Anne McAllister [New York 06] Nathan's Child (epub)

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.It was a new experience for me.I didn’t make a habit of sleeping with my brother’s fiancées.” He turned and leveled a gaze at her.“I didn’t know the protocol.”“I don’t think there is protocol,” Carin said quietly, meeting his gaze levelly.“I think there’s just honesty.”The muscle ticked in his temple again.He rocked back on his heels and jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.“Ok.Fine.Let’s be honest.” His voice was harsh.“It was great, but it was wrong.You were engaged, damn it, and not to me! I felt like a heel afterward, and I thought it was in everybody’s best interest if I disappeared.”“Is that what you thought?” Carin said with saccharine sweetness.“You thought I’d just forget?”“I didn’t know what the hell you’d do.I barely knew you!”“You knew me better than anyone in the world.”She’d been so vulnerable that week before the wedding.She’d been so worried.And she’d found in Nathan the kindred spirit she’d always hoped for.She’d poured out her feelings to him—and he didn’t believe he’d known her!Nathan raked his hand through his hair.“I didn’t know what you’d do.But believe me, I was shocked as hell to come back to New York five months later and discover you’d jilted my brother and no one knew where you were!”“You asked?”“Yes, damn it, I asked.”“And they said they didn’t know, and you left it at that.” She said the words scornfully.“What was I supposed to do? You didn’t exactly leave a forwarding address.And I sure as hell wasn’t going to press the issue.Your whereabouts wasn’t Dominic’s favorite topic of conversation.”She could believe that.She’d felt guilty for years.Still did.“So, fine.You didn’t know where I was.You should have left it at that.” She lifted her chin.“Besides, I didn’t go anywhere.I was here all the time.”“Hiding out.” Nathan said the words dismissively.“I wasn’t hiding out!” she retorted, stung.“Right.Sent out cards with your forwarding address, did you?”She looked away.“And I’m sure all your old friends from Smith and St.Gertrudis or wherever it was you went to school know exactly where you are now.Your father didn’t even know!”“My father didn’t want to know.”“What?”“I called him a week after…after…the wedding didn’t…happen.I wanted to explain.” It was her turn to shrug now, to act casual, to pretend that what had happened then didn’t still hurt.But sadly, whether she wanted to admit it or not, it did.“He didn’t want to listen.He told me I was no daughter of his.And then he hung up on me.”“Jesus!” Nathan looked shocked.He paced halfway down the aisle and scowled furiously.“Nobody told me that.”Carin shrugged.“Maybe no one knew.” She couldn’t imagine her father had advertised the fact that he had disowned his only child.Nathan shook his head.“I asked my dad.He didn’t know.He just said Magnus said you were okay.That was all.We didn’t…talk about it much.” Nathan’s mouth twisted.“Dominic was…well, not exactly happy.”“I’m sorry.” Carin really did regret that.She should have pressed harder that evening before the wedding when he had finally arrived on Pelican Cay and she’d tried to talk to him.She shouldn’t have let him brush her off with a grin and an admonition that she’d better go to bed and get her rest because she wouldn’t be getting much sleep on their wedding night!It was that comment, actually, that had made her turn and run.She couldn’t possibly contemplate going to bed with Dominic—making love with Dominic—after her night with Nathan.She loved Nathan! There was no way, engaged or not, she could sleep with his brother!“He seemed…happy…” she ventured “…when I saw him last summer.”“He is.Now.”She winced at the flat accusation in Nathan’s tone, but it had the effect of stiffening her spine.“I’m glad,” she said.“He wouldn’t have been happy with me.”“Because you were in love with me.” Nathan didn’t look as if he relished saying the words.He tossed them out as if he had to say them, had to confirm them in order to justify his presence here—and his proposal.“I was twenty-one.A very innocent unworldly twenty-one,” she added with a grimace.“A very foolish twenty-one.I’ve grown up since.I thought I loved you.Now I know better [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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