Free What Love Sounds Like by Alissa Callen Page B

outback.’ His voice thickened. ‘Brad entrusted Tilly to me and I’ll do the utmost to ensure that she has the best life possible.’
    ‘The best life that doesn’t include you?’
    Perhaps if she held a mirror up to his world she would be able to make a dent in the wall between him and Tilly.
    ‘That’s right. The most important thing I can do for her is to employ someone qualified to raise her.’
    Nothing like Langford. Try just like Langford.
After cancer had stolen her mother, a succession of cold-faced nannies had been her only care-givers. She’d go weeks without catching a glimpse of her father. She took another gulp of hot milk.
    Kade’s mouth thinned into a grim line. Curse her fair skin for showing every nuance of her thoughts. Her poor opinion would be scribbled all over her face in permanent red marker.
    ‘Unless you play an active role in Tilly’s life, whatever five-year plan you have for her will fail.’ Mia’s voice firmed. ‘She needs you, not some highly qualified person.’
    ‘No, she doesn’t.’ An unexpected rawness scored his words. ‘She’s far better off without me.’
    The burn of her tongue forgotten, Mia’s fingers itched to flick the wall switch beside her to see what emotion lurked in his hooded gaze.
    ‘The only thing that will serve Tilly’s best interests is you.’
    He shook his head. ‘I know nothing about children or about what Tilly will need or want.’
    ’It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything about Tilly’s world. She loves you and together you can both find your way.’
    ‘That’s not going to happen.’
    She gritted her teeth. Kade might be more exasperating than her most taxing client, but she had to keep trying to do the best she could for Tilly.
    ‘Well then, leading a separate life to your niece will not be in her best interests, just like it won’t matter how much money you make if her emotional needs aren’t met.’
    ‘Listen…about what I said yesterday.’ He tunnelled a hand through his hair. ‘I was out of line. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said money was more important than Tilly.’
    The warmth of the mug in her hand failed to ward off the sudden chill that numbed her. She should have left while she could. Kade had done it again. He’d hurled her out of her comfort zone. He’d just done what her father never could.
    He’d admitted he was wrong.
    He didn’t know what was worse. The open disbelief on Mia’s face when he’d said he was trying to do the best he could for Tilly or now her shocked silence at his apology. She looked at him over the rim of her mug, her eyes huge. And he’d thought his shocker of a day was over.
    Today’s trip to Sydney was supposed to have been all about re-kindling his focus. He may not be able to control Mia or Tilly, but the one thing he could be in command of was himself. But his day had soon disintegrated into an emotional ground-zero. The further the distance between him and Berrilea the more he thought about the woman and child he’d left behind. His flippant money comment had rattled around his head until it’d consumed every mental nook and cranny. He could no more concentrate on work than find a word to describe the emotion churning in his gut.
    Strange how he hadn’t ever noticed how many children filled Sydney before. How many skipped beside their parents in the airport and how loud their laughter was as they watched the street performers at Circular Quay. Strange also how the sight of a woman with long, auburn hair could stop him in mid-stride.
    In the end the only way to broker any sort of inner peace had been to concede to his conscience that he owed Mia an apology. So he’d spent the flight home rehearsing what he’d say. But whatever scenario he’d imagined it hadn’t featured her dressed in little but green shorts and a white-spotted singlet top that clung to every full, feminine contour. He also hadn’t factored in that she mightn’t accept his apology.
    Mia lowered