Instant Mother

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Mr Jones emerged from under the chair, gave her a sheepish look, and half-heartedly wagged his tail.

‘And what do you think you’re playing at?’ she asked him mock severely.

He cocked his head to one side, and she grinned. But dogs were highly sensitive, weren’t they? Knew when someone wasn’t quite right. She had never known him to hide under a chair before. But she couldn’t move Stefan, couldn’t wake him... She didn’t have any spare blankets... With another sigh, she walked across to pick up his overcoat, carefully covered him, deliberately didn’t touch, then suddenly stiffened as she heard the distinctive sound of a key in the front door.

Eyes wide, heart beating far too fast, she foolishly went to wrench the door open—and found Mike on the step.

CHAPTER THREE

‘NO-O,’ she whispered in horror.

‘No? What do you mean, no?’ he asked irritably. ‘Come on, move out the way, there’s a good girl, it’s freezing out here!’ Easing off his rucksack, he pushed past her, only to halt at the sight of the sleeping Stefan and the dog. ‘Alexa!’ he exploded. ‘I lent the cottage to you! I didn’t say you could have guests! And what’s that dog doing here?’

‘Shh,’ she whispered urgently. ‘You’ll wake Jessica!’

‘Jessica?’ he demanded wrathfully. ‘Who’s Jessica? How many people have you got staying here?’

‘None! And keep your voice down! If you’d let me know when you were coming back, none of this would have happened! And what on earth did you expect me to do, arriving home at this time of night? It’s gone one! Was I supposed to go and find a hotel? Don’t you have any sense?’

‘Me have sense? It’s my cottage!’

‘Which you lent to me! Which gives me some rights! Like consideration!’

Scowling, he directed his temper at the sleeping Stefan. And the dog. ‘I hope he’s house-trained,’ he muttered peevishly.

‘Stefan, or the dog?’

‘Don’t be smart. I’m tired, Alexa.’ Stocky and blond, face tanned by a distant sun, he looked like a sulky schoolboy.

‘Well?’ she demanded again. ‘What did you expect me to do?’

‘Nothing. I didn’t think.’ Dropping his backpack, he turned to glare at her. ‘But I’m not going to find a hotel at this time of night, either.’

‘Then you’ll have to sleep in the other chair.’ With a muttered curse, he added spitefully, ‘Didn’t take you long to forget David, did it?’

Grabbing his jacket, she hauled his face close to hers, so angry she could have hit him! ‘Shut up! Just shut up, Mike!’ Releasing him, she stepped back. ‘If you want anything, you can get it yourself. I’m going to bed.’ Snapping her fingers at the dog, she walked into the bedroom and closed the door. Leaning back against it, she closed her eyes tight. It was like a stupid farce! And once upon a time, you would have been amused, Alexa. But not now. Not today. And how arrogantly selfish! She’d been doing him a favour. That should ensure some degree of consideration, shouldn’t it? She hadn’t asked to use the cottage! He’d asked her!

Irritated, angry, she quietly undressed and got into her pyjamas. Slipping on her dressing gown, she opened the bedroom door, didn’t even glance towards the lounge, and walked into the bathroom to clean her teeth. Returning to the bedroom, she quietly locked the door. You never knew with strangers. And they were strangers, both of them.

Carefully climbing in beside Jessica, she snuggled down and glared up at the dark ceiling. ‘Don’t get upset,’ the doctor had said. ‘Don’t get tense. Take things one day at a time...’ Yeah, right, easy for the doctor to say. He didn’t have a broken love affair, wasn’t married to a stranger that she’d suddenly found herself attracted to against all rhyme or reason, wasn’t expected to look after a little girl who needed all the love and attention it was possible to give... Didn’t have the owner of his temporary accommodation turn up without warning... And if you’d thought, Alexa, used your brain, you would have booked rooms at the hotel as soon as you’d picked Jessica up from school!

And she wasn’t attracted to Stefan. She couldn’t be.

Carefully turning onto her side, she stared at the back of the little girl’s head, gently covered her up. Jessica was the important one, she reminded herself. Not herself, not Stefan, not Mike. Jessica. Her whole little world had fallen apart, and if there was nothing else for her in this rotten old life, Alexa silently promised her that she would at least have love, and security. Love and security were the most important things to a child. She knew that better than anyone. A daunting task, but the promise had been made.

She closed her eyes, not expecting to sleep. But the next thing she knew it was morning, and Mr Jones was scratching at the bedroom door to get out.

Rolling over, blearily opening her eyes, she found Jessica watching her.

With a wide yawn, a shiver as a naked shoulder came into contact with the cold air, she dragged her pyjama top back in place and smiled. ‘Hello, sweetheart. Did you sleep all right?’

Jessica nodded, continued to watch her, then glanced at the bedroom door.

‘Right. First things first.’ Grabbing her dressing gown, she got out and shrugged quickly into it. ‘Let’s get that fire alight and see if your uncle’s awake.’ And Mike, she remembered despairingly.

And, finally, there was a smile.

‘He’s in the lounge. Here, put my jumper on, otherwise you’ll get cold.’ Reaching for the jumper she’d worn yesterday, she handed it over, smiled as Jessica slipped into it. It reached her ankles. After rolling up the sleeves for her, she went to open the bedroom door.

Mr Jones shot out, followed by Jessica. And Alexa found Stefan already awake and standing in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea. Dark stubble decorated his chin, his dark hair was every which way. He looked rather piratically dangerous, and her heart shook. Nervous tension cramped her stomach.

He smiled as he caught sight of Jessica. A smile Alexa wanted for herself.

Putting down his cup, he scooped his niece up and into his arms. He held her tight for a moment, kissed her soft hair, then turned to face Alexa.