Read Online The Millionaire's Redemption by Margaret Tanner - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Margaret Tanner
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your hands and lips to yourself. You don’t want commitment. More important, you don’t want to step into the shoes of a dead hero.
How could he extricate himself without hurting Holly? The situation could easily spiral out of control if he didn’t call a halt to things right now. Babies and vulnerable young widows desperate to be loved didn’t fit in with his plans. They had no place in his hectic, selfish lifestyle.
Holly wanted full-time unconditional love, and he wasn’t capable of giving it. What he could offer her would be temporary at worst, part time at best, and it wasn’t enough.
He refocused his vision and stared into Holly’s face. She gnawed her bottom lip in anxious confusion, hope vying with trepidation - - waiting for him to say something - - and he couldn’t. Silence stretched out in front of them tense and taut, so tangible he could have put out his hand and touched it. The longer he waited, the harder it became. Never had he felt so helpless, so unsure of himself.
She stared at him, not speaking, but her eyes were full of such yearning he momentarily panicked. Suddenly the desire for self-preservation kicked in to save him. “I’m sorry, Holly.”
He didn’t need to say anymore. She got the message those three little words conveyed. Her face lost all animation, the life seemed to be sucked out of it, leaving the skin white and waxen.
“It’s all right,” she whispered, wondering how she could be mourning Robbie yet wanting Justin at the same time. Seeing the young soldier had brought the memories back; the desperate need to belong to someone, to be loved. Justin knew but didn’t want any part of it. She felt hurt and humiliated as if her soul had been pared open and found wanting.
Lilly saved the situation by nearly knocking Holly’s coffee over as she made a grab for the chips.
“No, you don’t.” She moved the food away. “Too many chips are bad for little girls. I’ve got a jar of baby food for you.” She fumbled around in her bag, purposely not looking at Justin, trying to get her emotions under control again.
“Um, Holly, I might get back to work. I’ve got a couple of urgent things to attend to.”
Sheer willpower stopped her from falling down in a screaming heap on the floor. Pride stopped her from begging him to stay.
“I’ll pay for our food on the way out.” He stood up. “I can give you the fare if you want to catch a taxi home.”
“No thanks,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “I’ve got my train ticket.
“Well,” he reached out and patted Lilly on the head. “Goodbye, little missie. I hope the job turns out well.”
“Thanks for everything.” And thanks for nothing. You built up my hopes even if you didn’t mean to, then smashed them into a million pieces. She didn’t know how she kept the bitterness out of her voice. How she stopped herself from punching and kicking him for ruining her dreams. Dreams, that one day, after they got to know each other a little better, they might have a happy future together. Most of all she despised herself for letting him get to her.
“It’s just the two of us, Lilly Pilly,” she said after he left. “We don’t need Justin or any other man to succeed, we’ll do it all on our own.” With dogged determination, she spoon ed the baby custard into Lilly’s hungry little mouth.
Once the jar was empty, she wiped Lilly’s face on her bib, put her in the stroller. She started to gather up the discarded remnants of food. Lifting up a couple of serviettes, she discovered Justin’s mobile phone. In his rush to get away he had obviously forgotten it. If she possessed a vicious streak, she would throw it in the nearest rubbish bin, but she couldn’t do it. He had been kind to them.
She had always been transparent and worn her heart on her sleeve. Having cottoned on to the fact that she was becoming too attached to him, a commitment shy man like him would dash off in panic.
Putting the rubbish
How could he extricate himself without hurting Holly? The situation could easily spiral out of control if he didn’t call a halt to things right now. Babies and vulnerable young widows desperate to be loved didn’t fit in with his plans. They had no place in his hectic, selfish lifestyle.
Holly wanted full-time unconditional love, and he wasn’t capable of giving it. What he could offer her would be temporary at worst, part time at best, and it wasn’t enough.
He refocused his vision and stared into Holly’s face. She gnawed her bottom lip in anxious confusion, hope vying with trepidation - - waiting for him to say something - - and he couldn’t. Silence stretched out in front of them tense and taut, so tangible he could have put out his hand and touched it. The longer he waited, the harder it became. Never had he felt so helpless, so unsure of himself.
She stared at him, not speaking, but her eyes were full of such yearning he momentarily panicked. Suddenly the desire for self-preservation kicked in to save him. “I’m sorry, Holly.”
He didn’t need to say anymore. She got the message those three little words conveyed. Her face lost all animation, the life seemed to be sucked out of it, leaving the skin white and waxen.
“It’s all right,” she whispered, wondering how she could be mourning Robbie yet wanting Justin at the same time. Seeing the young soldier had brought the memories back; the desperate need to belong to someone, to be loved. Justin knew but didn’t want any part of it. She felt hurt and humiliated as if her soul had been pared open and found wanting.
Lilly saved the situation by nearly knocking Holly’s coffee over as she made a grab for the chips.
“No, you don’t.” She moved the food away. “Too many chips are bad for little girls. I’ve got a jar of baby food for you.” She fumbled around in her bag, purposely not looking at Justin, trying to get her emotions under control again.
“Um, Holly, I might get back to work. I’ve got a couple of urgent things to attend to.”
Sheer willpower stopped her from falling down in a screaming heap on the floor. Pride stopped her from begging him to stay.
“I’ll pay for our food on the way out.” He stood up. “I can give you the fare if you want to catch a taxi home.”
“No thanks,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “I’ve got my train ticket.
“Well,” he reached out and patted Lilly on the head. “Goodbye, little missie. I hope the job turns out well.”
“Thanks for everything.” And thanks for nothing. You built up my hopes even if you didn’t mean to, then smashed them into a million pieces. She didn’t know how she kept the bitterness out of her voice. How she stopped herself from punching and kicking him for ruining her dreams. Dreams, that one day, after they got to know each other a little better, they might have a happy future together. Most of all she despised herself for letting him get to her.
“It’s just the two of us, Lilly Pilly,” she said after he left. “We don’t need Justin or any other man to succeed, we’ll do it all on our own.” With dogged determination, she spoon ed the baby custard into Lilly’s hungry little mouth.
Once the jar was empty, she wiped Lilly’s face on her bib, put her in the stroller. She started to gather up the discarded remnants of food. Lifting up a couple of serviettes, she discovered Justin’s mobile phone. In his rush to get away he had obviously forgotten it. If she possessed a vicious streak, she would throw it in the nearest rubbish bin, but she couldn’t do it. He had been kind to them.
She had always been transparent and worn her heart on her sleeve. Having cottoned on to the fact that she was becoming too attached to him, a commitment shy man like him would dash off in panic.
Putting the rubbish
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