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When he put it like that her heart squeezed for him ‘You’re so self-contained’ That was lonely Sad, even

‘Aren’t you?’

Not quite as much Her parents were still there for her if she ever asked for help ‘You don’t have fas Or children There was also a squeeze for herself at his warning He wouldn’t stop his nomadic lifestyle for her any more than he would for any wo about that, she needed to be strong, ready, watching out for her heart, because deep inside warning bells were ringing Harrison e her perspective on how she lived Shock rippled through her Typical She found afor her

‘Sure I do’

What? Fa, is it?’ Her voice was harsher than she’d intended, but he never talked about himself Had he learned that froht as well ask as wonder

‘Most of them don’t knohen to stop’ It wasn’t a joke When those eyes locked on her she saw anger and bitterness battling for suprenant with randfather forced her tohe’d disown her if she didn’t Since she had ambitions to take over Granddad’s coue’

‘Did your father have any say in that?’

‘He had plenty of a for the coet to the top and take over It was a recipe for disaster There wasn’t any love between Mum and Dad’

‘With you caught between the the little boy who’d have been lost in all that, but there was a stop sign blinking out at her Harry would hate her showing compassion

‘I was stuck right bang in thethe bla After all, it was et h a few bad years; that Granddad wouldn’t sign over control to Mum as soon as she wanted it; that the roof leaked You name it, I caused it’

Geez, how did any parent do that to their child? Her parents iven her the craziest start to life but it had been fun and loving, and done with the best of intentions ‘Are you the only child?’

‘There’s the joke After my parents married they decided they wanted a family to follow in their footsteps so I have two brothers I adore and would do anything for My feelings are reciprocated,’ he added in a softer voice ‘By them and their wives and kids’

‘So why don’t you hat they’ve got?’

‘You seriously think that’s going to work? I tried once Big fail I refused to be bullied into doing what she wanted’

‘You’ve been married?’

‘Four years and three months Celia had the same ambitions as et it Especially me’

‘You didn’t see that before you married?’

‘You’d think I would’ve, but no Celia was so loving and kind, she’d do anything for me I fell the whole way Until I wised up and realised I was being played like a salmon on the line By then ere married and about to move into a mansion I hadn’t even seen e made an offer to buy it’

‘Is that when you called it quits?’ This was not the Harrison she’d come to expect when she asked questions This et it all out there With her

‘No, I stayed another two years after that, believing that loving so I had But finally the give, give, give, without anything in return, got to ave the ht ‘I’d read Celia all wrong right froht she cared about us, not just her own needs Should’ve known better with my history’

She ht and those broad shoulders that see in the backs of his eyes This big, strong man had proble behind this to avoid getting tied down again?’

His eyes widened ‘More than likely, but ould I get le, and I’h’

‘Doesn’t sound like that to me’

‘Then I haven’t been clear enough’

Oh, he’d been clear all right Like a piece of glass He wasn’t prepared to take another chance on love She couldn’t help nudging him a little ‘You believe those close to you will hold you responsible for everything that happens in their lives, yet it doesn’t sound like that when you talk about your brothers’

‘They’re different, having grown up with me’

‘You didn’t find a round with your wife?’

He grimaced ‘Go for the throat Exactly what I’d expect from you’

Her sto way quite that much; the words had just popped out But she wouldn’t retract the back and hopefully he’d understand where she was co from ‘I should know It’s why I live this ordinary, safe life I’m afraid to step out of my comfort zone and take risks’

‘What happened to the girl who deh there was nothing to linger for?’