She regarded him steadily. ‘And you have absolutely no idea who you were sleeping with fifteen months ago, have you? You need to employ someone to find out.’

Her quiet tone was loaded with accusation and Alex ran a hand over the back of his neck, feeling more uncomfortable than he cared to admit. The truth was that she was right. In a way. He didn’t know exactly who he’d been with fifteen months ago and he didn’t need her to remind him that his track record for long-term relationships was appalling.

It wasn’t something he cared to dwell on.

‘Did your sister actually tell you I was the father?’

‘Yes.’ She stirred the food slightly to cool it down.

Alex gritted his teeth, wondering whether she always believed everything she was told without question. He was as sure as he could be that the baby wasn’t his but only time would prove it.

In the meantime he had a job to do.

‘I have to leave for work.’ He drained his mug and deposited it on the table. ‘You can stay here today.’

And hopefully by the end of the day his lawyer would have resolved the issue and he could boot her out.

She looked at him in that calm, unflustered way that he was beginning to recognise as a prelude to one of her cutting remarks about his disreputable behaviour.

He braced himself.

‘If you’re hoping to hide us away, Dr Westerling, you’re going to be seriously disappointed.’ Jenny undid the bib, wiped Daisy’s mouth carefully and lifted her out of the high chair. ‘We’re coming with you. I’m starting work today. I’ve got a job in your department and Daisy has a place in the crèche.’

Alex stared at her, feeling outmanoeuvred for the first time in his life.

She had a job in his department?

‘What the hell are you talking about? What job?’

‘I’m a nurse, Dr Westerling,’ she told him, cuddling Daisy with one hand while she cleared up with brisk efficiency. ‘I’ve been working in A and E for two years, ever since I qualified, but I had to take a break when Chloe died. But I need to work now. We need the money. I’ve used up all my savings.’

Alex wasn’t interested in her savings. He was struggling with the news that not only was she planning to be under his feet at home but that she was going to be working with him, too.

‘How did you find out where I worked?’

‘It wasn’t hard. Every detail of your life is spread over the gossip columns.’ She picked up a cloth and within minutes his kitchen was totally spotless. ‘I wanted us to be a family so it was important that we worked in the same hospital if possible. I was delighted when they offered me a job in your department.’

She wanted them to be a family?

Alex opened his mouth and closed it again.

He couldn’t even contemplate retribution because neither the nursing staff nor Personnel would have had the slightest clue as to the problem they were introducing into his usually well-ordered bachelor lifestyle by employing Jenny Phillips.