Her Secret, His Love-Child. Tina Duncan

breath.

      He’d decided many years ago never to get married or have children. With his family history, he’d considered it his only option.

      It was a decision he’d never regretted.

      He’d never even thought about what it would be like to have a child. What was the point when he’d already decided not to?

      Now he had to consider it.

      He stared at the sleeping infant. She was cute, he had to admit that. But then so was a newborn kitten. But if she was his…

      The breath caught in the back of his throat.

      If she was his then it was a different matter entirely.

      Alex sucked in a deep breath and dragged his gaze away from the cot. His eyes locked with Katrina’s. She’d noticed him watching the child. She had a very assessing look on her face, as if she was trying to figure out what he was thinking.

      She’d be surprised if she could look inside his head, Alex acknowledged wryly, because his thoughts had just jumped to another aspect of their situation.

      If the child was his, then it meant Katrina hadn’t betrayed him.

      There had been no other man.

      No other lover.

      And no intention to scam him.

      It also meant that what they’d shared was real.

      He wasn’t quite sure why that was so important to him but it was.

      ‘It’s standard procedure,’ the doctor said gently. ‘Both parents receive a copy.’

      Katrina looked back at the doctor and shrugged. ‘I don’t care where you send it.’

      ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’ Alex rattled off the address.

      The doctor made a note on the file before shutting it closed. ‘There, all done. Now, if that’s all, I’d better see to my next patient. I’m behind schedule.’

      ‘Thank you for squeezing us in,’ Alex said, rising to his feet. ‘I appreciate it.’

      ‘You said it was important. I always have time for you and your family.’ He leaned confidingly towards Katrina. ‘I delivered Alex and his brother, you know. I have a soft spot for them.’

      ‘I can imagine,’ she said faintly.

      The doctor looked back at Alex. ‘How is Michael doing?’

      Tension gripped him. ‘The same,’ he bit out. He didn’t want to talk about his brother in front of Katrina.

      The doctor shook his head sadly. ‘Well, if there’s anything I can do, all you have to do is call.’

      ‘I know. But the first step is up to Michael.’

      Katrina was paying close attention to the conversation. Alex had made a point of keeping his family and Katrina apart, as he did with all of his lovers. He’d wanted to avoid building any expectation of a permanent relationship.

      But more and more that looked like it had been a waste of time where Katrina was concerned.

      Because, if the baby did turn out to be his, then the future he’d envisaged would be well and truly blown to smithereens.

      Alex was trying and failing to process an inbox full of emails when Royce called at eight that night. Once again, the other man got straight to the point. ‘I don’t have a lot to report. One of my people has been watching the apartment since just before you arrived at two-oh-three.’

      Alex was impressed they’d moved so quickly. ‘And…?’

      ‘And nothing. Katrina came out with a pram around three-thirty and walked to the local park and back. Other than that she hasn’t been out. A number of people have come and gone from the apartment building, but it’s been difficult to ascertain whether any of them have visited her. There’s been no sign of the guy who owns the apartment.’

      Alex stiffened. ‘What guy?’

      ‘Let me see.’ Alex heard the tapping of computer keys. ‘The apartment is owned by a guy called Peter Strauss.’

      Something shifted in his chest. ‘She’s living with a man?’

      ‘That’s not clear. We’re still looking into it. Katrina’s name doesn’t appear on any official lease or documentation. At least none that we’ve found so far. She’s either living with the guy or she has a private arrangement with him.’

      ‘I see,’ Alex said, not seeing at all, and wishing to hell that he did. ‘What else do you know about the guy?’

      ‘Nothing. We’re doing a background check now. I should have an answer for you tomorrow or the day after.’

      ‘Make it tomorrow. I want to know everything. When they met. What their relationship is. Everything.’

      Alex wasn’t sure why he was so interested.

      He tried to tell himself it was because the Strauss chap could be the baby’s father, but he knew he was just fooling himself.

      He was a great believer in the saying ‘actions speak louder than words’ and Katrina’s behaviour suggested she was telling the truth.

      The scales were now firmly tipped in favour of him being the child’s father.

      So why should he care who this guy was?

      Frankly he shouldn’t give a flying fig, but he did.

      Alex sat stiffly in his chair, body so tense he expected his joints to creak when he moved. A restless sensation attacked the bottom of his spine.

      He wanted to storm over to the apartment and demand some answers.

      Instead, he cursed under his breath and headed for his bedroom. He pulled on a pair of black running shorts, a white singlet top and a pair of trainers. Leaving the apartment by his private elevator, he headed for the nearby park.

      He jogged for an hour most days.

      Tonight, he didn’t jog.

      Tonight, he pounded the pavement as if his very life depended on it.

      Sweat dripped from his body.

      His lungs burned and his heart raced.

      On his twelfth lap, Alex decided to call it quits. He could run until he cut a groove in the cement and it still wouldn’t ease his frustration.

      He ground to a sudden halt, gasped in a breath and swore viciously.

      Jogging at a less frantic pace, he headed back to his apartment.

      Then, sweaty, tired and so wired he expected to emit sparks at any moment, he snatched up his car keys.