The Package Deal: Nine Months to Change His Life / From Neighbours...to Newlyweds? / The Bonus Mum. Jennifer Greene

napkins. He soaked a couple in the clear river water, and went to find her. He met her at the edge of the clearing. Whatever had happened was over. She looked wan and shaken and that same twist of his heart happened all over again.

      He wanted to take her into his arms. He wanted to take her into his heart.

      He didn’t know how to.

      For some reason he kept thinking of the night his nanny had been fired. Maggie was a loud, boisterous Australian. She’d bounced into their lives and she’d kept up with all the devilry he and Jake had thrown at her and more. For a while their lives had been fun.

      Had he loved her? Maybe he’d started to, but one hug and she was gone.

      He remembered his mother saying, ‘Keep your emotions to yourselves, boys. I’m tired of interviewing nannies.’ That was good, coming from his mother.

      But if he fell for Mary...

      Enough. He was putting neither of them at risk. Instead of hugging her, he proffered the napkins. Practical-R-Us.

      ‘Thank you,’ she said dully. ‘And thank you for the proposal. It was well meant but I don’t want it.’

      ‘Why not?’

      The question hung. She looked at him, just looked, and it was as if she was seeing everything he had to offer—and found it wanting.

      ‘Because I’m not alone by choice,’ she snapped. ‘Because I love my community. I love my job and my roller-derby team and my dog. I love them. You don’t get that, Ben, because you don’t understand what love is, but I understand it. You’re offering me a part of your world but that involves loneliness forever.’

      She softened then, and the look she gave him was one of sympathy. Sympathy! No one offered Ben Logan sympathy but there it was.