Page 34 of Husband for the Holidays

“Not in a mean way. More like mother–daughter advice. Like, she was always very frank telling me about sex and warning me that pregnancy and babies are harder than anyone tells you. And that once you have a baby with someone, you’re connected for life so, you know, choose wisely. It was a warning not to get into her situation.”

“Your father was never part of your life at all?”

“I saw him a few times a year, but I was really young. My only strong memory is a yelling match when I was five or so. Ilias was thirteen so I asked him about it years later. Dad had tried to talk Mom into letting me go on the circuit with him, but she was afraid he would forget me somewhere or I’d drown. It’s kind of heartening to know he wanted more of a relationship with me, but then he died and...” She shrugged. “It really was on Mom to support me. With Ilias’s money.”

“Ilias would never have begrudged his inheritance going to your upbringing. It was her money when you were a child and it is again. I think you’re letting Antoine’s manipulations get into your head.”

“But he’s notwrong. You’re right that Ilias made it seem natural that Drakos money would pay for my upkeep. I took for granted that it always would, until Antoine called me a freeloader.”

“He isnotone to talk.”

“But he has a point. It’s time that I looked after Mom, not the other way around.”

“You can’t. I’m not saying that to be cruel. It’s the truth.”

She bit her lip, angered by reality, but unable to refute it.

“I understand where you’re coming from, Eloise. Ihatedthat I needed Ilias’s help. I couldn’t have saved my grandfather’s company without him and your allowing me to help you allows me to let go of my own sense of having fallen short.”

“But youshouldn’tfeel that way,” she insisted, taking a few steps toward him. “If Ilias was in this predicament, then fine. You could marry him. But—”

“Don’t make jokes,” he said sharply. “Ilias is one of the few people I ever trusted or cared about. I know where I would be if he hadn’t stepped in when he had. It would look a lot like the ruin you’ve been wallowing in.”

“Nice.”

“True,” he asserted. “And your situation is my fault. I don’t claim to be anything but self-interested, but even I have my limits. Your mother called me family.” His profile flexed with his effort to resist some intense emotion. “You’re supposed to be able to trust your family to support you, not leave you in harm’s way, which is what I did.”

“She didn’t say that to obligate you!”

“Because she doesn’t realize the harmshe’sin. Instead, she feels—sincerely—that there’s something in me worth caring about, the same way your damned brother did. That’s why I’m so ashamed of letting her down. And him.”

He was radiating the coiled energy of a lion with a thorn in his paw, but she was getting the sense this was about more than a twinge of disloyalty to his friend. How could he not think he was worth caring about? She cared about him. She always had.

How to make him see that, though? Without getting rejected again?

There was a knock at the outer door, startling her.

“The jeweler. At least look at what he’s brought.”

CHAPTER TEN

ELOISEWASSTILLdistracted by that glimpse into Konstantin’s psyche as she followed him out to the sitting room.

He let in the jeweler who introduced himself as Girard Pascal. He was somewhere in his thirties and very handsome in a tailored blue suit that set off the dark brown of his complexion. One of his bodyguards stayed outside the door while the other entered and swiftly checked each room before stationing himself against a wall near the door.

The reason for the precaution was obvious once Girard unlocked his case and set out his trays containing millions of euros’ worth of diamond jewelry.

“Oh, my.” Eloise couldn’t help sinking onto the settee, dazzled by the array.

“I can make a custom piece if you don’t see anything that suits,” Girard offered.

“By tomorrow night?” Konstantin asked as he lowered beside her.

“That would be difficult.” Girard closed one eye. “I can definitely resize any of these by tomorrow, though.”

“We’ll need that. Look at these piano fingers.” Konstantin picked up her hand to caress her fingers, then perused the selection. He chose one and slid it onto her finger.

“What do you think?”

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