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.’ She tried for upbeat but didn’t manage to come close.‘They sent some money…’ He could see her red nose, see the swirl of tears in her eyes despite the smile.‘And when…’ Ben cleared his throat ‘…do you see your obstetrician again?’‘Next Wednesday!’It was only Friday.‘When did you see him last?’‘On Tuesday.’ Still the smile remained, but it was wavering now.‘If my blood pressure is still up they’re going to admit me.’‘No protein in your urine?’‘No protein…’ He was trying to be a doctor, trying to assess her practically, only it wasn’t working.He knew they would be carefully monitoring her for pre-eclampsia, knew she was being watched, only he wanted her watched more closely, and as coolly as he tried to assess the facts, detachment wasn’t working.‘You’ve got a lot of fluid, Celeste,’ he pointed out.‘I know.I’m allowed one gentle walk a day, and I’ve cut out salt as well as sugar…They’re watching me, Ben.’And with that he had to make do.Only he couldn’t.‘Why don’t you ring and get your appointment brought forward? I could take you there now,’ he offered.‘Ben,’ Celeste interrupted, ‘thank you for all the lovely things—and thank you to your sister too.When I’m able, I’ll get her a card.’And with that he had to make do.CHAPTER SIX‘HI CELESTE!’ He gave a tight smile as she came over.The whole street had come out to watch the auction and Celeste had bypassed her gentle walk on the beach today and wandered down for a look—it was what people in Melbourne did on a sunny Saturday afternoon when a house was up for auction.‘Hi.’ She was polite and said hello and then bypassed him, but Ben halted her.‘You’re supposed to be resting.’‘I’m walking around a house instead of a beach!’ Celeste pointed out.‘Anyway, I’ve got cabin fever.I’m going crazy being stuck inside the unit and at least they’ll have the air-conditioning on in the house.’ And then she gave him a smile.‘Thanks for yesterday, by the way.’‘No problem.I’m glad it’s all going to good use.’‘I meant the doctor pep talk.I rang my obstetrician and they’re seeing me on Monday now.’‘That’s wonderful.’‘I’m going home to pack my case after this—I have a feeling they won’t be letting me out.’Then she moved on, wandered inside with the rest of the crowd, and when Ben’s eyes should have been on the competition, instead they were on her.He wanted her.As he walked around the house, stared into rooms, walked through the garden.It was Celeste’s comments he wanted, not the real-estate agent’s, and she gave plenty.It was stunning.Her entire unit could fit neatly in the lounge, and Celeste was quite sure that if she could just lie on that lovely white sofa and gaze out at the water till Monday, with someone peeling grapes for her and massaging her feet, her blood pressure would be down by her doctor’s appointment!She loved viewing houses, wandering around them, pretending they were hers, and wishing it could be so.The kitchen was a hell-hole, though, but the agent steered them past it quickly and on to view the upstairs.The whole place was to die for—every room in the house, even the master bathroom, was angled for water views!‘There are no blinds,’ Celeste pointed out, and Ben smothered a smile, because when he’d first looked around the home, he’d said exactly the same thing, only the agent hadn’t ignored him! ‘How can you have floor-to-ceiling windows in a bathroom and no blinds?’ Celeste demanded.‘The glass is treated,’ the agent hissed.‘You can see out, but no one can see in.‘Now, moving along, this is the master bedroom!’‘Divine!’ Celeste breathed as she stepped in.A vast bed was in the centre, and there was a balcony set up with a little table and chairs…‘Are the windows treated in here too?’ Celeste asked pointedly as the agent sucked in his breath.She did make him smile.And he did miss her.She was writing on her little list again—just as if she was a serious bidder—and he could see the real-estate agent’s lips purse as she stepped out boldly onto the balcony instead of following the pack back along the hall.‘Can you keep up, please?’ the agent snapped, and Ben felt his teeth grind together.‘This room would make an ideal nursery…’ Despite her obvious condition the agent addressed a loving young couple and ignored Celeste when she asked a question.How she wished she’d won the lottery, and could pull out the winning bid just to wipe that superior smile off his smug face and make him squirm.Ben saw her face redden as the agent ignored her and then caught her eye and gave her a wink.‘My partner asked a question,’ Ben said coolly, watching Celeste’s beam of delight as the agent practically gave himself whiplash, turning to face her.No, she hadn’t won loads of money, but watching that smug smile leave his face was almost as good.‘I’m so sorry,’ he simpered.‘What did you want to know?’‘Thanks for that.’ Celeste grinned at Ben as they wandered outside.‘Ooh, it was my pleasure,’ Ben replied.‘He’s obnoxious.’Celeste loved auctions—the crowd gathered outside the house, the real-estate agent pumping up the action—yet she was always scared she’d put up her hand and outbid someone, like standing on the edge of a cliff and wanting to jump, just to try it.There was some serious bidding going on, and Celeste watched on in glee.This was the most exciting thing to have happened to her all week.Ben was trying to concentrate, but his eyes kept wandering to her.He hadn’t put in a bid yet—he would wait and see…God, even her eyelids were swollen.When he should be concentrating, when he should be focusing, instead he was thinking about her, worrying about her—and Ben didn’t like the feeling a bit.The bidding was slowing down now, the auctioneer having trouble eking out even a small raise in bids—and it was then that Ben put in his first offer.He saw the flare of surprise in her eyes—she’d had no idea that he would be bidding.It wasn’t something he had to discuss with anyone, Ben told himself, that was the life he had built for himself.Yet still there was a little pang of discomfort, remembering all the nights when she had spoken about her hopes and fears and dreams for the future, and he realised that he hadn’t let her in at all.The flagging crowd was suddenly interested, and Ben saw her smile
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