Page 58 of Cinderella and the Outback Billionaire

It would be his pride and his pleasure to walk through life with her, and she was right there, waiting for him to catch up and recognise what she already knew.

Happiness was spending a lifetime with someone you loved and who loved you right back, no matter what the limitations or challenges ahead.

The day he discovered the tiny Matchbox car racetrack hidden beneath a sprawling saltbush—with tunnels and cars parked in finger-made caves—and it took him straight back to Ari as a child, and the challenges she’d faced and the way she’d created worlds using nothing but wonder and imagination—he knew that letting her go was going to be impossible.

He loved her.

He needed her.

He wanted her, and every adventure that came of it.

Beyond belief.

Reid sat at the outdoor table between three cabins, the visit from his brother and sister-in-law not exactly going to plan. His medical records lay spread out in front of them, and Judah, for one, was relishing every bit of being a big brother hell-bent on making the most of his little brother’s discomfort.

‘Tell me again what we’re looking for?’ Judah asked silkily.

‘Anything I might need to explain in detail to someone who...’ loves me ‘...might want to be with me romantically. A future wife, for example.’ He refused to be embarrassed. His question was legitimate. If he was going to track Ari down and lay his medical future out before her and beg her forgiveness for ever turning her away, he wanted a second opinion on what information to include.

Would he lead with his healthy sperm count, for example? Or the metal in his head that still needed to come out? Or a comprehensive explanation—or demonstration—of the limits of his eyesight?

‘Start with your eyesight,’ said Bridie. ‘It’s a lot worse than I thought.’ Worry laced her voice and she reached for his hand and threaded her fingers through his. ‘I’m cross you didn’t tell us how bad it was.’

‘I thought it’d improve.’ His defence was threefold. ‘I didn’t want to worry you. And I didn’t want anyone to fuss.’

‘Tell me again how Ari came to you and told you none of this matters and you turned her away,’ murmured Judah.

‘She should have tied you up and convinced you,’ said Bridie firmly and Judah just about snorted his coffee.

Dearie me, was there a story there that Reid could use to throw a little shade Judah’s way? Could something useful come out of Reid’s hasty decision to call in the troops to help him plan his offensive on Ari’s emotions? She deserved a grand gesture, and he was working on it. ‘What was that, big brother? You agree?’

But Judah recovered fast, his momentary splutter replaced by steely composure. ‘And after coming clean about your eyesight, and future changes to it, you might want to mention your artificial hip, missing spleen and the not so insignificant repairs they had to do to the artery in your groin. You could finish with this little gem from your team of specialists. “Mr Blake’s speedy recovery has been nothing short of miraculous.”’ Judah’s curt voice effectively conveyed his displeasure, no need for Reid to see the finer details of the other man’s scowl in order to get the message. ‘Why didn’t you tell us?’

‘We all had a lot going on and I didn’t want—’

No one jumped in to put words to Reid’s thoughts. ‘I didn’t want to appear weak in front of you. That was why it hit so hard when I went climbing and came unstuck and photos of my unconscious self being lowered to the ground by a bunch of helpful strangers got splashed across social media for all to see. There it was. My frailty exposed for all to see.’ Reid appealed to his brother who’d spent over seven years in prison being a badass so that other inmates left him alone. ‘Judah, you know there are times when a man can’t be seen to be weak.’

Judah ran a frustrated hand through his hair and looked to Bridie, who huffed and threw up her hands. ‘He needs us. This is very clear.’

‘Do you think grovelling should come before the facts or after the facts?’ Reid asked, gesturing with his hands towards his medical records.

‘Before.’ Bridie sounded very, very sure.

‘Not even sure you need the facts,’ Judah murmured.

‘I need you to help me craft an email regarding my ongoing health challenges,’ Reid told them. ‘That’s step one. And I want your thoughts on step two, which is seeing her again.’ He didn’t want to fail Ari again. Never, ever again.

His beloved sister-in-law sent him a wide, sunshiny smile that he’d long since learned to associate with outrageous ideas. ‘I have an idea.’

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

WHEN ARI HAD received Reid’s email, with a dozen attachments containing medical records and a brief explanation that this was why he’d tried to end their relationship, she hadn’t known quite what to think.

The brief had been brutally matter-of-fact and his medical records had been stomach-churning. He’d had a far harsher time of it than he’d ever let on. He’d be grateful if she took the time to consider the information and get a good notion of what choosing to love someone like him would mean for her future, should they decide to embark on one together. Full disclosure was obviously needed, he’d written, in order for her to make a fully informed, rational decision.

Definitely an engineer, she thought. Since when was love rational?

He’d finished the email ‘Reid’.

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