Page 43 of Harry

“Which means maybe…” Michael gave a frustrated sigh. “Darling you need constancy.”

“And he is trying. You don’t understand the hell he’s been through.”

“That’s the past and he has the present right in front of him. He has to try and put it behind him.”

“That’s not going to be easy. He loves me.”

“I have no doubt he does. But he’s commitment shy. And you need those babies to have a daddy who is going to be there.” He sighed. “But you love him to pieces and he’s the one.”

“That’s right.” She sighed too. “I have to be patient. I called to say thanks.”

“Take as much time as you need. I am assigning your clients to Martha.”

“Absolutely not. I will be all right come Monday.”

“You need…”

“I need to work.”

“Well technically, since you’re knocked up by a multi-billionaire, you really do not need the money,” he pointed out.

“Michael…!”

“Okay, fine. But what is the billionaire going to say about you working?”

She had thought of that but preferred to put it behind her for now.

“I’ll talk to him.”

“All right, darling. Take care.”

Hanging up the phone, she sat back and stared at the darkened screen in front of her. Michael was right. Harry was commitment shy. But she was going to have to leave it up to him to take the necessary steps. Doing anything else was going to run the risk of driving him away, no matter how much he loved her.

*****

He gave Shep his head and followed as closely behind him as he could. Darkness had descended, the light of the moon filtering through the leaves of the trees lining the path.

He was aware that he was doing his duties as the owner of a dog who needed regular exercise. He was also delaying going back to the house. He was in fact trying to burn off the energy and more specifically, the desire churning inside him.

Christ Almighty! He thought viciously as he skidded to a halt at the sparkling water of the pretty lake. What kind of animal would want to be with a woman who was suffering from ill effects of her pregnancy?

The passion, the lust inside him was burning him from the inside out. He was hard. His flesh was hot, and it felt as if he was suffering from a fever.

He had had to get away from her. Picking up a twig, he obliged Shep by tossing it a few feet away and automatically repeating it when he came charging back. Hopefully when he returned, she would be asleep. Perhaps, he should bunk in the next bedroom, but he wanted to be there in case she had an episode.

Was that what it’s called? He had no damn idea. He only knew he could not be far from her. He was going to have to suffer through his pain and passion, by lying next to her without touching. And she burrows. He smiled grimly. Her tight fanny would be up against his crotch before the night was over.

“Bloody hell.” He muttered. He was certainly not looking forward to the night.

A smile touched his lips as he recalled how she had jumped to his defense and the look in her eyes when he came into the salon. It was obvious they had been discussing him, but he had not wanted to know the subject and had not said anything to her.

Being inside his old suite had stirred up enough bad memories. Bad? He snickered at that. What a bloody understatement.

His mind drifted to the story his mother had told him. But only, it wasn’t a story, was it? It was real. His old man had taken grief to a whole new level.

He had taken it out on both of them, perhaps punishing his wife for loving his beloved brother. Why the hell had he even married her in the first place? How sick could he have been to marry his brother’s woman?

And he, Harry had paid the heavy price. The only Harry his old man ever loved was his twin. Christ! The entire thing was too bizarre and completely sick and utterly sad.

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