Page 37 of Bound in Lingerie (Bare Naked Designs 3)

“Our mother always hated the fact that our business sometimes affected innocent people, so she decided to give back, even though we couldn’t directly help the people involved. Our mother raised money to build a women’s shelter in downtown Vancouver. She built a boys and girls recreation center. We also run a Christmas celebration at the children’s hospital every year.”

Amie shook her head in disbelief. It didn’t make his job any better, he was still responsible for heartache. But the fact that Milton continued to be committed to helping others...

Amie didn’t know him at all. She knew his body, knew the façade he put on, but there was one part of him she didn’t know at all–an important part–his heart.

It’s a good thing. You don’t want to know his heart. He’s leaving and wants nothing to do with your dreams of a relationship.

“I had no idea your company did those things.”

“Milty’s not a bragger. He knows what people think of him, but in his heart he knows better.”

Which would explain why he didn’t care if Amie hated him. In reality she was the bad one for assuming the worst of him.

“It’s selfish really,” Marilyn continued. “We do it to keep our mother’s memory alive. I took over her charity positions, and Milton handles the finances for our donations.”

Her memory? Milton had never mentioned the death of such significant people in his life. Why should he? Your relationship is supposed to be casual. “When did your mother pass away?”

Marilyn looked up from the table. “Um…about eight years ago.”

Amie started to put the pieces together. Why Milton wasn’t interested in marriage, in a family, in a happily ever after of his own. Death. Allowing himself to find his happily ever after would only mean losing it much too early. Why bother.

Amie looked over at Milton, and tears began to well in her eyes.

“Ames, are you all right?” Martina sidled closer to her on the bench.

“Yes.” Amie blinked away the tears as best she could.

Two simple revelations. Two truths had changed everything and brought to light the fact that she was falling in love with Milton Campbell. A man she could never have.

* * * *

Amie walked hand in hand with Milton through the park.

After learning a little more about him, Amie had an overwhelming urge to be with him. Not just physically, although she would never turn down a romp in the sack with Milton, but be with him. She now understood his motivations for wanting to remain unattached. It was about time she explained herself.

“My father owns a construction business,” she blurted.

Milton looked over at her with interest. He didn’t speak. He waited for her to continue.

“I’m an only child. A child that was supposed to be a boy.”

Milton nodded in acknowledgement. He was smart enough to know where this was going.

“My father had big plans for me and the business. He started grooming me when I was sixteen. I played the dutiful daughter and went along with it.” They continued to walk and Milton grabbed her hand and held it in his. “That same year my grandmother was served with an eviction notice. Her landlord had decided to sell his property, and guess what was built in that very spot?”

Amie looked up at Milton. He didn’t have to answer. She saw the realization in his eyes. The guilt. But he had no reason to feel guilty.

“I never met my grandfather. He died whe

n I was little, and since then my grandmother had been renting a home. She refused to live with my parents. She didn’t want to be a burden. That house was a part of every childhood memory I have. And then one day, it was gone. When I graduated from high school my father wanted me to go to University for business. I did. I was so unhappy. That’s when I started to get into New Age remedies. I finally found something that made me happy. Something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life.”

They detoured past a clump of trees. Laughter and giggling around them, quite the contrast to their topic of conversation.

“I wasn’t meant to own a construction company. I battled with my father for a long time. And sometimes I would cave and do what he asked. But eventually I had to forge ahead on my own. To make himself feel better my father decided that I wasn’t good enough to run the business. I’m sure he told people I was incompetent, that was the only way he could live with the shame of me refusing to follow in his footsteps. It took a long time, but we’re on speaking terms now. I see the disappointment in his eyes, even after all these years, but I can’t control that. I can only control what happens to my life and where I’m going.”

“I’m sorry about your grandmother’s house.” They were the first words he had spoken since she started to cleanse her conscience.

“You have no reason to apologize. Why didn’t you tell me about your charity work?”

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