Page 98 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 1-4

So. Sex and his damn schedule were all he cared about. She’d give him a couple of points for wanting to spend time with the children, but she had to deduct several million for being entirely blind to how it would affect her.

And how exactly will it affect you? You want what he wants, and this will be good for the twins. This is about them, not you. What more is there?

‘I... I have to think about this,’ she said uncertainly, her mind spinning.

‘What is there to think about? You get my name, my money, and the children will be cared for. We will be a family.’

A family...

The words echoed through her. Yes, she wanted that. She wanted a family like the one she’d lost when her parents died. A family held together by love.

A sharp, painful feeling gathered in her gut.

She’d spent her whole childhood mourning, not only the loss of her parents, but the loss of the love they’d had for her, leaving a void inside her that had never been filled by her aunt and uncle.

He won’t fill it either, not now you know what he feels about love.

‘It’s just...’ She paused, her throat tightening. ‘It’s not only children who need love.’ She steeled herself and looked at him. ‘I do too.’

Across the table, Aristophanes’ beautiful face remained hard. ‘You do?’ he demanded.

‘My mum and dad loved me,’ she said, her certainty gathering more and more weight with each second that passed. ‘I knew that before they died. And the day they died, I lost that love. I spent my entire childhood mourning that loss, and swore to myself I’d find it again. Find myself someone who loved me the way I loved them. So... Yes. That’s what I want in my future, Bear. I want a family. I want to love someone and I want them to love me, too.’

Steel glinted in his eyes. ‘And you will have that. The children will love you.’

‘The purpose of children isn’t so they can love you. The purpose of children is to have their own lives.’

He scowled, which she was starting to think meant he didn’t understand what she was talking about. ‘Does it matter what source the love comes from?’

‘Of course it does.’ She felt tired all of a sudden, her appetite gone, her patience with him running thin. ‘But I guess if you don’t know what I’m talking about, then this is a pointless conversation.’

‘Then explain it to me,’ he insisted.

But Nell’s energy had run out, and she didn’t know why she was arguing with him anyway. After all, it couldn’t be that she wanted love from him, it just couldn’t. He was as in touch with his emotion as a rock and equally articulate, and she didn’t want anything from him.

‘No,’ she said, putting down her lemonade glass. ‘You know what? I’m tired and I can’t be bothered, especially when you don’t even have the slightest idea what I’m talking about.’

He gave her a ferocious look. ‘Nell. Sit down.’

She ignored him, shoving her chair back and getting to her feet. ‘Goodnight, Mr Katsaros,’ she said.

‘Nell!’ he called after her as she strode towards the doorway to the salon. ‘Sit down and explain!’

But she didn’t.

She walked through the doors and back into the villa.

CHAPTER NINE

ARISTOPHANESSATINhis Athens office, scowling at the schedule on his computer screen. His schedule. He’d thought he’d set aside ample time to help Nell settle in—an afternoon and an evening was plenty. Or so he’d thought. But given their conversation the previous night, he was now starting to wonder.

He couldn’t believe she’d walked away from him the night before. He’d only asked a question, wanting her to explain what she meant about love, and she’d just...walked away. It incensed him. Didn’t she know how rare it was for him to need something explained? Didn’t it matter to her? He’d have thought she’d jump at the chance, but no, she’d only looked tired and told him she ‘couldn’t be bothered’.

Unacceptable.

Perhaps she was genuinely tired? She’s pregnant with twins, remember?

That was true. Possibly he needed to be more understanding. Still, he was trying. He wanted to give her what she needed for her well-being and for that of the twins, yet this love business mystified him.

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