“Gave up the heels finally?”

Audrey turned to see Elspeth shouldering open the gallery’s glass front door, juggling two cases of white wine.

“Here, you need help?” Audrey asked, pushing up out of the chair she’d dragged out onto the gallery floor.

She’d needed a few minutes to rest, considering the bustle of the last few days.

“Seriously, pregnant lady,” Elspeth sighed, shooing Audrey away as she carried the wine boxes to the long, elegant oak table where refreshments were served during events. “I don’t need your help carrying heavy boxes, but thanks.”

Audrey fidgeted, running her hands over her heavy belly, tugging down her flared black-and-white polka dot dress.

“Heels are out,” she sighed. “My ankles just can’t do it.”

“I think you should go barefoot the rest of your pregnancy, make a real statement,” Elspeth teased as she unpacked wine bottles.

“Yeah, I’m sure that will go over really well tonight, with a gallery full of millionaires.”

“I think the artist would like it, though,” Elspeth said, picking up the empty boxes.

“Well, she ought to learn to be a little more discerning, because Cassie Tarr is going to be a big name after tonight,” Audrey said. “At least... I hope she will be.”

“It’s going to be great,” Elspeth reassured her. “I remember my first solo gallery exhibit. I felt so nervous, worried that nothing would sell, that my reputation would suffer…”

“Yeah, that’s basically where I’m at. Not to mention being twenty-two weeks pregnant. I desperately don’t want to answer the inevitable questions about ‘my husband’ and baby names and stuff.”

“Yeah, I eavesdropped last weekend when some lady was telling you about her water birth,” Elspeth said with a shudder. “People have no boundaries these days.”

“Hey, hey,” Audrey said, nodding toward the door. “Our first guests are arriving. Can you distract them while I put my shoes on and then pee for the hundredth time?”

“You’re the boss tonight,” Elspeth said with mock solemnity. “Now let’s sell some art!”

The first two hours of the event went by faster than Audrey could have imagined. She talked to a few gallery regulars and a few people she’d invited, but mostly she talked to potential buyers, explaining the pieces and why she found them so moving.

One man in particular kept circling back around to listen in, a distinguished silver-haired gentleman in a Brioni suit. When Audrey finally managed to introduce herself, she was startled to find out that she knew him by reputation.

“You’re the Sam Waters? As in the Sam Waters who owns a gallery on High Street?” she asked, trying not to freak out.

“The very same,” he said, shaking her hand. “I must say, my dear, that you really have a talent for this business. You make your passion for the artwork perfectly clear without overwhelming the buyer.”

“Thank you, that means so much coming from you!” Audrey gushed.

“If you ever relocate to Europe, do let me know.” Fishing a business card out of his wallet, he handed it to her. “London, specifically.”

Audrey bit her lip and nodded, but her flattered excitement quickly deflated. If things had gone a bit differently in her love life, perhaps she could take Mr. Waters up on his offer, but…

The second she was able to escape, she slipped away from the party and went back to her office. Closing the door, she sunk onto the chaise lounge and kicked her shoes off with a groan.

The image of herself working in London, of the life she could’ve had…

It might be the damned pregnancy hormones, or the fact that she hadn’t been comfortable for a single moment in the last five months, but the idea of the life that could have been made her feel sad.

And because she was ridiculously knocked up, the mere thought of being sad made her tear up a little. She glanced at her watch and decided that she could wallow for precisely four minutes, and then slumped back and let herself mope.

Then she glanced over and saw that there was an enormous gift basket sitting atop her desk, all done up in cellophane and bows. Curious, as it hadn’t been there at the beginning of the party.

She took her time struggling to get upright, then walked over and plucked the card off the top.

No signature, but it was clearly an Elspeth move. Audrey kept refusing any and all baby gifts, unable to deal with them. But when she unwrapped the basket, it was overflowing with baby and new mom gifts.

Books about children — birth and rearing. Some kind of weird nipple ointment, a gift card for post-maternity clothes…

It was the loveliest possible gift, more kind than Audrey could properly express, but she couldn’t even bring herself to sort through most of it. It was just… the very prospect of actually having the baby, holding it in her arms, was too stressful to explain.

She was an unwed single mother who worked fifty hours a week and lived with her irresponsible pro-athlete brother. Nothing about that situation was right for bringing a baby into the world.

She picked up the basket and set the basket aside, clearing off her desk. She paused when she saw the yellow post-it stuck to the top left of her desk, the only concession to motherhood she’d yet made.

A list of baby names, the ones she loved the most. She picked up a pen from her desk and leaned over, carefully crossing off James, Rex, and Jack.

“Won’t be needing any of these…” she murmured.

A knock came at the door, and she tossed the pen back onto her desk.

“Come in,” she said, expecting Elspeth.

Instead, it was Jack.

“Hey! Why are you here?” she asked, resting on the edge of her desk.

“Don’t be mad,” Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Why would I be mad that you’re visiting me at work?” she asked. “I know I’ve been a little temperamental lately, but I’m not crazy. At least I hope I’m not…”

She ran her hand over her belly, feeling the baby moving around. Her unborn daughter was every bit as restless as Audrey herself, it seemed.

“Welllllll….” he said, then shook his head. “Stay right here, okay?”

“Jack. Jack, what did you do?” she asked, trailing him to the office door.

He vanished out into the gallery, leaving Audrey shaking her head. She turned and hunted down her shoes from where she’d abandoned them earlier. She carried them to her desk, dropping them to the floor and wedging them onto her feet with a frown.

When she turned around again, she was face to face with Liam.

“Audrey…” he said. The deep timbre of his voice, in that thick English accent, sent gooseflesh all across her body.

“I… I…” she said, shocked beyond belief. “What the hell are you doing here?”

The second the words were out of her mouth, she was crying. Her voice broke, her eyes teared up, and she could feel her chin wobbling in a way that said there will be ugly-crying soon.

“Is it true?” he asked. “Is… is it mine?”

Clearly, he didn’t have to explain what he meant.

Audrey couldn’t quite talk, so she just nodded and swallowed, trying not to disgrace herself.

Liam moved closer, crowding her up against her desk. He raised his hand, holding it a few inches from her belly, then looked to her for permission.

“Please?” he asked.

Audrey bit her lip, her eyes scanning his face. He seemed so awed by the fact of it, of the baby’s existence. Every time she’d imagined telling him, she pictured him getting angry.

She’d prepared herself for that. Eventually, when she got up the courage to tell him.

But this… there was no defense against this. Not when Liam’s eyes were bright with wonder, maybe even excitement.

“Yes,” she breathed.

Liam brought his hands up to bracket her belly. Audrey could actually feel him trembling. The second he pressed his cool hands to her stomach, the baby stirred.

Liam’s gaze snapped up to Audrey’s. “Bloody hell. He’s really in there.”

Audrey’s lips pulled up into a smile. “She.”

“She?” Liam asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. “It’s a girl?”

“Yep. She’s… she’s your daughter,” Audrey said, clearing her throat and wiping at her eyes.

“Aud…” Liam said, taking one of her hands captive. “We need to talk, love.”

That simple term of endearment, the sound of it so familiar, made her want to scream.

“About the baby, you mean,” she clarified. “You’ll want… well, visits, or something, I guess.”

Liam’s expression darkened. “The hell I will.”

Audrey stiffened. “What does that mean?”

“It means that I didn’t come here to get some half-assed promises of future visits. I came here for everything, and I intend to have it.”

“Liam, I…” she began.

Liam cupped her cheek, brushed his thumb against her lower lip. Audrey sucked in a breath.

“I want you. I want you in my bed, and in my home,” he whispered. “I want to raise this baby together, Audrey. I want to get married. I meant what I said, I want everything.”

“Liam—” she protested.

“Audrey, tell me you don’t want me,” he said, his emerald gaze burning into hers.

“I…” she said, then stopped. She couldn’t say that, not even a little.

“I love you, Audrey,” he said.

Audrey’s breath caught in her chest, her heart squeezing at his tender words.

“Oh, Liam,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears again. “How can you possibly want me now? Look at me.”

She ran her hand over her belly and winced.

“I think you’re beautiful, love. This might have been a mistake, but… I can’t say it isn’t what I would have wanted, what I would have asked for. Maybe a little sooner than we’d have liked, but… this is perfection, to me.”

He leaned down to kiss her, pressing a hand to her bump, and Audrey sighed against his lips. When he pulled back for a moment, she thought she’d die from want.

“I’m going to have you, Audrey. Right here, right now. And then I’m going to make you mine,” Liam promised. “Just you wait.”

Heart in her throat, Audrey knew she wanted it all, just like he said. Gathering all her courage, she raised up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his once more.

For once in her life, Audrey was willing to take a risk. After all, if it paid off, she’d be getting everything she’d ever wanted…