Bedmates Soulmates
CHAPTER 184

He tried it again with Kayleigh; the test failed there too.

He tried staying away from the villa and from her; it never lasted for more than two days.

Feelings were not business contracts, he realised.

He couldn't just lock them away in a drawer and forget about them.

Jesse sighed.

'Did you forget why you married her?"

'I didn't."

'So what are you going to do now?"

Austyn didn't reply.

He had no answer to that question.

'If she knows you married her because of her father, because you were going to... She's going to hate you for the rest of her life.'

Austyn was not one to waste time with regrets.

Crying over spilled milk changed nothing.

But now he regretted marrying her.

If he'd kept his distance from the beginning, if he'd approached her with an offer of money like he originally intended instead of an offer of marriage, none of this would have happened.

He wouldn't be caught between a rock and a damn hard place right now.

He knew Jesse was right.

Kira would never forgive him if she knew the truth

"It's late. You should go home."

Austyn returned to his cigarette.

Jesse frowned.

He wanted to say something.

Austyn couldn't just drop this bombshell on him and then ask him to leave.

But he didn't know what to say.

If Austyn McCarthy, usually the smartest one of their bunch, couldn't sort out this mess, neither could Jesse.

The doctor closed the door gently on his way out.

He karw this was not over.

Austyn chain-smoked

A ringtone shattered the silence in the study.

The caller ID had a foreign country code.

Austyn frowned, then he remembered the time difference.

It must be close to noon in Trinidonia right now

Rock And A Damn Hard Mace

He answered the call.

'Hi, Mom."

'Am I disturbing your sleep?"

'No. I'm still up.'

Austyn smiled.

His mother's voice sounded good over the phone.

'I was feeling a little better today," Charlotte said. 'So my doctor showed mercy and granted me five minutes of phone. time. I called you straight away. How have you been, my dear boy?" Austyn ground out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"I'm glad you're feeling better. As for me, nothing to complain about. But....."

"But what? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Do you remember 1 told you I got married?"

'Sure. I was so sad I couldn't be there for the wedding."

'There was no wedding ceremony, so you didn't miss anything. Anyway, I think, uh...'

Austyn was at a rare loss for words.

'Let me guess.' Charlotte's voice sounded playful. 'You're in love with her?"

"How'd you-Austyn paused, then he smiled. 'You know me so well.

"Of course I do. Haven't you heard about the telepathic link between mother and child? I know what you're thinking even if we're thousands of miles apart."

'As usual, nothing gets by you."

'So, now that you've finally acknowledged her as your other half, when do I get to meet my daughter-in-law? I want to see what kind of girl could make my son fall head over heels.'

"I'm not falling-Austyn paused. 'Anyway, she's not much to look at."

Charlotte sighed. 'My dear boy, no wonder you couldn't get married till you're in your thirties. Never say something Like that about a woman. I hope you're not foolish enough to have said that to her face?! "Good. At least you're not beyond hope."

Austyn smiled in spite of himself. 'It's just that she's stubborn and bad-tempered. I'm afraid she's going to make a fool of herself when she meets you."

"So what? I don't care. She's spending the rest of her life with you, not me. I don't mind at all. Besides, I doubt she's as bad as you say."

Charlotte perked up at the good news.

She was happy for her son.

"When I can get out of bed, I'll call you. Bring her to see me, okay?"

After a pause, she sighed.

"I hope I get the chance to meet her while I'm still alive. Who knows how long I have till this useless body of mine finally gives out?

His Plaything

Austyn's smile vanished.

His heart felt heavy in his chest.

'Mom, there's something I need to tell you.

'What is it?' Charlotte sat up in bed. 'You sound so serious all of a sudden.'

'My wife... Her father is Leland Hewitt.'

"What?" Charlotte gripped the receiver. 'He's...he's the donor you picked." "Yes,"