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Feeling sick with guilt, she was conscious of the e clock on the wall Protecting her son’s future—and her own part in it—was paramount

‘It’s been a while’ She forced her parched lips into a s As far as he knew, she still thought he was ‘Ra?’

He didn’t take his intense gaze off her ‘No’

To her horror he wasthan she reood looks that everyone normal couldn’t help but stare at But as she watched him move closer, she realised he’d becoht shadow beneath his eyes and stubble on his jaw and an edginess about him that was new Perhaps it was the stress of his business? Were all those wolfish property takeovers designed to a him out?

The intensity of his gaze strengthened He’d looked at her this hen he’d seduced her that night—powerfullyYes, there was still that tiny part positively revelling in being in his presence again Desperately she dragged that wild piece within her back beneath her control She couldn’t let hiain She couldn’t let herself or Luke down like that

‘It’s been far too long, Emerald,’ he said softly ‘Why don’t you shut up the shop early?’ But his te smile didn’t quite meet his too attentive eyes ‘Come for a drive with me so we can catch up properly’

‘What?’ She froze, shocked by the invitation Panic tightened her throat ‘I—I can’t leave’

‘No? I thought you were a woman of freedom and spontaneity’

Cold sweat slicked her skin ‘I have work’ And she had Luke The baby she’d not told him about

Bile burned the back of her throat, because she was going to have to tell him and she should have already As soon as she’d discovered his actual identity she should have reached out—there’d been no barrier to finding him then She was, after all, the one deterrity and not follow the path of lies and deceit of her own family But she’d been too scared of his reaction Not just to the news he’d had a son, but how he’d react to her She’d been burned before, when people had learned the truth about her background, and she’d been too hurt by his needless lie Why had he needed to fake who he was?

‘I never expected to see you here,’ hearound the world ticking off that bucket list, but have you been in the Galapagos all this time?’

Nervously she sed ‘Yes’

‘I didn’t realise you worked on the island’

‘It didn’t come up in our conversation’ She looked anxiously to the door Any minute now Connie would arrive with little Luke ‘And I really need to get back to it’

His shtened ‘What’s the real reason you won’t come with me now, Emerald?’ he asked quietly