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. Mackenzie, he muttered, his voice hoarse. Mr.Mackenzie? It s the Royal.Your mother, Elisabeth Mackenzie, isawake and asking for you.The fuzz shot from his brain. I ll be right there.He threw on his crumpled shirt.There had been no time the daybefore to think about fresh clothes, Angela couldThe duvet shifted.Mack remembered who was in his bed.He staredat the splay of black hair across the white cotton pillows, the soft blushto her warmed skin.Kate looked peaceful, beautiful.Mack let out a slow sigh.She cared only for his money and herself,had cracked his heart wide open when he had discovered that fact.Buthe loved her.Despite that.After all, he had more money than he couldspend in several lifetimes.But it was his family history almost repeatingitself. Kate? He watched her eyes flutter open and a smile drift over hermouth. Mack.At any other time, her tone would have him back in their bed,everything else forgotten.A wry smile pulled at his mouth. I have to goto the hospital, he said, unable to deny himself a brief taste of her warmlips.Kate arched and sighed, pulling at the weight of the duvet.Sheturned away. Give my love to the budgerigar.Mack left the room grinning.He d forgotten how often he d had a fullconversation with Kate, only to discover that she was dreaming anddidn t remember a thing.The car was there within ten minutes and Mackwas soon on his way to the hospital.He relaxed back into the soft-138-Buying Mackenzie s Babyleather, closed his eyes and tried to ignore the chaos that churnedthrough his life. Sir?Mack scrubbed at his bristled jaw, wishing he d had the forethoughtto bring his shaving kit from his office. What? We re at the hospital.He had fallen asleep.He glanced at his watch.Seven-twenty. Thanks. Mack climbed out of the back seat.He made his way down thefamiliar corridors, the fear that had gripped him the day before almostgone.His mother was awake and wanted to see him.That had to begood, didn t it? Mack.There were still too many machines hooked up to her body, and shelooked pale, exhausted.Fierce bruising mottled her face.But there wasthat glimmer of life in Beth s eyes.Mack couldn t help the grin that brokeover his face, the lift in his heart. Will this stop your DIY now?Her smile grew but then she winced. Don t make me laugh, shemoaned.Her face slid into seriousness. Mack, there s a reason I draggedyou out at this godforsaken hour.His gut tightened. Have they changed the diagnosis? No.Nothing like that. Her uninjured arm waved at the chair besidethe bed.Reluctantly, Mack sat. Yesterday is fuzzy.But I remember onething. She grimaced. I thought I was going to die. Mother  No. Her hand squeezed his. I should have told you this years ago.Her eyes closed and she sighed. Edward married me for my money.Theestate was in debt, more of the Colonel s mismanagement.I was young,stupid, her teeth bit at her lip,  and on the rebound. Her dark eyes-139-Kim Reesfixed on the blanket and her voice was caught in past pain. I thought hewas playing with me.That I was a gauche girl, meant to amuse him. My father? Mack was confused.It almost sounded as if she weretalking about someone else. No. A wry smile. Yes. Her eyes finally found his. I cut all ties fromhim, from Robert and married Edward, his best friend.Spite, I suppose.Iwas a fool. Robert? Mack s mind shot back to the Lodge s sunny front room,his mother s reticence over a certain photograph. Robert Thorpe? He went to work overseas but came back.I was already married, hadbeen for six months.Robert thought I would be waiting for him.Ithought he d dumped me.Edward didn t care.He had access to mymoney.He said I could do what I liked.He wouldn t divorce me.Mack stared.His mind refused to work. What are you saying? You re Robert Thorpe s son.He was out of his chair.For years, he had thought that his motherhad pined for his father, for Edward Mackenzie, that he had broken herheart.But now she was saying?  Are you sure? The words were out andMack s hands tightened into fists.He shouldn t ask his mother of allpeople Yes. Her gaze dropped to where her fingers picked at the cellularblanket. I never& with Edward. A smile twitched at her lips. I couldn t.Embarrassment constricted his gut and he found himself staring outat the little rockery, catching his own reflection in the thick glass.Hesuddenly wanted to see that photograph, to see if he could traceanything of himself in the stranger s features. Did the Colonel know? No, Beth said. But your grandmother knew about Robert, whethershe knew about you& I don t know.Greville Mackenzie married her for-140-Buying Mackenzie s Babythe estate.Nothing more.There was never any love lost there.SometimesI wonder whether Edward was Greville s son. And Robert? What happened? They were driving back to the estate.Edward had picked him up.Robert worked away a lot, family business.It was winter.They hit apatch of black ice.Edward, Robert and, I think her name was Karen,were killed instantly. Beth let out a breath, hissing against the pain. I don t remember him, Mack said. I was seven, I should remembersomething. Robert worked abroad.And we were discrete.More discrete thanEdward. But did he know? About me? He loved you, she said, her eyes fierce on his. Wanted to name youas his heir but his family wouldn t let him. Her eyes closed briefly. Itcaused years of in-fighting.Every Thorpe desperate for their branch toclaim Robert s wealth. Her voice was almost to herself. I had thoughtthey d sorted out an heir.Mack sank into the chair beside the window and ran a shaking handthrough his hair. And I thought my life couldn t get any more insane. I had to tell you, Mack. The wry smile was back. If only to offer thecomfort that your child wouldn t be related to the Colonel. Yes, he murmured, distracted. You re staying at the Lodge? Then go back to bed, you lookshattered. Am I like him? he asked, looking up.A sad smile pulled at her mouth and her eyes glimmered with tears. More and more every day, she said softly. He was brilliant,charismatic, funny.Devoted and loving.That s why I knew you couldn t-141-Kim Reesmarry again, well, not anyone other than Kate.You, like your father, canonly give your heart once. And live with the consequences.Beth s eyes narrowed. Mack? Kate married me for my money, both times.A business deal.She gotsupport for her baby and I got  He bit off the words.Beth didn t need toknow the rest of the transaction. What? There was that tone.The one she always used when he ddone something wrong and had yet to admit it. You got? It doesn t matter. He stood and straightened his rumpled jacket. Ishould go. Has the Colonel got something to do with it? Of course he hasn t. What did that old reprobate hold over you? Mother. He was gloating at his dinner, only too pleased to rub my nose inyour marriage, in the fact that Kate was pregnant. Her mouth thinned. Has it got something to do with me?Mack cursed the fact that his mother was sometimes too clever.Heshould have kept his mouth shut, but her revelation had rattled him intoblurting out some unwanted truths.He sighed.Damn it, he had to tellher. He threatened to throw you out of the Lodge. He what? Beth s anger obviously aggravated her ribs, her shoulder.She hissed and eased herself back into her pillow.She suddenly lookedtired, old. See, I didn t want to tell you. Guilt rioted through him. Are you allright? Fine. She expelled a slow, pained breath [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]