Greer stopped in the middle of the sitting room and shot him a questioning look.
‘I had a junior staff member organise it. It’s time the Sydney staff took over some of your more routine work. You have more important things to deal with.’
At work Greer was much more than an assistant. With a little more experience she’d be a valuable negotiator for future deals, if she wanted that. Meanwhile, he didn’t want her spending hours double-checking catering preparations. He needed her attention focused elsewhere.
On them.
He’d been on tenterhooks too long. It was time to resolve this. Crossing to the silver ice bucket, he lifted a foil-topped bottle, watching her eyebrows lift as she recognised the renowned vintage.
She moved closer. ‘You were very certain of success.’
About the business, yes. As for the rest… It was a wonder his hand didn’t shake as he stripped the foil from the bottle. He felt enlivened and terrified. ‘We have things to celebrate.’
At least he hoped they would have.
Once the wine was poured into delicate champagne coupes, he led her onto the balcony and the magnificent view over city and sea.
Greer lifted her glass with a smile. ‘To your business success.’
Conall raised his glass, holding her gaze. ‘To us.’
He watched her momentary surprise, yet she didn’t demur, but drank the golden liquid. He sipped the wine, bubbles bursting on the roof of his mouth.
Today had been a commercial triumph, but he found he didn’t care. Only his sense of obligation to those who’d worked so hard for this deal had made him attend today’s meetings. He’d wanted, more than anything, to forget work and concentrate on Greer.
Now, finally, it wastheirtime. He put his glass on a nearby table.
‘Conall?’
‘There’s something I want to share with you but I have one question first.’ Her gaze searched his then she nodded. ‘Why are you ambivalent about our marriage?’
Her eyes widened but not in repudiation of his words. His heart sank as he drew in a sustaining breath. He’d told himself he’d imagined she was dismissive about their relationship. But he’d been right. Adrenaline shot into his blood as dismay gripped him.
Greer put down her glass with a decisive click then rested her elbows on the balustrade, looking out over the city. She’d taken off her jacket and wore a straight black skirt and a navy camisole top in some silky fabric that caught the light. Even in office clothes, frowning, no woman he knew could hold a candle to her.
‘We married because I was pregnant. Because you wanted to protect your baby, not because you wantedme.’ Her head whipped around, eyes of deepest blue snaring his. ‘Now there’s no baby, no glue to hold us together. Of course I’m ambivalent about our marriage.’
Not want her? No glue to hold them together! He refused to believe it. Heknewshe felt something for him. She had to.
Initially, maybe it had been lust… No that wasn’t right, even in the beginning there’d been far more between them than physical attraction. They understood each other. Surely he hadn’t been wrong, believing she cared about him.
‘What if I told you I didn’t propose marriage just because of the baby?’
Her gaze grew wary but she didn’t look away. Her chin lifted. ‘I wouldn’t believe you. I was there, remember?’
Slowly he nodded, thinking over what he’d said and done. How he could have said and done it so much better. How much he’d left out. He swallowed hard. ‘I owe you an apology.’
Her head jerked back as if slapped, her eyes too big for her face. ‘For making the mistake of marrying me?’
‘Never that.’ Her pain made him bleed inside. He moved in, palming her jaw and feeling her tremble. ‘I didn’t tell you the whole truth. I married you because I love you.’
‘Don’t!’ Her voice was a raw whisper as she shook her head.
‘Hear me out, Greer, please.’
‘There’s no need to pretend now, Conall. The baby’s—’
‘This isn’t about the baby.’ He cupped her face in both hands so she had to meet his eyes. ‘I admit that in the beginning, I thought of marriage as the right thing to do for you and our baby. Believe it or not, from the first I wanted to protect you both, even when I wasn’t sure I wanted a child. But you didn’t instantly accept. In fact, you seemed doubtful.’
