Their One-Night Christmas Gift. Karin Baine

of his family had.

      This was one time he could do the right thing without waiting until it was too late. He couldn’t live with any more guilt and regret. Losing his father and brother had taught him not to be selfish, and unless he wanted to lose his child too he had to think about the needs of its mother. That didn’t include being upset by her baby’s father. Not when she’d driven the whole way to Scotland to tell him personally on Christmas Day. Something a person would only do if they had no one else to turn to.

       CHAPTER THREE

      ‘DID YOU HONESTLY expect him to react any differently? What were you hoping for? A happy-ever-after? Stupid woman!’ Harriet chastised herself in the mirror as she drove away.

      She’d given him the chance to be involved in the baby’s life and he wasn’t interested. End of story. It was his loss. She knew where she stood and that wasn’t with Charles by her side. She could raise this child alone. It would be better for her and the child. At least it was apparent she’d be parenting on her own from the beginning, unlike her poor mother.

      Coming here had been a reminder that night in London had been nothing more than a fantasy. The real Charles was entrenched in family tradition and duty with no room for anyone else in his life. Harriet was an independent city girl. She didn’t belong here. She hated the fact it still hurt that he didn’t want her, whatever the circumstances.

      Perhaps she’d convinced herself something had changed between them after their escapade in that hotel room, and not merely on a physical level. Deep down she’d hoped he’d be pleased to see her again because, even before realising she was pregnant, she’d wondered about rekindling their relationship. Sentimentality and lust over common sense, but she hadn’t been thinking with her head lately. That’s how she’d ended up in this mess.

      Charles Ross-Wylde had altered the course of her life again, sending her down a road she’d never planned to take. Now she simply had to make the best of it, the way she had the last time. Only instead of becoming a successful surgeon, her next goal was to become a good mother too.

      Bright lights began strobing around her, disturbing the pitch-black night. A glance in her rear-view mirror revealed a car, flashing its headlights at her and now blaring its horn. Someone from the house had followed her and was trying to get her attention. Esme, no doubt, had figured out something was amiss and was coming to persuade her to go back. There was no way Charles would’ve told his sister about the baby when he didn’t want it messing up his life. It was likely to be her good heart making her chase after someone who was virtually a stranger now.

      Although Harriet had no intention of going back with her, she would put Esme’s mind at ease because she held no bad feelings towards her. She indicated and pulled into the side of the road. The sooner they said their goodbyes, the sooner she could leave Heatherglen behind her for ever.

      She stepped out onto the grass verge, but the headlights continued to blind her as she waited for the driver to get out. It wasn’t until the very tall, very male silhouette drew closer that she realised it wasn’t Esme who’d flagged her down.

      ‘I have nothing to say to you. At least, nothing very ladylike,’ she threw at Charles, hurrying back towards her car. He probably wanted her to sign some sort of gagging order to prevent her from claiming her unborn child had any right to the estate.

      Her attempt to open her car door was thwarted as Charles grabbed her arm and spun her around. ‘I’m sorry, Harriet. I reacted badly.’

      ‘You think?’ She tried to wrench her arm out of his grasp. It was going to be harder to continue hating him if he insisted on touching her, reminding her of an intimacy they could never have again.

      ‘Come back to the house so we can talk.’ He didn’t let go of her, but he did loosen his grip.

      ‘Why? You’ve made it clear you don’t want to be part of this.’

      ‘I’m sorry. It was a shock to the system, that’s all. We both know I was a very willing participant that night, and the following morning.’ His cheeky grin did things to her insides, which apparently shouldn’t be acted on.

      Goodness, she needed him to stop teasing her with enough delicious memories to block out the more hideous ones. Twice now he’d let her down in the most callous way. The last time she’d forgotten not to trust him and had let her hormones do the talking she’d ended up pregnant.

      ‘I should’ve called instead of coming here.’ That was one thing she was sure about and something he’d agree with when she’d spoiled his Christmas.

      ‘No. I’m glad you came. Look, it’s late and freezing cold out here. Why don’t you just come back to the house? The talking can wait.’

      It was tempting when her stomach was rumbling and the tip of her nose was so cold she was convinced it had turned blue. She thought of the lovely roaring fire in the lounge and the banquet of food spread out and going to waste. Pregnancy apparently had lowered the price of her pride. If she went back with him it would be for the baby’s sake. They had things to sort out. It was the whole reason she was here. It definitely wasn’t anything to do with the man still holding her, dressed in that ridiculous sweater his little sister had knitted for him.

      ‘I don’t have anywhere else to go, I suppose.’ She didn’t fancy traipsing around town, knocking on doors and hoping to find room at an inn.

      ‘That’s settled, then. You’re coming home with me.’ If only he meant that as something other than a polite host she’d be reassured he’d had a change of heart where the baby was concerned. This was more about him saving face in front of his family and friends. She shouldn’t get too carried away with the idea that he’d finally stepped up to be the man she’d always believed he was deep down. For now, she’d take advantage of the food and lodgings being offered because it suited her and meant she’d no longer be putting her unborn child at risk out here in the Scottish wilderness.

      ‘Fine.’ She got back into her car, but nothing had changed. Except perhaps his conscience getting the better of him at letting the mother of his child disappear into the night.