For the Babies' Sakes (Expecting) (Harlequin Presents, No. 2280) Read Online Free PDF

angled to cover her anguished eyes. It would take ages for the hurt to go away—if it ever did. Already it was searing her heart with a cramping agony and her mind seemed to be churning with disjointed thoughts…
    The thermometer was slipped from her mouth and she sullenly opened dark and angry eyes to see Dan studyingit, his face still bent over hers, close, touchable, the strong planes of his face achingly near.
    â€˜Well. Let’s see.’ Low and husky, his voice seeped like hot lava into her bloodstream, startling her with unwanted sensuality. Breathing heavily, he stared at her shoulder and she hastily slid the errant satin shoulder-strap of her nightie back into place. ‘Normal,’ he declared in a tone that was anything but.
    Collecting her ragged nerves together, she blinked and frowned in disbelief.
    â€˜Can’t be. I feel rotten.’
    â€˜See for yourself.’
    She did, and was surprised. ‘Then I’ve eaten something dodgy,’ she muttered, unable to take her eyes from the sultry lines of his mouth.
    He straightened, taking away temptation. ‘Do want to sleep, or do you feel up to listening to me properly?’ Dan asked stiffly, the proud carriage of his head telling her that he was going to brazen this out.
    â€˜Sleep? Do you think I could sleep with this on my mind?’ she cried, her body still pulsing with warmth.
    â€˜No. Of course not. All right. But on one condition. I want you to avoid making any sarcastic remarks till I’ve finished,’ he said in a horribly distant tone.
    Suitably chastened, she felt her lip quivering. She shouldn’t behave like a prize bitch. Shock seemed to have turned her into a different woman, someone who wanted to lash out and yell and behave like a wounded tigress. He’d done this to her. Made her no better than an animal.
    â€˜I’m sorry. I lost control. I felt…’
    â€˜I understand,’ he muttered, as if he didn’t want her to spell it out.
    Her eyes blinked back treacherous tears. How could he know how deeply she mourned the man she had loved? How her very heart was shrivelling because her unconditional belief in him had been shattered? She felt more than empty. There was nothing good left in her life. Nothing to look forward to.
    â€˜I doubt that you do,’ she whispered.
    He looked down on her with an impassive expression, his tall figure dauntingly rigid.
    â€˜It’s not surprising you’re on edge. You’re not well. And you had a shock.’
    Helen drew in a shaky breath. They were talking like polite acquaintances. She was apologising for ranting at him, he was making allowances for her. It was bizarre.
    Helen nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Helplessly she gazed at his handsome face, which had so often turned her to jelly. Her mouth had kissed those dark and haunted eyes and even now her memory could vividly recall the silk of his thick lashes against the softness of her lips. Her fingers had stroked the fine jaw and she’d marvelled at the strength of the underlying bone. Time after time, her body had lain against his, ecstatic, replete…
    And so had Celine’s mouth, Celine’s fingers, Celine’s body.
    Anguished, ripped apart by pain, she jerked her head away in a sudden, violent movement.
    â€˜What is it?’ he enquired urgently, gripping the fragile bones of her bare shoulder. His voice gentled. ‘Helen, tell me!’ he coaxed. ‘Is it a pain? Where?’
    Everywhere. She was hurting so badly. And he was trying to get round her with soft words of concern, imagining they could brush this aside and carry on as normal. But she’d lost the love of her life, her hopes for the future, father of her future children…
    So many times she’d dreamed of their life together, of another, nicer house they’d have when they’d saved enough, a mews house in Chelsea perhaps; of the dinner parties with good friends;