than she actually is, Kate. When Dad mentioned the photographs the truth hit me in the face.’
Kate looked at him in entreaty. ‘Were you angry with me, Jack?’
‘I was euphoric!’ He pulled her close, his cheek against hers. ‘I’m still trying to come to terms with the miraculous fact that we’ve got a daughter. All I have to do now is persuade you to let her know she’s got a real live father—and a mother I want to marry as soon as I can get the ring on her finger.’
Kate stirred next morning, afraid she was dreaming again when she felt the touch of coaxing lips and hands. But she opened her eyes to find Jack was there in the flesh, real and warm and already aroused as he caressed her awake. He kissed her in tender possession as he slid slowly home inside her, waking all her senses one by one, the subtle seduction so perfect she never wanted it to end and held him close to experience every last nuance of pleasure as the throbbing died away.
‘Good morning,’ he said against her mouth.
‘It certainly is,’ she agreed breathlessly and winced as she looked at the clock. ‘A very early good morning, Jack!’
‘Some people go out to work,’ he told her and slid from the bed to pull on his clothes. ‘And, much as I’d like to stay all day with you in that bed, I must dash home to shower and dress. I’ll scribble a note to Molly to leave us something for dinner, and pick you up tonight about seven. Unless,’ he added, looking down at her, ‘you have something better to do?’
‘I haven’t got my diary with me, but offhand I can’t think of anything,’ she said flippantly, then smiled at him. ‘What could possibly be better?’
‘Exactly. What are you going to do after I’ve gone?’
‘My usual shift at the computer.’ She looked at him questioningly. ‘I thought I’d ask your father round to lunch later and tell him my story. Or would you rather do that yourself?’
Jack leaned over to kiss her. ‘No, my darling. You tell him—it’s your story.
‘It’s yours too!’
‘But you’re the heroine; I’m just the villain of the piece.’
She shook her head. ‘Not to me, Jack.’
He pulled her up into his arms. ‘Then from now on I’ll do my damnedest to be the hero.’ He kissed her again and, with a deep sigh of regret, let her go. ‘I’ll see you later.’
Kate forged through her morning’s work, then rang the Suttons in Worcester to talk to Joanna and, once assured that her child was well and happy, Kate rang Tom Logan and suggested he come round for a sandwich lunch.
When he arrived, looking rested and with his colour back, she threw her arms round him in relief. ‘Thank goodness, you look yourself again! You had me really worried yesterday.’
‘No wonder. When I saw Joanna I swear my heart stopped for a moment. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She was my Margaret to the life!’ Tom kissed her cheek. ‘Jack rang earlier to check on me. He sounded happy, Kate.’
She smiled radiantly, then bit her lip. ‘I’m happy too, except for one thing. I have to tell Joanna the truth, and I’m such a coward about it, Tom.’ Kate led him into the kitchen and took the cover from a platter of chicken sandwiches. ‘Help yourself; I’ll eat and talk at the same time.’
She told her story again briefly and succinctly, editing out the parts that would cause him unnecessary pain.
‘My dear girl,’ he said, shaken. ‘To think you’ve had to keep this to yourself all these years.’ He reached across the table to take her hand. ‘But now, my love, you’ve got to bite the bullet and tell Joanna.’
Kate nodded reluctantly. ‘But not until after the party. I want her to enjoy that before I hit her with the truth.’
Tom Logan’s grasp tightened. ‘In my opinion you and Jack should tell her together.’
‘She needn’t hear about Dawn and the baby. I’ll tell her I broke up with Jack—which is true—and he married someone else on the rebound before I knew I was expecting his child.’
Tom shook his head. ‘Even at first glance Joanna strikes me as mature for her age. I think she deserves the truth, warts and all. I’ll make that clear to Jack when he comes to collect the dog.’
‘I can’t say I agree with Dad,’ said Jack later, as Kate received a warm welcome from Bran in the Jeep.‘