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needed to know he had a baby. Even if she didn ’ t want him anywhere near her, he had a right to know he might have a son or a daughter. She couldn ’ t keep that secret from him. It would be wrong. And her grandparents had taught her better.
    She padded through the master bedroom , down the stairs, and into the great room to make the call. Cradling the phone in her lap, she curled into the soft leather sofa, drawing her knees to her chest. She lai d her head back on the armrest and closed her eyes. No point in waiting. Better to get the unsavory deed over with now. She sucked in a calming breath and released it as she dialed their number in Cornwall. It was Saturday. Grayson should be there. The tinny ring echoed across the miles. Panic and loneliness mingled in Cate ’ s gut to make her want to throw up. She broke out in a cold sweat.
    Grayson didn ’ t pick up the phone. He didn ’ t know her new cell number. He might let it go to message if he didn ’ t recognize it on caller ID.
    She ’ d watched the media splash he ’ d made a month ago when he ’ d reappeared after a year ’ s absence, taking up the reins of his legal practice in London as if nothing had happened. He ’ d made a comment or two in a press release, stating he ’ d been in an accident that had required a long convalescenc e. Please respect his privacy, yada , yada . No mention of the money that was rumored to have been embezz led. When cornered by reporters and asked directly, he ’ d stated an investigation would be conducted by a private third-party consultant to get to the bottom of the issue. And the International Bar Association would be monitoring the investigation against him as well as the current business dealings of Cooper & James.
    If Grayson needed money, all he ’ d had to do was ask. She ’ d invested heavily in his practice, but the money had been a wedding gift as far as she was concerned. It belonged to him.
    Cate had never wanted for material possessions growing up. Even though she ’ d inherited money from her grandparents ten years ago and she had trust funds th at would keep small countries afloat, she didn ’ t live extravaga ntly. Never had. Neither had her grands . Not com pared to others in their circle .
    But she would have given Grayson anything he needed. If only he ’ d asked. He hadn ’ t. He ’ d taken it, like he always did, with a confidence and entitlement she didn ’ t understand. Like a p rince who deserved everything and anything his fingers touched.
    The phone went to the answering machine.
    Grayson ’ s husky voice sent a quiver of awareness through her. Lon ging punched her in the chest . Maybe she should go back? What if something had happened to him? Fear spiked, sending a chill of dread tingling through her. No. Someone would have called. Besides, s he was done protecting Grayson Cooper. She had a baby to think about now. To raise . With or without his support.
    She left a message. “ Grayson, it ’ s me. I need to talk to you. It ’ s about our future. Please, call me. It ’ s important. ” She rattled off the telephone number where he could reach her.
    Cate could do this. Even if Grayson continued to ignore her. Although, she did n ’ t really think he would, not after her call. He ’ d interpret her message as an invitation back into her life and he ’ d think she now knew what she wanted from him. And she did. Kind of. She wanted him to know he had a child. But she wanted him to stay on his side of the pond until he could control the beast that raged inside him. She didn ’ t trust him. And while she had an obligation to let him know about their child, she didn ’ t want him anywhere near her yet.
    He didn ’ t know where she ’ d gone. She ’ d be safe enough for now. The trust paid all her bills and Grayson couldn ’ t access any trust records without her permission. There wasn ’ t a paper trail to follow. No credit card transactions. No bills with her current address.