Welcome to Mills & Boon. Jennifer Rae

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Crystal Point beach was an idyllic spot where the Bellan River met the sea. There was a surf club near the holiday park and a kiosk that catered to the locals and tourists. It was off-season, so the park was mostly vacant and the kiosk quiet. Tanner parked outside and waited for Cassie to pull up beside him. He got out, locked the car and met her by her door.

      Five minutes later he’d bought take-out coffee and they were making their way along the path that led to the beach. They stopped before they reached the sand and took a seat at a concrete picnic table.

      “So,” she said, getting straight to the point, “what did the lawyer say?”

      Tanner took a steady breath. “He confirmed what we already knew. There’s a mortgage and some credit card debt. The insurance covered some of the debt but there’s still a sizable amount owing.”

      She wrapped her hands around the foam cup. “And you have to sell the house?”

      “Yes.”

      Her breath came out heavy. “Well, that’s not exactly unexpected. I’ll start seriously looking for a new place tomorrow.”

      “It’s not that urgent,” he said and watched her over the rim of his cup. “The house needs some work done to it before it goes on the market if we’re to get the best price.”

      She sighed. “I know I’ve let it run down since—”

      “It’s not your fault. Nor was it your responsibility. But I don’t want to keep going on about what Doug should have done. I’ll fix the house up and hopefully it will sell quickly. Whatever money is left from the sale will go into trust for Oliver.”

      She returned the barest nod and met his gaze. “Will...will I need to get DNA testing done to prove Oliver is Doug’s child?”

      “You’re not serious?”

      Color rose in her cheeks. “I thought you might want proof before you handed any money over.”

      “No,” Tanner said gently. “I know whose child he is, Cassie. He has Doug’s eyes.”

      “And yours,” she said.

      “A family trait,” he said and smiled. “He’s a beautiful child and I’m glad I’ve been able to get to know him.”

      “I’m glad, too.” She cradled the cup in her hands. “I know I’ve been a bit hot and cold about you being part of his life...but I am genuinely pleased that he has an uncle who cares about us.”

      * * *

      She hadn’t meant to say “us.” But the word slipped out and it was impossible to avoid the query in his gaze. He did care; that was obvious. He was a caring, kind man and she’d been naively deceived by Doug into thinking Tanner was some sort of closed-off, unfriendly loner who didn’t need or want any kind of familial relationships. He did want them... The way he’d bonded so effortlessly with Oliver was evidence of that.

      “I’ll help you get the house ready,” she said and smiled. “Some of the rooms need painting and the backyard could do with an overhaul. And perhaps some new light fittings. It shouldn’t take long to fix up.”

      “Sure,” he replied. “And don’t stress about moving. When the time comes we’ll find a place for you both.”

      “And what about the safety deposit box?” she asked. “Did you find anything important in it?”

      He shook his head. “No. It was empty.”

      It seemed odd, but Cassie didn’t press the issue. She nodded and finished her coffee. “I think I’d like to walk for a while.”

      “Want some company?”

      Did she? Being around him was increasingly unsettling. And since the tense moment in the kitchen when he’d comforted her she’d done little else but think about him. She could have sworn he was going to kiss her...and not just on the hand as he’d done. Naive and inexperienced she might be, but there was heat between them and spending time with him only added fuel to the fire.

      She should have sent him on his way. Should have.

      “Okay,” she said and got to her feet.

      He stood and tossed their empty cups in the trash. “Lead the way.”

      The beach was deserted and when they reached the sand she flipped off her sandals and shoved them into her tote. There were gray clouds rolling in from the sea and the wind whipped up around them. “I love it here on days like this,” she admitted as they started walking along the sand. “It’s got a mysterious mood about it when the clouds rumble and the wind howls.”

      He laughed. “Cold wind and unswimmable seas...not exactly my idea of a great afternoon at the beach.”

      “Wimp,” she said and laughed back. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

      They walked closely together and Tanner quickly steadied her when she lost her footing and tripped.

      “Oh, sorry,” she said breathlessly, gripping his arm. “I’m something of a klutz.”

      “I bet you’re not. Doug told me you were a dancer when you were young.”

      She grimaced. “Not exactly. I did ballet with Lauren when I was about ten. But I lasted only a few months.”

      “Best I not take you to the upcoming Rosemount Rodeo, then,” he said and grinned. “There’s a cowboy dance being held in the evening. Don’t want you stepping on my feet.”

      She released his arm. “I saw flyers advertising the rodeo when I was in town the other day. It’s about half an hour out of Bellandale, isn’t it?”

      “About that.”

      She nodded a little. “I’ve never been to a cowboy dance. I’m not sure I’d know how to move.”

      “It’s easy. You just hang on to one another and sway.”

      Suddenly the notion of hanging on to him, be it dancing or otherwise, sent another surge of heat coursing through her veins. It had been so long since she felt a man’s arms around her. And she missed it. She missed intimacy and closeness and...sex.

      Not that she’d had much of a sex life in the past few years. Doug’s visits were so infrequent and brief before she’d fallen pregnant with Oliver she’d begun to question his commitment to her and their relationship. Being involved with a career soldier was one thing...being involved with a man who could leave so easily time and time again, another thing altogether. Doug wasn’t tied to Crystal Point. And there were times when she’d wondered if she was little more than a cook and housekeeper for him to come back to every now and then. She’d also wondered what might have happened if Oliver hadn’t come along. She knew in her heart there would have to have been some serious changes to the dynamic of their relationship if it was to last.

      It certainly wasn’t the relationship she’d dreamed of when she was younger. As a teen she’d had her share of romantic fantasies. She’d been quiet and studious and anything she knew about romance and love she’d learned СКАЧАТЬ