Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
That dream, that bloody vivid sex dream I had all those months ago, popped into my head. There had been dreams of Fyfe since, but none had felt as real as that. Arousal flushed through me, my lower belly trembling with it.
Bastard!
With all my strength, I pressed my palms to his chest and shoved him away.
Fyfe didn’t even stumble as he took a step back, gaze hungry, like he knew exactly how my body reacted to his words.
“Go fuck yourself,” I spat before I marched toward the front door.
“I’d rather fuck you!” he called.
I stumbled and whirled around. “You did not just say that.”
His expression was determined as he strode toward me, but I held up my hands, warding him off. Fyfe halted, frustration evident in every bristling line of his body. “Look, I can admit I was jealous when that prick said he was dating you. But I don’t want you because someone else has you.”
“He doesn’t have me,” I couldn’t help but insert breathlessly.
“I know he doesn’t have you. I know you, Eilidh.” Fyfe’s countenance turned pained. “When you told me you loved me, I truly believed that I wasn’t worthy of it. That I couldn’t protect that love. Or be what you deserve. But … a lot has changed in the last few weeks. Maybe I’m not the man I thought I was. Maybe I can be better. Maybe … I can try to be worthy of someone as extraordinary as you. All I know is, when you’re here with me and Millie, it feels right. The thought of you moving on with someone else scares the shit out of me.”
Oh.
I understood now.
Crushing disappointment flooded in and my words were cooler than I intended as I replied, “A competent nanny will provide that same sense of security.” I turned and rushed toward the door.
“Eilidh, please!”
Millie’s cries filled the house. I winced, guilt riding me, as I used the distraction to flee the man who had broken my heart more times than I cared to admit.
Twenty-Four
EILIDH
Fueled by my indignation, renewed hurt, and the insidious hope Fyfe had sparked—hope I knew I had to squash—I drove to Cameron’s bungalow in a mad dash to clear things up with the doctor.
“How dare you?” I pronounced as soon as he opened his front door.
He scowled. “Excuse me?”
“You told Fyfe that I was your girlfriend and that we’re serious? We’ve been on six dates.”
Cameron’s frown only deepened. “Maybe we could have this discussion inside.”
“No, we can’t. I just came here to tell you I need some space.”
“Look, Eilidh …” Cameron stepped outside, reaching for me, but I physically retreated. His expression darkened. “It seems fairly coincidental that your friend acted like a jealous arsehole today when I told him we were dating and now you need some space.”
“Don’t call Fyfe an arsehole,” I defended him, even though he was being an arsehole. Only I was allowed to call Fyfe an arsehole! “And you’re missing the point. Cameron, I’ve known you a few weeks. We’ve been on a few dates. Calling me your girlfriend, staking a claim … no. This is all going too fast for me. Sorry.”
Something ugly clouded his expression. “You think you’re so special you can have this discussion without caring how I feel about it? I mean, there’s a way to tell a man you need space, and this is not it.”
I huffed incredulously. “It is if he’s lying to people about the status of our relationship. I’ve had enough people lie about who I am and what I’m doing and who I’m seeing. I don’t need that bullshit from you. Forget the space, Cameron. This isn’t happening, full stop.”
As I turned to leave, I found myself hauled backward and spun, crashing into his chest as pain burned up my arm. He grasped my biceps so tightly and his face was a mask of fury. “Don’t walk away from me!”
The shocking transformation from placid doctor to aggressor stunned me for a second.
Only for a second, though. “Get your fucking hand off me before I scream bloody murder.”
Cameron released me just as quickly as he’d grabbed me, and I didn’t wait around. I ran toward my SUV.
“We’ll talk about this later, Eilidh!” he called after me. Calmly. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Holy crap. My entire body shook as I reversed out of his driveway and headed for home.
He had a screw loose.
Bloody hell, I knew how to pick them.
Instead of returning to the annex, I let myself into my parents’ house. Dad’s office was at the front and I noted him in there, working on a 3D digital model. He had his concentration face on and I knew if he was working late, it meant he was on deadline. With a sigh, I strolled into the open-plan living space and found it empty.