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She was a cutie—no doubt about that—this tiny human being who was, amazingly, related to him.
Seth knelt on the bed, ready to catch her if she bounced too high, and he marvelled at her incredible energy and enthusiasm. She was such a happy little thing, so full of life, and, thanks to Amy, she had no sense of the tragedies that had robbed her of her parents.
The word orphan had always horrified Seth.
When his father died and his mother disappeared to the far side of the world, he’d been haunted by visions of storybook orphans, starving and freezing in the snow.
But he’d had his mother’s letters. Inadequate, but tangible, they’d arrived on his birthdays—and he’d had his uncle, whose kindness and love had saved him and kept him afloat.
Now, as he watched this giggling, bouncing little girl, he choked up, thinking about the man who’d fathered her.
I owe you one, mate. I owe you big time.
Except that Amy had picked up the baton. She’d assumed responsibility for her friend’s daughter and, as far as Seth could tell, she loved the kid unreservedly, as if she were her own.
He supposed the security and stability of Amy’s happy family had given her the grounding she needed to reach out without fear. Seemed she was doing damn fine splendid and she didn’t need his help.
‘You’re a lucky kid,’ he told Bella. ‘You’re much better off with her.’
Within seconds of waking, Amy saw that Bella’s bed was empty.
She bounced out of bed in a panic. Bella usually climbed straight into Amy’s bed for a morning cuddle and she’d never wandered off before.
Amy darted into the hallway. ‘Bella!’
‘She’s in here.’
In mid-dash down the hallway, Amy skidded to a halt. Seth’s voice had come from his bedroom.
Zap. Heart thumping, she turned in at his doorway.
Part of her brain must have registered that Bella was bouncing in the middle of Seth’s huge bed, but almost all of her attention was caught by his bare chest.
Oh, help.
Amy had to stare; she simply had to. Seth’s chest was so fabulously toned, so amazingly muscly and masculine and naked.
The sight of him now in his bedroom was such a different matter from seeing him by the pool yesterday. It was totally unexpected, for one thing. But now, after he’d kissed her…After her night of restless tossing and turning…
‘Bella marched in here and took over my bed,’ Seth explained, with an apologetic grin that didn’t quite hide the fact that he was checking Amy out.
It was only when she saw the unmistakable spark of appreciation in his eyes that she remembered she was in her nightdress. Her thin white cotton nightdress. Again. Which meant she was even more scantily clad than he was.
This was becoming an embarrassing habit.
Surreptitiously, she attempted to cross her arms over her chest as she backed out of the room. ‘Bella has so much energy first thing in the morning. Thanks for taking care of her.’
Frantically, she tried to beckon to the little girl. ‘Come on, now, Bella. That’s enough bouncing. Time to get dressed.’
Bella continued to bounce.
‘Hey!’ Seth caught the little girl in mid bounce and swept her so high she squealed with delight.
Amy watched the rippling sheen of his muscles and felt the oxygen sucked from her lungs.
Grinning, Seth turned to her, holding the giggling, wriggling child. ‘Here you go. She’s all yours.’
Struggling to breathe, she prepared to take Bella from him. Their forearms bumped, of course, and for a heady moment she found her hands squashed between Bella’s squirming body and the solid wall of Seth’s bare chest.
He was warm and satiny and hard…and touchable…She could feel his heat, smell his skin…
Pulling away, she blushed hotly, and turned to dash for the safety of her room, but she was distracted by a silver-framed photograph on the dresser near the door.
Clutching Bella, Amy took a second look. It was a close-up portrait of an incredibly handsome man approaching middle age.
His dark hair was feathered with silver and his face had the kind of tan that came from years of living in the outdoors. White creases showed at the corner of his eyes, but, despite the slightly weathered look, there was a breathtaking, filmstar quality about him.
‘Is this your uncle?’ she asked.
Seth’s eyes followed the direction of her gaze and she saw a flash of pain in their blue depths. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘That’s Seth. Everyone around here called him Boss, so there was no confusion about our names.’
‘He looks younger than I expected. When was the photo taken?’
‘A few years ago. Not long before he died, actually.’
Cold shivers skittered down Amy’s spine. So…Uncle Seth had been a hunk. A mature hunk certainly, but indisputably attractive.
Deep down, she sensed the truth as clearly as if the words had been spoken. This uncle had been Rachel’s grand passion.
‘Now’s not the time, Seth, but you and I need to have a talk,’ she said tightly. ‘A serious talk.’ Then she turned and fled from his room.
Chapter Seven (#ulink_fb0e256d-1619-5996-aa24-6d90911498db)
AMY arrived on the veranda, half an hour later, dressed for breakfast and ready for a showdown.
The questions about Bella’s father had to be answered.
Today. Preferably, this morning. She had no idea why Seth had remained silent and mysterious about Bella’s conception, but she was determined to have everything out in the open.
Perhaps he’d guessed what was on her mind. Despite his smooth smile, she could sense an extra tension in him. Good, she thought. It wouldn’t hurt for him to stew for a while; a little discomfort might make him more cooperative.
Guiltily conscious that she was thinking like an interrogator, Amy turned her attention to breakfast, which was another of Ming’s masterpieces.
While Amy helped Bella to dip toast soldiers into her softly boiled egg, she talked to Seth as any guest might, about the fruit trees scattered about the garden, and the hens in the coop at the back of the house.
‘Perhaps Bella and I could collect the eggs,’ she suggested. ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you, poppet?’
‘You’re very welcome to collect them,’ Seth told her. ‘I’ll warn Ming that the job’s covered for the next few days.’
Playing his part as host, Seth talked politely and carefully about the scenic spots around the property. Amy was equally polite as she tried to pay attention, but she found it hard when her brain was boiling with seriously important questions.
As soon as Bella finished her breakfast Amy grabbed her chance. ‘Seth, do you think Ming could keep Bella entertained, while we have half an hour to ourselves?’
He gave an unsmiling nod and stood. ‘Ming’s a good sport. I’ll speak to him. I’m sure he’ll oblige.’
In no time, Ming appeared, dark eyes sparkling as he flashed Amy a wide grin. ‘Does Bella like to blow bubbles?’
She couldn’t help laughing. ‘Do kangaroos hop? Bella, would you like to blow bubbles?’
The little girl squealed, and as easily as that she was whisked away to the kitchen.
And Amy was alone with Seth.
‘More tea?’ he asked, smiling enigmatically as he lifted the teapot.
‘Thanks.’
She had to concentrate hard, keeping her hand steady as Seth filled her teacup and his, then set the pot down. He regarded her steadily. ‘You said we need to talk.’
‘Yes, I did.’ Amy took her time adding milk to her tea while she marshalled her thoughts. She had to get this right, had to get to the truth without making Seth angry.
Over the rim of his teacup, he watched her. ‘Am I right in guessing you have questions?’
‘Quite a few questions, actually,’ she said. ‘And I hope you’ll give me straight answers.’
His expression remained impassive. ‘Fire away.’
This was it. Time to hold her nose and jump in. ‘Are you Bella’s father?’
Seth looked her straight in the eyes. ‘No, Amy. I’m not.’
Oh, boy. She felt as if she’d dived into a pool only to discover too late that it was the shallow end. Even though she’d guessed this possibility, it was still a shock to have it confirmed. ‘You—you know that for sure?’
‘Absolutely. I didn’t sleep with Rachel. In fact, I had very little to do with her while she was here.’
I didn’t sleep with Rachel.
Amy sat very still, trying to ignore the warm wave of relief that rippled through her. It was totally inappropriate to be pleased simply because this gorgeous man hadn’t made love to her best friend.
She had to forget the way her body went into meltdown at his slightest touch. Her focus was Bella—Bella’s parentage. Bella’s future.
Bella was the only reason these questions were important. If Amy was going to take care of Bella for the next eighteen years or so, she wanted everything about Bella’s family background out in the open. No murky secrets or skeletons in the cupboard.
‘Rachel told me that Bella’s father was Seth Reardon, so I assumed you were—’
‘The culprit?’
‘Yes.’ With one finger, she traced the teacup’s handle. ‘But if it’s not you I suppose Bella’s father was—the other Seth.’
He nodded slowly. ‘Your friend and my uncle were lovers. Neither my uncle nor I knew of Bella’s existence, but if Rachel named Seth Reardon as her father, I can only assume Bella’s their child.’
So there was the truth at last—or as close to the truth as she was ever going to get.
Amy folded her arms and hugged them against her, needing a little head space to adjust to this news. Rachel’s lover was not this Seth Reardon, but a wonderfully attractive, older man. A man who, like Rachel, was no longer alive.
‘Poor little Bella,’ she said.
‘She’s fine, Amy.’
‘But she has no mother or father.’
‘She has you. You’re a terrific mother. You’re doing a fantastic job.’
She shrugged uneasily—disappointed that she couldn’t feel happier now that she’d achieved her goal. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me think you were Bella’s father?’
Seth switched his gaze to a distant spot in the garden. ‘Would you like to go for a walk?’
A walk? He wanted to take a walk now?
‘Are you trying to lead me up the garden path, Seth?’
He gave a soft laugh. ‘No, but I can explain things better outside.’
She shrugged uncertainly. ‘All right.’ She supposed he mightn’t want Ming to overhear them.
As they went down the short flight of timber steps the air was warm and humid and laden with the scent of frangipani. They followed a flagstone path past a bed of lush green plants with astonishing bright orange flowers shaped like lobster claws, and Amy stole a glance at Seth’s frowning face.
She wasn’t going to be put off. Now that she’d adjusted, she was getting increasingly angry that he’d let her think the wrong thing for so long. ‘Were you ever going to tell me about your uncle?’ she asked.
‘I was planning to tell you the whole story.’
‘When?’ she snapped, annoyed by his coolness. ‘When Bella turns twenty-one?’
His mouth tightened and, to her dismay, a distressing sheen brightened his cobalt eyes.
Sudden sympathy burned her throat and she stopped walking. She knew Seth had loved his uncle. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said gently. ‘I should remember that this is difficult for you, too.’
They were at the top of a long flight of stone steps that led down to the very bottom of the garden. Below the steps, the tangle of scrub began, but right in front of them lay a breathtaking view of the beach below, curling like a slice of lemon peel at the edge of the sparkling, dancing sea.
‘I always intended to tell you the truth,’ Seth said. ‘That’s why I brought you back here. But I felt it was important to get to know you first, to make sure I was doing the right thing. And I wanted you to see this place, so you had the whole picture.’
Amy looked at the sea, shimmering like aquamarine silk. She looked at the moss-green islands floating silently, then she looked back to the beautiful house, the terraced gardens, the dark forest of trees. She thought about the hundreds of hectares beyond this, all of which had belonged to Bella’s father.
‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘Seeing this place has certainly opened my eyes. It’s nothing like I expected. I suppose you have to be wary of people turning up out of the blue and claiming some kind of connection. Like land rights. But that’s not why I’ve come here, Seth. I simply wanted to find Bella’s…family. Her roots.’
‘I know,’ he said quietly. ‘And for my part, I’m very happy to have found Bella. I need family too and she’s incredibly important to me. My relatives are rather thin on the ground.’
He flashed Amy a lopsided smile and her bones threatened to melt.
