He couldn’t bear it. The stillness of this place grated on his nerves.
Out here, there was no sharp click of heels on marble floors, no hum
of high–powered engines or distant wail of sirens. Just the endless
expanse of green fields stretching out from the large bay window
before him, dotted with the occasional cluster of trees.
Christmas was around the corner, and his to–do list was a mile long.
Deals needed closing, meetings needed leading, and the project–his
project–was at a standstill because some decisions simply couldn’t
be made without him. And yet here he was, marooned in Willow
Creek, while life back in the city continued without him.
Graham pushed back from the desk, rising to his feet. He stalked to
the window, hands shoved into the pockets of his slacks, his piercing
gaze fixed on the horizon. But he wasn’t really seeing the landscape.
His mind was consumed by a singular thought, one that had taken
root the moment she’d walked back into his life. Isla.
He couldn’t leave. That much he knew. The last time he’d turned his
back, she’d vanished without a trace, leaving nothing behind but an
empty room and a hollowness in his chest he still couldn’t quite
name. The fear of her disappearing again–of never finding her this
time–kept him tethered to this place, no matter how much he hated
- it.
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But this arrangement wasn’t sustainable. He couldn’t live like this,
balancing the weight of his empire on one hand while keeping constant watch over Isla with the other. No, he needed a solution. A
way to anchor her to him permanently.
The answer was obvious, even if she couldn’t–or wouldn’t–see it yet.
Marriage.
It was the only way to ensure she stayed. The only way he could breathe easy, knowing she wouldn’t slip away in the night and leave him haunted by the memory of her absence. But what if she said no?
That question gnawed at him, a rare and unwelcome vulnerability. Graham Lancaster didn’t fail. He didn’t lose. And yet, the possibility of Isla rejecting him loomed large, a threat he couldn’t shake.
His jaw tightened, and then another thought struck him–a solution, simple and foolproof. If she wouldn’t stay here willingly, he would
take her with him. Wherever he went, she would go too.
The idea brought a small, satisfied smile to his lips. It was perfect. No
more sleepless nights wondering if she’d bolt. No more irrational fear
of losing her forever. If she was always by his side, he could keep her
safe, keep her close.
The fear–that gut–wrenching panic he’d felt when she disappeared-
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was something he had never experienced before. Not for anyone, not
for anything. Graham prided himself on his control, on his ability to
remain detached and pragmatic. But Isla shattered all of that. For her, he felt something raw, something dangerously close to need.
But it wasn’t need. Of course not. It was responsibility. That’s all it
was.
He repeated the thought like a mantra. He felt responsible for her,
that’s why he was so protective. That’s why he couldn’t relax, even
with her in the next room at the hotel. It was his responsible nature
that made him decide to keep her close.
So close, in fact, that he wouldn’t just bring her wherever he went-
he’d keep her in his bed at night, too. For peace of mind. For her
safety,
Yes, that was it. It wasn’t attachment. It wasn’t anything more than
duty. Just responsibility,
The smile on his face widened, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He would convince her. One way or another, Isla would stay, and Graham would finally regain the control that had been slipping through his fingers ever since she came back into his life.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
