Chapter One Hundred and Seventy

He shook his head. The absurdity was…she was the only woman he wanted... The one woman in his world. They hadn't been in a committed relationship, but he hadn't been seeing anyone else. Nevertheless, the realisation finally dawned that Kelly was not only worried about her father and the company, but she was also consumed by an intense sense of vulnerability, fighting him to keep herself and their child on the only secure ground she knew.

"There is no competition," he said gently, wanting to erase her fears.

Rank disbelief stared back at him. It propelled him forward, his hands spread in an openly inviting gesture. "You can trust me, Kelly. As my wife, you’ll have my absolute commitment and loyalty." Still the rigid stance, arms folded in stubborn resistance, but there was a wavering in her eyes, perhaps a wanting to believe that couldn’t quite be suppressed.