Читать книгу His Little Miracle: The Billionaire's Baby - Nicola Marsh - Страница 14

BLANE followed the exuberant squeals coming from the backyard of his youngest sister’s place, preparing for the launch of two tiny bodies into his arms.

As much as he loved Jodi, he knew he wouldn’t spend half as much time here if it wasn’t for the twins, James and Jemma.

Patting down his pockets to make sure he hadn’t forgotten this week’s treat, he rounded the corner and pushed through the back gate, bracing himself as the twins lifted their heads in unison at the squeak of the rusty hinge, caught sight of him, and rocketed out of the sandpit, making a beeline straight for him.

‘Hey, kiddos.’

He bent down and opened his arms a split second before two sturdy bodies hurled themselves at him, wrapping grubby hands around his neck and slobbering sloppy kisses on his cheeks.

‘Uncle Blay, Uncle Blay!’ they yelled in chorus, trying to outdo each other in the clambering stakes, grabbing his hair, his ears, and giggling like they’d sculled a litre of fizzy drinks.

‘Hey, you two.’ He tickled and hugged them till the noise level reached ear-splitting levels, disentangling arms and legs before setting James on his feet and Jemma alongside him. ‘Have you been good for your mum this week?’

‘Uh-huh.’ James, bold as brass, blue eyes wide and expectant, stared at his pockets while his sister, suddenly shy, stuck her thumb in her mouth.

‘I’m the one you should be asking.’

He smiled as Jodi waddled towards them, trying to balance a tray laden with fruit, water and dry crackers, her round belly protruding much further than last week. ‘Ask me again why I wanted another one after the terrible two.’

Taking the tray from her, he dropped a kiss on her cheek. ‘Terrific two, you mean.’

As she eased into a chair, her face creased into a fond smile as she saw the twins standing still like a couple of expectant angels, not making a sound.

‘They are pretty terrific most of the time. Though you know they’re only ever quiet like this when you bribe them as you do every week.’

Pouring a glass of iced water and handing it to her, he said, ‘It’s not bribery, it’s spoiling my favourite niece and nephew.’

‘Don’t let Sandy and Monica hear that. You know they think their kids are godsends.’

Laughing, he bent down to the twins’ level and pretended to rummage in his pockets.

‘Hmm…what have I got here?’

At the familiar question, the twins abandoned their good behaviour and started climbing all over him again.

‘James! Jemma!’

He winked at Jodi over James’s shoulder, disengaging two pairs of cloying hands before producing matching miniature diggers from each pocket.

‘Wow,’ the twins said in unison, eyes wide as they grabbed the brightly coloured toy earth movers, already running for the sandpit to bury their latest treasure.

‘Hey, what do you say? And what about your snack?’

The twins pulled up short at the sound of their mother’s firm tone and turned back to him. ‘Thaaank yooou, Uncle Blaaaay…’

They drew out each word in the usual way kids did when told to thank someone, whirling away the minute he smiled at them.

‘They can have their snack later,’ he said, catching sight of Jodi’s frown. ‘Let them have a play.’

Rolling her eyes, she offered him the fruit platter. ‘You’re a pushover. Wait till you have kids of your own. You’ll see.’

His smile faded as he selected a bunch of grapes and slid onto the wooden bench opposite.

‘Hey, what did I say?’

‘Nothing.’

He popped several grapes into his mouth at once, chewing thoughtfully, wondering how much he should tell his sister.

‘Come on, bro. Spill it. This has to be about a woman.’

Not just a woman. The woman.

The woman he’d half fallen in love with the moment he’d first laid eyes on her, the woman he’d walked away from six years earlier, the woman to complete him, to make his dreams come true.

But she still harboured doubts. He’d seen it in her expressive eyes when she’d told him about her difficulty bearing kids, he’d seen it in her tense body language on the trip back to Melbourne afterwards.

He should be ecstatic she loved the house and had agreed to give their marriage a second chance, but he couldn’t dispel the gloomy feeling that something wasn’t quite right, that Cam didn’t believe him when he’d said she was all he needed to make his life complete.

Eyes narrowed, Jodi stabbed an apple slice in his direction.

‘She doesn’t want kids! That’s why you got that funny look on your face when I mentioned kids of your own.’

Shaking his head, he gulped down a glass of water to ease the sudden constriction in his throat at the thought of never having children.

‘It’s not as simple as that.’

‘Then how simple is it?’

Knowing she’d never let him leave without some snippet of the truth, he sat back and interlocked his hands behind his head.

‘It’s Cam.’

Jodi sat bolt upright, wincing as her belly grazed the table. ‘The Cam? As in the teenager-you-married-then-walked-away-from Cam? As in love-of-your-life Cam? The Cam we’ve all heard about but never met?’

He smiled, used to his sister’s dramatics. ‘That’s the one.’

‘What’s going on with you two? Did you find her? Are you reuniting?’

Jodi rested her folded arms on the top of her belly and glared at him. ‘Come on, bro, spill it before I go into premature labour trying to get the teensiest bit of gossip out of you.’

Chuckling, he tilted his face up to the sun, closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth on his face, knowing it would drive his nosy sister batty.

‘Blane, I’m not kidding. Either you tell me this very minute or I’ll get Sandy and Mon and Mum on the phone in a conference call right this very minute and—’

‘Okay, okay, hang on to your baby bonnet.’

He opened an eye and squinted at her. ‘Actually, that conference call mightn’t be a bad idea. Save you the trouble of getting onto the phone and spreading the news the minute I walk out of here.’

‘Funny guy.’ She waggled her finger at him in the same way he’d seen her admonish the twins countless times before. ‘Weeell? What’s going on with you two? And, more importantly, when do we get to meet her?’

Opening his eyes, he sat up and reached for an apricot, cramming it into his mouth and chewing quickly, aware his sis wouldn’t hold out much longer. Curious cats had nothing on her.

Taking a slug of water, he leaned across the table and sent her a conspiratorial wink. ‘What’s going on? We’re back together, that’s what.’

Jodi squealed and clapped her hands. ‘I knew it! That’s brilliant, I’m so happy for you.’

‘I’m happy, too,’ he said and meant it.

When he’d first located Cam and put his plans for the house into action, he’d hoped the powerful connection they’d once had would still be alive, that she’d be willing to hear him out and take another chance on them. Now they were a couple again, he could hardly believe his luck.

‘I’ve never seen you like this,’ Jodi said, her curiosity evident in her lowered voice, for his youngest sister never spoke in anything lower than a bellow. ‘I’m really looking forward to meeting the woman who can make you look like that!’

‘You’ll meet her soon enough.’

When he’d had enough time to warn her about the Andrews clan and the overwhelming barrage of noise, warmth and bear hugs she’d be at the receiving end of.

Jodi tilted her chin up in the classic challenging pose of all the Andrews sisters. ‘When?’

Smiling, he pushed the fruit platter across to her. ‘Here, junior needs his or her daily dose of vitamins.’

‘Don’t try to distract me, it won’t work.’ She popped a plump raspberry into her mouth, wincing slightly at its tartness. ‘I want to meet your wife.’

‘You will.’

He just wanted her to himself for a bit longer. After six years apart, six years too long, was that too much for a guy to ask?

‘So why the funny look when I mentioned you two having kids?’

He should have known. Jodi would never let up, but he’d be damned if he sat here and discussed Cam’s medical history with his nosy sister.

‘Just leave it alone, Jode. We’ve only just reunited, so give us a break, okay?’

She fixed him with a shrewd stare, her mouth opening in readiness to pump him for more information and he held up a hand.

‘Not another word. Change the subject or I’ll make sure you don’t meet Cam for the next year.’

‘You’re no fun,’ she huffed, sending him a killer glare as she nibbled a dry biscuit. ‘You can’t blame me for being curious.’

‘Patience, Sis, patience. You’ll meet her soon enough.’

As for divulging the rest, there was no way he’d be sharing their personal business with his family. The Andrews family was just that: one big happy family with kids taking a starring role.

If Cam already had doubts about his devotion to her without the bonus of children, he didn’t need his rowdy family poking their prying noses in where they didn’t belong and adding to her skittishness.

Jodi frowned. ‘Okay, but you better make it soon. Otherwise I’ll definitely get Sandy, Mon and Mum onto you. And you won’t stand a chance of holding us all at bay.’

‘Too right.’

He chuckled, pushing the fruit platter closer to her as he stood. ‘Now, eat up while I go and spend some time with those gorgeous kids of yours.’

As he headed for the sandpit, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever have any kids of his own…and coming to the same conclusion he had when Cam had first told him. If he had her in his life, it wouldn’t matter. Nothing would, as long as they faced it together.

‘You shaved,’ Camryn accused, running a fingertip along Blane’s smooth jaw. ‘And you’re wearing designer jeans and a snazzy shirt! Why didn’t you tell me to dress up?’

As if she wasn’t in enough of a tizz meeting his family. Now she’d be inappropriately dressed, too.

He laughed and ran a hand over her hip, gliding over the summer cotton dress she’d finally flung on after pulling out half her wardrobe, his sensual touch going a long way towards calming some of her nerves.

‘You look gorgeous. And it’s not dressy. I just thought you might like to see me in something other than work jeans and T-shirts.’

‘Actually, I like seeing you without any clothes,’ she purred, sliding a hand up his chest and leaning into him, inhaling as she did so, reassured by his familiar crisp cedar scent.

He laughed and pulled her in for a swift kiss. ‘Hmm…I’m sure that would go down a treat with my family.’

His family…She’d been steeling herself all week, ever since she’d agreed to accompany him to this barbecue.

He’d made it sound casual at the time, just a small get-together, and, while she was curious after hearing so much about the Andrews family, she couldn’t help but worry.

What if they didn’t like her? It wasn’t as if she’d had much practice playing happy families lately.

Drawing back, he rubbed her arms up and down. ‘Hey, it’s not going to be so bad, you’ll see.’

‘How much have you told them about me?’

‘Enough.’

He winked and, grabbing her hand, tugged her gently towards the ute. ‘Come on, they’ll love you.’

That was what she was afraid of. He loved his family, had always been close to them, so she was betting his family knew about his dreams for kids, too. So where did that leave her?

She’d been honest with him on that score, and, while he’d said all the right things after their candid chat at his house, she’d caught him staring at families with kids on the odd occasion, a wistful expression on his ruggedly handsome face. That look had terrified her, as it had confirmed what she’d suspected for a while now. She would never be enough for him no matter how many times he said otherwise.

Not that she thought for one second he didn’t mean it, for Blane was nothing but sincere. But what if he grew to resent her? What if the endless dramas they went through to have kids—and still failed—put a strain on their marriage they could never recover from? Or the absolute kicker: what if he left her again if she couldn’t give him the family he wanted?

‘They’ll love you if you lose that mournful expression, that is.’

Tweaking her nose, he brushed a tender kiss across her lips, and she smiled up at him, slinging her favourite plum carryall over her shoulder. ‘I’m ready.’

‘That’s my girl.’

Handing her up into the ute, he deliberately grazed her bare calf as he withdrew, the simple touch combining with his smouldering stare to set her heart thumping. As if it wasn’t jumping around enough.

Loving how quickly and thoroughly he could turn her on with a look and the barest of touches, she sent him a seductive peep from beneath lowered lashes.

‘We don’t have to stay too long, do we?’

She toyed with the hem of her dress, plucking at the scalloped edge, smoothing it where it ended on her knees, enjoying his slightly glazed expression as he gripped the steering wheel and started the engine.

‘If you keep looking at me like that we won’t even make it there.’

‘Okay, I’ll behave.’

She laid a hand on his thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze, enjoying the flexing of hard muscle beneath her palm, all too aware of exactly how that muscle felt without the denim covering. ‘For now.’

Chuckling, he pulled out into the heavy city traffic, his concentration focused on navigating the traffic-logged roads around the Docklands while she tried to keep her mind off the constant nagging worry that the kids issue was bigger than he was willing to acknowledge.

Camryn’s face ached.

Her cheeks were stiff and her mouth hurt from too much smiling. Blane’s family were amazing. They’d welcomed her, chatted with her, plied her with food, showered her with attention, and she’d smiled through it all until her gut had seized and her heart bled as they’d fielded the inevitable ribbing question for a married couple: ‘so when are you two lovebirds having kids?’

Blane had deflected that one nicely, but she’d caught the significant look passing between his folks, as if judging her for possibly not wanting kids.

Well, she’d have to get used to it. Either that or tell a bunch of people she’d only just met her personal problems, and she had no intention of doing that yet.

She might have laughed at the incessant teasing from his sisters and relaxed in the sprawling homestead on a half-acre block in outer suburbia, but they still weren’t her family.

Her family…It was times like this she missed her folks, her mum in particular. They’d always been close, she’d always confided in her, and during her harrowing health ordeal she’d wished for her mum’s comforting hugs too many times to remember.

Ever since Blane had sowed the seed that maybe, just maybe, her folks had done what they’d done out of love rather than an awful desire to control her, she’d been wondering if it was time to lay the past to rest, to head home and give her folks a chance to explain.

It wasn’t as if they hadn’t tried to breach the gap, but she’d slammed the door in their faces, metaphorically, every single time. Until they’d stopped trying.

Coming here, surrounded by genuine warmth and happiness and familial love, rammed home how much she missed her own family. Being welcomed by the Andrews family as Blane’s wife was lovely. Maybe it was time to reintroduce her family to her husband.

‘Hiding away won’t work. They’ll hunt you down eventually.’

Blane slid his arms around her waist from behind, enveloping her in welcome warmth, cuddling her close. ‘They love you, you know.’

Turning in the circle of his arms, she slung her arms around his neck. ‘Your family’s great.’

Some of the tension around his jaw eased as he snuggled her closer. ‘Can I let you in on a little secret?’

‘Shoot.’

‘I was worried about you being thrown in the deep end meeting the whole clan at once.’

He paused, his arms tightening as if he expected her to bolt. ‘Facing Sandy, Monica and Jodi in all their nosy glory. You’ve been a real trouper.’

Her heart clenched. He looked so happy she’d passed the family test with flying colours, when in fact the last few hours had served to deepen the chasm between them.

She’d never felt so torn, wanting him so badly it hurt, knowing she couldn’t give him what he wanted.

And, as painful as it was, seeing him with his nieces and nephews today showed her that no matter what he said, having only her would eventually, one day, not be enough.

Pain sliced through her, swift and deep, cutting her determination, weakening her resolve, at the thought of letting him go. But there was no other way. How could she not? She loved him that much. He’d once let her go to follow her dream, she’d have to do the same for him no matter how much it would tear her apart.

‘Oh-oh, you’ve got that face again.’

She managed a small smile while her insides churned with dread at the enormity of what she had to do.

‘What face?’

‘This one.’

He pulled a tight-lipped, frowning, cross-eyed face, drawing a chuckle from her.

‘I call it your “thinking too much” face.’

He smoothed a finger between her brows, his touch soothing, as she wished he could erase the ache in her heart as easily as the lines from her forehead. ‘It always worries me. It means you’re deliberating something big or going to deliver news I won’t like. Correct?’

He knew her too well. However, now wasn’t the time or place to get into what she was thinking.

‘I’m just tired. The café was jam-packed last night, and I had to do some inventory ordering after we closed.’

‘And you’re exhausted after letting the twins clamber all over you. I know the feeling.’

He leaned closer and brushed a kiss across her lips, a soft, lingering kiss that touched her soul. ‘You really were amazing today. Thank you.’

‘For what?’

Drawing back, he scanned her face as if searching for an answer she couldn’t give him.

‘For making an effort, for being here, but most of all for being you.’

Her breath caught at the adoration in his gaze, and, at that moment, with the squeals of excited children, the low rumble of desultory conversation on a warm Sunday afternoon, and the distant cackle of a kookaburra in the background, she knew. Setting him free would be the hardest thing she’d ever have to do.

She loved this man, heart and soul, always had, always would. Staring into his handsome face with its bronzed skin, crinkly lines around the eyes and perpetual smile, she knew he was her future, her destiny. And she had to walk away from him…

Trying to ignore the dull ache spreading through her chest, squeezing her heart till she thought it would burst, robbing her lungs of air and the ability to speak, she closed her eyes, unable to bear looking into his beautiful eyes one second longer.

‘Hey, that was a compliment,’ he said, brushing her hair off her face, the slight rasp of his calloused fingers sending a shiver down her spine.

‘I know.’

She had no option but to open her eyes, to let him glimpse the devastation ripping her apart.

‘You’re crying! Are you okay? Hell, I knew I should’ve eased you into meeting them one family at a time rather than something this big.’

She shook her head, blinking rapidly, and laid a stilling hand on his arm as he pulled away.

‘No, your family is great. It’s just the exhaustion catching up with me.’

Lame, lame, lame, but what could she say? I love you more than life itself, but I have to let you go?

Concern slashed a vertical indentation between his brows. ‘You know, I’m not buying that. But I’m not going to push it, not here.’

Grabbing her hand, he pointed to the front of the house. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

‘But what about saying goodbye?’

‘Think you’re up to it?’

He brushed away her tears with his thumb, the depth of his caring doing little to stem the flood she was barely managing to hold back.

‘Give me a few minutes inside, then I’ll pop out, thank your family, and then we can leave.’

‘You sure?’

She wasn’t sure about anything: about the sanity of what she was contemplating, about how she could walk away from him and, most of all, how long it would take her to pick up the pieces of her life without him in it.

‘Uh-huh. Give me five minutes, and I’ll be back to say goodbye.’

‘Okay.’

He dropped his arms, and she instantly had the urge to burrow back into them, craving the warmth and security of his embrace.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head and squared her shoulders. It wouldn’t do her any good to think like that anymore. Blane wouldn’t be around much longer, and the thought fragmented her heart into painful little pieces all over again.