A Shocking Proposal In Sicily (Mills & Boon Modern) by Rachael Thomas

Author:Rachael Thomas [Thomas, Rachael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Modern
Published: 2019-12-26T14:58:54+00:00

Kaliana’s mind filled with worry and she struggled to disguise it. The fact that Rafe needed her as his wife should have made her feel less anxious, less worried he might back out. But she could sense his hesitation, his reluctance. This was a man who went out of his way to avoid emotional commitment His admission of losing the woman he’d loved to his brother had proved that.

Maybe that was the best way. She’d had her chance at real romance, real love and happy ever after. A marriage based on sexual chemistry, one which solved the issues her country faced, was safer emotionally.

‘This is where I used to picnic with my mother,’ Rafe said as they reached a gentle downward slope dotted with ancient gnarled olive trees. A low stone wall, old and crumbling, stood in the middle of the small clearing, the afternoon sun streaming between the leaves creating a totally magical scene.

The beauty of the spot was overshadowed by his words. This was the first time Rafe had mentioned his mother and she wasn’t going to allow the chance to pass, knowing from her recent research on him that he’d lost his mother when he was in his late teens. ‘Do you miss her?’

‘I was seventeen when she died. Almost a man, but still too young to lose a mother. I hope my child never has to experience such pain, such loss.’ It was as if he’d forgotten himself. As if she wasn’t there. Or at least not Kaliana, his bride-to-be.

‘It must have been awful,’ she said, instinctively reaching out to touch his arm.

Rafe looked at her, but she knew he was lost in the heartache of all he’d endured. ‘Nothing was as bad as losing my mother, not even being the second-best son in my father’s eyes.’

He paused, caught between the past and the present. He slipped backwards. ‘My mother suddenly became very ill and when she died I lost my ally in life.’ From the look on his face, she guessed this wasn’t something he talked much about, was something he guarded well.

‘Your father must have been beside himself.’

‘My father never showed emotion. I don’t know what he felt, but after my mother’s death he became even harder to please.’ His eyes became dark and thunderous. ‘The only thing I ever did right since that day was pass that damned fertility test.’

Kaliana didn’t know what to say, instinctively reaching out to touch his arm. He looked down at her hand on his shirt sleeve then up to her face. ‘Oh, Rafe.’ Her heart ached for the teenager who’d lost his mother so tragically. ‘You did your best.’

‘But it wasn’t enough.’ He shook his head, pressing his lips together as he reined in the anger sparking in his eyes. ‘That’s when I knew I didn’t want to be a father.’

‘But now? You need a child, an heir. We both do.’ The words slipped from her lips so fast she couldn’t check them, couldn’t keep the thought to herself.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.