LITMIR.BIZ

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sat bolt upright, wincing as her belly grazed the table. ‘The Cam? As in the teenager-you-married-then-walked-away-from Cam? As in love-of-your-life Cam? The Cam we’ve all heard about but never met?’

      He smiled, used to his sister’s dramatics. ‘That’s the one.’

      ‘What’s going on with you two? Did you find her? Are you reuniting?’

      Jodi rested her folded arms on the top of her belly and glared at him. ‘Come on, bro, spill it before I go into premature labour trying to get the teensiest bit of gossip out of you.’

      Chuckling, he tilted his face up to the sun, closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth on his face, knowing it would drive his nosy sister batty.

      ‘Blane, I’m not kidding. Either you tell me this very minute or I’ll get Sandy and Mon and Mum on the phone in a conference call right this very minute and—’

      ‘Okay, okay, hang on to your baby bonnet.’

      He opened an eye and squinted at her. ‘Actually, that conference call mightn’t be a bad idea. Save you the trouble of getting onto the phone and spreading the news the minute I walk out of here.’

      ‘Funny guy.’ She waggled her finger at him in the same way he’d seen her admonish the twins countless times before. ‘Weeell? What’s going on with you two? And, more importantly, when do we get to meet her?’

      Opening his eyes, he sat up and reached for an apricot, cramming it into his mouth and chewing quickly, aware his sis wouldn’t hold out much longer. Curious cats had nothing on her.

      Taking a slug of water, he leaned across the table and sent her a conspiratorial wink. ‘What’s going on? We’re back together, that’s what.’

      Jodi squealed and clapped her hands. ‘I knew it! That’s brilliant, I’m so happy for you.’

      ‘I’m happy, too,’ he said and meant it.

      When he’d first located Cam and put his plans for the house into action, he’d hoped the powerful connection they’d once had would still be alive, that she’d be willing to hear him out and take another chance on them. Now they were a couple again, he could hardly believe his luck.

      ‘I’ve never seen you like this,’ Jodi said, her curiosity evident in her lowered voice, for his youngest sister never spoke in anything lower than a bellow. ‘I’m really looking forward to meeting the woman who can make you look like that!’

      ‘You’ll meet her soon enough.’

      When he’d had enough time to warn her about the Andrews clan and the overwhelming barrage of noise, warmth and bear hugs she’d be at the receiving end of.

      Jodi tilted her chin up in the classic challenging pose of all the Andrews sisters. ‘When?’

      Smiling, he pushed the fruit platter across to her. ‘Here, junior needs his or her daily dose of vitamins.’

      ‘Don’t try to distract me, it won’t work.’ She popped a plump raspberry into her mouth, wincing slightly at its tartness. ‘I want to meet your wife.’

      ‘You will.’

      He just wanted her to himself for a bit longer. After six years apart, six years too long, was that too much for a guy to ask?

      ‘So why the funny look when I mentioned you two having kids?’

      He should have known. Jodi would never let up, but he’d be damned if he sat here and discussed Cam’s medical history with his nosy sister.

      ‘Just leave it alone, Jode. We’ve only just reunited, so give us a break, okay?’

      She fixed him with a shrewd stare, her mouth opening in readiness to pump him for more information and he held up a hand.

      ‘Not another word. Change the subject or I’ll make sure you don’t meet Cam for the next year.’

      ‘You’re no fun,’ she huffed, sending him a killer glare as she nibbled a dry biscuit. ‘You can’t blame me for being curious.’

      ‘Patience, Sis, patience. You’ll meet her soon enough.’

      As for divulging the rest, there was no way he’d be sharing their personal business with his family. The Andrews family was just that: one big happy family with kids taking a starring role.

      If Cam already had doubts about his devotion to her without the bonus of children, he didn’t need his rowdy family poking their prying noses in where they didn’t belong and adding to her skittishness.

      Jodi frowned. ‘Okay, but you better make it soon. Otherwise I’ll definitely get Sandy, Mon and Mum onto you. And you won’t stand a chance of holding us all at bay.’

      ‘Too right.’

      He chuckled, pushing the fruit platter closer to her as he stood. ‘Now, eat up while I go and spend some time with those gorgeous kids of yours.’

      As he headed for the sandpit, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever have any kids of his own…and coming to the same conclusion he had when Cam had first told him. If he had her in his life, it wouldn’t matter. Nothing would, as long as they faced it together.

      ‘You shaved,’ Camryn accused, running a fingertip along Blane’s smooth jaw. ‘And you’re wearing designer jeans and a snazzy shirt! Why didn’t you tell me to dress up?’

      As if she wasn’t in enough of a tizz meeting his family. Now she’d be inappropriately dressed, too.

      He laughed and ran a hand over her hip, gliding over the summer cotton dress she’d finally flung on after pulling out half her wardrobe, his sensual touch going a long way towards calming some of her nerves.

      ‘You look gorgeous. And it’s not dressy. I just thought you might like to see me in something other than work jeans and T-shirts.’

      ‘Actually, I like seeing you without any clothes,’ she purred, sliding a hand up his chest and leaning into him, inhaling as she did so, reassured by his familiar crisp cedar scent.

      He laughed and pulled her in for a swift kiss. ‘Hmm…I’m sure that would go down a treat with my family.’

      His family…She’d been steeling herself all week, ever since she’d agreed to accompany him to this barbecue.

      He’d made it sound casual at the time, just a small get-together, and, while she was curious after hearing so much about the Andrews family, she couldn’t help but worry.

      What if they didn’t like her? It wasn’t as if she’d had much practice playing happy families lately.

      Drawing back, he rubbed her arms up and down. ‘Hey, it’s not going to be so bad, you’ll see.’

      ‘How much have you told them about me?’

      ‘Enough.’

      He winked and, grabbing her hand, tugged her gently towards the ute. ‘Come on, they’ll love you.’

      That was what she was afraid of. He loved his family, had always been close to them, so she was betting his family knew about his dreams for kids, too. So where did that leave her?

      She’d been honest with him on that score, and, while he’d said all the right things after their candid chat at his house, she’d caught him staring at families with kids on the odd occasion, a wistful expression on his ruggedly handsome face. That look had terrified her, as it had confirmed what she’d suspected for a while now. She would never be enough for him no matter how many times he said otherwise.

      Not that she thought for one second he didn’t mean it, for Blane was nothing but sincere. But what if he grew to resent her? What if the endless dramas they went through to have kids—and still failed—put a strain on their marriage they could never recover from? Or the absolute kicker: what if he left her again if she couldn’t give

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