In which case he knew more than she did. Greer didn’t have a clue where this left their relationship.
‘I didn’t know any of this when we slept together,’ she protested, trying to slip her hand away, but something, either his firm grip or her own wavering willpower, stopped her.
Conall angled his head as if to view her better. ‘When we made love,’ he said deliberately, his words stealing her breath. Because for her ithadbeen making love. Yet she couldn’t afford to read too much into his choice of words.
‘But you knew what had happened and I didn’t.’
‘You think that gave me some advantage?’ For the first time she could recall—and she was recalling more by the second—she saw anger flare in his expression. ‘You think it waseasyremembering everything that happened but keeping it to myself, watching you struggle to recuperate, worrying your memory wouldn’t return and being unable to help?’
Conall shook his head, his expression sombre. ‘You havenoidea how hard it was to stand back and not intervene. Not to try to force your memory or tell you myself. And that night in the office when you got changed into that sexy, blue dress…’
His stare became a scowl. ‘Do you think it waseasyto watch mywifego out for drinks with someone else?’
Abruptly his hand lifted from hers and he snapped his head away to stare across the water. Greer missed the warmth of his touch. It took a second to realise she was free to move her hand and reluctantly shifted it into her lap.
Conall’s chest rose on a deep breath. ‘I was trying to put you first. As for what happened here…’ He jerked his head towards the house. ‘I didn’t lead you on. I told you what happened had to be whatyouwanted.
‘Maybe I should have kept my distance. Would you be happier if I had? If the need to hold you, to have you, hadn’t been too much to resist any longer? I’m not cold-blooded.’ He raked both hands through his hair then turned, pushing into her space. ‘I’m human, Greer. I did my best but I’m not ashamed of wanting you. You’re my wife.’
There it was again.Wife.
She didn’t feel like a wife. She felt untethered. No, that wasn’t true. Every instinct screamed that she wanted to be with this man. She loved him.
But for him theirs had been a marriage of convenience. What was it now? Exhilaration whirled through her when he spoke starkly of his need. It gave her hope. Too much hope? All she really knew was that hewantedher physically and that he was a decent man who’d worried about her when she was unwell.
That didn’t equate to love.
A low-grade headache had harried her since her memory started returning. Now it intensified, wrapping around her head and jumbling her thoughts. Stress or something else? Greer closed her eyes against the water’s glare. ‘I want to go home. My head’s aching and I need pain relief.’
She felt him move and gathered her strength to do the same, wondering if she could. Suddenly she felt far too unsteady, her limbs weak.
Sternly she told herself not to panic. It was probably just the shock of her returning memory, nothing more sinister. Yet for long moments she couldn’t bring herself to attempt rising.
‘I’ll help you inside.’
Conall’s voice came from just beside her and she snapped her eyes open to meet his concerned gaze, too close for comfort. She cleared her throat, about to say she’d manage alone, but the words didn’t come. Much as she knew she needed space, she simply didn’t have the strength now.
His gaze bored into her as if reading her body’s devastating weakness. ‘Don’t bother to tell me you can walk,’ he said, his voice tight. ‘You can rest while I call the doctor, then we’ll see if you need to be in hospital.’
With impressive ease, he scooped her up into his arms, holding her across his chest. She winced against the light as he swung around towards the house, and rested her head against him, relieved that he was here to help.
From this angle there was no mistaking the pugnacious jut of Conall’s jaw. Silently she cursed her body for letting her down so dramatically. But, she vowed, she’d recover quickly. She had to.
‘No hospital. Please.’
She still had nightmares about being stuck there, with the kind but firm staff telling her to be patient while she lay, terrified she’d never feel whole again.
Obsidian dark eyes claimed hers and she felt a rush of something hot and sweet. Did his expression soften? But if anything, the muscles in his arms and torso seemed to stiffen, pulling her closer.
‘I’ll do my best. Trust me, Greer.’
Chapter Ten
CONALL WOKE TOthe feeling of being watched.
Not the nape-prickling alert that signalled danger. This was a wash of sensation, like the lap of a warm wave against bare flesh on a tropical beach.
He recognised it instantly. Greer. Looking at him.
