Read Online Riley’s Billionaire by Sunny Cole - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sunny Cole
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life fitting more securely together.
Ridiculous notion, he told himself. Amelia had welcomed him when he’d arrived, and she’d insisted that he become part of her family and stay in the main house rather than commute from Sydney or live in the cabin on the hill he and Riley had passed on their way. Nothing had changed with Riley’s arrival, so why did it seem as if it had?
Jack walked while smoking, from one end of the terrace to the other. He was about to sit at one of the tables when a slight motion a few metres away captured his attention. He wasn’t alone.
Patrick stepped into view, and it was all Jack could do to repress a groan in protest. He needed solace, not Patrick’s company. But it was either stay to finish his cigarette or escape, which wasn’t Jack’s style.
Amelia’s nephew spoke first. ‘You have a lovely wife, Jack. My compliments.’
Jack nodded, wondering where this was going.
Patrick, too, it seemed, was unable to sleep and was having a late night cocktail with his cigarette. Gin and tonic, most likely, his drink of choice.
At first determined not to break the silence and place the proverbial ball into Patrick’s court, Jack relented and asked what had bugged the hell out of him since dinner.
‘How did you know about my wife’s scar on her abdomen?’ He pulled out a chair and sat, his gaze studying the other man’s every move.
Patrick frowned then smiled slowly. ‘So it’s true?’ He shook his head. ‘I was only voicing what had been a thought since I first saw her. She reminded me of a cousin, but I haven’t seen her since we were small. Think she was about three, and I was seven or eight at the time.’
Jack swallowed the bile that rose. Had Patrick hurt Riley in the past? How else would he have known?
Patrick sat across from him. ‘I can’t believe it’s really her. I mean — did you know? Does she? For that matter, what of Amelia?’ Then Patrick sighed. ‘No wonder the poor dear passed out at the sight of Riley. Appears I wasn’t the only one who felt deja vu. It was a bit creepy — I mean, we all assumed the kids were dead.’
‘We haven’t discussed the matter.’ Jack felt foolish with the admission.
Patrick eyed him suspiciously. ‘Where did you meet her?’
‘Sydney.’ That’s all Jack offered. Let the bastard think what he wants.
‘And you had no idea she resembled Amelia’s daughter-in-law?’
‘Of course not.’
Patrick nodded. ‘Your wife’s name is Riley, not Marianne, so it’s doubtful she’s my cousin. You know, this could all be coincidence. And very convenient for you.’
Jack stood, defensive, ready to beat the crap out of him.
Patrick seemed nonplussed, even joked. ‘Sit down, mate. I’m teasing. It would be diabolical if you were to play on Amelia’s softness for her grandchildren like that — nobody would accuse you of anything so ruthless. It’s just...as I said...coincidence.’
No one has ever used that term to describe me. His sarcastic thoughts drifted back to Sydney and his conversation with Riley when she accused him of being ruthless. ‘Could be.’ Jack took a couple of deep breaths, decided to choose his battles wisely, sat, and asked what had happened to the little girl.
‘We were climbing trees, and I tried to dissuade her, but she was such a determined little thing. She went too far, lost her footing, and fell to the ground on her stomach. One of the harvesters had left a pair of pruning shears behind, and when she fell, the serrated edge stuck into her stomach.’ Patrick winced. ‘Nasty cut. She had to be rushed to the local hospital.’
His face darkened. ‘When Kevin’s children went missing, I thought Uncle Joe would lose his mind. He was especially fond of Marianne — we used to call her Mimi. I used to spend summers with them here, and when Kevin and his wife died, then Joe, I moved in to help take care of Aunt Amelia.’
Grudgingly, Jack had to admit it didn’t sound as if Patrick could
Ridiculous notion, he told himself. Amelia had welcomed him when he’d arrived, and she’d insisted that he become part of her family and stay in the main house rather than commute from Sydney or live in the cabin on the hill he and Riley had passed on their way. Nothing had changed with Riley’s arrival, so why did it seem as if it had?
Jack walked while smoking, from one end of the terrace to the other. He was about to sit at one of the tables when a slight motion a few metres away captured his attention. He wasn’t alone.
Patrick stepped into view, and it was all Jack could do to repress a groan in protest. He needed solace, not Patrick’s company. But it was either stay to finish his cigarette or escape, which wasn’t Jack’s style.
Amelia’s nephew spoke first. ‘You have a lovely wife, Jack. My compliments.’
Jack nodded, wondering where this was going.
Patrick, too, it seemed, was unable to sleep and was having a late night cocktail with his cigarette. Gin and tonic, most likely, his drink of choice.
At first determined not to break the silence and place the proverbial ball into Patrick’s court, Jack relented and asked what had bugged the hell out of him since dinner.
‘How did you know about my wife’s scar on her abdomen?’ He pulled out a chair and sat, his gaze studying the other man’s every move.
Patrick frowned then smiled slowly. ‘So it’s true?’ He shook his head. ‘I was only voicing what had been a thought since I first saw her. She reminded me of a cousin, but I haven’t seen her since we were small. Think she was about three, and I was seven or eight at the time.’
Jack swallowed the bile that rose. Had Patrick hurt Riley in the past? How else would he have known?
Patrick sat across from him. ‘I can’t believe it’s really her. I mean — did you know? Does she? For that matter, what of Amelia?’ Then Patrick sighed. ‘No wonder the poor dear passed out at the sight of Riley. Appears I wasn’t the only one who felt deja vu. It was a bit creepy — I mean, we all assumed the kids were dead.’
‘We haven’t discussed the matter.’ Jack felt foolish with the admission.
Patrick eyed him suspiciously. ‘Where did you meet her?’
‘Sydney.’ That’s all Jack offered. Let the bastard think what he wants.
‘And you had no idea she resembled Amelia’s daughter-in-law?’
‘Of course not.’
Patrick nodded. ‘Your wife’s name is Riley, not Marianne, so it’s doubtful she’s my cousin. You know, this could all be coincidence. And very convenient for you.’
Jack stood, defensive, ready to beat the crap out of him.
Patrick seemed nonplussed, even joked. ‘Sit down, mate. I’m teasing. It would be diabolical if you were to play on Amelia’s softness for her grandchildren like that — nobody would accuse you of anything so ruthless. It’s just...as I said...coincidence.’
No one has ever used that term to describe me. His sarcastic thoughts drifted back to Sydney and his conversation with Riley when she accused him of being ruthless. ‘Could be.’ Jack took a couple of deep breaths, decided to choose his battles wisely, sat, and asked what had happened to the little girl.
‘We were climbing trees, and I tried to dissuade her, but she was such a determined little thing. She went too far, lost her footing, and fell to the ground on her stomach. One of the harvesters had left a pair of pruning shears behind, and when she fell, the serrated edge stuck into her stomach.’ Patrick winced. ‘Nasty cut. She had to be rushed to the local hospital.’
His face darkened. ‘When Kevin’s children went missing, I thought Uncle Joe would lose his mind. He was especially fond of Marianne — we used to call her Mimi. I used to spend summers with them here, and when Kevin and his wife died, then Joe, I moved in to help take care of Aunt Amelia.’
Grudgingly, Jack had to admit it didn’t sound as if Patrick could
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