Page 51 of Bride Under Contract

She didn’t love Carter, of course—she didn’t know him—but she stared at the rainforest in the bright morning and knew that she had to stay silent. For she could think of nothing better than knowing this contrary man more.

He clearly hadn’t finished checking she could match his cold heart, though. He had another question for her.

‘And you understand that I’ll never love you?’

How did one even begin to answer that?

‘You’ve made that very clear.’

She took a breath, looked at the beautiful lilacs. There was more tranquillity here than she had ever known, and finally enough peace to think deeply.

Serenity?

Not quite.

But it was enough that she’d found the touchstone of her heart.

‘I want real love.’ She looked out to the jungle that pulsed with life, to the flowers, to the sky, and she told him the truth. ‘I’m so tired of loving people who are incapable of loving me.’

He frowned.

‘I’m talking about my father.’ She could feel her lips stretch, her chin tremble, but she forced herself to push on. ‘My mother.’

‘She’s unwell.’

‘I know—and, believe me, I’ve had to tell myself that a lot of times over the years.’ She took a breath. ‘I want someone who can love me fully.’

‘It’s a no, then?’

‘Can I finish?’

She thought of security for her mother and being able to provide the best life she could give her. Of how, if her mother was cared for, she’d get the chance to live her own best life.

Find herself.

Her passions.

She looked over to Carter and, as cold and matter-of-fact his proposal was, it excited her too. Last night she had found all she had missed out on. He’d brought something out in her she hadn’t even known existed.

‘I shan’t be falling in love with a man incapable of loving me back. So, yes.’ She nodded. ‘I do want to do this.’

‘Two million dollars... A wardrobe...’

‘I’d need to get to London regularly.’

‘Once we’re married, I can base myself there.’

It was a minor detail to him, Grace realised. He could uproot to wherever he liked on a whim.

‘We’ll work out the details of the contract, but...’ He seemed to think for a moment, as if pondering what else might be required. ‘I think we’re both getting a good deal. I like you.’ He said it as if it surprised him. ‘Although, of course, by the end of the year we’ll be desperate to never see each other again.’

Grace hoped so!

She really, really hoped so...

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘WHERE WE MET...’ Carter said, as they walked through Kuala Lumpur airport and passed the bench where he’d found her sleeping. ‘For when you tell Violet.’

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