Page 35 of Bride Under Contract

‘I didn’t want your judgement,’ Grace told him.

‘What does that mean?’

‘For you to assume I couldn’t handle a one-night stand.’ Her voice was defiant as she pulled away from his embrace and rolled onto her back, then pulled the sheet up to cover her. ‘I put my life on hold for a long time. I’ll no doubt be doing the same again in the near future.’ She let out a shaky breath. ‘I wanted a night like this before I went back to reality.’

‘The reality is, we didn’t use anything.’

The defiance left Grace. ‘No...’

‘You’re not on the pill?’

‘I’m not.’

She closed her eyes, knew that in that part she’d been way more reckless than planned.

‘There’s a pill for the morning after...’ Even as she said it her voice trailed off. She was not sure if she wanted that option...

‘I’ll go to the pharmacy at nine,’ he said.

Grace said nothing.

‘That was a joke,’ Carter said. ‘Albeit a bad one...’

She turned, and was surprised to see that his rather haughty face wasn’t accusatory—in fact his features were softened by the slightest smile.

‘Grace, we are in the middle of nowhere.’

‘True...’ She found herself able to stay facing him. ‘I wasn’t thinking.’

‘Neither of us were,’ Carter agreed. ‘And you’re wrong. Had you told me back on the boat, I don’t think I’d have turned around.’ He paused, as if surprised by his own admission, but then he was frank. ‘I would, however, have made it far clearer that we had no future. I don’t get involved—’

Grace interrupted him. ‘Carter, we have no future.’ She looked him right in the eyes as she continued. ‘That was the best part about it.’

She had no real future.

Not one that involved dating and romance. Instead she had a sick mother to support—what guy would understand that?

And until tonight she’d had no real past—not when it came to men.

Or dating.

No social life or adventures to count.

For years she’d lived in some sort of vacuum, focussing on taking care of her mother, working while she could, losing herself a little more each day. If it hadn’t been for Violet, she’d barely have glimpsed the outside world.

‘It was just tonight—and, believe me, that’s all I wanted.’

‘Why wait, though?’ He frowned.

‘I’ve had a lot going on. It kind of killed any chance of romance.’

‘Well, if that’s what you feel you’ve missed out on, then we are certainly missuited—because I don’t do romance in any way shape or form.’

‘I know,’ Grace said, though she didn’t necessarily agree.

She thought about the fireflies, the way he had held her, the dancing in the ballroom. Not to mention the fact that they were still in his gorgeous bed, talking. This felt more romantic than she’d ever hoped.

Still, rather than admit that, she tried to make a joke. ‘At least I know now that I’m quiet in bed.’

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