Page 64 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

Jake spread his hands. ‘The army taught me discipline and that there was a big world out there. It gave me the drive to work hard and improve. Then my sister and I had a windfall. There were plans for a giant shopping complex in our suburb but the planners forgot to acquire a small parcel of land.’ He smiled reminiscently. ‘Ours. We lived in our grandparents’ tiny house in a rundown neighbourhood but suddenly it was worth a fortune. Connie used her share to travel. I invested mine and got a job in the city, learning finance.’

‘And never looked back.’

Caro marvelled. From troubled teen to billionaire took a lot of doing.

‘Oh, I had setbacks. But I found mentors and learned from my mistakes.’

Jake made it sound something anyone could do. Caro thought of herself, all those years giving in to her father, not even able to look after her own baby—

‘Hey.’ He cupped her chin. ‘What is it?’

Her heart turned over at his gentle touch.

‘Nothing. Except that I’m incredibly impressed.’ She tugged in a sharp breath. She’d avoided the inevitable for too long. Time to confront it. ‘What did you want to talk about? You said it was time to leave.’ Caro was proud of her even tone. ‘Where will you go?’

‘Somewhere to make a home for Ariane. I’d thought of St Ancilla, till your father...’ He lifted those bare shoulders and Caro followed the movement, remembering how she’d clung to that broad expanse when they made love. ‘Maybe Australia or—’

‘Australia!’ Caro’s voice hit a shrill note. ‘If you take Ariane I’ll never see her.’

He dropped his hand. Caro’s heart dropped too.

‘Unless you come with us.’

‘Sorry? You want me to move to Australia?’

‘Or somewhere else. I’m open to suggestions. Somewhere we can make a home for Ariane.’

We.Her heart thundered. He’d saidwe.

‘What, exactly, are you suggesting, Jake?’

He hesitated and to her surprise, Caro saw uncertainty on his face. It couldn’t be. This was the man who’d stalked through a royal ball like an avenging angel intent on retribution, uncaring of scandal. Who’d spirited her away from her father and kept her safe from his machinations. Jake didn’t do uncertain.

‘We could bring Ariane up together.’

She couldn’t think of anything she’d like more. Her pulse tripped and she had to stifle a surge of elation. It didn’t seem possible.

‘Together, not taking turns looking after her?’

‘I want her to have stability and a loving family.’ He paused, his long fingers squeezing hers. ‘We could be that family.’

Caro tried to speak but the words stopped in her chest. She told herself to breathe, think this through, not jump to conclusions. Yet her heart leapt.

Less than twenty minutes ago she’d had a revelation, discovering the reason Jake affected her so profoundly.

Because she loved him. She’d fallen completely, devastatingly in love with Jake Maynard.

Her feelings for Mike hadn’t been love, more excitement at escaping her restrictive life, the thrill of being wanted. He’d been her first crush. And he’d cured her of crushes for life.

Till Jake. Honourable, protective, tender, funny. He was everything she hadn’t dared hope for. And now he talked about them making a family.

Because he’d fallen in love too? Excitement scudded through her.

Jake leaned in, warmth in his eyes. ‘We could make it work, Caro. A marriage of convenience for Ariane’s sake. What do you say?’

---