When He Turned Away, Jenna Caught His Arm.
âWhat would thisâ¦this âmarriageââ¦entail, exactly?â she asked.
Even through his jacket sleeve, the evocative warmth burrowed into his flesh, causing his skin to tighten and heat. Angling back, he studied her eyes and saw the same charged awareness he felt.
âBeing seen together. Buying a ring. Setting a date. Then, when you have the child, we can go our separate ways.â
âDo you really believe we can convince people that our engagement is real?â
âAbsolutely.â
Her eyebrows lifted. âBecause in business youâre used to bluffingâ¦?â
No, he thought. Because ever since I laid eyes on you again, all I can think about is taking you in my arms and kissing you senselessâ¦.
Dear Reader,
How lonely our lives would be without loveâ¦the unconditional love of a mother, the support and laughter of a sister or dear friend, the passion and commitment of a life partnerâa true soul mate. Sometimes love isnât so easy to find. For a lucky few, however, love seems to land in their lapsâat the most unlikely time, with the most unlikely person. All at once the sky looks brighter and the flowers smell sweeter.
But what if, after finding the one who makes us whole, we lose him again? How much worse is it if he leaves without a word of explanation? That kind of pain is said to heal over time. Does it?
Twelve years ago, the young man Jenna Darley adored disappeared without so much as a note goodbye. When Gage Cameron returns, now incredibly successful and offering to help Jenna fight for custody of her niece after a family tragedy, sheâs ready to tell him where to get off. But Jenna comes to discover that true love can survive the toughest of tests. Gage has an even more remarkable lesson to learnâand it begins with trusting himself enough to let go of secrets that could hurt Jenna even more.
I hope you enjoy Baby Bequest.
Best wishes,
Robyn
âIf youâre here about my father, youâre too late.â Jenna Darley took time enough to bite back tears and lift her chin. âI buried him two days ago.â
Gage Cameron glanced over from where he was crouching on the lawn, introducing himself to the Darleysâ curious Alsatian. A moment after his ice-gray gaze found hers, his square jaw relaxed with a smile that was supportive and, in spite of it all, faintly seductive.
Unbidden heat curled low in Jennaâs stomach.
Suits worth thousands had replaced the bad-boy jeans heâd worn twelve years ago, but clearly the lone wolf sheâd once loved hadnât vanished completely. Good thing sheâd made the choice to grow up. Move on.
Too bad heâd done it first.
With a final ruffle of Shadowâs ears, Gage pushed to his feet. Taller than she remembered, he brushed his large tanned hands and surveyed the extensive manicured grounds of her familyâs Sydney home. Not that it belonged to âfamilyâ anymore.
Her father, twin sister and brother-in-law were all dead, victims of a freak helicopter crash. Although sheâd received the news ten days ago, Jenna still had trouble believing it. Half the time she was crying, or close to it; the other half she feltâ¦numb. The horror was real, yet it wasnât.
Earlier this week, while sheâd sat, dazed, in a lawyerâs office, sheâd discovered that her fatherâs entire estate had been left to her stepmother, a polished middle-aged woman whom everyone adoredâ¦everyone but black sheep Jenna.
The nightmare didnât end there.
Gage sauntered over, the broad ledge of his shoulders moving in a languid, almost predatory roll. When he stopped an armâs length away, his head tilted and chin tipped lower as if she were somehow broken and he could spare the time to fix her.
âI was tied up in Dubai when I heard,â he said in a rumbling voice that had deepened over the years. âI flew back as soon as I could.â
Jenna twined her arms over her ribs and pressed the sick, empty ache in her stomach. âA waste of your time, Iâm afraid.â
Jump on your private jet and fly back to your high-powered lair, she thought. Thereâs nothing for you here.
His gaze sharpened as if heâd read her mind. Still he persisted. âIf thereâs anything I can doâ¦â
Her bland expression held. âThank you. No.â