‘Then marry her yourself, Theo!’ Xander growled, the exasperation making his daughter stiffen and start to fuss on his shoulder. ‘Shhh, Gem…’ He spent a moment soothing the child before his exhausted gaze returned to Theo. But all Theo could see in his expression was sadness, and disappointment. It made the knots in his gut tighten. ‘Or find a way to change the narrative. But doing what you damn well please and ignoring reality isn’t going to solve this problem. Take responsibility for once, man. You need to fix this. If not for Caras Shipping, and for your own reputation, for her. She’s innocent. Unlike us.’
Theo ended the call, then stared out at the muted sunlight glistening on the frozen lake. While the house was well insulated, he could feel the chill seeping into his bones.
He wanted to defend himself against his brother’s weary disappointment. He wished he could turn back time, so he didn’t have to deal with the emotions making his stomach hurt. That hideous mix of guilt and responsibility. But how did he defend his actions? When he’d always known, in his heart of hearts, there had never been anus. His brother wasn’t the guilty party here. It was him and only him. He’d never been worthy of Xander’s faith in him, or anyone else’s. Certainly not Freya’s, even though he’d indulged it for the last week so he could keepher in his bed, willing and pliant, while knowing she was falling in love with him.
Truth was, he had always had the same weakness as their bastard of a father. Because unlike Xander, who had owned up to his responsibilities to Poppy Brown the minute he’d found her pregnant with his baby, Theo had always run away from commitment, convinced the best way—theonlyway—to deal with a problem was to put up barriers and look after number one.
Panic tightened around his ribs. Because for once in his life, he was going to have to take responsibility for someone other than himself—and there was no guarantee he wouldn’t still fuck it up.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
‘Wehavetoget married.’
Freya blinked, so stunned—not just by Theo’s bold declaration, but by the leap of joy in her heart—she was lost for words.
They were in the sauna cabin again, having just made love in the heat and showered together, the intimacy so intense it had overwhelmed her. Perhaps that was why she couldn’t seem to think straight.
She grabbed a towel, wary and confused as she watched him do the same, his movements methodical, his hands steady, unlike hers.
Something had been off ever since he had woken her that morning—late that morning, because she’d slept until the sun came up…Again.
‘Is—is that a proposal?’ she asked, trying to get her brain to engage and ignore the tidal wave of excitement, which had to be the afterglow talking.
She didn’twantto marry Theo Caras. She didn’t want to marry any man. She wanted to live her own life. She’d adored the closeness, the intimacy they’d shared in Finland. And not just because she’d discovered a side of herself she had never expected—that she was a woman with a woman’s needs—but also because she had discovered something in Theo she had not expected. That behind the ruthless opportunist was a man who had the same insecurities she did.
But was that enough to build a relationship on? Let alone a marriage? She might well be falling in love with this man, but how could she be sure her new-found sexual needs weren’t colouring those emotions? Especially after such a short space of time? And why would hewantto offer her marriage, when he had been so dead set against it three months ago, too? Was it possible Theo was as susceptible to their chemistry—and the tumultuous emotions of the last eight days—as she was?
‘Yes, it’s the best way to solve our problems,’ he said, his voice so calm.
Whatproblems? The only problem they had was waiting here until her father was forced to accept she was not returning to Galicos. Theo had insisted she would be safe after January sixth. What had changed?
‘I… I don’t understand. Are youaskingme to marry you? Or are you demanding it?’ And why was her knee-jerk response to feel valued and cherished, whatever his motivations?
‘It will get us both what we want…’ he said, which was not an answer.
She wrapped the towel tighter around her naked body—feeling exposed, because she wanted to believe so much his offer might be more than simply a means to an end.
‘Enlighten me, how would marriage be anything other than giving my father exactly what he wants?’ she asked, desperate to have him say something,anythingthat would acknowledge what they’d shared here.
He grasped her chin, and brushed his thumb across her lips, his tender expression making the yearning intensify several thousand degrees.
‘We can’t stay here for ever, Freya. We have to figure out what happens next. And while it kills me to give your father what he wants, would it really be so bad to let me protect you from him?’
Her heart swelled against her ribcage—he looked so sincere, so determined. It reminded her of the man who had stalked out to find her nearly a week ago now—without even pausing to put on enough clothing to protect himself from the freezing temperatures.
‘Why would I need your protection?’ she stuttered, trying to stay rational. And stop her foolish heart from giving his words a meaning he didn’t intend.
‘I spoke to my brother this morning,’ he said. ‘He’s convinced your father isn’t going to let you go, not without a fight. Things are going to get ugly. He’s already sent both your brothers to a military academy…’
‘Oh no…’ Guilt pierced through the fog of adrenaline, and hope. How had she forgotten her father’s threat to Remy and Jacques so easily? Perhaps because she had never once thought her father would follow through on it.
‘We can make their return to Galicos a condition of our marriage,’ Theo said.
‘W-we… We can?’ she said, stupidly touched that he would consider her brothers’ futures as well as her own.
‘Of course, Freya. I refuse to let them, or you, get caught in the crossfire. The best way—theonlyway—to protect all three of you is to call his bluff. And that means marriage.’
‘But I don’t want to be someone you have to protect.’ She would have to help her brothers, but relying on Theo felt wrong, because she’d already relied on him so much. She had escaped in the first place to establish her independence—but so far, she’d done not one thing on her own. She hadn’t even managed to climb over that blasted wall. ‘I don’t want to be a burden that…’
