Page 46 of The Tycoon's Shock Heir

He sat back in his chair, the only real sign that he was surprised. He touched his fingertips together and just that tiny movement caused the muscles in his arms to ripple and bulge. Arms that she’d trailed her lips all over, that had held her in the tightest embrace.

Arms that would cradle a tiny baby in a few months.

She could see it as clearly as if it had already happened—as if he really was lifting a crying infant to soothe and protect it. And she knew then that he was going to cherish it. He was going to be a real dad.

It was just a single second’s realisation, but it was as intense and terrifying as standing on the edge of a cliff. Because she was terrified she wasn’t going to be able to do the same. Her heart started thundering in her chest again. Her own childhood had been a disaster. She had a broken relationship with her mother, felt nothing for her half-siblings. She’d never wanted a baby—and now it was really happening.

‘Ruby, we’re not at that stage of decision yet. We’re still at the stage of coming to terms with this. OK, I am still at the stage of coming to terms with it.’

He lifted his phone.

‘I’m still fielding calls, trying to explain where I disappeared to last night. I have a bank to run that isn’t nine to five and I have all this—this other stuff going on. My head is rammed, Ruby. I don’t want to make any decisions until I’ve had a proper chance to think things through. Who knows how we’ll both feel later on?’

As he spoke his phone vibrated on the table as if on cue. He glanced at it, sighed, put it down again and looked out past the deck, shaking his head slightly as if he couldn’t quite believe the mess he found himself in.

Behind his head the long straight strips of sea and sky blended in a haze of blue. The creaking and whooshing sounds of the yacht’s gentle bounce through the waves were all she could hear. She looked at him, and for the first time saw the exhaustion on his face. He had sat up with her all night, squashed into a chair, and even though now he was clean-shaven and showered his features were drained and drawn.

He had read up on pregnancy and morning sickness and brought her toast, and that was maybe one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for her. Because she didn’t let anyone do anything for her.

He turned round to face her.

‘I know you’re looking at me, wondering what the hell I’m all about and if I’m going to stick around. All you’ve ever seen is the party side of me—at the ballet benefit and then last night. Or in the press. You’re wondering what kind of guy I am who has this trail of women behind him and won’t settle down. And I don’t blame you for thinking like that. I’d be exactly the same.’

He leaned forward, his arms and shoulders and chest and everything about him telegraphing pure presence, pure strength. And she was right back there, in that Italian restaurant, gazing at him with a lust she’d never believed she could feel for anyone. The way he’d absorbed everything she’d told him and worked the room, the way they’d worked together, spinning the web of desire around one another until all her armour had melted away.

At least he’d been straight down the line. Then and now.

‘You think I’m some kind of a flake who’s going to leave you high and dry with a baby to look after, all on your own, and you’re in a panic that maybe I won’t even pay my way and look after things. I get it.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I am.’

But how did she tell him the rest—that she was more afraid of herself. She didn’t want to let anyone into her life, to need or be needed by anyone. The only thing she needed in her life was herself.

He reached his big broad hand across the table and took hers, wrapping his fingers around it. She tried to pull it back but he held on.

‘I’m going to do the right thing. I know you’ve no reason to trust me, but I want to help. I’m not the guy you think you know.’

And I’m not who you think I am, she thought. I’ll be no good at this. I’ll let us down...

Everything he said made her feel worse inside. She could see that he meant every word—and she believed him, she really did. But he thought she was like other women, wanting a baby and a family and all those things.

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