‘Oh, Conall.’ She cupped his jaw with her hand, wanting to ease the raw pain she read in his face.
‘When you came back to Sydney from the mountains you didn’t want to discuss the miscarriage. I respected that but I was relieved too. The last thing I wanted was to talk about feelings. In case you said you wanted to leave me.’
‘Conall!’ She goggled at him. He cared that much? Her pulse galloped as she grappled with his revelation.
‘When you had the accident, I had to keep my feelings to myself until you remembered, or until it became clear you weren’t going to remember and I’d have to tell you. You were vulnerable. I didn’t dare admit what had happened. I’ve wanted so long to be up-front with you. But the only way we seemed to communicate easily was in business or in bed.’
The truth of his words hit home. How often had she pushed him away when he wanted to talk about the baby?
Greer rose abruptly and instantly Conall followed suit. ‘What is it?’
‘Hold me, please?’
A crooked smile curved his mouth and she felt it tug at her very being. ‘Gladly.’
But instead of simply wrapping his arms around her, he scooped her up and carried her to a nearby sofa, sitting down with her cradled in his lap. His warmth surrounded her, both his strong body and his air of certainty that she found so reassuring. Greer put her arms around him and snuggled close.
‘I wasn’t sure I wanted children,’ she admitted. ‘I loved my mother dearly but the little I know about her relationship with my father was negative. We moved from town to town, even crossed the country to avoid him. Because of that, we didn’t have long-term friends. We were on the move too often to put down roots and struggled financially. But I learnt the value of hard work and education. I put my career first.Thatwas my idea of security.’
With her head against him, she felt Conall’s voice vibrate through his chest. ‘I can relate. That was me too.’
Greer wondered if that was one of the things that initially drew them together.
‘But when I got pregnant, my priorities shifted. Partly it was the chance to have the sort of relationship my mother and I shared. Maybe it was the realisation I was growing a new life inside me,ourchild. I wish I had words to describe how that felt.’ She pressed closer and was gratified when his hold tightened. ‘My career was still important but it no longer seemed vital. Not like the baby.’
‘No. Not like our baby.’ His deep voice burred across her skin and burrowed inside. He shifted his grip, holding her away from him a little so he could meet her eyes. ‘Would it upset you to tell me about that day?’
Greer felt something in her chest collapse, pain welling. But this hurt was for Conall. Because she’d shut him out. She hadn’t thought he’d want the details of the day she miscarried. Now, to her shame, she saw how wrong she was.
They held each other as she told him everything. She clung tight when his breaths grew uneven, offering him comfort as much as he gave it to her.
Afterwards he told her that the day he returned from the US was the day the legalities had been completed on the harbourside house. He’d been eager to get the trip out of the way so he could surprise her with their new home. How excited he was about the baby. The plans he’d had.
As they talked about their child, Greer found a surprising peace.
When, exhausted, they eventually returned to bed, it was knowing they had meetings in just a few hours.
Yet Greer didn’t fall asleep quickly. She lay spooned against her husband, his breath stirring her hair and his arm around her waist. She revelled in the new intimacy they’d discovered, the way it drew them closer rather than pushing them apart. As sleep drifted closer, she found herself smiling.
They’d taken an important step, talking about their loss, about feelings. That was a first. For a long time they’d shared passion and work, good times and challenges, but never their deepest emotions.
She clung to the idea that maybe, after all, there was hope for their marriage.
Chapter Fourteen
NEXT EVENINGGREERlooked concerned. ‘Are youreallysure about this? Turning down the invitation to celebrate the deal you just finalised tonight?’
Conall gestured for her to precede him, following her into their hotel suite.
‘Absolutely. Lee’s accepted my invitation to celebrate as our guest tomorrow. His wife and key staff will all attend.’
He didn’t add that he’d told Lee before today’s meetings even began that tonight he had a vital private matter to attend to. One he couldn’t afford to delay.
As he’d been watching Greer chat with one of Lee’s legal team at the time, his new business associate had looked between the pair of them, nodded and murmured something about the importance of putting family first.
Conall had grasped the older man’s hand, thanking him warmly for his understanding.
‘Don’t worry,’ he said now to Greer. ‘The hotel’s restaurant is already booked for the private function and the head chef is preparing a special banquet.’
