Page 2 of Sharing Forever in Hope Creek (Hope Creek #2)

Callie felt the heat race right up from her chest to her cheeks. Knowing she glowed as red as a stop light, she could only croak out, ‘Er …’ before Jack took control.

‘We certainly do.’ The next second, Jack’s strong hands were on her shoulders, their warmth adding to the incinerating heat from her blush. She barely registered her surroundings as he lowered his head to kiss her—not on the cheek but dangerously close to her mouth.

It was all she could do not to lean into him and sigh as she closed her eyes and breathed in the hint of mint on his breath over the subtle woody scent of his aftershave. It was a scent she now associated with ultimate sexual satisfaction and physical repletion.

The heat left her cheeks. The blood raced away from every extremity and left her reaching out to hold onto his arms, needing his support to stay upright. When she forced her eyelids open, his blue-eyed gaze bored into hers, his irises seeming to darken with desire.

Holy hell.

Pull yourself together, Callie!

They were not in a nightclub now.

When Margaret spoke, it rammed home that her every reaction to Jack—and his to her—was playing out in front of her very curious family. ‘How do you two know each other?’

‘Did you meet through work?’ Stella asked.

‘No. We met in Melbourne,’ Jack supplied without breaking eye contact with Callie.

‘Um … We were introduced by a friend.’ It wasn’t a complete lie. They’d been introduced by one of her co-workers, Steph—but only because Steph had tried to come on to Jack at a nightclub and he’d admitted he was more interested in Callie.

‘That’s a happy coincidence,’ Mitch said easily. ‘We’ll have to swap the pairings in the bridal party then. Stella and I were going to partner Jack with Morgan and Phil with you, Callie, but as you guys know each other, you can be partners.’

Partners.

Oh dear.

Stella looked sharply at her and Callie wondered if she’d said the words aloud.

No. Nobody else was looking at her, but if Stella was picking up on her strain it wouldn’t be long before Margaret’s radar tuned in too.

‘Fancy that! It’s a small world then, isn’t it?’ Margaret beamed. ‘How long is it since you’ve seen each other?’

Jack didn’t hesitate. ‘Three months.’

Oh hell. If Stella hadn’t worked it out already, she’d definitely know by now.

Why, oh why, had she ever confessed to her sisters that she’d had a very out-of-character fling with a complete stranger?

Why, oh, why had she ever had the fling in the first place?

Six foot four inches of irresistibly gorgeous male , came the immediate answer. A man who still makes my blood heat and my knees weak.

‘Three months?’ Marg repeated slowly. Her eyes widened slightly and she shot Callie a sharp, questioning look.

Mitch, however, remained utterly clueless, saying, ‘You guys will have a lot to catch up on then with Callie’s news.

But speaking of your news, Cal, Stella’s been bursting to give you our present.

She’s been so excited and she hardly slept the night you told us.

Yesterday morning, she insisted we drive into Lancaster to go shopping for something special.

Today we’ve been so busy with the wedding preparations and with Jack arriving that we haven’t had a chance to come over before now to give it to you. ’

No. No. No!

Callie’s eyes widened in horror before her gaze flew to Jack’s.

‘You have exciting news?’ One of his dark eyebrows winged its way upwards in query but otherwise he remained statue still.

Oh Lord. Any second Callie’s heart was going to punch its way through her ribcage as helplessness speared through her. All she could do was send a pleading look towards her sister and hope like crazy that Stella did something to prevent Mitch from unleashing the impending hurricane.

‘She sure does.’ Mitch smiled as he looked at Stella. ‘Is the present in your bag, darling, or did you leave it in the car?’

Callie’s lips parted but no sound emerged to change the conversation.

‘I’ll give it to Callie later.’ Stella grabbed Mitch by the hand.

‘But—’

‘Later, Mitch.’ There was a thread of steel laced into the casual words.

Mitch pulled his hand out of Stella’s and gave it a bit of a rub. ‘Okay.’

Honestly! Could it get any more obvious there was an elephant in the room?

‘I need to grab Callie away first and get her opinion on something for the wedding,’ Stella rushed out. ‘Sorry, Jack. Your catch-up with Callie will have to wait.’

‘No problem.’

Jack responded casually, but Callie was aware of the questions in his eyes as he watched her.

‘Dinner in—’ Margaret checked her wristwatch, ‘—twenty minutes. If you’ll excuse me though, I’d like to be in on the wedding decision too!’

Damn!

There’d never been anything dull about Margaret.

‘Blue, can you play host until Jim comes inside, and get Jack and Mitch a drink please?’

‘Sure thing, Marg.’

‘Come on, Callie,’ Stella urged.

They almost made it.

Another ten seconds and Callie would’ve been out of the room, confessing all to Stella and Margaret and working out how she was going to handle the situation.

Fate interceded, denying her the reprieve.

Callie’s other sister, Morgan, burst into the room and delayed their getaway.

Still wearing her Royal Flying Doctor Service pilot’s uniform, her gorgeous red hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, she greeted them cheerily. ‘Hi all!’

‘You made it in time for dinner tonight.’ Blue was approving.

‘I almost didn’t make it in time!’ Morgan rolled her shoulders tiredly.

‘It was a non-stop day, then we had to fly to Melbourne to transport a lady for an emergency caesarean delivery.’ She stopped her shoulder rolling and looked straight at Callie.

‘I know you want to raise your baby in Hope Creek and that’s great, but please stay in Melbourne and close to a major hospital for the birth of that precious little cargo.

I really don’t want to have to race to Melbourne with you in labour in the back of my aircraft. ’

‘You’re pregnant?’ The shock in Jack’s every syllable reverberated throughout the room.

For a second, Callie raised her hands to her face to cover the expression of despair she felt transforming her features.

The ticking of the grandfather clock was suddenly horrendously loud amid the silence. Peering through her fingers at him, Callie saw horror etched into Jack’s features.

Mitchell turned to his friend, a deep furrow marring his brow. ‘Jack?’

Unable to find her voice to answer, Callie was only able to nod.

‘Damn,’ Stella intoned quietly.

Despite his tanned skin, the colour leached out of Jack and he became almost as white as his t-shirt. He gripped the back of the closest armchair. ‘ How pregnant?’

‘Three months,’ Callie confessed shakily as her right hand went protectively to her abdomen.

‘Bloody hell.’ Mitch’s voice grated.

Morgan frowned at each of her sisters then said to Jack, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t see another car and didn’t realise we had company. I’m Morgan. Who are you?’

Jack looked directly at Callie, the question in his eyes unmistakable.

There was no need for Callie to see her reflection to know her stricken expression provided a silent answer to his question.

Blue smothered a cough.

‘Er … this is Jack.’ Margaret shifted from one foot to another, and one hand scrunched up the fabric at the side of her apron. ‘He’s … a … a … friend of Mitchell’s—one of the groomsmen.’

The notch at Jack’s throat worked up and down a few times and looked as though he was about to be sick.

There was both incredulity and accusation in Mitch’s voice as he said, ‘Callie’s baby …’ His dark brows drew together and he glowered at his friend. ‘Bloody hell! Are you the father, Jack?’