Valentine Babies (Holiday Babies Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

to smother
it and concentrate on her story. “And then?”
     “He said he loved me and wanted to marry me. His
background and deep religious feelings didn’t allow pre-marital sex. I was
impressed by his dignity and admired him a lot.” She lowered her head.
    His back rigid, Greg studied her and carefully controlled
his own expressions. He didn’t dare ask if she loved Nabil, although his
insides gnawed in frustration.
    “On my last trip there, we kissed a few times behind the
stairs of his apartment building. There was no privacy. We went to my hotel
room to chat. I was leaving the next day and he was going back to his post. The
temptation was too strong.” She blushed and lowered her head, not going into
details Greg didn’t want to hear. “Then he apologized, ashamed he’d dishonored
me. As if I cared,” she added with a shrug.
    “Did you two get engaged?”
    She shook her head. “No. I thought it was too soon. We
didn’t know each other well enough,” she explained, too reasonably.
    Her rational behavior stunned Greg. After a blissful night
with a man she’d cared for, he’d expect a woman to declare her undying love for
him.
    In spite of the drama she now faced, a satisfied peace
filled him. The dead officer hadn’t been a beloved fiancé whom she’d mourn
forever. Although the man left her with child and unintentionally made sure,
she could never wipe his memory from her mind. Or from any other man’s.
    “You went home the next day.” Greg wanted her to keep
sharing her sorrow.
    “Yes.” Her lips drew into a poignant line. “But the
unexpected happened. I told him I might be pregnant and I booked an appointment
with a doctor for after the holidays. Nabil went into a frenzy of orders. I
should present my resignation right away and come back to Baghdad. We’d marry
before anyone discovered the truth. His father would disown him if he heard he
conceived a child out of wedlock. Besides, his son had to be born
on his ancestors’ land. These things are important over there.”
    Greg had trouble picturing the strong-headed Roxanne in a
country where men controlled their households. “Different culture.”
     “Very.” She huffed. “Nabil insisted we’d live with his
parents. I was stunned and protested.” She wrinkled the sheet, staring far
away. “He tried to appease me and promised that we’d move to the U.S. when the
war was over.”
    “So how did you answer?” Had she decided to dump him? Or had
he changed his mind? Greg’s hospital stories didn’t compare to this war drama.
    “It was a cold shower for me. I pondered his demands for a
few days. I may be expecting his baby, but...” Her voice quivered. “To leave my
job, my family, my country, my whole life, and go live with his parents in an
apartment in a war zone. No way. I just couldn’t do it.”
    “And?” Greg prompted. At least she had the good sense to
analyze the situation realistically.
    “I couldn’t persuade him to come here. He begged me to
understand he couldn’t abandon his post or betray his family principles by
announcing a child before the marriage vows. Our discussion turned bitter. Our
first and last argument.”
    Greg observed her, afraid to say a wrong word. He’d let her
vent as much as she needed to.
    She dropped her head between her hands and wailed, “God, I
wish I’d been more understanding. I tried calling him again two days later. He
wouldn’t answer his phone all day.” She raised her head. Silent tears rolled
down her face. “Yesterday morning I received an email from his sister Leila
announcing the tragedy.”
    “Only yesterday? No wonder you were devastated and couldn’t
come to the wedding rehearsal.” To think she had to lead the nuptial cortege to
the altar when she’d just learned the father of her child had died. A wave of
compassion swamped him. He wiped her eyes and her cheeks with a tissue. “I’m
glad you trusted me and confided your secret.” He couldn’t believe