Captivated By The Single Dad. Barbara Hannay

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СКАЧАТЬ already told him she was about to start a new career in the US. Why would she give that up and go all the way to the Australian Outback?

      She was a city girl. She was his ex-wife’s cousin, for crying out loud. She was educated and cultured, just as Chelsea had been. If she hated his place the way Chelsea had, her attitude could rub off on his kids.

      Gray realised that Holly was already on her feet.

      ‘Thanks for the wine,’ she said.

      ‘Would you like another glass?’

      She shook her head. ‘I need to hit the sack. Tomorrow is another day and all that.’

      Her voice was tight, so tight it almost cracked. Without another word, she set the wine glass on the kitchen bench and hurried away.

      She was upset. Had she been able to tell what he was thinking?

      In bed, Gray lay wide awake, his thoughts running amok, trailing through the events of the day, and inevitably through the dizzying highs and lows of his romance with Chelsea. He’d met his children’s mother while she was travelling in North Queensland with a touring American dance troupe, but he’d made so many mistakes…so many wrong turns…

      He’d never seen a girl so delicate and fair, so perfectly beautiful in every way. He’d never looked into a woman’s eyes and fallen from a great height.

      It had been a classic case of love at first sight, with all the usual symptoms—the thunderbolt to the heart, the obsession.

      With the recklessness of youth, Gray had followed Chelsea back to America. In New York he’d courted her with the single-minded passion of a young man desperately in love. A hasty engagement, a wedding in Central Park and a blissful honeymoon in Paris…

      Then back to Jabiru Creek Station. To the Outback.

      Within the first month, Chelsea had realised her mistake. She’d loved Gray—about that there had never been any doubt—but in the Australian Outback his precious bride had wilted like a flower without water.

      His throat ached now as he remembered the tears streaming down her face as she’d confronted him.

      We’ve made a mistake, Gray, haven’t we? Don’t you think we should separate now, before this gets too complicated? You’re a good man. I should have been more honest. I didn’t want to hurt you.

      Of course, he should have given in then. It was so easy now to look back and to see how foolish and blinded he’d been—how he’d kissed her tears and begged her shamelessly.

      You must stay, Chelsea. Please, please give it a go.

      It was only a few weeks later that she’d realised she was pregnant so, of course, she’d stayed…

      ‘You wake him up.’

      ‘No, you.’

      Childish giggling penetrated Gray’s sleep. Damn. Was it morning already?

      It had taken him hours to fall asleep and he felt absolutely stuffed, unable to move, like an elephant paralysed by a stun gun. Perhaps, if he lay very still, his children would creep away again and leave him to sleep.

      Not a chance. Already small hands were poking and shaking him.

      ‘Dad! Dad!’

      He groaned in a low protest.

      ‘Daddy!’ That was Anna’s voice, now suddenly panic-stricken.

      His eyes snapped open, then he cringed from the bright daylight flooding the room. ‘Good morning,’ he groaned. ‘What time is it?’

      ‘It’s really late,’ Josh told him. ‘We had breakfast ages and ages ago.’

      Gray struggled onto one elbow, yawned and rubbed a hand over sleep-bleary eyes.

      ‘Are you all right, Daddy?’ Anna still sounded worried.

      ‘Yeah, chicken. I’m fine.’ He yawned again. ‘Just sleepy. My body thinks it’s still in Australia.’

      He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat for a minute, elbows propped on his knees, holding his dazed head in his hands. Jet lag was taking its toll.

      ‘Holly said to tell you she’s made a fresh pot of coffee,’ Josh announced.

      Bless Holly. Coffee was exactly what he needed. As soon as he’d had a shower.

      Gray ruffled his kids’ hair. ‘So what have you two got planned for today?’

      ‘Packing!’ they chorused.

      ‘You’re kidding?’ How could they look so excited? ‘Don’t tell me packing’s fun?’

      ‘Sure, Dad. It’s great fun. Holly’s playing a new game with us. We’re putting all our toys in a magic rocket box, and it’s going to take off for Australia all by itself.’

      ‘Wow. How about that?’

      Gray had to hand it to Holly. She sure had a way with his kids. Damn pity she wasn’t coming home with them.

      As the hot water in the shower streamed over him, he reminded himself why he mustn’t put any pressure on Holly to help him out. She’d already gone above and beyond for his children, and now she had a life of her own to lead. Holly was a good sport and she would never let on that she was cracking her neck to be free of her commitments here. But he knew she must be keen to get on with her new career and to start dating again, find a new boyfriend.

      He wouldn’t appeal to her good nature…couldn’t exploit her genuine affection for his kids by trying to talk her into coming with them. That would be nothing short of emotional blackmail.

      Just the same, Gray wished he felt more confident in his ability to raise his kids.

      Their education was his major worry.

      For all kinds of reasons Gray’s own parents had totally stuffed up his schooling. Just thinking about his lack of education triggered unwelcome memories of his parents’ harsh and heated bickering. He found himself remembering his mother’s fits of crying and his father’s sulky, blustering anger and his innards twisted.

      Truth to tell, his formal schooling had finished almost as soon as it started, around the same time as his parents’ divorce. However, it was only much later in his adult years that Gray had fully understood the handicap he carried. By then he’d developed a tough veneer and he’d managed to bluff his way through most challenges, never realising that his failings would come back to bite him, that he’d let his wife down…

      And now he was in danger of letting his kids down…

      No. There was no way he would allow Anna and Josh to grow up with the limitations he’d endured. But if he wanted to give them the very best chance, he needed help. He needed someone exactly like Holly.

      If only she was free…

      We’ve done well, Holly thought at the end СКАЧАТЬ