He nodded. This felt close. Dangerously close. A warm haven far away from the rest of the world. He forced himself to return to reality—because reality was the one thing he was equipped to deal with. He turned to face her and ran a lazy finger down her side, enjoying her responsive shiver. ‘So I guess this means we’ll be sharing a bedroom from now on?’
It felt like one step forward and two steps back, and all her zing and fizz and exhilaration evaporated. The brightness dimmed and Catherine felt curiously and ridiculously disappointed at his matter-of-fact assessment. Until she reminded herself that nothing had changed—not really.
Their situation was no different from what it had been before, except that now sex had been introduced into the equation. She shouldn’t start confusing post-coital confidences with real, true and lasting intimacy.
‘I guess we will,’ she said lightly. ‘Now, are you going to go down and make me my supper? I have a ferocious appetite on me!’
‘Ferocious, hmm?’ He smiled as he swung his naked body out of bed and looked down at her. ‘You know, Catherine, you’re sounding more Irish by the day.’
She nodded. She needed to. Her baby was going to be born in Ireland and have an Irish father.
She, too, needed roots.
Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE
‘CATHERINE! For God’s sake, come in here and sit down.’
‘I can’t! I’m sorting out the kitchen cupboards!’
Finn levered himself up from the sofa and came and stood in the doorway, watching while she bent to work, wondering how a woman eight months into her pregnancy could possibly have such a delectable bottom. He walked over to where she crouched and cupped her buttocks.
‘Finn, stop it—’
He bent his head to nuzzle her ear. ‘Don’t you like it?’
‘That’s not the point—’
‘No?’ He kissed the back of her neck. ‘The point being what, precisely?’
‘I told you—I’m trying to get everything sorted out for when the baby comes.’
‘But the baby isn’t due for another month,’ he objected. ‘And I’m flying to London tomorrow. Leave it, Catherine. You won’t see me all week.’
‘I don’t see you all week as it is.’ She straightened up with difficulty and allowed him to help her to her feet. ‘So what’s the difference?’
‘A whole sea dividing us?’ he teased. ‘Won’t you miss me?’
She wound her arms around his neck. ‘A bit.’
He touched his lips to hers. ‘Only a bit?’
Much, much more. ‘Stop fishing for compliments!’
‘Then come and sit down and have a drink and watch some television.’
She sank onto the sofa. ‘What an exciting life we lead, Mr Delaney!’
‘Are you complaining?’ he asked seriously, as he handed her a glass of sparkling water.
‘No, I love it,’ she said simply. Just as she loved him. How cosy it all was on the outside. She took a sip and looked at him over the rim of the glass. She had been fidgety over the past few days. Perhaps it was because he was travelling to England. It was different, him being in London. A whole plane-ride away. Maybe now was the time to stop pretending that the future was never going to happen.
‘Finn?’
‘Mmm?’
‘There are so many things we haven’t discussed.’