Enticed by His Forgotten Lover(44)
It was weird being this honest and open with a woman—hell, with anyone. He trusted Ryan, Dev and Cam, but he never talked about intensely personal issues with them. Not that they wouldn’t listen, but that wasn’t the nature of their relationship.
His thoughts flickered back to the woman in his arms. Yeah, she did odd things to him. Made him want to do stuff, different stuff. Stuff that should have him running the other direction.
He sighed. This was a woman a man kept. Maybe he’d known that when he met her. Maybe it was true that a man just knew when he’d met the woman who would change everything for him.
Bryony was the marrying kind. Not the bed-’em-and-leave-’em-with-a-smile kind of woman. She had permanent written all over her sweet face.
She was…his. And hell if he was going to let her go. He didn’t care if he ever remembered. He had enough pieces of the puzzle to know that she belonged with him. They had a lot to work out—what new couple didn’t? They’d jumped ahead a few steps in the relationship with her being pregnant, but it wasn’t anything they couldn’t work out.
The more he settled the matter in his mind, the more convinced he became that this was right. She was right. Bryony. Their baby. Him. A family. He could have it all. The resort.
He grimaced. It hung over him like a dark cloud. It was the one thing standing between him and Bryony. She swore he had promised her he wouldn’t develop the land, which made absolutely no sense. Why buy it at all? He certainly didn’t have need of a private expanse of beach for personal use.
A hell of a lot rode on this deal.
There had to be some way to convince her and the rest of the people on the island that one resort wouldn’t change their way of life.
It was either that or he had to go back to his partners—and friends—and investors and pull the plug on the entire thing. He would lose a hell of a lot of money, but worse than that, he’d lose credibility, future backing and his standing in the business community.
All because of a promise he couldn’t remember making.
Bryony stirred in his arms and his grip tightened possessively around her. Before she could open her eyes, he pulled her close and kissed her lingeringly.
She sighed as her eyelashes fluttered, then her warm brown eyes found his and she smiled. “That’s a nice way to wake up.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” he murmured.
“What time is it?”
“Seven.”
She yawned and snuggled closer to him. “Plenty of time.”
“Plenty of time for what?”
“To do whatever we want or nothing at all.”
He chuckled. “I like your attitude.”
“Any idea what you’d like to do today?”
“Yeah, actually. I thought you could take me around the island. Private tour. Show me what makes it so special to everyone who lives here. I can’t remember the last time I went to a beach just to see and enjoy the sights and sounds.”
She leaned her head back and frowned. “You work entirely too hard. Maybe your accident was a blessing in disguise. If it causes you to slow down and reevaluate then it’s a good thing.”
“I wouldn’t have put it that way exactly. I’m not sure nearly dying is the kind of wake-up call anyone wants,” he said dryly.
She touched his cheek. “But would you be thinking the way you’re thinking now if it hadn’t happened?”
He sighed. “Maybe not. Maybe you’re the reason for my reevaluation. Ever think of that?”
She smiled and leaned up to kiss him. “I’ll take that explanation. I prefer it over thinking about you dying anyway.”
“You and me both,” he muttered.
“Tell you what. You hit the shower. I’ll cook breakfast. Then I’ll take my bath and we’ll head out. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous all week. We can pack a picnic and eat out on the beach.”
“I’ve got a better idea. How about we shower together then I’ll help you cook breakfast. I cook a mean piece of bacon.”
She laughed and he sucked in his breath at the love shining in her eyes as she stared up at him. No one had ever looked at him like that.
Then her expression grew serious as she stroked her palm over his unshaven jaw. “I love you, Rafe. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I don’t expect anything in return. But now that I’ve told you I can’t not keep saying it. I look at you and it just bursts out.”
He captured her hand and pulled it to his mouth, his heart thudding against the wall of his chest. “I like you saying it,” he said hoarsely. “It means… It means everything to me right now.”