Page 88 of 2 Books in One Bundle

There were even a few carefully wrapped presents under the tree.

‘This is amazing,’ she said, reaching out to touch one of the delicate blue glass baubles. ‘I actually did have a tree once. It was in that family that in the end didn’t want me. They put up a little tree and there were decorations on it that their son had made and...and they put up one I had made too.’ Her throat closed at the memory. ‘It was the first time I felt like I was part of a family.’

There was warmth at her back and then Orion’s arms slid around her, pulling her up against the hard heat of his body. ‘I know it’s not the same,’ he murmured. ‘But we can have a tree at least.’

Yet it was almost the same. She felt at peace here with him and if she squinted a little, she could imagine that the decorations on the tree had been made by their own children. And a sudden vision filled her head, of Christmas morning here, with the tree up and the fire going, and children unwrapping presents to the sounds of laughter and shrieks of delight.

Her heart clenched tightly in her chest, a shaft of longing piercing her.

She wanted that for herself.

What if this marriage was real? What if it was for ever?

That shaft of longing ached and ached, but she ignored it. Wanting their sham marriage to be real was ridiculous. And she hadn’t known him long enough to start entertaining thoughts of a family with him, and apart from anything else, he’d basically implied that he wasn’t looking to make a family with anyone. And why would he? When the one he’d had had caused him so much pain?

Which reminded her...

Are you sure this is a good idea?

Isla ignored that thought too. It was an opportunity, that’s all it was, and he liked opportunities. He also didn’t have to take it if he didn’t want it, that was up to him. But he should still have the choice. He should know that therewasa choice.

She stepped out of his arms and turned. ‘I love it, Orion,’ she said honestly. ‘It’s a beautiful gift.’

He smiled, his eyes full of warmth, and her heart caught. He was so gorgeous she sometimes didn’t know what to do with herself. ‘I hoped you’d like it,’ he said. ‘Now I’m feeling very smug.’

She wanted to tease him, tell him smugness wasn’t a new feeling for him, but she was suddenly nervous. Perhaps this wasn’t the right thing to do. But then... She hated the thought of this lion of a man going through the rest of his life with that thorn in his paw. With the constant nagging pain that wouldn’t go away.

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.

She swallowed and reached into her pocket for the piece of paper she’d put there that morning. ‘Now it’s time for my gift to you,’ she said, her heart beating uncomfortably fast in her chest.

Orion frowned slightly. ‘You look nervous,’ he observed. ‘Is it dangerous? An explosive of some kind?’

He was teasing her, which somehow made it worse. Perhaps this would ruin everything. He’d been upset before when she’d tried to push him in the pool about Luke, but... She had to do this. It was an opportunity, that’s all.

Isla pulled the piece of paper out of her pocket and held it out. ‘No. None of the above.’

Still frowning, Orion took the piece of paper and unfolded it, looking down at what she’d written. His frown deepened. ‘What’s this?’

Isla shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. ‘It’s an email address.’

‘Whose email address?’

She took a breath and met his gaze. ‘It’s Luke’s. Your son’s.’

Orion went still, as if he’d been turned to stone, and yet something hot blazed suddenly in his gaze. ‘Where did you get it?’ He sounded so cool and calm, except she knew he was not. It was that blaze of gold in his eyes that gave it away.

You made a mistake.

A thread of ice wound through her, but she didn’t look away. Perhaps thiswasa mistake, yet she’d made it now. There was no other option but to keep going.

‘I found Cleo’s social media profiles.’ She tried to sound as calm as he did. ‘And from there it was easy to find Luke’s. He’s studying fine arts at university, and he has a girlfriend. His email address is there and I thought...’ She trailed off, her mouth dry.

Orion was standing so still, yet his golden eyes were blazing bright, fury rolling off him in waves. ‘You thought what?’ He sounded casual, as if he was asking her whether she preferred tea or coffee.

‘I thought you might want to contact him,’ she went on, because she’d given him the piece of paper now and there was no taking it back.

‘And what makes you think I might want to do that?’ His voice was dangerously soft.

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