The Billionaire’s Baby Read Online Free Page B

evening.
    ‘I need you to understand why I left.’
    ‘So you can ease your conscience?’
    He withdrew his hand, folding his arms in a posture mirroring hers, sadness ageing him beyond his twenty-seven years.
    ‘This isn’t about making me feel better.’
    ‘Then what’s it about?’
    He pinned her with a direct stare, his eyes steely pewter in the soft candlelight from a corny red-heart tea-light burning low in the centre of the table.
    ‘Us.’
    Camryn swallowed the lump of emotion lodged in her throat. How could one tiny word hold so much pain, so many memories?
    Us.
    Cam and Blane against the world.
    Young, impetuous, with the world at their feet, dreams to follow, places to be. Fun to be had, life to be lived to the fullest, the two of them egging each other on, the exhilarating surge of love a maelstrom that propelled them straight into marriage before they could catch their breath.
    Whether sharing a quiet cappuccino at the end of a working day, streaking towards the creek to see who’d jump in first, or hiking to the top of nearby Rainbow Mountain for some private canoodling time or dashing after the first daisy he’d plucked for her as it swirled away on a warm summer’s breeze, it had been the two of them, laughing so hard they could barely catch their breath, loving so fiercely and vividly and profoundly.
    It had been like that right from the very beginning, the impetuous, precipitous, thrilling rush of loving this man.
    The breathtaking high of being a couple ready to take on the world together, to the lowest of lows as she’d plummeted into the depths of despair when he’d left.
    Blinking to stave off the sting of tears, she focused on a single crumb lying rather pathetically in her lap, all on its own. Just like her.
    Great. Now she was comparing herself to cake crumbs.
    This wasn’t a good idea. She needed to get out of here before she broke down in front of him, showing him exactly how much he still affected her.
    He must have anticipated her urge to bolt because he rushed on. ‘Those three months in Rainbow Creek were the best of my life. You were the best thing to ever happen to me.’
    Her gaze snapped up to his, harsh and accusatory. ‘Then why did you leave?’
    He had the grace to look aggrieved. ‘Because we were too young. Because we would’ve changed and grown apart. Because I wondered if you really loved me or were using me as an escape route out of town and a way to rebel against your parents. But mostly because you would’ve put your dreams on hold for mine and I couldn’t live with that. You deserved better.’
    ‘What?’
    She shook her head, trying to clear it.
    She could have sworn he’d just said he’d left because of her, as if he’d been doing her some great favour. Of all the lousy, stupid excuses…
    ‘You left because of me ?’
    Her blood boiled, and she slammed her hands palm down on the table. Bad move. It gave him the opportunity to reach out and cover one of her hands with his, his soothing touch too warm, too comfortable.
    But she didn’t shrug him off. She couldn’t, because somehow with that one touch he’d broken something inside her, some inner reserve of animosity she’d been harbouring against him ever since he’d walked out of Rainbow Creek.
    And she didn’t want to resent him or be bitter or harbour any grudges. She wanted a real, honest-to-goodness explanation, a reason that would finally set her free so she could move on.
    ‘Cam, look at me.’
    He squeezed her hand gently and she gnawed on her bottom lip, blinking furiously.
    She wouldn’t cry in front of him. She couldn’t, for she hada feeling once the flood gates opened she’d cry enough tears to fill Port Phillip Bay.
    Taking a deep breath, she raised her eyes to meet his, her heart clenching at the sincerity blazing in his.
    ‘I was selfish in marrying you. I wanted you so badly I was blinded to anything else. You were only nineteen, for goodness’ sake, and had spent your whole