Island Fling with the Tycoon by Therese Beharrie

Author:Therese Beharrie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-06-17T14:28:32+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SHE SAW RIGHT through him. He wanted to ask her how, but he didn’t know if he’d like the answer. They were in a bubble. It had started inflating the moment they’d had dinner at sunset. Perhaps even before then. But everything had felt easy and significant, in a way he couldn’t describe.

It wouldn’t end well.

He should have known it when he’d walked into her bedroom after waiting ten minutes at the pool. He’d seen her curled into a ball in the middle of the sheets. She wore a soft blue sleep shirt and, with her gorgeous brown skin, made a picture on the white bedding. But it was her face that got him. The barriers had been lowered—the scowl she always wore gone, the carefulness in her eyes not visible. It had kicked him in the gut. Made him want to take care of her.

He’d only ever had that feeling with his siblings. Feeling it for a stranger...was weird. Especially now, when it was more intense after he’d heard what her father—her brother—had done to her. No wonder he was feeling vulnerable.

Not that he was running away from it. In fact, he was embracing it. The bubble was that powerful.

‘You don’t have to feel guilty, you know,’ she said. ‘I don’t think their grief is keeping them from doing anything in their lives. I have no doubt that’s because of you.’

‘That’s not it,’ he said slowly.

‘What then?’

‘Having my dad.’

There was a stunned pause. He used it to figure out how he’d just told her the thing he’d never been able to say out loud.

‘What do you mean?’

He took a breath. ‘I mean I feel guilty for having him for eighteen years of my life, and they didn’t get nearly as many.’

‘That wasn’t your fault.’

‘I know.’ Another breath. This was harder than he’d anticipated. ‘He was such a great dad, Piper. He was strict, but supportive. He was patient, and when he got things wrong, he’d say so.’ He relaxed the fingers that had clenched the sheets. ‘He wasn’t perfect, but he tried. And Em, Jada and Tate should have someone who tries, too.’

‘Is that why you’re looking for Liam?’ she asked. ‘Why you’re so involved with this wedding? Why you picked me up?’

‘Yeah, I guess so.’

‘Sounds...tough. Trying to be your father, I mean.’

‘No. Just trying.’

‘Okay.’

He didn’t reply. Knew she knew her comment had already done what it was meant to. Facing it brought more guilt. But this was the bubble, wasn’t it? Maybe he could finally say what he’d been feeling...

‘It’s exhausting,’ he admitted, relief crashing into him. ‘I don’t think I can be him. But I still think I should try, because they deserve that. But look what they turned into. Adults who rely on their brother for everything. I know I did that, and I wish I hadn’t. I wish...’

Shame kept him from continuing. But a warm hand closed over his, squeezing gently. He turned to see a non-judgemental expression on Piper’s face. One that made him feel safe, despite his shame.

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