This Child Is Mine by Nancy Morse

Author:Nancy Morse [Morse, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Nancy Morse
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

The packed bags were waiting by the front door when Russ came in from doing the morning chores. He flicked an irritable glance at them. He was hot and tired and in no mood to do battle with an obstinate woman, much less with his own turbulent emotions.

When he entered the kitchen, she was at the stove as if she belonged there. He felt a savage pull on his heart and steeled himself.

“You didn’t waste any time,” he said tersely.

Kate tensed at the sound of his deep baritone and turned around to face him. Despite the angry tone of voice he had the look of a lost boy. “I don’t see the sense in prolonging this. I called the airline. They have a direct flight to JFK at nine tonight.” Wiping her hands on a dish towel, she carried a plate to the table. “Here, I made you some breakfast.”

He sat down and stared at the scrambled eggs and bacon. “Aren’t you eating?”

“I’m not hungry. I’ll just have coffee.” She filled a cup and took a seat across the table.

“Kate, there’s no need for this, you know.”

“We can’t go on this way.”

“But last night you said—”

“I know what I said,” she cut in, her gaze averted to a knot in the wood of the table.

“Was it a lie?”

“No. It was the truth.”

“Then why leave?”

“Because I’m afraid.”

“And I’m not?”

“Russ, please try to understand. I tried once before to fit into this world and it didn’t work.”

“My brother wasn’t a part of this world. The world you tried to fit into with him didn’t exist. And I’m not my brother.”

Her gaze lifted to meet his. “No, you’re not. That’s what makes it harder. Besides, I’m not worried so much about myself. It’s Mary Beth. She has no friends here.”

“She can make friends.”

“She’s going to need surgery.”

“We can take care of that when the time comes.”

He was backing her into a corner from which there was no escaping the truth. “All right, I am worried about me. I’ve been down this road before and I can’t take the chance things will turn out the same.”

“If you’re afraid I’ll hurt you, all I can say is, there are no guarantees in life. Sometimes you have to go on faith. Unless…” He drew in a breath for support and swallowed hard. “Unless you don’t have any feelings for me beyond the physical.”

Those dark eyes were probing hers with intensity, expecting…demanding…a response.

“What do you want me to say? That I’m in love with you?” She turned her face away with an agonized groan. “I don’t know. It’s only been a few weeks. It’s happening too fast.”

“How long is it supposed to take? Months? Years? Sometimes all it takes is minutes.”

“You said yourself you didn’t need or want a wife.”

“That was then.”

“And now?”

He ran a hand through the hair, sweeping the thick, dark locks from his face. Tell her, a voice screamed from his heart. Tell her you’re in love with her. But it was overshadowed by the warning issued in his mind.

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