He gave an impatient sigh. “How would you know?”
Her heart pumped hard and her stomach twisted. The room tilted and she fought back the nausea. She could do this. All she had to do was lie and make a clean getaway. Just a few words and she could end this madness.
“Jodie?”
She struggled to meet his curious gaze. “Because I’m already pregnant.” She forced out the next words as she spread her hands against her stomach. “With another man’s child.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“THEN...KATALAVÉNO? I don’t understand.” His mind lagged behind but the pain had been sharp and swift. There was another man in Jodie’s life. And she... Stergios refused to believe it. “What did you say?”
“I’m—” her voice hitched “—already pregnant.”
Pregnant. She was with child. Another man’s child. The bitterness cut through him like acid. He studied her slim figure in the hot-pink dress. “Oxi,” he said in a whisper. “I don’t believe you.”
She lifted her chin. “Why would I lie about something like this?”
Stergios couldn’t move. He felt as if he’d been hacked down from where he stood. Pregnant. She couldn’t be pregnant. No, Jodie was his.
A chill settled into his bones. Stergios remembered feeling like this before. The numbness held back the searing pain so he could cope. Survive. The coldness would be temporary and then the ferocious rage would take over. “Who’s the father?”
She appeared surprised by the question. “That is none of your business.”
“Do you know?” His voice was flat.
She jerked back as if she’d been slapped. “I’m going to ignore that.”
“Do. You. Know?” He bared his teeth as he enunciated the words.
She pressed her lips together and crossed her arms.
“You don’t know,” he said in a stunned breath. How could she do this? Stergios thought he knew Jodie. “Was he a stranger? Or were there a few other candidates at that time?”
She glared at him before she turned away. “I’m so glad I shared this news with you.”
Other pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. The anger and despair swirled and clashed inside him. “This is why you no longer drink,” he said in a low voice as he struggled to control his emotions. “And why you suddenly have this interest in family.”
She gave a start as if she couldn’t believe he had put the pieces together. “It isn’t sudden,” she said over her shoulder.
Stergios bunched his hands in his hair as his heart thudded against his ribs. “I couldn’t understand why you wanted to reconcile with your father,” he said as he searched his memory for other signs. “I thought it was for revenge. I couldn’t figure it out. I didn’t think...”
She refused to look at him. She should be ashamed, he decided. This woman was his. He knew Jodie made no promises to him but this felt like a betrayal. Stergios didn’t think she could have hurt him like this. He couldn’t forgive her actions.
He dragged his hands down to his sides. “You bitch.”
Her spine stiffened but she didn’t turn around. “I’m going to wait at the helipad,” she announced as she marched to the door.
Stergios watched her. How could she be hard and emotionless now when she had been open and loving last night? “What did your father say?”
Jodie slid to a stop and whirled around. “He doesn’t know. No one knows.” She pointed at Stergios. “Do not say a word to him.”
“Why not?” Why would she hide something like this from Gregory? Would her father disapprove of the man?
“Because...” Jodie spluttered as pink tinged her cheeks. The unfeeling woman was suddenly flustered. “Because it’s...customary to wait until the first trimester before you make the announcement.”
Something wasn’t right. He didn’t know if he should trust his instincts but he didn’t believe her explanation. “How far along are you?”
She grabbed her suitcase and concentrated on raising the handle. “Not far.”
“But you knew you were pregnant. You knew and you spread your legs for me,” he said with disgust. “You let me...”
“Stop it, Stergios.”
He wasn’t going to listen to Jodie’s pleas. She had lost that right. The destructive anger flashed inside him before he tamped it down. “If you weren’t pregnant, I would...”
“Would what?” she asked, tilting her head as she watched the tremors sweep his body. “No need to hold back, Stergios. What would you do?”