Free Riley’s Billionaire by Sunny Cole Page B

she might help him. She’d hate him.
    He was screwed.
    He’d already spoken to Amelia that morning. Now he had to get back to the house before she dragged out that box of photos, thinking the two of them were going to confront Riley with their expectations and ask her to take a DNA test.
    Could this day get any worse?
    Jack groaned. Of course it could. Patrick already knew Riley might be his cousin. Nothing could un-ring that bell. And even if Jack had told Riley he didn’t want her alone with Patrick, there was nothing he could do if Patrick decided to have a tête-à-tête with Riley on his own when Jack wasn’t around. As easily as the two potential cousins had gotten along, was he willing to risk that encounter?
    No.
    ‘Riley, you must believe me, when I left last night, it was out of self-preservation. If I’d stayed, I couldn’t have stopped myself — I wanted you so much. I had no idea you’d be willing to...make love.’
    She snorted. ‘Really? I was that undemonstrative?’
    I’m only making this worse, not better. He tried again. ‘Do you remember when I told you I wanted to find Amelia, that she had something that might make you feel better? You told me not to go. But I warned you I couldn’t touch you for fear I’d be selfish and take what I wanted rather than give you what you needed.’
    She looked confused, but at least part of her anger had dissipated. ‘What does Amelia have to do with this?’
    Bite the damn bullet, mate. Jack took her hands in his and brought them to his lips. Then before Riley could say another word, he blurted it out. ‘You might be one of Amelia’s lost grandchildren. They were taken over twenty years ago, presumed dead, but she’s held on to the hope that they’re still alive.’
    Riley tugged to free her hands, but Jack held on, forcing her to look him in the eye. ‘Riley, I’m not joking.’
    Her bottom lip trembled slightly, and tears pooled in her eyes. ‘You have to be. I’ve searched for years and haven’t come up with a shred of proof that my family even exists.’
    ‘Remember when she fainted upon seeing you?’
    Riley nodded, and her eyes grew wider. ‘I assumed she was fatigued, that the spell could be blamed on her age or her health, or that she was tired anticipating our homecoming.’
    ‘You look like her daughter-in-law. By all accounts, the woman was a beauty.’
    Riley’s composure changed, and she was once again the vulnerable woman in his arms she’d been the night before. ‘How old was I?’
    ‘Three.’
    She had another question. ‘When did you first suspect this?’
    Jack avoided answering. The time wasn’t right to tell her he’d spoken with Patrick, and Patrick had told him how Riley got her scar.
    He pulled her close and let her lay her head against his chest. All he could do was stroke her hair and back, alternately kissing the top of her head and murmuring to her in French, words she wouldn’t have known that came naturally to him. He told her everything would be alright, even though he doubted he could keep that promise. He called her sweet, told her he would protect her. All things she wouldn’t be able to understand, but it felt better holding her, as if reassuring her would somehow make him feel better.
    He prayed he could be the man she needed.
    ‘Does Amelia know?’ Riley mumbled against his chest then lifted her head. ‘I’m sorry. Of course she does. She’s probably the one who told you.’
    Jack held his breath a moment, feeling a reprieve he didn’t deserve, and he didn’t correct her. Was that a question in her eyes, even though her words sounded like a statement? If only Riley wasn’t so damned cute. If only those emerald green eyes didn’t mesmerise him.
    ‘Riley...’ He couldn’t finish his sentence. Once spoken, he could never take back the words that would put more distance between them.
    He could do that, let Riley believe it was a coincidence he’d brought a bride back to Cadigal Valley who