First Comes Baby...: The Loner's Guarded Heart by Michelle Douglas Page B

it, actually.
    Her eyes widened. ‘You did?’
    He had to grit his teeth at her incredulity. ‘Yes.’
    She pursed her lips and stared at him as if she’d never seen him before. ‘That was very sensible of you.’
    He ground his teeth harder. He’d watched Laurie Parrish for many years and, while he might not like the man, had learned a thing or two that he’d put into practice. Those wise investments had paid off.
    ‘I have enough money to tide me over for the next six weeks.’ And beyond. But he resisted the impulse to brag and tell her exactly how much money that financial security blanket of his held—that really would be immature.
    ‘Okay.’ She eyed him uncertainly. ‘Good. I’m glad that’s settled.’
    ‘While we’re on the subject of personal questions—’ he rounded on her ‘—you want to tell me what you’re trying to achieve with this godforsaken wedding?’
    She hitched up her chin and stuck out a hip. ‘I’m joying this “godforsaken wedding” up,’ she told him. ‘I’m going to force them to celebrate.’
    He gaped at her. ‘Why?’
    ‘Because there was no joy when we were growing up.’
    ‘They were never there for us, Meg. They don’t deserve this—the effort you put in, the—’
    ‘Everyone deserves the right to a little happiness. And if they truly want to mend bridges, then...’
    ‘Then?’
    ‘Then I only think it fair and right that we give them that opportunity.’
    * * *
    Ben’s face closed up. Every single time he came home Meg cursed what his mother had done to him—abandoning him like she had with a woman who’d grown old before her time. Usually she would let a topic like this drop. Today she didn’t. If Ben truly wanted to be a father, he needed to deal with his past.
    She folded her arms, her heart pounding against the walls of her chest. ‘When my mother died, my father just shut down, became a shell. Her death—it broke him. There was no room in his life for joy or celebration.’
    Ben pushed his face in close to hers, his eyes flashing. ‘He should’ve made an effort for you.’
    Meg’s hand slid across her stomach. She’d make every effort for her child, she couldn’t imagine ever emotionally abandoning it, but maybe men were different—especially men of her father’s generation.
    She glanced at Ben. If a woman ever broke his heart, how would he react? She bit back a snigger. To break his heart a woman would have to get close to Ben, and he was never going to let that happen.
    Ben’s gaze lowered to where her hand rested against her stomach. His gaze had kept returning to her baby bump all morning. As if he couldn’t get his fill. She swallowed. It was disconcerting, being the subject of his focus.
    Not her, she corrected, the baby.
    That didn’t prevent the heat from rising in her cheeks or her breathing from becoming shallow and strained.
    She tried to shake herself free from whatever weird and wacky pregnancy hormone currently gripped her. Concentrate .
    ‘So,’ she started, ‘while my father went missing in action, your mother left you with Elsie and disappeared. She never rang or sent a letter or anything. Elsie must’ve been worried sick. She must’ve been afraid to love you.’
    He snapped back. ‘Afraid to—?’
    ‘I mean, what if your mother came back and took you away and she never heard from either of you again? What if, when you grew up, you did exactly what your mother did and abandoned her ?’
    ‘My mother abandoned me, not Elsie.’
    ‘She abandoned the both of you, Ben.’
    His jaw dropped open.
    Meg nodded. ‘Yes, you’re right. They both should’ve made a bigger effort for us. But at least we found each other. At least we both had one friend in the world we could totally depend upon. And whatever else you want to dispute, you can’t deny that we didn’t have fun together.’
    He rolled his shoulders. ‘I don’t want to deny that.’
    ‘Well, can’t you see that my father and Elsie didn’t even have that