‘There is no one else.’ My throat burned with the effort of holding back a sob. ‘And if circumstances were different, I’d love you to be there in the labour suite mopping my brow and reminding me to breathe and closing your ears when I swear. But it would mean turning down the Cape Town job and I won’t let you do that for me.’

He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing my cheek. ‘If I’m going to be part of your life, and the baby’s, I’d like to be there from the beginning.’

‘Even though it’s not yours?’

He shook his head, laughing softly. ‘Even though. I’ve told you that before and I meant it; it doesn’t matter to me. If your ex was still on the scene wanting to play the father role, I might hesitate to be involved. But he isn’t.’ Jensen shrugged. ‘To be honest, I’m quite excited about it. What do you say?’

My heart skipped a beat; I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve this man, but whatever it was I was grateful for it. ‘How about I sleep on it?’

‘Sure.’ He slipped his arm around me and brought his lips to mine, kissing me with such tenderness that I could no longer hold back the tears. My hands wove through his hair and I felt his desire as I pressed my body against his.

‘In fact,’ I said, when we came up for air, ‘I think I’m ready for bed now.’

I wasn’t talking about the spare room.

Chapter 29

I was disorientated for a second when I awoke the next morning. And then a shimmer of happiness spread through me: I was chez Butterworth, in Jensen’s bed. Judging by the humming coming from the kitchen, he was feeling pretty pleased with himself too. I reached across to the bedside table and drank most of a glass of water; my mouth was dry and tingly from the Chinese food last night. The bedroom blinds were still closed but a shaft of light pierced the semi-darkness and landed on the ring Jensen had given me yesterday. The diamantés twinkled and the central green stone glowed beautifully. I slipped the ring on to my finger and rolled on to my back to look at it. I knew it was only make-believe, but for a moment I allowed my mind to wander and imagine what it would be like to wake up like this every day.