Rachel's Child

Rachel's Child
Jennifer Taylor

Her lie came back to haunt her…Ten years ago Rachel and Stephen had had an affair–and the result was little Jamie. For reasons of her own, Rachel had told Stephen that Jamie was someone else's child. But when Rachel finally admitted Stephen was the father, he wouldn't believe her. He was convinced Rachel was a conniving, scheming woman who would go to any lengths to get what she wanted–and she appeared to want Stephen. Perhaps it wasn't a case of what Rachel wanted at all, but what Jamie needed–a dad!Jennifer Taylor "is sure to touch each and every heart in a unique but fierce way."–Affaire de Coeur

“I know what it means to be in love, Stephen. (#u13e55398-4dc6-5575-83b3-fc541409d84d)About the Author (#u5ad55240-ab10-5d65-81e2-f48793899dc8)Title Page (#u30a2d9f8-0cf9-5136-a960-57dbe8a40724)Chapter One (#uf39e9e22-bec0-559e-8951-c048d71333eb)Chapter Two (#u2ee52617-50bf-5767-a9ba-9384bd233f32)Chapter Three (#ue2d4cb6f-8f3b-5fa5-968e-f8c41c3e574d)Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

“I know what it means to be in love, Stephen.

“I know how it feels to put someone else’s needs before your own, to make a decision you know you will regret, because it is the only one that will make the person you love happy.” Rachel continued, “I know what real love is, but do you? Answer me that!”

There was a nerve ticking along Stephen’s jaw and his lips were drawn into a tight line that spoke of restraint. “Oh, I know what love is, Rachel. I know what a fool it makes of a man. He sees, believes things that aren’t true.” He gave a contemptuous laugh. “I know that above all else, above the passion and the desire, love means fidelity and trust—and they are two things that you have no conception of and probably never will have.”

Jennifer Taylor was born in Liverpool, England, and still lives in the northwest, several miles outside the city. Books have always been a passion of hers, so it seemed natural to choose a career in librarianship—a wise decision, as the library was where she met her husband, Bill. Twenty years and two children later, they are still happily married, with the added bonus that she has discovered how challenging and enjoyable writing romance fiction can be!

Rachel’s Child

Jennifer Taylor

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

CHAPTER ONE

STEPHEN didn’t bother to tell anyone he was leaving. He simply took his private lift down to the ground floor. They would find out soon enough that he was gone—when the negotiations were over.

Frankly, he no longer cared what the outcome would be, whether or not by this evening he would still have control of the company he had built up with such ruthless determination over the past ten years. He had known last night when he’d heard the news he had been waiting for what he must do today.

The irony of the situation struck him as amusing. Ever since the take-over bid had first been made and he had decided not to fight it he had been looking for Rachel. The team of investigators he’d hired had had little success in tracking her down, and then last night Stephen had received a phone call.

He had been stunned to learn that Rachel was here in the town—yet in an odd way wasn’t it fitting? Rachel had gone out of his life just as everything was beginning; that she should come back now seemed somehow right. Now he intended to tie up some loose ends before he closed the book on this chapter in his life.

The wind was sharp as it blew across from the park. It lifted the dark brown hair back from his face, setting his harshly cut features in even sharper relief. Stephen caught a glimpse of himself in the glass door and smiled again with little pleasure.

Life and experience had etched themselves onto his face and filled his slate-grey eyes with cynicism. That was the legacy he would be left with when this was over. Oh, there would be money, of course—more than he would need in his lifetime—but nothing to make him regret the decision he had made. It seemed a bitter indictment of all he had achieved.

The roads were quiet, but Stephen took his time following a route which he hadn’t taken in years. His life had moved on from these narrow streets, the huge house set in countless acres now the proper setting for a man of his means, but as he drove he experienced a sense of time slipping away...

His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he drew up outside the house. He felt overwhelmed by the sudden feeling that he could be making a mistake. What did he hope to achieve by this meeting? Rachel had made no attempt to seek him out, so was he a fool to rake up the past when it might be best to leave things as they were?

Stephen hesitated only for a moment before his resolve hardened. For the past ten years he had wanted answers, and now more than any other time seemed the perfect time to hear them.

He glanced along the street as he got out of the car and felt shock hit him hard in the stomach when he saw the woman walking towards him. She was muffled up in a thick coat, the hood drawn up over her head, but he would have recognised that long-legged stride anywhere...

‘Rachel.’

Her name slid so easily from his lips that it might have been days not years since he had seen her last. Stephen had thought he was prepared for this meeting, yet he wasn’t prepared at all as everything he had felt that long-ago lost summer came rushing back so swiftly, so fiercely...

‘Can we go to the park later, Mummy? Please?’

The child’s voice carried clearly along the street. Stephen started, realising for the first time that Rachel wasn’t alone, then seconds later registering what he had heard. His gaze fell to the child beside her and he experienced another cold jolt of shock.

The boy had to be Rachel’s son; the resemblance to her was startling as the child ran on ahead and came closer to him. It wasn’t just the boy’s pale gold hair or his small, even features, but the lift of his chin, which carried a familiar hint of determination, the way he looked Stephen straight in the eyes so unflinchingly as he stopped outside the house...

The shock Stephen had felt before was just a forerunner for what he felt then. He stared into the boy’s eyes and saw there something he had never dreamed he would see!

Suddenly, he felt anger start to burn inside him and melt away the years of uncertainty. Once the need to find out the truth had eaten into his soul. Now he knew what that truth was at last, although he didn’t have all the answers...but he would!

Stephen looked up, his eyes like ice as he watched Rachel stop to open her bag. Yes, he would have his answers—and something which by rights should have been his a long time ago!

Rachel took the keys out of her bag and sighed. The last thing she felt like doing was taking Jamie to the park, but she hated to refuse him the small treat. If only she didn’t feel so tired, but nursing Aunt Edith in the weeks before the elderly woman died had been exhausting.

Rachel hadn’t wanted to come back, but her conscience wouldn’t have allowed her to stay away after she had got her aunt’s letter, and in the event her fears about returning had proved groundless.

Now all that remained to be done was to pack what few things Aunt Edith had left to her and go home. Yet the thought of going back to her flat on a faceless estate in Birmingham wasn’t one Rachel relished. Being cooped up in a tower block wasn’t the best thing for a nine-year-old.

Jamie was waiting on the doorstep, staring at the expensive car parked by the kerb. Rachel glanced at it curiously as she slid her key into the lock. Her gaze moved on to the man leaning against the bonnet and she felt the shock run through her so fast that it stole her breath.

For a moment she couldn’t seem to move, her whole body clenched in a spasm of disbelief as she stared at him. The wind suddenly rose, whipping the hood off her head so that her long silver-blonde hair blew across her face, but Rachel just stood there, unmoving, and heard the man give a low laugh which held no trace of amusement.

‘Hello, Rachel. How are you? I hope you haven’t forgotten me. Stephen Hunter...remember?’ He looked at Jamie and his eyes were full of a hard, cold anger when they came back to her. ‘I’m sure you must.’

He knew! Rachel felt the words swell inside her, filling her with fear and stealing her ability to think rationally. All she knew was that she had to get away from the knowledge she saw in Stephen Hunter’s eyes!

Her breath came in tiny frightened spurts as she grasped Jamie’s hand to hurry him inside, but suddenly Stephen was there, big and dangerous-looking as he placed his arm across the door and barred her way.

‘No! You aren’t going anywhere. It’s time we talked, Rachel. In fact, I would say it’s way past time we did that, wouldn’t you?’

The taunting note in Stephen’s voice made Rachel feel sick because she had never heard it before. Unbidden, the memory of that summer flooded back, Stephen’s voice saying her name, so deep and resonant with emotion, as he told her that he loved her...

‘Mummy, you’re hurting me!’

Jamie shook her arm, his small face full of mounting fear. Rachel struggled to regain control as she released his hand and forced herself to smile. ‘Sorry, darling. I...I just wanted to get you inside out of the wind.’

‘I’m not cold. Can’t I play out for a bit before we go to the park?’

Stephen glanced down at the child and his expression softened. ‘Why don’t you go inside for now?’ He looked back at Rachel, and there was no trace of softness as he continued, ‘Mummy and I are...old friends. There are a lot of things we need to catch up on.’

Rachel heard the irony in Stephen’s voice. Her heart lurched but she was powerless to do anything with Jamie standing there. She looked down at her son, feeling love spilling through her as she saw the worry on his face. What was the point in worrying Jamie even more when she might be able to sort this out without the need to tell him who Stephen Hunter was?

‘Yes, go along in, Jamie. I won’t be long.’

Jamie gave them both a considering look then disappeared inside the house. Rachel took a long, slow breath before she turned to face Stephen. In the beginning she had imagined this scene so many times, at her blackest moments half wished that it would happen. But the years had passed and the likelihood of them ever meeting again had become remote—as remote as Stephen himself had become.

She had read about him in the papers, of course, followed his success and taken comfort from the fact that she had been proved right in doing what she had. The only thing she had ever wanted was Stephen’s happiness. Yet, looking at him now, Rachel suddenly wondered if by ensuring that she had paved the way to her own worst nightmare!

‘Why, Rachel? Answer me that. Why did you do it?’

Stephen’s voice was so low that she had to strain to hear it, but it wasn’t an indication of his feelings. Rachel could hear the fury in those deep tones, feel it emanating from him. She shivered convulsively and looked away, afraid that her fear would be all the confirmation he needed. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

Stephen gave a harsh laugh, his fingers hurting as he turned her face back so that he could stare into her eyes. ‘Don’t lie! Damn you, Rachel, don’t you dare do that on top of everything else you’ve done! I only had to look at the boy to know the truth. He’s my son, isn’t he? Isn’t he?’