How to Win a Guy in 10 Dates (17 page)

BOOK: How to Win a Guy in 10 Dates

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‘Everyone tries to do their best in these situations, sometimes it’s hard … ’

Wanting to wrap her in his arms and hold her to make the hurt go away, but again she pulled away, as if she had to emphasise her separation.

‘Sophie got pregnant shortly afterwards, and the full impact of what I’d done only hit me when Bella was born. That was when I decided to cut myself off from my family. I couldn’t face seeing Bella growing up, and always being reminded of my mistake. And I had to learn to make my own decisions, and take responsibility for my own life, not go running back to my family, getting into arguments. So that if anything like that happened again, it would be down to me.’

‘It hasn’t has it?’ Millie pregnant? ‘Happened again I mean?’

‘No, no.’ She sounded quietly dismissive. ‘I had an implant to make sure I never got pregnant again – not that I slept with anyone. There was never a danger of a pregnancy with us, the condoms were for health, not contraception.’

That put him in his place. Firmly. ‘But then I made you go and see Sophie because I wanted to help you get over your jealousy, as a payback for how you helped me. How awful is that? I’m so sorry, making you see Bella like that. I even handed her to you. That must have been terrible’

Talk about crashing his big feet in it.

‘I practically expired when you dropped her on my knee, but in a way I think it helped. Now Bella’s older, she’s a person, an individual, not just a baby, and seeing her the other day made me appreciate that. I need to thank you for making me go there – I went back to Sophie’s when I ran off from you, and I’d never have done that otherwise.’ She sliced him a half smile.

First of the day, gratefully accepted, even if it was watery.

‘But why does any of this get in the way of me loving you?’

She hugged her knees tighter.

‘You of all people Ed deserve better than someone who did what I did. We both know that.’

‘Hey, I’ll be the judge of what I need. As I see it, you’ve taken me, a guy who was incapable of forming any kind of lasting relationship, who was very set in their bad-boy ways, and turned my life around. I was hell bent on introducing you to the joys of no-strings encounters, but you shook me up, made me see the world as a different place. You taught me how to trust, and you made me want to care.’

He broke off, but Millie only rubbed a hand across her nose, snapped off a blade of grass, and rolled it between her fingers.

‘Then there was my mother. Without you, I’d still be hating her for something she wasn’t responsible for.’ He bobbed, trying to make her look at him. ‘You showed me how to enjoy life Millie, in a way I never have. But most of all you taught me how to fall in love.’

‘Maybe … ’ She gave a shrug, wiggled her feet, bit her thumb.

He had to be getting through to her.

‘When you weigh all those things against what you’re talking about, I’m sorry, but whatever you did in the past, right now you’ve earned my love fair and square.’

Finally she inclined her head towards him, and he caught the shine of tears on her cheek. Her lips were curled into a smile, and he dared to sneak an arm around her shoulder. This time she didn’t pull away.

‘So we’re good then?’

As she answered with a nod, he closed his mouth over hers. It was a long time and a load of sweetness later, when he broke the kiss. And that was only because there was something he had to say.

***

Millie’s head spun, as Ed pulled away.

Heady, dizzy, and in love, with the most glorious guy in the world, and letting his chocolate voice slide over her. Then he shot her a grin, as wide as an ocean, flipping her tummy one more time.

‘It was seeing you with Bella that finally made me realise I was in love with you. I had this huge desire for you to have my children, which hasn’t gone away, but I’ll work with you on this one.’ His shamefaced grimace melted into a smile. ‘Although I’m hoping you’ll marry me first? How do you feel about becoming Mrs Mitchum?’

Digging her fingers into his arms, to be sure this was real, she breathed in the wonderful scent of him

‘Of course I’ll marry you Ed.’ Smiling, biting her lip, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and ending up doing both.

‘Thank you.’

He kissed her again, thoroughly, and she only broke away to rub a hand across her nose, hoping it wasn’t running too much.

‘You are one fast mover, for a confirmed bachelor who doesn’t date.’

‘Correction, I didn’t date until you came along, and fell at my feet in this field. After a kiss as hot as the one you gave me that day, I’d have had to come back to find you again, challenge, or no challenge.’ He brushed his thumb over her cheekbone, pushed away a tear. ‘I think I probably fell in love with you the first time I saw you, lying there, and unconscious right here. And as I said earlier, I’m so glad you jumped me … ’

His lips were twitching into a teasing smile, but she couldn’t let that go.

‘I told you before, I didn’t jump you!’

‘Bingo! I love it when you pout like that. And if you didn’t jump me here, you definitely did it in the tent in Provence. High heels, lacy shorts and a jacket with no shirt under, doesn’t give a guy any other option -– not this guy, with you the shorts, anyway.’

She laughed at him, her heart infusing with warmth. ‘You are one bad boy Ed Mitchum.’

‘Funny when you think, an explosion started all this off. Just proves your Big Bang Theory was right.’

‘I thought that theory was about getting the bang out of the way in one date, not about sticking around long enough to get married.’ Her eyes locked on Ed’s tanned fingers, draped over her shoulder, and the base of her stomach shifted with desire, at the thought of what Ed did to her in the tent, and would do to her again.

‘Now it’s all about how love makes the big bangs last forever. And talking of big bangs, Future Mrs Mitchum, how about we take that pony home, so I can take you to bed – or the courtyard if you’d prefer to be alfresco.’ He raised his eyebrows in her direction, twisted his mouth into another wicked smile that told her he knew he was letting himself in for a storm. ‘And if your bruised butt is up to it, maybe you can give me that twirl on your pole?’

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