Page 66 of Undercover Billionaire

Oh God.

The urge to cry rode her like a demon, but Kelsey hung on to her pride with her fingernails. This was for the best. Pulling in a ragged breath, she fished in her pocket and pulled out the cocktail umbrella, her hands shaking. ‘Go,’ she whispered, slapping it against his chest. ‘Leave.’

Then she turned on her heel and walked away.

* * *

Kelsey was weary to her bootstraps by the time they shut up the Pelican’s Belly for the day. Emotional exhaustion hung around her neck, dragging her down as heavy as the storm clouds overhead. She’d decided to walk home, the weather matching her mood perfectly, the wind cool and welcoming against her too-hot, too-tight skin.

She wished she could shed it. Shed everything from these last few months and become a whole new person. Start again.

Start anew.

Ari would be leaving. If he hadn’t already. She’d seen it in his face when he’d goaded her to say the words. And seen it in his eyes when she’dsaidthem. And felt it in his stare as she’d turned and walked away.

She took a deep breath. It was okay, she could do it. Shehadbeen doing it. And this feeling, this ache, got better. Eventually. She just had to get past those first horrible days and weeks and months all over again. Restart the clock on the emotional work she’d already done when she’d first returned to Australia.

Itwouldease. It just took time.

Her head and her heart were so full of turmoil, Kelsey actually strode straight past the access to the cottage and she had to backtrack a little. Walking through the track between the Casuarina trees, Kelsey made a detour to the hammock tied between two sturdy gum trees in the yard. The threatening rain was holding off and it gave good swing and a great view of the water through the tree trunks.

And it was preferable to going inside and talking to her mother. Sure, she’d been very circumspect and supportive at the café when Kelsey had come back after her confrontation with Ari. But Kelsey had known she was busting to say something and she just didn’t want to deal with it right now.

It lasted about five minutes before her phone rang. Kelsey sighed and answered. ‘Hi, Mum.’

‘Are you on your way home? We need milk.’

‘Sorry, just got home. I walked. I’m in the hammock.’

Her mother hung up and Kelsey watched as she came out of the house and picked her way carefully across the grass. She was familiar enough with the yard not to need her cane, but her steps were careful.

‘You okay?’ her mother asked as she groped for the edge of the hammock.

‘Yeah.’ Kelsey nodded. ‘Or Iwillbe, anyway.’

‘Oh, darling.’ Her mother’s hand slid on to her leg. ‘I’m sorry.’

Kelsey shrugged. ‘Que será, será.’

Her mother didn’t respond for a moment and they were both quiet as a kookaburra laughed in the distance. ‘He’s not Eric, you know.’

‘Yeah.’ Kelsey nodded. ‘I know.’ And she did know.

‘Eric left and didn’t come back. This guy travelled halfway around the world for you. Stayed for you. Fixed up your town for you. Don’t blow something good because of something that happened a long time ago.’

Kelsey rolled her head from side to side. ‘It’s not that, Mum.’

‘Then what is it? You’re in love with him. And I know he’s in love with you so what’s holding you back? And you better not say me.’

‘No.’ Kelsey glanced at her mother. ‘It’s not you. But… can you imagine him wanting to live here, with us? Forever?’

‘So go and live there.’

‘Mum…’ Kelsey sighed. ‘I’m not going to take off and live in a palace in Greece while you go blind in a tiny cottage with a leaky roof, banging around with your cane.’

Her mother laughed. ‘What a delightful picture you paint.’

Kelsey shoved a hand through her hair. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean?—’

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