The Millionaire's Convenient Bride Read Free Page B

stayed at home and he ran the business. Of course she had the option of helping him, but she chose to leave him instead. Now look where he had gotten her. If she had died it would have been his fault for being too damn proud to have not stolen her back years ago.
    Back then he was arrogant as well as proud. He could still remember how he stopped her again and again from leaving the lodge to go on trips with Sophie. He had been jealous of his own sister. Then, on a night much like this one, he had woken to nothing more than a note on the pillow next to him, saying she had gone to see the world. He had closed his heart to her and some said to every woman since. He could have given her the world, but she wanted to take it for herself. He damned her independence, and his own stupidity at thinking he could tame her.
    It was because of her mother, he knew. Her father was never known, but when her mother died she became restless. She had gone from home to home, friends and distant relatives taking her in, then shipping her off when she became too much to handle. She hadn’t changed when she grew older. She ran her business just as she ran her life, too busy to get to know anyone enough to care for them.
    He had insisted on carrying her to the car after the accident, not bearing to have another man’s hands on her, even if he was an aged servant. He’d cradled her head in the warm car, his arms wrapped protectively around her, urging the driver to go faster. As he placed her on the bed, Sophie had rushed in behind him having heard about the accident. He had run his hand down Louisa’s flushed cheek before leaving Sophie to care for her. He couldn’t be in that room any longer with a woman he knew didn’t care for him as he did for her. He wouldn’t allow himself to be weakened by her again.
    A knock at the door brought Dominic back to his surroundings. Sophie came in supporting a battered Louisa at her side. He rose and helped her to lower Louisa into a chair. He scowled at his sister, hoping to transfer his annoyance at her for letting Louisa out of bed when his instructions had been the opposite.
    He had hoped it was just concern that his made his heart beat faster when they had come across her car moments after the accident. Now seeing her again he realised that it was more than that. It was a thought that he pushed to the far edge of his mind. He couldn’t let himself go down that path again.
    “I assume this is an important matter for you to have come down here?” he asked both women.
    “I found a clause when reviewing the inheritance section of your fathers will .”
    Her voice was strained, as if she were trying to make it steadier and stronger than it should be. 
    He looked at Sophie as Louisa spoke. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Louisa after he had caused her injuries. He should have flown to her office, as Sophie suggested, instead of dragging her up here in the snow, but he had wanted to go somewhere where they would have others around them, where he wouldn’t be tempted. With Sophie in the house it felt more like when they were younger again, plus there was little chance of Louisa wanting to stay. She was not fond of the snow. The sun and surf held no appeal to her either. She was a moderate woman, one who liked things perfect, warm weather, cool breezes, overcast so that she wouldn’t get burnt. She was one of a kind, never running with the pack. She knew what she liked or didn’t, and what she didn’t like was him. The thought made him frown, instantly despising himself for already letting her get to him. He couldn’t blame her. Louisa hadn’t expected him to be there. It must have been as much of a shock to her as it had been to him to see her again. She had looked so confused to see him for the brief few moments that afternoon when she had woken, that he knew that Sophie hadn’t mentioned his coming to meet her when she spoke to her on the phone.
    “I had a feeling there might have been.