Therese Beharrie - Surprise Baby, Second Chance

Rosa held her breath as she got to the top of the stairs, and then pushed open the door before she lost her nerve.

And immediately told herself that she should have escaped when she had the chance.

There was no party on this floor. Instead, it looked like it usually did when there were no events planned. There was a living area and a bed on one side of the room—the bathroom being the only section of the floor with privacy—and a dining area and kitchen on the other side.

There was an open space between the two sides as if whoever had designed the room had decided to give the Spencers an area to be free in.

But in that open space stood her husband. Only her husband.

And the last thing Rosa thought of was freedom.

His back was to her, and she thought that she still had the chance to escape. He didn’t know that she was there. If she left he wouldn’t ever have to know. What harm would it do?

Except that when she turned back to the door it was closed. And when she looked over her shoulder to see if he’d noticed her she saw that Aaron was now facing her, an unreadable expression on his face.

‘Running?’

‘N-no.’ Be confident.

His mouth lifted into a half-smile. ‘No?’ he asked in a faintly mocking tone.

Her face went hot. The shivering intensified. Her heart rate rocketed. But, despite that, she was able to offer him a firm, ‘No’.

‘Okay,’ he replied in a voice that told her he didn’t believe her. And why would he? Hadn’t she run from him before? Without the decency to explain why? Hadn’t the anxiety of that decision kept her up night after night?

Guilt shimmered through her.

She ignored it.

But ignoring it meant that her brain had to focus on something else. And—as it usually did—it chose his face.

Her eyes feasted on what her memories hadn’t done justice to over the last four months. His dark hair, dark brows, the not-quite-chocolate colour of his skin. The mixture of his Indian and African heritage had created an arresting face, his features not unlike those Rosa had seen on movie stars.

But his face had more than just good looks. It spoke of the cool, calm demeanour that had always exasperated her even as it drew her in. He rarely let his emotions out of wherever he kept them, so they seldom claimed the planes of his face.

Except when he and Rosa were having a conversation about their feelings. Or when they were making love. There’d been nothing but emotion on his face then.

‘Where is everybody?’ she asked in a hoarse voice.

Aaron slid his hands into his pockets, making his biceps bulge slightly under the material of his suit jacket. Her breath taunted her as it slipped out of her lungs. As it reminded her that it wasn’t only Aaron’s face that she was attracted to.

It was his muscular body. It was how much taller than her he was. It was his broad shoulders, the strength of his legs, of everything in between.

He’d always been thrilled by the curves of her body. But his hands were large enough, strong enough, that she’d always thought he wouldn’t have wanted her as much if her curves hadn’t been as generous.

Aaron took a step towards her.

Which was no reason for her to move back.

But she did.

‘Well, if I’m right—and I probably am—everyone’s here who’s supposed to be.’

‘I don’t understand. It’s just you and...’ She trailed off, her heart thudding. ‘Did you—did you do this?’

‘Oh, no,’ Aaron replied, and took another step towards her. This time she managed to keep her feet in place. ‘Why would I want to see the wife who left me with no explanation?’

‘Great. Then I’ll go.’

She turned to the door again, ignoring her confusion. She’d figure it out when she was off the island that reminded her so much of her husband.

The island where he’d taken her months after her mother had died. Where he’d got down on one knee. Where he’d told her he couldn’t imagine life without her.

Where they’d spent time after their wedding. Lounging in the sun at the beach. Lazily enjoying each other’s bodies as only newlyweds could.

Where they’d taken holidays. When life had become too much for her and Aaron had surprised her with a trip away.

The island where he’d held her, comforted her, loved her on the bed that stood in the corner, its memories haunting her. Overwhelming her.

Yes, she’d figure it all out when she was away from the island. And far, far away from her husband.

A hand pressed against the door before she could open it. She swallowed and then turned back to face him.

Her heart sprinted now. Her body prickled. The scent of his masculine cologne filled her senses. Memories, sharp and intimate, could no longer be held back.

Again, she tried to ignore them. But it was becoming harder to do.

‘Why are you stopping me from leaving?’ she managed in a steady voice.

‘Did you think you were just going to walk in here, see me, and then...leave?’

‘I thought I was attending your mother’s sixtieth birthday party.’

‘Which I would have been at too.’

‘And we would have seen each other there, yes. But you’re the only one here. I’ve seen you. Now I want to leave.’

‘Just like that?’

‘Just like that.’

He inched closer. ‘You’re not the slightest bit curious about why you and I are alone here?’

‘Sure I am. But I’m also pretty sure I can figure it out on my way to the airport.’

‘The airport?’ His lips curved into a smile. ‘Honey, the airport’s closed.’

‘No,’ she said after a beat. ‘No, it can’t be. I just got off a plane. Your mother said it would be waiting for me when I was done here.’

His smile faded. ‘She lied. Your flight is likely to be the last one until Monday. The airport’s closed this weekend.’

Panic thickened in her throat. ‘ All weekend?’

‘Don’t sound so surprised, Rosa,’ he said mildly. ‘You know Mariner’s Island doesn’t work the way the rest of the world does.’

‘Yes, but...but it was a private plane. Yours.’

‘It still needs somewhere to take off from. To land at. And since the airport’s closed we won’t have that until Monday.’

She ducked under his arm, put distance between them. But it didn’t make breathing any easier. ‘So...what? Your mother just decided to leave her guests stranded here until Monday?’

‘Not guests,’ he corrected. ‘Just you and me.’

‘Did you know about this?’

‘No.’

‘Then how did you not suspect something was off when the main route off the island would only be viable again on Monday ?’

‘She told me that the party would be going on for most of the weekend.’

‘And you believed her?’

‘Yes,’ he said coldly. ‘It’s not unusual for one of my mother’s parties to continue for an entire weekend. You know that.’

‘Okay,’ she said, and lifted the curls off her forehead with a shaky hand. ‘Okay, fine.’ Her hand dropped. ‘Then I’ll take a boat home.’

‘It’s too late to get one tonight.’

‘I know,’ she said through clenched teeth. ‘I’ll take one tomorrow morning.’

‘There’s a storm warning for tomorrow. Starting tonight, actually.’

She looked beyond the glass walls, saw the dark clouds rolling in. Her stomach tumbled. ‘That’s fine.’

‘It’ll be a rough storm, Rosa. It’s anticipated to last until tomorrow evening at least. Do you still want to take a boat?’

‘Yes.’

He laughed softly. ‘You’re so determined to get away from me you’ll take an almost two-hour boat ride in a storm? Even though you get sick when the water is calm?’