Page 77 of The Payback Adventure
Henry gently pried her hands off it and turned her so she faced him. A million and one thoughts ran through Elisabeth’s head. “Why are you doing this?”
“I’m not going away.” His eyes implored her with a need that had her back hitting the bed. “I need you and the kids.”
Such simple words. She didn’t want to believe him. She shouldn’t, yet he was somehow breaking through her fragile control. She trembled and tried to fight it, fight him. She gritted her teeth. “You lied.”
He bowed his head. “I let you down.”
“You lied to us. To me. At least take some responsibility and admit it.”
He winced. “Okay. Yes. I lied in the beginning. I’m sorry. So, so sorry.”
His admission didn’t make her feel any better. Her anger surged. “It wasn’t only in the beginning. If Caitlin hadn’t been hurt, you’d still be lying.”
He looked at Caitlin but said nothing.
“It was all an act to you, wasn’t it? A charade. Playing at being a farmhand. Acting as if you didn’t mind having the kids around. Pretending you…” Elisabeth’s voice broke. “You were attracted to me.”
“No,” he said. “Elisabeth, no. Once I got to know you and the kids, everything changed.”
“Then why not tell me the truth? Why not get that close to me?”
“Because I was afraid, all right?” The words burst out of him, and he looked almost angry. “I was afraid if you knew Henry Davenport, the real me, you wouldn’t want me around anymore.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It’s the truth. My own parents—” His jaw clamped shut.
“Your own parents…what?” she asked softly.
“My own parents knew me better than anyone. And they pretty much decided I was worthless. A disappointment to the mighty Davenport legacy.” His eyes darkened. “Maybe I didn’t want you to think the same.”
“How could I? Henry, you’ve made such a difference in my life. To the farm. To the kids.”
To me.
“Sure, I did.” He rolled his eyes. “I screwed up. All the time.”
“You tried. All the time. I loved that you tried.”
He regarded her somberly. “But could you love me?”
“I…” Fear closed her throat. How could she admit it, knowing what she knew?
“That’s what I thought.”
She couldn’t let him think she hadn’t cared about him. Because she did. Or had. “How can I love you? A billionaire? I loved Henry, the farmhand. But—”
“That’s who I am.” His gaze sought hers. “At least, that’s who I want to be.”
His words opened Elisabeth’s heart and made her want to believe him. But she was scared.
“I’m far from perfect,” he explained. “But I don’t want to lose you. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.”
“I can’t be bought.”
“This isn’t about money.” His sincere tone wrapped around her like a hug. “When I worked on the farm, I finally felt as if I accomplished something. Not with my money, but with my hands. My heart. My soul. It was the second-best feeling in the world.”
“The second? What was the first?”
