Modern Romance May 2016 Books 1-4. Julia James

care with which he moved, but he couldn’t quite hide the twinge of pain that crossed his face as he did so. However, he quickly disguised it, reaching for a crutch that was lying beside him and pulling himself to his feet.

      Abby, who had taken him at his word and seated herself in the armchair, now looked up at him in some confusion. ‘Where are you going? Is something wrong?’

      ‘Wrong?’ Luke’s tone was sardonic. ‘What could be wrong?’ He paused and took a careful step away from the window. ‘I just want to give you something, that’s all.’

      ‘To give me something?’ Abby repeated blankly, not entirely liking the sound of that.

      ‘Relax,’ he said, heading for a chest of drawers at the far side of the room. ‘This might be the last time we see one another for some time, so I want to make sure you have everything you need.’

      Abby’s mouth dropped open. ‘I beg your pardon?’ she said, hardly daring to believe what she’d heard.

      ‘This may be the last time—’ he began again, but she interrupted him.

      ‘Yes, I know what you said,’ she exclaimed, halting him in his tracks. ‘I just don’t—’ She broke off and then started again, more calmly. ‘What are you talking about?’

      Luke’s dark eyes narrowed. ‘I should have thought that was perfectly obvious,’ he said. ‘I don’t think we should see one another again.’

      ‘Why? That’s not what you said the last time you came to the café.’

      He took a steadying breath and continued on towards the cabinet. ‘Give me a moment. Then you’ll understand.’

      ‘I doubt it.’ Abby got to her feet. ‘Are you supposed to be walking around like this?’ she asked tersely. ‘You’re very—’

      ‘Weak?’ he broke in mockingly. ‘Yes, I can see how shocked you were by my appearance. I’m no longer the attractive catch you thought I was.’

      ‘Don’t be so ridiculous!’ Abby stared at him incredulously. ‘I was about to say, you’re very pale.’ She paused and then went on shortly, ‘I didn’t realise you were so vain, Luke.’

      Luke had his back to her, but she saw him hunch his shoulders. ‘I’m not vain, Abby. Just realistic.’

      ‘Really?’ Abby could feel her own temper rising. ‘So do I take it that the only reason you’ve refused to see me all these weeks is because you were afraid I might not like your appearance?’

      ‘Um—no,’ he said honestly, still not looking at her. ‘I don’t really think you’re that shallow.’

      ‘Well, thanks. I think.’

      ‘But it isn’t fair to expect you to tie yourself to a man who’s both physically and mentally flawed,’ he continued harshly. ‘You’ve had a bad experience once. I doubt if you want to suffer another.’

       CHAPTER SIXTEEN

      LUKE KNEW THAT Abby was on her feet now. She expelled what sounded like an impatient breath, and he guessed she was wondering what the hell he meant.

      But now, after what Felix had found out, Luke knew for sure that Harry Laurence had been as much of a bastard as he’d suspected, he couldn’t inflict his own problems on her, as well.

      She was too loyal; she had too much integrity. As witnessed by the way she’d stayed with her ex-husband, long after she’d learned what manner of man he was.

      However foolish Luke still considered that had been.

      ‘I don’t understand,’ she said brusquely. ‘Are you talking about Harry?’

      ‘Who else?’

      Abby sucked in a breath. ‘But you know nothing about Harry,’ she said impatiently. ‘And I can tell you this, you’re nothing like him.’

      ‘You think?’

      Luke had reached the bureau now, and he attempted to pull open the bottom drawer. But it was difficult to bend and open a two-handled drawer with only one hand. He swore his frustration as the crutch slipped away.

      And knew he would have fallen if Abby hadn’t immediately seen his difficulties and rushed to help him. Her slim arms encircled his waist, and he felt the slight swell of her body close against the curve of his spine.

      It was the baby, he thought, his jaw tightening with the knowledge of what he was about to deny himself. The urge to turn and hold her close against his taut body was almost irresistible, but he no longer had the right to do so.

      ‘You could have asked me to get whatever it is for you,’ Abby exclaimed somewhat breathlessly as he attempted to regain his balance. ‘Surely it can’t be so important that you’re willing to risk your health.’

      ‘I’m not risking my health.’ Luke was unable to hide his bitterness. ‘It was just a bit of poor judgement, that’s all. Something I’m quite familiar with, believe me.’

      ‘If you’re implying it was your poor judgement that caused the accident, you couldn’t be more wrong,’ protested Abby, her warm breath fanning the back of his neck. ‘Look, why don’t you sit down and let me get whatever you need?’

      Luke allowed himself to rest against her for a few moments longer, revelling in the heat of her nearness, inhaling the fragrant scent of her skin.

      But his response quickly became far too sexual, and he couldn’t afford to indulge in that kind of madness again. Not if he wanted to give her the chance to start a new life without any restrictions at all.

      Nevertheless, Abby didn’t seem in any hurry to let him go. Indeed, her hands spread caressingly against his stomach and he knew that, any second, she was going to discover he wasn’t as controlled as he’d like to pretend.

      However, when he would have drawn away, she rested her forehead against his back, and whispered softly, ‘Can’t we talk about this? You can’t possibly imagine I want our relationship to end, just because you don’t think you’re the handsome stud you used to be.’

      Luke groaned. ‘I was never a handsome stud,’ he muttered cynically. ‘But I won’t be a burden on you, Abby. I know now how you must have suffered with Laurence, and you deserve a better chance at life.’

      Abby went still, and, after making sure he was unlikely to fall, she moved round him so she could see his face. ‘You know now?’ she echoed. ‘How do you know? About Harry, I mean?’ She looked doubtful for a moment.

      Luke leaned heavily on his crutch. This was the difficult part and he knew it.

      ‘Harry’s in prison,’ he told her unwillingly. ‘Did you know?’

      ‘In prison?’ Abby stared at him incredulously. ‘No. I didn’t know that. How could I?’

      She paused, evidently digesting what he’d said. Then, ‘But how do you know?’ she asked, before a look of dismay crossed her face as the answer came to her. ‘You’ve had him investigated, haven’t you? You didn’t take my word, so you decided to check my story out for yourself.’

      Luke blew out a breath. ‘That’s not entirely true.’ He’d known this might happen; that was one of the reasons why he’d put off seeing her for so long.

      ‘Before the accident,’ he went on. ‘Before I realised that I—’ He almost said ‘that I loved you’, but he managed to bite the words back. ‘Well, just accept that it was before the accident, I asked Felix to find out what Laurence was doing these days. I had no idea that the accident would prevent me from telling you what I’d done.’

      Abby stepped back from him. ‘You asked Felix?’ She shook her head. ‘No. He would have told me.’

      ‘Felix