Evie's Bombshell - By Amy Andrews Page 0,36

than a year ago. She and Charlie, an orthopod the hospital, desperately wanted a baby but there were risks that neither of them was willing to take on Bella’s health, not to mention the sceptre of any baby also having CF.

‘It’s fine. I’m just pleased neither of you carry the gene so my lovely little niece and nephew will be fine.’

She smiled at them both but Evie could tell it took a huge effort. Poor Bella had already had so much taken from her in life.

‘Besides,’ Bella continued, ‘I get to be the cool aunty, who fills them up with lollies and ice cream and lets them watch scary movies till midnight and teaches them to drive.’

‘And designs fabulous couture for their proms and weddings from your latest collection,’ Lexi added.

‘That right,’ Bella agreed. Her new lungs had given her more freedom to make her fashion design dream a reality. ‘And you can organise fabulous parties for them,’ Bella said.

Lexi, an events planner, grinned. ‘Starting with your baby shower,’ she said to Evie.

Evie laughed. ‘Steady on, there’s plenty of time to be worrying about that. Just you concentrate on getting this little one …’ she patted Lexi’s belly ‘… out. We’ll worry about my baby shower a few months down the track.’

Lexi shifted uncomfortably. ‘Deal.’

‘So, Bells,’ Evie said, as Pete plonked another wine glass of sparkling water in front of her, ‘tell us about your course. What are you working on?’

They nattered away for the next hour and Evie felt lighter and happier than she had in weeks. Between Finn, the gossip and the baby, she’d had a lot on her mind. It was fabulous to leave that all beyond for a while and be pulled headlong into girly, sister stuff.

Or at least it was until Finn showed up in jeans and a T-shirt, looking all rugged and stubbly and very determined. She’d seen that look before and went on instant alert despite the flutter in the region of her heart.

‘Evie,’ he greeted her, with a quick nod of his head to Lexi and Bella.

Evie frowned at him. ‘Is there something wrong?’

He shook his head. ‘I have something I’d like to show you. If your sisters can spare you … of course.’

Finn’s face ached from being polite when all he really wanted to do was snatch her up and throw her over his shoulder. The refined, educated side of him was horrified by the prehistoric notion but the rampaging Neanderthal he’d become since she’d turned him down quite frankly didn’t give a damn at the spectacle that would ensue should he follow through on his impulse.

‘Finn …’ Evie sighed. She didn’t have the energy to fight today.

‘Please, Evie.’

Evie blinked. Finn wasn’t one for saying ‘please’. Not even when he’d suggested they get married had he thrown in a ‘please’.

‘Where exactly are you taking her?’ Bella asked, placing a protective hand on her sister’s arm.

Bella didn’t like the way he’d been treating Evie, especially his silence this last month. If she were pregnant there was no way Charlie would treat her so abysmally. He’d wrap in her cotton wool, which was no less than any woman deserved. Especially Evie, who’d been the Lockheart family rock for ever and worked such long, punishing hours.

‘It’s a surprise,’ Finn hedged.

‘Is it a good surprise?’ Bella demanded. ‘Will she like it, Finn Kennedy, because I don’t care how much money you bring into the hospital’s coffers or how brilliant everyone says you are, frankly I think you can be pretty damn obtuse.’

‘Bella,’ Lexi said reproachfully.

But Finn gave a grudging smile. Trust another Lockheart to tell him like it was. Bella had been pretty easy to dismiss due to being sickly most of her life but those new lungs had certainly given her a whole lot of breath! ‘Yes,’ he conceded, ‘it’s a good surprise.’

Evie’s pulse fluttered at her wrist and tap-danced at her temple as Bella removed her hand. He didn’t look any softer but his words were encouraging. Maybe they were going to have an adult conversation about the way forward?

‘Fine,’ she said, dropping a kiss on Bella’s cheek before she eased herself out of the booth. Finn stepped aside for her and Evie was excruciatingly aware of the sudden rabid interest—some subtle, some not so subtle—directed towards them as she gave Lexi a quick peck.

She turned to Finn, ignoring the speculation she could practically feel coursing through Pete’s like an electrical current. ‘Lead on,’ she said.

She breathed a little easier once they’d got