Australia: Bundles of Joy: Impossibly Pregnant / Top-Notch Surgeon, Pregnant Nurse / Caring For His Babies

‘Surprise!’

Keely stepped back as the chorus of voices sang out, enjoying the stunned expression on her friend’s face.

‘What the …?’ Emma’s head swivelled between Keely and Tahlia while people from work swarmed around her, everyone talking at once.

Keely leaned over and squeezed Emma’s arm. ‘Happy birthday, Em. We know how much you love surprises, so … surprise!’

Emma smiled, a dazed expression on her face. ‘I can’t believe you did this and I didn’t twig. You’re usually lousy with keeping secrets.’

Keely returned her smile and thought, not any longer. She could keep a secret and it was a doozy!

‘Enjoy the night, sweetie. You deserve it. And you look fabulous, by the way.’

Emma patted her hair self-consciously. ‘I like this bob, even if I do feel bald.’

Keely chuckled. ‘It’s not just the hair, it’s the whole package. Your clothes, your make-up. Watch out, next you’ll be moving out of home!’

Emma rolled her eyes. ‘And not a moment too soon. I’m twenty-four now. Time to grow up, don’t you think?’

Keely nodded, knowing her friend wasn’t the only one with growing up to do. She was going to be a mother—a sure-fire way to guarantee she grew up, fast.

‘Your man’s arrived.’ Tahlia pointed towards the front bar and Keely eagerly turned, barely restraining the urge to run across the crowded room and fling herself into his arms.

However, she needn’t have bothered. Lachlan had his arms full already. With Chrystal.

‘Oh-oh, trouble in paradise,’ Tahlia muttered.

Keely handed her the fruit cocktail she’d been drinking and said, ‘Hold this.’

‘Before she flings it at her,’ Keely heard Emma add as she stalked away.

Lachlan looked up as she neared and had the audacity to grin sheepishly and shrug.

There was nothing sheepish about Chrystal’s response and the predatory way her eyes glittered in the dim lighting. ‘There you are, Keely. Look who I ran into. The doc was just seeing if I had something in my eye.’

Gritting her teeth and refraining from putting something in Chrystal’s eye—like her finger—Keely said, ‘You should be okay.’ After all, you’re wearing enough mascara to shield them from a dust-storm. ‘Want me to take a look too?’

Chrystal shook her head—and her huge chest followed suit—though, thankfully, Lachlan had the sense not to look in that direction. If he had, there was no telling what she might’ve done. She’d never been the jealous type, though her hormones seemed to have kicked in with a vengeance, her temper spiking to irrational in a second.

‘See you later, Lochie,’ Chrystal purred, a triumphant smile on her face as she sashayed away.

‘Lochie?’ Keely stood in front of the man she loved, torn between wanting to kiss him and slap him. ‘Well, isn’t this cosy? You two progressed to nicknames already?’

A puzzled frown creased his brow. ‘She’s harmless.’

The little demon that put in a regular appearance in her mind prodded her with its pitchfork—hard. ‘Yeah, as a tiger snake. What do you call her, Lochie?’

Rather than laughing off her jealousy, as she’d expected him to do, he folded his arms and glared. ‘Don’t.’

‘Sorry?’

Though they hadn’t seen each other since her childish display at the café, she’d taken his agreement to attend Em’s party as an indication he was ready to forgive her. Obviously, she had been wrong.

He held up his hand as if staving her off. ‘Don’t do the jealousy act. It would be hypocritical coming from you at the moment.’

She almost reeled back, shocked by his words. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

This had to be a joke, right? Some sort of payback for holding him at bay? He’d laugh any second now and say, Fooled you.

He didn’t. ‘You need to care to be jealous and I don’t think you do. Care, that is.’ He ran a hand through his hair, sending dark waves wayward. ‘We need to talk.’

Oh-oh. She knew what those four little words meant. He talked, she listened, he walked, she crumbled. Nothing new in the scenario, just new players. Unfortunately, she seemed to have a starring role every time, with a different leading man to break her heart.

‘About?’

‘I’m tired of playing games. You’ve given me the cold shoulder for weeks now and, rather than be honest about wanting out, you hide your feelings along with the rest of your secrets.’

Icy dread stole through her veins. This didn’t sound like a man who would welcome news of her pregnancy. This sounded like a man aiming to end their relationship, just as she’d suspected.

‘If this is about our fight in the café, I’m—’

‘That’s only part of it.’ He cut her off before she could apologise. Not that it would do any good. He had a determined glint in his eyes, as if he had his farewell speech already worked out. ‘You’re all over me one minute, barely speaking to me the next. I thought by coming here tonight we could see if there was any hope for us but I can see there isn’t.’

Fury surged through her, replacing dread in an instant. ‘And when did you figure this out? Before or after Chrystal thrust her enhancements in your face? Nothing like a killer body, is there? Pity mine didn’t match up, what with you thinking I need to watch my weight and all.’

He stared at her as if she’d sprouted horns. Which was appropriate, considering the demon in her brain hadn’t let up. ‘I have a friend who can help you.’