Page 82 of Taming Irish

Silence stretches betweenus.

The initial stir of jealousy of another woman having his child is dulled only by the fact that he trusted me enough to share his secret with me. And it’s a doozy. One that should have me running in the oppositedirection.

Because, if this gets out, he’ll be thrown front and center into a media frenzy. And if I’m anywhere near him when it happens, I have no doubt I’ll be dragged right intoit.

“We should go.” I grab my overnight bag and start towards the door. “We have a two-hour drive ahead ofus.”

He looks up, his eyes bloodshot and his hair a tussled mess. He looks miserable. “Ye’recoming?”

I nodstiffly.

Hope flares in his eyes, and he stands. “Then ye’re okay with allthis?”

“I don’t know how I feel right now. It happened before we met. So, I can’t be upset with you. But I don’t know if I can keep doingthis.”

His mouth tightens in a thin line. “Iunderstand.”

He starts to reach out for me, but then his hand drops to hisside.

Despite the mask of indifference I’ve cloaked myself in, my heart aches to pull him close. But I don’t. Can’t. For the first time in my life, I need to think of myself first. And no matter how much it will break my heart to walk away from the gorgeous man in front of me, I know it’s exactly what I have todo.

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