Secrets (The Infidelity Trilogy #2)

Chapter 24

Twenty-Four

S teph was waiting for SuLyn, Martin and Sophie to arrive for their meeting when her phone rang making her smile to see her dad’s picture flashing on the phone screen.

“Hi Daddy.”

“Hello, Steph,” replied Simon’s voice.

“Simon! What are you doing with my dad’s phone?” she asked, fear dropping like a lead weight in her gut.

“I popped in to see him. He looks well considering what he’s been through. Janice has just nipped out to the shop so I said I’d sit with him, but he’s nodded off, so I thought I’d make contact and as I didn’t have your number . . .”

“Leave him alone. Leave me alone and the reason you don’t have my number is because I don’t want you to have it!”

“But I have it now, don’t I? I like your dad so I think we’ll be seeing lots of each other. Maybe I could introduce you to my son,” he said rendering her stunned into near silence.

“Or you could fuck off and leave me alone!” she said as she disconnected the call and wondered what to do next when Rosie’s voice came over the intercom,

“Your next appointment’s here.”

Steph got up and opened her door to usher them in, taking the opportunity to say to Rosie, “Hold my calls, but can you call Mr Brooker and see if he is free later please.”

Having attempted to stay focused during the meeting, Steph was pleased with the outcome as was SuLyn who now had some additional funding available and with Martin’s assurances that he could see several other ways to generate future funds for her research including the use of joint facilities with other researchers, possibly The Brooker Foundation.

Sophie had been predominantly there as an observer, but seemed to enjoy the experience and was thrilled when, after seeing SuLyn out, Steph addressed her. “I’ve been thinking that Martin may be a good contact for you to run budgeting and accounting queries through on your deals. He knows me and the way I work so that would aid you and then you can put final figures and deals together before you run it past me for final approval. If that’s okay with you, Martin?”

Martin nodded. “That’s fine by me, but I won’t be on staff here properly until the middle of next month, but after that I will need a workload organising so I’m happy if that’s part of it.” He smiled a little coyly at Sophie who was smiling from behind slightly hooded eyes.

Steph watched them for a few seconds and thought they could make rather an unexpected couple, but her thoughts were interrupted again by Rosie’s voice.

“Miss Pryor, Mr Brooker is here when you’re free.”

“That’ll be our cue to wind up then but I will email you with some kind of induction when you move over to us Martin.” Steph smiled as she got to her feet and opened the door.

Jon waited for Sophie and Martin to leave before heading into Steph’s office and loosening his tie, sat on the sofa and waited for her to join him.

“What’s up, darling?” he asked as she walked towards him.

“Who says there’s anything wrong?” she asked unsure how to proceed but conceded to herself that there was indeed something wrong.

“You, summoning me and the look on your face and the tremor in your voice,” he told her as he pulled her down to sit on his lap.

“I had a call this morning, from my dad, or so I thought, but it was Simon from Dad’s phone,” Steph revealed to an angry looking Jon.

“And how did he come to have Roger’s phone?” Jon gently stroked her cheek.

“Janice had gone out, I don’t even know if she knew he was there, but Simon said my dad had fallen asleep . . .”

“The sneaky bastard took advantage. I thought Roger had given him short shrift after the hospital?”

“Yeah, me too, but he reckons they’re friends again. He even suggested me meeting his son. He was weird.” Steph leaned into Jon’s chest.

“He scared you, didn’t he?” Jon held Steph tightly against his body as he pulled her hair loose and gently began to run a hand over it.

“Yes,” she admitted with more than the tremor to her voice that Jon had noticed earlier.

“Well, don’t be. He won’t be getting anywhere near you, Steph, and you’re jetting off with Lindsay soon enough, aren’t you?” He appeared to be deep in thought.

“I wish you were coming, too,” she admitted as she ran her fingers through the dark locks curling into Jon’s neck.

“I told you to rearrange and then I would have been.” He pulled her across his lap and then slid himself across Steph until she was flat out on the sofa with him over her.

“Couldn’t you get the time off?” asked Steph seriously.

“Not so soon, darling.”

“What will I do without you?” she asked as she felt his hands beneath her skirt and preparing to pull her underwear down.

“You will behave.” He kissed her gently. “You will sun yourself all day, eat well, and drink modestly in the evening, and . . .” He pulled her knickers over her shiny red heeled court shoes and cast them aside.

“And at night?” asked Steph as Jon leaned in and began to remove her crisp white blouse to reveal a white lace, up lift bra that matched the lace briefs he had just thrown across the office.

“At night you will lie in bed, horny and frustrated, thinking about what I would be doing to you if I was there.” With a wicked grin he pulled the lace fabric across her hard aching nipples roughly making her moan, desperate for his touch already. Sitting back on his feet he smiled smugly before continuing, “And then if you are a good girl and you deserve it I will make you come over the phone.”

Another moan escaped Steph’s lips while she fidgeted before him hoping he would do something soon.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes,” she said in an almost pained voice.

“You should have rearranged your dates, darling. Imagine me fucking you in the pool, in our room, on the balcony, in the sea, on the beach, everywhere. You’d need another holiday to get over it. I would make you so sore, but you’d still want more, wouldn’t you?” he asked with eyes that were almost black it seemed as they looked through her, to her very soul and to every desire she had.

“We should book a holiday . . .together . . . just us,” she stammered making him grin as he threw his jacket off before removing his tie.

“We, just us will be taking a holiday, darling, very soon, but in the meantime.” He pushed her skirt up to her thighs where she raised her hips to allow it to be pushed higher making him shake his head as he raised it until it bunched around her waist. “Open your legs for me,” he told her.

Complying immediately, Steph took a deep breath as she tried to anticipate his next move.

“God, I love how wet I make you. What do you think I might do now?” he asked with clear torment in his voice.

“I think you might fuck me,” she said as a request as much as a reply.

“I think you might be right, but first . . .” He stroked through her arousal until he reached her molten core that he couldn’t resist probing with a finger while his thumb began to stroke and tease her clit.

Panting hard she could feel that she was close to climaxing on and around his hand. “Yes, like that, please,” she moaned desperately trying to hold him close so that he couldn’t stop.

“Oh dear.” Looking down at her he pouted, teasing her as he pulled his hand free of her to suck her arousal from his finger. “I might just need more. I need to taste you, to lick you,” he told her as he moved into a kneeling position.

“Yes, yes, please,” she cried breathlessly as she anticipated how his mouth, his tongue would feel on her and in her.

Pulling her feet up onto his shoulders he dropped his face towards the apex of her thighs and after a kiss and a lick along her inner leg, he buried his face in her making her release a deep, low moan. He expertly used his tongue to probe her sex, coating his tongue in her arousal before flattening it and dragging it towards her clit that he tormented with single licks and flicks before blowing on it causing ripples and shudders to flood through her. He took her clit between his lips and as he sucked on it she had no choice but to fall headlong into a soul shaking climax. Shuddering and trembling she didn’t know how to absorb all of the sensations that were threatening to tear her apart and before she could even attempt to focus and order them he had impaled her on one of his thumbs as he bit down gently around her clitoris until she was crying out, completely oblivious to Rosie outside or anyone else, it was just her and Jon that existed in this world she currently found herself in. Swallowing hard she heard a sob and realised she was crying, real tears as she thrashed around as the intensity of her orgasm reached its peak and actually hurt her, but somehow remained pleasurable in its pain. As she reached the other side of it, Jon coaxed her and soothed her down from the euphoria of it before returning his face to hers and brushed her tears away smiling.

“You should have changed your holiday plans, Steph. I would happily pleasure you for a whole week and only ever stopped to eat, although I could live on you for a week at least,” he told her leaning in to kiss her again.

Responding immediately to his tongue in her mouth, she almost clawed at his shoulders to hold him close. She could feel her excitement building as she tasted herself on his tongue, the taste of the sea, slightly salty and oceanic, it didn’t do anything for her in itself, yet the taste of it on him was seriously erotic.

“Steph, darling,” he groaned as he pulled his mouth from hers. “I need you right now, so get your sexy arse and glorious pussy down here.” He was already on the floor, sliding his trousers and boxers down over his thighs.

She’d always found that word, pussy, to be juvenile and yet when it was Jon saying it to her it was sexy, erotic and added to the whole mood between them. His clothes were barely below his knees when she was down on the floor with her skirt bunched round her waist and her breasts heavy and exposed. She climbed across his groin and holding his erect, shiny penis in one hand while her other hand rested on Jon’s chest to steady herself she lowered down onto him slowly biting into her own lower lip as she was stretched and filled to capacity. Moving slowly to start with, then quicker, up and down with gentle squeezes of her insides she began coaxing him towards his own climax.

“You look great like this, Steph,” he told her as he began to roll and pinch at her hard, puckered nipples that were rosy and bigger than he had ever seen them.

“Yeah, well you’re looking pretty good yourself from where I’m sitting.” She grinned down at him as he squeezed her nipples harder making her whimper at the same time exciting her, causing her to ride him harder.

“Darling, bring your tits down here for me to suck.” He grimaced, thrusting up to meet her movements.

Lowering her chest towards his mouth she was startled to realise that with the first flick of his tongue that she was close to coming again.

“Oh, yes,” she moaned making him look at her and smile as his licking became a suck that developed into a bite that had her digging her nails into his shoulders.

“Yes, you like that don’t you, darling. Just like I love the way you fuck me, God you ride me perfectly, it’s like your cunt was made for me.” He thrust up harder and flexed inside her making her flex back. “Steph come for me,” he almost pleaded.

“Soon,” she groaned knowing she was getting closer.

“Now, darling. I can’t wait much longer,” he told her with a pained tone. “Make yourself come while you fuck me!” he snarled as he seemed to be fighting against the urge to come without her.

Sitting back into an upright position she reached down with one hand and found her clitoris proudly standing from beneath its protective hood desperate for a touch. He rolled her nipples again, squeezing them firmly as her own fingers began to rub the sides of her clitoris in a rotating motion and after just a second or two she could feel that she had passed the point of no return and was falling over the edge of her own pleasure again.

Gripping her hips firmly and lifting her up and down just a couple of times he was spurting inside of her with a groan through gritted teeth that pleased her immensely seeing him this way, beneath her, with her, for her.

Collapsing on top of him she felt like a goddess as she kissed him and partly wished they were at home, his or hers, in bed where they could stretch out and wrap around each other, totally naked rather than semi exposed as they currently were.

“I love you,” she said for no reason other than the fact that she did.

“Thank fuck for that or I would have serious reservations about employing you!” He laughed before cupping her face in his hands and saying, “And I love you, too.”

“Should we get up and consider work?” she asked wondering what they would look like if anyone came in.

“Soon, but not yet,” he replied as he held her tightly in place against him, smoothing her hair down with his hand as if stroking a cherished pet.

Sitting behind her desk looking at their picture from Charlie and Lindsay’s wedding as she waited for Jonah Mason to arrive, she jumped when Jon appeared looking shifty. That look was becoming a familiar one around the office. There was some business she kept walking in on only to find the room fell silent until she left again. He was up to something.

“Hey, darling, you okay?”

“Yes thank you,” she replied looking at the clock on the wall. “Jonah Mason is due in about quarter of an hour and he sounded as suspicious as you look when I called him,” she revealed.

“Did he give any clue about what he wanted?” asked Jon taking a seat opposite her.

“No, he was very cagey, but seemed genuine that he really needed to speak to me, so . . .”

“We wait,” replied Jon.

“We?” asked Steph nervously.

“Yes, ‘we’. How many calls have you received from Lindsay today?” He grinned making her laugh as she twirled her pen between her fingers.

“Just three, but it’s early. Today’s dilemma is hats.” She prepared to expand as Rosie appeared in the open doorway.

“Mr Mason is here,” said Rosie nervously.

“Show him in please,” smiled Steph reassuringly.

Jonah appeared a few seconds later with Rosie and looked surprised to find Jon standing to greet him.

“Steph, thanks for seeing me.” He accepted the hand she offered and then turned to Jon. “Mr Brooker, this is unexpected.”

“I bet,” said Jon flatly.

“Jonah, can I get you some tea or coffee?” Steph attempted to take charge.

“No, I’m fine thanks.”

“Shall we get on then?” asked Jon as Steph gestured for Jonah to take the seat next to Jon.

“I really wasn’t expecting a welcoming committee,” muttered Jonah, wary of Jon’s presence.

“It wasn’t planned for Mr Brooker to be here, it’s a coincidence,” reassured Steph, smiling until Jon spoke and completely contradicted her.

“Not quite a coincidence on my part,” acknowledged Jon. “We, your company and mine, no longer have any connection yet you still want to meet with my Head of Financial Services, that intrigues me, it also makes me very suspicious so here I am.”

Jonah smiled and looked across at Steph and as he did so he seemed to see the picture of Jon and Steph together and turning back to Jon, asked, “And the fact that your Head of Financial Services is your girlfriend?”

“The fact that you have made no secret of your non-professional interest in my girlfriend is indeed a factor in my presence,” replied Jon.

“Right then!” cried Steph startling them both. “If we’re all done with the who can pee the highest competition maybe we can get on because I for one have a flight to make on Sunday morning.”

“Sorry.” Jonah grinned before making a final reference to his non-professional interest in Steph. “No wonder you always sneered and snarled at me after the things I said to your girlfriend, about her, your assistant, you and my suggestions for your table in the conference room.”

Jon glared at him with a certain amount of confusion until Steph laughed, “I didn’t tell him most of that stuff, Jonah. Now can we get on?”

“Of course. Right, although Richards will not be working with you I thought you had a right to know what’s been going on behind the scenes. There is something of a smear campaign about you,” he started.

“A smear campaign?” queried Jon.

“Yes, against Steph.”

“Who? What are they saying?” shouted Jon leaping to his feet.

“Jon, please, sit down and let Jonah explain,” Steph implored.

“You worked for Baker, Ross and Riley before you were poached right?”

“I wasn’t poached,” Steph clarified.

“Well, the rumour goes that you and Mr Brooker were having a less than professional relationship and you put together a deal heavily weighted in Brooker’s favour based on that relationship and then when the deal was done, Brooker poached you with some insider knowledge and your reward is the position you currently hold. Furthermore, the way to secure a deal is via you, Steph, with the offer of cash, sweeteners, prestigious promotions that kind of thing. It is also inferred that you made quick progress at your previous firm by sleeping with Jack Baker and that he is the reason your previous relationship floundered, oh and that you were something of, erm . . .”

“Please just say it Jonah,” encouraged Steph.

“That you were the, and I quote, office bike for the hierarchy.”

“You are fucking kidding me! This is beyond ridiculous! Where has this come from Jonah and why are you choosing to share this with us?” asked Jon.

“The rumours started some weeks ago and it makes no difference to me if you’re the biggest slapper in the world when doing business with you, but when we spoke and met it didn’t quite fit or you would have taken me up on at least one of my passes to get the deal through and so it didn’t sit comfortably with me. I considered calling you a few weeks ago, but with our deal still unresolved, I didn’t want to be conflicted. I know it’s harder for women to succeed in business than men and I am a bit of a chauvinistic pig but this is unpleasant if it’s untrue and I have three daughters who I would hate to be victimised for maybe knocking someone back. Then the heat got turned up a little and our deal dissipated and it just seemed personal, especially when Isaac revealed the source of it.”

“And that would be?” asked Steph feeling nauseous.

“Isaac was disappointed when negotiations broke down and Richards was hacked off too, but immoveable on what he was willing to give up which frustrated Isaac further. He took himself off to a club, of ill repute shall we say and met your former employee there, Jack Baker who was very drunk and wrapped around a very naked and paid companion but not so drunk that he didn’t recognise Isaac. They have mutual friends I believe, and he told him all about you and how erm, fond of you he was, but that you’d cut him off in favour of Mr Brooker he believed and that he was intent on making you suffer. Sorry, I just thought you should know, but I would appreciate being kept out of whatever happens from here on in,” finished Jonah, slumping back in his seat.

Steph stared across at the two men unsure what to say or do in response or how she had misjudged Jack Baker and his capacity for bitterness, even though he had technically assaulted her.

“Darling, this is going to stop, okay?” Jon jolted her back into the moment. “You believe that, right?” he asked with concern for her in his voice.

She replied with a nod and a weak, “Yes.”

“Jonah, needless to say, this is all bollocks and these are the actions of a dejected and rejected former employer, but I appreciate your time and honesty and in return I can assure you of my discretion,” said Jon sincerely getting to his feet and taking the other man’s hand.

“Steph, go home and pack your case or whatever you need to do,” said Jon as Steph extended her hand to Jonah too. “This is unpleasant but no more, your professional reputation is intact and will remain so. Anyone who passes through here will soon discover as Jonah has that the person Jack Baker is painting is not you, okay?” He needed her to believe that as much as he was determined to deliver that for her.

“If you say so.” She knew only too well how easily reputations got destroyed or tarnished.

“Mr Brooker is right, Steph, although I appreciate it may not be pleasant being faced with people’s preconceived ideas of you,” smiled Jonah sympathetically.

Steph was just about to leave after hugging Rosie warmly with the promise of lots of holiday snaps when Dave appeared and seeing her and Jon together smiled. “Two birds with one stone, could I have a few minutes?”

“Miss Pryor was just about to leave for her holiday,” said Jon flatly.

“But I have a few minutes, do you want to come into my office?” she asked making Jon frown impatiently.

As if picking up on the atmosphere, Rosie suddenly got to her feet and muttered something about filing some details and switching her phone to voicemail, leaving the three of them standing together.

As Rosie closed the door behind her, Dave said, “Here’s fine. I popped out at lunch, my wife had an appointment at the doctors as she’s been under the weather since just after we came back off holiday. I wanted you to be the first to know as you’ve been so understanding, she’s pregnant, natural conception, it’s early days for us, four months, but we’re having a baby,” he said grinning broadly and obviously thrilled.

“That’s wonderful news, Dave, congratulations, to you both.” Steph reached across to hug the still grinning man.

“Yes, congratulations and if there’s anything we can do, just say, please,” said Jon shaking his hand.

“Thanks. There are a couple of appointments scheduled, so . . .”

Laughing Steph said, “Just email the dates to me, that’s fine.”

“Well, I won’t hold you up further, so have a great holiday and I’ll see you when you get back,” he smiled and left them alone.

“Ah, that’s nice,” Steph said genuinely.

“Mmm. Now sod off home and I’ll see you tonight.” He smiled as he leaned down and kissed her. “And forget about Jack Baker, I’ll sort it out.”

“Okay, just be careful with Jack, please.” Concern etched her voice knowing that Jack was vindictive.

“I promise.”

Leaning in to kiss her again he was halted by her phone ringing, making them both laugh as Steph held it up to show Lindsay on her display.

“Hi Linds,” she answered and stretching up she kissed Jon and said, “See you later handsome. What? No not you Lindsay, what? I don’t know if you should take extra spare knickers!” she exclaimed as she left the office leaving Jon alone until Rosie reappeared.

“Are you okay, Mr Brooker?”

“No, not really. Rosie could you call down to legal and ask Steve Cannon to come up to my office and would you join us, please?”

“Of course,” she replied and dutifully picked the phone up to call Steve.

Looking around his office Jon felt happy that he was in control again. He had a team of people he trusted. People he trusted to keep Steph safe. The idea of Jack Baker, his assault of her and his continued attack on her character, turned his stomach. His first thought had been to go and find the man, to hit him hard, but he was smarter than that. Jon knew that Baker would have an advantage then and that was the last thing he needed. That man would pay for what he’d done to Steph, but he might have to play the long game.

Thinking of Steph in danger, under threat, he considered Simon who was someone else who needed to get theirs. The way that man had treated her when they’d been together was bad enough, even if Jon knew Steph hadn’t shared one half of what he’d done to her, but the way he’d treated her since, made his blood boil. He had attacked her, more than once, tried to abduct her and every time that man came anywhere near her she ended up hurt, often with a trip to A jet lag, fatigue or maybe just the last of that fluey, under the weather thing I had the other week that never got going,” suggested Steph.

“Jet lag from London to Spain, really? Or maybe you’re suffering from a touch of love sickness.” Lindsay’s grin made Steph laugh but felt forced to agree.

“Maybe. I am even dreaming of Jonathan bloody Brooker now,” she admitted making Lindsay laugh too.

“Just live happily ever after then you’ll put us all out of our misery.”

“Thanks for your help there, Linds. But I don’t think Mr Brooker and I are at that point, not sure we ever will be.”

“You will be if you’re dreaming about him and I bet it was sex.” Lindsay wore a false expression of disapproval.

“Actually it wasn’t a sex dream, he was just there, with me, being all nice and bossy,” replied Steph causing Lindsay to laugh at her before speaking,

“You both have a serious case of love sickness but there’s nothing I can do about that right now. So, what shall we do today after breakfast and are we wearing our hot pants because if we are I promised Charlie I would send him a picture, of me, obviously,” laughed Lindsay. She then added, “Or both of us as long as you don’t look too much hotter than me.”

“Breakfast, pool to check out the lifeguard again, then maybe a little shopping?” asked Steph.

“Date,” grinned Lindsay leaping up and rushing back to her room.

By Wednesday morning Steph found her mood more settled as was her general demeanour leaving her feeling less tired and refreshed making her surer that her disgruntled feeling had been due to the events of late and her separation from Jon.

Slipping on her robe, Steph made her way across her bedroom and as she opened the door screamed to find a grinning Lindsay waiting for her.

“What the bloody hell are you doing standing at my door?” she asked, clutching her chest that contained her thumping heart.

“Sorry but I couldn’t wait. It’s Wednesday and my period still hasn’t arrived.”

“Come on then pee on your plastic stick if you insist on sharing this moment with me,” frowned Steph before softening at her friend’s expression of apprehension and excitement.

“I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to share this with, except Charlie.”

“God you are such a soppy cow but I love you, so go and pee,” replied Steph, genuinely touched at the honour her friend was bestowing upon her.

“Did you want to go first?” Lindsay asked confusing Steph.

“What? I don’t want a go at all Linds!”

“Go on, it will be fun and good practice for you,” said Lindsay repeating her comment from earlier in the week.

Steph stared at her friend and could see that she had the determined expression fixed to her face. “Bloody hell, you are crackers, but if it makes you happy I too will pee on a plastic stick, after you.”

Steph was rewarded with a smug smirk from the other woman.

“Yay! Imagine if we were both pregnant, we could do all the mumsy things together . . .” started Lindsay making Steph laugh.

“Except you have been having contraception free sex with Charlie and your period is two weeks late whereas I have been having safe sex and my period is due, erm, today, so we are not doing mumsy things together, now pee.”

Lindsay ran off to the en-suite bathroom in her room and in an instant returned to the lounge where she placed the innocent looking piece of plastic down on the coffee table. Steph stared at it and wondered how something so innocuous looking had such power to either ruin someone’s life or complete it.

“Your turn,” sang Lindsay startling Steph slightly.

“What do I do with it?” She accepted the second stick

“Take the cap off, pee on the end and replace the cap then come back here and wait.”

“This is ridiculous,” laughed Steph as she headed to her own room, “And when you speak to Charlie later and he asks what we’ve done today under no circumstances do you mention my name in the same sentence as pregnancy test.”

Sitting on the toilet in her bathroom Steph followed the instructions she’d been given and was surprised at how simple this was, but already knew the outcome. She was vigilant with contraception and had a very good and proven track record of the pill working for her.

Returning to the lounge she found Lindsay pacing the room nervously. Steph put her test on the table next to her friends’ and placed a reassuring arm around her as she asked, “Does Charlie know you’re doing this?”

With a shake of the head Lindsay explained, “Last month I did a test when I was only a couple of days late and when it was negative I was really upset and Charlie was very sweet but then got cross that I had done the test so early when we’d agreed I’d wait for two weeks.”

“Ah, so you’ve waited but as we’re away couldn’t wait any longer?”

She nodded. “But also if it’s negative I am going to be upset again and I know it’s early days so don’t want to be upset with Charlie.”

“I see, meaning if it’s negative I get you upset?” Steph asked with a laugh before kissing her friend’s temple. “Is yours cooked yet?”

With a deep breath, Lindsay checked her watch and nodded before they each reached for the other’s hand and walked nervously towards the table where Lindsay reached for her test and as they looked down together they both jumped up and down and squealed loudly as they absorbed the words before them.

Pregnant

3-4

“What are the numbers for?” asked Steph between sobs as she realised she was crying genuine tears of happiness for her shell shocked friend.

“That’s how far along I am. Three to four weeks. Steph, I’m pregnant!” she said disbelievingly.

“Yes you are! Fuck, Linds you are going to be a mummy.”

“Please don’t swear in front of my unborn child,” replied Lindsay quite seriously.

“Bloody hell, I mean sorry,” said Steph as her friend gave her a stern frown.

“Your turn now,” said Lindsay as she picked up Steph’s pregnancy test.

“No need, Linds it is as negative as negative can be.” Steph smiled confidently.

Lindsay, who still held the test was looking at her with a look of something Steph couldn’t name but knew it wasn’t an expression of simple shock, maybe sympathy.

“What?” asked Steph warily and then figured that this was a Lindsay wind-up and laughed, “You cow! You can’t make jokes like that.”

“Steph, maybe you should sit down,” suggested Lindsay, her straight face making Steph think that she was a better trickster and actress than she’d ever given her credit for. “Sit down!” she repeated with more authority in her tone now, worrying Steph who was still standing and snatching the plastic stick.

Staring down she realised why she should have sat down as she absorbed the information before her as her legs buckled slightly.

Pregnant

2-3

THE END . . . ALMOST

Jon & Steph’s story concludes in Book 3 of The Infidelity Trilogy – And Wives