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‘The ones you continue to look after?’

She gave a slight nod ‘They worshipped him but he knew they wouldn’t accept his sexual orientation Andhe kne much I cared for them I’d told him about my childhood and the foster system and hehe told me I could still have a family, provided’

‘You kept his secret?’ he finished harshly

‘Yes I begged hietting through to him last Christmas’

Ari’s gaze sharpened ‘How?’

‘He toldhis parents That he just needed tis first Now, I realise he was probably planning so else’

‘So like what?’

She gave a jagged laugh ‘Oh, I don’t know, rate to Timbuktu? Or New Zealand? He took a bribe to crash Sakis’s tanker so, whatever it was, it must have been worth the risk to him’

He walked slowly towards her until he stood in front of her His eyes were still shadowed but the agony had lessened ‘He took advantage of your kind heart and your unfortunate past to prey on you The bastard didn’t deserve you You know that, don’t you?’

‘I know but it doesn’t mean the need I have has abated It’s still there, Ari The need to be loved But I know you can’t give ht?’

Hazel eyes darkened and he looked away

She tried to ignore the sharp stab of pain in her heart and forced herself to continue ‘I told you I’d make a decision once we talked’

He tensed ‘And have you?’

She ignored all the self-preservation signs and blurted, ‘Yes, I’ll marry you’

His head snapped back ‘You will?’

She nodded ‘I can choose to live in a fantasy where I get everything I want delivered to me on a silver platter Or I can live in the real world where I get the baby and the family I’ve always yearned for Two out of three will have to be enough’

He caught her chin and raised her head so he could look into her eyes ‘You will marry me You’re sure?’ His eyes blazed with an intensity that drilled to her soul

Nervously, she sed ‘I’m sure’

He gave a single nod ‘I’ll put the arrangements in place’ He headed towards the door