnant, and apparently he’s noticed. Of course he has.

Ruth moves the ultrasound probe over my belly, concentrating on the screen. There’s just a long enough wait for me to worry there might be a problem, but then she smiles.

“There we go!” She adjusts the monitor so Aidan and I can see the black-and-white image. The rapid and steady thump of a heartbeat fills the room.

Aidan leans in for a better view. “Wow, so that’s our bairn?”

Ruth titters. Surely she’s not blushing because of Aidan’s smooth and melodic accent? “That’s your child, yes.”

A large warm hand finds one of mine and squeezes it. I glance at Aidan in surprise, but his attention remains fixed on the screen. Has he even realised he’s touching me, or is he so wrapped up in the moment he doesn’t know what he’s doing? I’m not sure I should allow it, but then again, we are having a baby together. Shouldn’t we be able to hold hands as we look at an image of our child?

Ruth points out all the major organs and takes measurements. I don’t withdraw from Aidan’s touch.

“Everything is as it should be at this stage. Would you like to know the sex?”

“Yes,” I say.

“All right, but just so you’re aware, we can never confirm it with one hundred per cent certainty. That’s our little disclaimer! If you choose to paint the nursery one colour and buy lots of clothes in that colour, and then the baby isn’t the sex you were expecting, you don’t get to sue us, I’m afraid. That being said”—her lips twitch into a smile—“I’m pretty sure you’re having a girl.”

My heart flutters. Aidan’s strong hand squeezes mine again. I turn to him, and this time, our eyes meet. He grins, and I do too.

It’s already dark when we leave the clinic, and there’s a chill in the air.

“That was really something.” Aidan walks by my side. “Hearing her heartbeat, seeing her up on the screen, it made it all seem so . . . real.”

“Real and a bit scary, right?”

“Oh, absolutely terrifying, and I’m not the one who has to carry her for another five months or push her out. How are you doing?”

“Yeah, scared, but excited too.”

I cross Magdala Avenue, a narrow tree-lined street with cars parked along both sides. Aidan follows.