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Page 33
“I’m not in the mood to hear it, Williams.”
“Well, you’re never in the mood, old boy, so now seems as good a time as any. Amanda speaks to her every day, Greg, she’s a mess. She loves you. She’s in love with you.”
She doesn’t know me. But does that mean there’s hope? No, Ryans, you walked away for good reason. Forget it.
“It’s over, Williams. Done. She’s better off, she just doesn’t know it yet. Now, we need to talk about that hair of yours.”
“Changing the subject?”
“Too right, changing it to something you can control. That fucking hair has got to go when you’re a dad. You look like a fucking gap year student.”
He chortles and, despite myself, my lips turn up too.
“Speaking of which. We had our first scan. Want to see?”
“Ja, of course.”
He pulls out his iPhone and shows me a black and white image, a picture of a picture of a large baked bean. But he’s beaming at me, so proud he might burst, so I smile back. “That’s a damn cute bean.”
We talk for five minutes about the bean, how Williams is coping with Amanda moving into his place, whether he thinks there’s a future for them. Then he leaves and I can get back to staring at the picture on my screen. Everything about her is perfect and effortless. She’s a natural beauty, not like the dolls walking around my offices or the women who bat their lids in restaurants, bars, wherever I go because all they see is my exterior and my money.
I came close to falling in love with her, too damn close. I almost said it. But it could never be true. I don’t fall in love. She made me want to be something I’m not. She made me want to be a decent person and, hell, I wanted to tell her the three words she was so desperate to hear. But it would’ve been a mistake.
I knew the night she got drunk and told me about Dubai, I knew then that if she couldn’t see it for herself, I had to make sure she went. We had to get the case over first so she could accept the decision and move on. Then she told me she wanted to confess and it tore me up inside. The thought of losing her. When John Harrison called with the CPS decision, everything came crashing to me, everything I’d felt for the last twenty years. I hadn’t cried since I was ten years old but holding her in my arms, knowing it was over, that she could move on and, yes, that I hadn’t lost her, I sobbed. It’s not manly. It’s not Gregory Ryans but I couldn’t stop the tears from fucking falling. I knew then. I knew I was going to send her away because I’d let it go too far, I had to be fair to her. She’d had enough. I’d broken her.
I shouldn’t have taken her to the opera. It was selfish. I convinced myself it was for her, so she could have one night, the fairy tale. But damn it, I just couldn’t let her go. And all night I fought with myself. I had to remember the plan but, Christ, I wanted to say those three words she needed to hear. I wanted to say them so damn much it killed me not too.
Don’t miss VENGEFUL LOVE: BLACK DIAMONDS by Laura Carter,
Available May 2016, wherever Carina Press ebooks are sold.
www.CarinaPress.com
Copyright © 2016 by LBM Media Limited
Acknowledgments
Reader, thank you so much for continuing on Scarlett and Gregory’s journey. This book was an emotional journey to write and I hope it takes you on that same path. When I started writing, I had no idea how much work goes into making the final polished product. Behind the scenes there are a lot of people at Harlequin and Carina Press putting in an incredible amount of time and effort, and I am grateful to every one of you in Art, Marketing, Production and Editorial. Working with you is a true collaborative effort and I think you’re all amazing. But I do have to single out Kerri Buckley, who puts in late nights, early mornings and weekends for the Vengeful Love series. You’re also so much more than an editor and I am truly grateful for all your work and support. As with the first book, Andy, you have been behind me every step of the way and you’re an Agent-Fabulous! Thank you to Sam for bringing me endless cups of tea and snacks and making Sunday roasts so that I could focus on this book. You are my biggest supporter despite the fact I ignore you to focus on writing A LOT. Finally, thank you to my mum and dad, who showed me what it means to stand by the person you love through the good and the bad.
Also available from Laura Carter
and Carina Press
Vengeful Love
Vengeful Love: Black Diamonds
About the Author
Laura is a lawyer by day, working for a global business law firm. By night, she puts pen to paper, writing about wealthy billionaires and sassy alpha females. Laura grew up in England, UK, and has spent a lot of time traveling the world. It was while she was living in Australia in 2009 that she began drafting her first novel (now safely in a drawer for a later date!). In 2012, working as a lawyer in London, inspired by the blinding lights and corporate world, Laura was bitten by the writing bug again. From a small bedroom in the city, Gregory Ryans and Scarlett Heath were born in the first book of the Vengeful Love trilogy.
Learn more about Laura and her books at:
Website: www.LauraCarterAuthor.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LauraCarterAuthor
Twitter: @LCarterAuthor
Instagram: @LauraCarterAuthor
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The Bad for You series is coming.
You’ve been warned.
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ISBN-13: 9781459294288
Vengeful Love: Deception
Copyright © 2016 by LBM Media Limited
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