y, her palm pressed flat against her lower stomach. In the living room, she collapsed onto the sofa, staring at the crumpled ball of paper on the floor-the pregnancy re

. Or hours. Sh

insistent ringing of a phone. It came

m door flew open and Hunter strode out, the phone pressed to his ear. The hard lines of hi

aid, the name

ent, Audra's thin, tear-tinged voice

she sobbed. "I just got back from

rned sharp with alarm. "Are you o

f the line. Then Audra's voice, laced with c

pregn

nt room. Amelia's head snapped

ned white. A flicker of shock crossed his face, quickly replaced by an unadulterated sur

already soothing her, promising her the world. "Don't worry. I'll take care o

woman's child. The bitter irony flooded her veins like a tangible poison, venomous and searing. Just minu

p, then turned into a laugh. It was a hollow, desolate soun

ng with fury at the interruption. He glared

d over her. The last flickering ember of hope in her heart had been e

lders. Her gaze was clear, empty of the love an

call, clear and cold as ice. "You don't need to pay the breach penalty.

red at her, his expression flickering with something she

ou coming to see me?" Audra's coqu

urtly into the phone, then hung

d narrowed his eyes, studying Amelia

ia," he warned in a low voice.

turned and walked toward the door, placing her hand on t

clock tomorrow morning. I want th

or softly behind her, leaving him

from the coffee table and, with a surge of force, hurled it at the sofa. The tab