Eclipse of the Heart - By Carly Carson Page 0,68

knew it simply was not the right choice for her.

"In that case, you need to start planning for the future. What does Logan say?"

"He doesn't know! You can't tell him Rosie! You can't tell anyone!"

"You're going to give up your job?"

"No, of course not. I'll need it more than ever."

"Well then, how are you plannin' to hide this news from him, or anyone else?" Rosie waved a little parcel of sugar twigs, tied up with a brown bow. "Aren't these cute?"

"Would you be serious?"

"You're the one who's not facin' reality right now." Rosie dropped the twigs back in the bag. "Are you sure Logan wouldn't respond favorably to this news?"

"Are you kidding?" The little shriek at the end of her words was not appealing. Amanda took a breath.

"Sometimes, he shows a surprisingly warm side," Rosie said. "I didn't see it at first, but my aunt was right. He's not a machine."

"Close enough." Amanda gave a harsh laugh. "As far as I know, he sprang from an egg, fully grown, the man we see today. He has no family, no photos in his apartment, and, believe me, no desire for children of his own. He's been very clear on that subject."

"I see." Rosie frowned. "At a minimum, I'm sure he'd support the child."

"You're not listening to me! He can't know!"

"Hey." Rosie walked over and put her arm around Amanda. "Have you eaten today?"

"No appetite."

"I'm going to make you some tea and toast. Then we'll talk about what to do."

A half hour later, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, Amanda did feel marginally better. She almost smiled at the silly stick with swirled sugar clinging to the bottom which Rosie dipped into her hot tea.

"That is totally ridiculous, Rosie."

"I know." Rosie's wide grin lit up the kitchen. "That's what makes it fun. Go on, try the toast."

"Maybe in a little while." Amanda stared glumly into her tea.

"Don't worry so much." Rosie patted her hand. "Everything will work out. You'll see."

"You know the stats on single motherhood?"

"You'll prove 'em wrong. Besides, I still think you should let Logan help. I don't think he's as heartless as you're makin' him out to be."

"His core is cold, Rosie. I could never expose my child to that."

"I think you're wrong," Rosie said stubbornly. "He may not be a demonstrative man, I'll give you that, but he's not cold."

Amanda knew she had to change the subject. She couldn't let herself be sucked into any fantasies of Logan being involved in this new chapter of her life. That could only lead to more heartache when he disappointed her. Realistically, she'd have to tell him at some point. But she wouldn't do so until she had everything organized and under control. At that time, she'd be totally clear that he had no obligation to her or the child.

"Promise me, Rosie, that you won't tell anyone."

"I think you're makin' a mistake, but fine."

Loneliness swept over her when Rosie left, but when the doorbell rang shortly after her departure, Amanda thought about ignoring it. There wasn't anyone she wanted to see, especially not in this half-tearful, half-panicked state she was in.

Then she realized Rosie must have forgotten something. Amanda yanked a tissue out of the box on the table, and shuffled over to the door, just as the bell pealed again, a long and loud note that somehow sounded angry.

She put her eye to the peephole.

Logan?

In shock, she opened the door. Had he heard? Rosie hadn't rushed out and called him, had she?

One look at his furious face and Amanda's heart notched up to a higher rate. Yes, he must have discovered the news somehow. She'd never seen this kind of emotion from him. But she'd wait for an explanation before blaming Rosie. Not that anyone else knew—

He strode through the door, gripping a laptop under one arm. Amanda closed the door behind him, wondering vaguely about the computer. Had he come from the office? When he dumped it on the coffee table and straightened up, glaring at her, everything flew out of her head but one thought. He looked mad enough to kill.

"Now I understand," he said in a lethal voice, "why you didn't bother to come in to work yesterday."

Her mind reeled. He even knew she'd been to the doctor's yesterday? That made no sense.

"Did you think," he asked, his voice low and throbbing with anger, "that I would never find out?"

She shook her head. No words came to mind. Of course he would have found out, as much as