Now Jack sat determinedly rigid. He didn’t feel like much of a hero. Sometimes he felt like he’d he hadn’t been there enough for Tom and Anne and that when he had been around, he’d been too hard on them. But he’d tried—as he’d tried with Libby. But it hadn’t worked.
“After Mum and Dad died you just took complete control,” Tom continued. “When I screwed up and it all went to my head and I got in with that party crowd a couple of years ago, you were there for me. You never gave up on me. You never gave up on Anne. You’ve never stopped fighting for us and for what we needed. So don’t you dare stop fighting for what you need.”
Jack looked at the man who’d once been the scrawny kid that he’d piggy-backed around. Hell, he’d always be his baby brother. He couldn’t trust that his voice would work.
Tom stood. “You might be older than me, but I’m allowed to lecture you sometimes too.”
Tom was right of course. Jack didn’t give up. He’d never given up. What had he been thinking these last thirty minutes? Why the hell had he just walked away?
Because he hadn’t been thinking. He’d been feeling. And all he’d been feeling was hurt. She’d rejected him. And why was that? Because she was afraid? Or because she didn’t feel the same way he did?
She knew why he’d given her the key, why he’d made that offer. Because he cared about her. It wasn’t just a desire to help a friend. It was the same way he’d do anything to help his brother and his sister. Because he loved them. And he loved her—not brotherly.
Hell. Could it happen that quick? Really? Or was it just lust making him cross-eyed? But while he’d had the best sex ever with her, he also adored her passion for her product, her humor, her quick lip, and her generosity and desire to help Tom... everything about her won Jack’s heart.
His nerves skittered. Maybe she just wasn’t that into him? But she’d laughed at his lame jokes, she’d eaten him up with her eyes and body—warm and lush and welcoming. It felt good—a natural, right fit. He couldn’t believe that only he felt that between them.
She was running scared. Well, he was scared too—more than he’d ever been in his life. Not even when he’d wondered how the hell he was going to care for his kid siblings had he been this scared. But he was wrong to walk away from the fight.
A pain pierced between Libby’s ribs like someone had stabbed her with a knife. But it wasn’t just the pain that bothered her, it was the poison of fear. It worsened with every step she took—so she stopped taking steps. She stood with both hands gripping the railing and watched the rowers on the river. She could hear the calls from the coxes, could see the effort the men and women put into each pull of the oars. Throngs of people in shorts and pretty floral dresses passed her on the bridge, ice creams in hand. She had no idea how long she stood there, in the middle of the bridge that overlooked the club, unable to walk to either end. Unable to get to the place where she knew she’d find him.
“Answer me something. That guy, your ex who asked you to marry him. Did you love him?”
She jerked round so quick it hurt. Jack. Jack back and looking fierce and proud and determined and so very hot. And he’d found her, stuck halfway on her return.
“Did you say no to a little help from me because you really loved him? Because you couldn’t cope with the idea of losing him?” he added.
Libby’s eyes filled. “I realize now that if I’d really loved him, I could never have said no back then. I could never have walked away.”
He reached for the railing, gripping it hard as he looked at the muddy water churning beneath the bridge.
“But I’m scared now, Jack,” she said quickly. “Because I can’t walk away from here.” From you.
“You’re a very strong person,” he answered. “You have circus skills.”
She couldn’t laugh at the little joke. This was too important. So she shook her head. “The problem is you have dealt with enough,” she said vehemently. “What if my heart breaks in middle age like Dad’s did? Or what if I have a child and he or she has Mum’s condition? That’s not fair on anyone.”
“What if your heart doesn’t break? What if you have a child and she’s perfectly healthy?” he countered. “Look, I know how cruel fate can be.” He paused to clear the frog from his throat. “And I know that you have to fight on. I know that you have to find happiness in the little things. Take pleasure in the lovely every day you have it.” His fingers curled tighter until his knuckles were as white as hers. “So don’t waste a day, Libby. Don’t waste a single day. And don’t ask me to—”
“Jack—” She let go of the bridge.
“I do know loss,” he interrupted in a low voice. “I know what it is to survive and to just survive. And that’s not enough. Not for you. And it’s not enough for me either. These last few days I’ve had more fun than I’ve had in years. And I don’t mean in bed. I’ve been working so hard for so long, and you’ve given me balance. It comes from relationships Libby—you can’t hide from them. You’ve got to take them on, put your head down and charge. You heal my heart. Isn’t that making the kind of difference you wanted? Because who knows how long any of us have? We don’t. That’s why I’m not wasting any more minutes away from you. I’m sorry if I moved too quick and freaked you out. But I’m not sorry for wanting to help you—for caring about you. I’m not sorry for pushing you to let others into your life. Mainly me.”
His lips curved and somehow she’d moved. He’d been speaking so softly, compelling her closer. And now she was near enough to feel his inviting heat. She gazed into his eyes and the brave promise in them. Finally he lifted a hand and touched her hair—so gently.
“I found out something in my Google snooping you know,” he breathed even more quietly.
“What’s that?”
“That Libby is short for Liberty.”
“Oh,” she groaned. She hated her full name.
But he smiled, a half-laugh rumbling, his expression warm and kind and willing her to take him on. “Liberty. Set your heart free. Love me.”
It was knocking in her chest right now, every thump hurting. It didn’t want to be constrained. But if she gave it to him, he’d capture it forever—and wouldn’t that be even more of a risk? For both of them?
“Can you handle this?” he whispered.
It was hard to breathe, hard to think. She could only feel. But now pleasure and excitement and anticipation pummeled her fear into submission because he was smiling at her and offering so much with his arms spread wide. She wanted—and she wanted this brave, strong, honest man. And she couldn’t walk away.
“Let’s just take it…each day.” She half sobbed and took that last step into his embrace.
“Sure,” he agreed.
His arms wrapped around her, bringing her home. His lips brushed her forehead for the briefest of seconds as they had that first day when she’d bumped it. Then he lifted her face to his and kissed her. She didn’t open her eyes again for a long, long time. But when she did she saw he had the satisfied look of a successful man who’d won what he wanted. Her heart soared as he whispered his promise.
“Every day.”
Love in London
Read the other stories in the Love In London series!
HER FORBIDDEN CRUSH
It’s taken forever for Lexi Peterson to get over the crater-sized, unrequited crush she had on ultimate playboy Luke Marchetti, yet it only takes one look for her to be right back where she started. But Lexi’s not quite as shy as she once was and when they’re trapped together with only one bed, she figures that maybe it’s time Luke got a taste of his own medicine.
Bad boy Luke has been maxing out his reputation his whole adult life, but now the one girl he couldn’t ever have is right in his room wearing a teeny tiny piece of nothing. He resists, right? He really, really tries to resist.
But when feelings fight their way from the cage in which he’s kept them for so long, he finally realises the real problem. How’s he going to convince Lexi that
she’s the one he wants for good?
Featuring a dog named Mango, kisses on a Ferris wheel and a play-by-play enactment of a fantasy gone unfulfilled for far too long… Her Forbidden Crush is for readers who love a first time do-over and some sizzle with their romance.
HER ONE NIGHT FIANCÉ
The sexy stranger on the train seriously saved me from an epically hellish night…
The last thing store assistant Nina Breslin wants is to face an army of her cheating exe’s friends, while workaholic billionaire Eduardo Ruiz really doesn’t want to face the onslaught of his interfering family who’ve flown in for the night—with prospective ‘perfect partner’ in tow.
What better than to team up and take the heat off each other?
Only during their one-night fake fiancé deal, the heat between them burns hotter than Venus!
What happens when they wake up and Nina is still wearing Eduardo’s ring? And when it’s not just bodies but hearts that have become entwined?
Featuring nerdy Shakespeare quotes, an outrageously oversized diamond, hidden heartbreak and hot, hot nights... Her One Night Fiancé is a delicious treat sure to satisfy lovers of sassy, sexy contemporary romance.
Also be sure to discover Natalie’s sizzling Be for Me series with six scorching heroes!
About the Author
USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson writes emotional contemporary romance full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good. With over 3 million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages.
When not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her 4 children, 3 cats, 2 goldfish and 1 mini schnauzer… and snuggled up in a heap on the sofa with her husband at the end of the day. She and the menagerie live in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Keep up with Natalie’s release schedule, find free reads and other fun stuff at her website and sign up to her newsletter for a free read, latest release details, and sneak peeks. You can also follow her on Facebook.
“Natalie Anderson is one of the most exciting voices in steamy romantic fiction writing today. Sassy, witty and emotional.” - Cataromance.
Her Bossy Billionaire (Love in London Book 1) Page 9
