Page 68 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

She jumped at his lashing words and Jake was torn between wanting to soothe her and wanting to make her hurt as he did.

Had he ever felt such pulsing, writhing pain? He had a hazy recollection of something similar as a kid. The day he’d come home from school to discover his mother had cleared out again. Jake shoved the memory aside. He’d given up caring about his mother. But he cared about Caro. He’d thought...

She lifted her face slowly, as if reluctant to face him.

‘I was going to tell you. I’m sorry, Jake. But I...’ She shook her head and her glorious hair, loose around her shoulders, shifted like a living thing, attracting all the light in the room. It was burnished in shades of blood and rust, like the metallic tang of defeat filling his mouth. ‘I’ve given your suggestion a lot of thought but it won’t work.’ She opened her mouth as if to say more then paused. ‘It’s time I left.’

She turned away and reached for a blouse, folding it methodically.

That was all the explanation he deserved?

His anger notched higher and so did his determination. He never quit. Never gave up on something worth fighting for.

Jake snagged a rough breath, then another. This wasn’t the end. He refused to let her go like this.

‘So you’re going to fight me for custody of Ariane.’

Caro jumped and the blouse fell to the bed. For a long time she stood, utterly still, though tension emanated from her. He felt it like waves pummelling him.

‘No... I’ve decided that won’t work.’ She picked up the blouse once more and began folding it with excruciatingly slow movements. ‘Ariane is better off with you. You’re her uncle. She knows you, loves you.’ Caro’s voice wobbled alarmingly and Jake felt its echo reverberate inside him as a shudder of astonishment.

He couldn’t be hearing this. It was impossible. After all she’d been through Caro wouldnevercontemplate renouncing her child.

‘You’re giving up yourdaughter? The daughter you wanted so desperately? So desperately you came here under false pretences. So desperately you stood up to your father?’ Jake stalked across to stand behind her shoulder. She hitched an uneven breath as the fabric in her hands became a mangled ball. Jake felt like mangling something himself. ‘I don’t believe it.’

What was going on? Did she find him so repulsive she’d give up Ariane rather than stay with him?

He couldn’t believe it. He knew Caro. Even if things weren’t as good between them now, she’d proved again and again that she was attracted to him. He’d cherished hopes it was something deeper than attraction.

Those narrow shoulders straightened. Her chin lifted and he caught a glimpse of Caro’s proud profile.

‘I’ve made my decision.’ A pause, a long pause, so fraught Jake sensed she struggled. But if this was hard, why not accept his proposal? ‘Ariane will be happy with you. I know you’ll look after her. With me...’ Her shoulders rose. ‘It’s better if she grows up without any connection to my family.’

Jake pounced on the mention of her family, a glimmer of hope easing the raw ache in his gut.

Because he couldn’t believe she’d spurn him otherwise? Was he so desperate?

The answer was a resounding yes. For days he’d been on tenterhooks, giving Caro space to decide. In that time one thing had become abundantly clear.

That he had his own reasons for offering marriage and they weren’t confined to Ariane.

Jake needed more from Caro. Not convenience. Not a mother for his orphaned niece.

He needed Caro for himself.

She spread the blouse on the bed a third time, smoothing then folding it. But her hands shook. Jake stood so close he felt the tremors, heard her uneven breathing.

This took more from her than she wanted to admit.

‘What is it, Caro?’ His voice was husky, rough with emotion he struggled to leash. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing.’ Her movements quickened, the fold lines on the shirt askew, but she didn’t stop, almost throwing it into the suitcase and reaching for another.

Jake wanted to make her look at him but he didn’t dare touch her. Not yet. He feared that if he did he wouldn’t let her go.

‘Why not marry me and give Ariane the life we both want for her?’

The life we both want for ourselves.

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