Fossen Delores - Covert Conception стр 5.

Outrage flashed in her eyes, but she didnt voice it. The rush of emotion seemed to make her queasy. Or maybe it was the sweltering heat. Because she wiped away the perspiration again and slid her hand over her stomach as if to steady it. I didnt doctor it.

Then someone did, he fired back.

Kitt checked, Natalie explained. Her breath was uneven now, and the color was draining from her cheeks. The images havent been altered.

The hell they havent. Rick watched as the couple got closer and closer to Natalies bedroom door.

The couple staggered. The womans right arm banged against the doorjamb. The man didnt fare much better. He crossed in front of her. Staggered as well. And his left shoulder hit against the wall.

That caused Ricks mouth to turn to dust.

The couples awkward intimate dance continued until the man caught the woman. She went into his arms. Willingly. Their bodies came together. Mouths, too.

In a desperate, hungry kiss.

I know for a fact that I would have remembered that, Rick insisted in a rough whisper.

Natalie swallowed hard enough that he could hear it. But what she didnt do was agree with him. Instead, she froze the images and pointed to the womans right arm. I had a bruise there the morning after my party. I didnt know then how Id gotten it.

Hell.

Rick waited for the other shoe to fall.

She pointed to the mans left shoulder. To the spot that had rammed into the wall. Did you have a bruise or any kind of mark?

Rick didnt even have to think about it. Yeah. I figured Id gotten it here at work.

Natalies posture and bearing were suddenly as unsteady as the couple in the video. I dont think you got that bruise here.

It took him a moment to get his teeth unclenched so he could speak. Are you saying you think that happened? Rick asked. You really believe the two of us had a hot and heavy kissing session outside your bedroom door?

She closed her eyes. Paused. Gathered her breath. I dont think the hot and heaviness stopped there. I believe we went inside my bedroom and finished what we started.

Her eyelids lifted, and she met his gaze head-on. Im four weeks pregnant. And judging from that video, youre the babys father.

Chapter Three

Natalie carefully studied his reactionhis iron jaw, his narrowed gunmetal-gray eyes and thunder-struck expressionand she quickly realized she didnt care for any of it. It was too similar to what her own reaction had been when Kitt first told her about the test results.

Shed expectedwhat?

A confession?

Perhaps an explanation that would cause all of this to make sense?

Or maybe thats what she hoped he would do, help her make sense of the situation. A miracle of sorts. However, it was obvious Rick didnt have answers or a miracle. Or if he had them, he wasnt ready to share them with her.

That didnt mean he was innocent in all of this.

Please tell me this is a joke, he amended.

Are you saying you didnt orchestrate what happened? Natalie countered.

He looked at her as if her ears were on backwards. Youre damn right thats what Im saying.

And he was adamant about it, too.

Natalie suddenly felt even more desperate, and it was desperation that made her toss the next question at him. Why should I believe

you?

Because Im telling you the truth, thats why. Rick opened his mouth. Closed it. Shook his head. Cursed. Hells bells, Natalie, do you really believe Id drug you so I could sleep with you?

Shed already asked herself that. At least a dozen times. And during none of that personal questioning had she convinced herself that Rick would do something like this. He wasnt the sort of man who required drugging or any coercion to get a woman into bed.

Im pregnant, she restated. I dont know how it happened, and my only clue is that surveillance video. I need answers, and thats why Im here.

He shook his head. What you need is to have the pregnancy test repeated.

Ive already done that. She was up to a dozen times of watching for minus signs on little urine-soaked white plastic sticks. Shed try a dozen more if necessary, praying for one negative result. Theyve all been positive.

Then, you need to see a doctor right away, Rick quickly suggested.

I did that a few hours ago. I had an ultrasound and a thorough examination. Theres definitely a baby.

He cursed again, made his way to the chair, gripped the armrest and dropped down onto the seat. This cant be happening. The tests, the doctor, the ultrasound and the video are all wrong. They have to be.

Shed had that reaction, too. Denial. Itd taken hours to get past just the tip of it. But she couldnt afford Rick that same amount of time to work through his issues. She had an eerie feeling that time wasnt on their side. I need you to think back through

Something happened that night, he interrupted. But he didnt say anything else.

Natalie froze. Waited. She forced herself to stay calm. Obviously something happened, she said when Rick just sat there.

He glanced at her stomach. I didnt mean that. I mean I blacked out.

Her heart had been racing before that, but she could have sworn it stopped mid-beat. Natalie shook her head. When? How?