Page 37 of Harry

He came over and took the tray away. “So, I cannot afford the extra pound.” He slapped a hand on his flat stomach and had her rolling her eyes.

“That doctor.”

“What about her?”

He arranged his long frame next to her on the bed. “Where did you find her?”

“At the clinic where I went to get a checkup. Why?”

“She was hitting on me.”

She hid a smile at the expression on his face. “Did you hit back?”

He merely stared at her.

“Then there’s no problem.”

“You don’t mind that she was?”

She turned to face him, studying the gorgeous face and the wildly beautiful eyes. There was a day’s stubble on his face and his hair was finger combed back into a careless ponytail. “I would be surprised if she didn’t. You are a beautiful man.”

“Watch it.” He growled. “How are you really?”

“Much better.” She placed a hand on his chest. “Ready to talk?”

Chapter 9

He would have avoided it if he could. But the time was here and now. He had a big job of explaining and making up to do. He had arrived to find her curled up on the floor. And had felt the stark fear striking through his heart.

Whatever it takes, he had to be there for her. He was going to have to find a way to deal with his mess.

Taking her hand, he studied the long, elegant fingers with studied absorption before lifting his eyes to hers. A faint smile touched his lips as he noticed the expression on her face.

“I’m ridiculously in love with you.” It was said with such wonder that she had to hide a smile as joy burst fully inside her chest. “Something I never expected of course, considering my past.

And it was something I also tried to fight with every fiber of my being.” He shrugged. “I learned some things tonight, first when Davenport came to see me…,” he paused when she jerked in surprise. “You didn’t know.”

“Michael came to see you?” She blinked her large dark brown eyes.

“Yes. You really didn’t know.”

“No,” she stared at him curiously. “What did he want?”

“To chew my ass out for not being here for you.”

“I did not ask him to…”

“I know you didn’t.” Lifting her hand, he kissed the knuckles. “I just stopped myself from kicking him through the door.” His eyes twinkled. “But he was right. He called me a coward.”

She started. “Then he’s even braver than I thought.”

He grinned. “Or his love for you overrode his fear.” His expression sobered. “He told me you were ill and that I was basically a jerk for allowing you to go through all of it on your own.”

“He didn’t quite convince me. Then I had a visit from my mother.” He gazed off across the room, watching the shadows dancing on the silk water silk wallpaper, his face pensive. And she waited.

“She had quite a story.” His eyes met hers and she felt her stomach clenching at the bleak look on his face.

“You don’t have to…”

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