Page 33 of Signed, Sealed, Married

Gisèle tugged free and moved towards his sports car that a valet had driven up. She didn’t look at Adam as he opened her door and her thanks were terse.

He got into the driver’s seat and accelerated down the driveway. ‘I’m sorry to cut the evening short.’ He didn’t offer an explanation. He’d rather she didn’t know about Blake’s prurient interest. ‘But if you’d like to go on somewhere... A nightclub—?’

‘No thanks.’ Her head was turned away and she spoke to the passenger side window. ‘I want to go home.’

‘You’re tired? You don’t look it.’

He’d felt the energy coursing through her as they walked through the villa, as if he held a live wire. Besides, though he wanted to escape Blake and his cronies, Adam wasn’t ready for the evening to end.

‘Don’t I?’ Gisèle’s face showed pale in the darkness as she turned. ‘Appearances are deceiving. Our first appointment was at eight this morning and it’s been a long day. Working in the evening too takes a toll.’

‘Working!’ He’d taken her to the most exclusive party on the Côte d’Azur. Despite the distaste lingering on his tongue, or because of it—since he’d made her the subject of speculation—his tone sharpened. Or maybe because she classed an evening with him as work. ‘Millions would give their eye teeth to attend tonight’s event.’

‘Millions, but not me. Though I did get to promote our new product range with some guests.’

Adam’s hands tightened on the wheel but he resisted the urge to floor the accelerator. She was reminding him her focus was the company, not him.

He told himself not to react. To play a waiting game because he knew—surely he was right—her protests hid an attraction that matched his.

The journey passed silently, Gisèle apparently fascinated by the nightscape and Adam driving with tremendous care as he battled an uprush of adrenaline and anger.

She opened her door as he pulled into the kerb, but Adam was on the pavement as she alighted. ‘I’ll walk you to your door.’

‘There’s no need. It’s just there.’

Gisèle had reached her limit. She couldn’t bear another moment in Adam Wilde’s company.

Sophisticated nun, indeed!

She’d disliked their host tonight from the moment he’d leered at her when Adam wasn’t watching. His insult about her dressing like a starchy schoolteacher or a nun didn’t surprise her, though his tone had made her skin crawl.

What had gutted her was her companion’s response.

You invited it, wearing the most buttoned-up dress you own. Because you didn’t want Adam to think you were encouraging him.

Perversely, it had hurt when he’d said sneeringly that she made asophisticatednun, then turned to gawk at the nubile beauties stripping by the pool. He’d made it clear what sort of woman he preferred.

Even while they pretended to be together!

She’d known since puberty she’d never be a classic beauty or stunningly sexy. She’daimedfor sophistication, spent years learning to appear that way, pretending her strong nose and eyebrows were assets. Learning to present herself confidently.

He’d made that achievement feel hollow.

Facing her limitations hurt as it hadn’t in years.

What did you expect? That he secretly pined for you? His preference for staggeringly sexy women is on the public record. Those melting looks he gives you are an act.

Gisèle knew that. Why be upset when he dismissed her so easily? She should celebrate that he didn’t find her desirable.

‘What’s wrong, Gisèle? Did someone say or do something to upset you?’

Adam stepped before her, blocking her way.

The streetlight showed his frown and a twist to his lips that seemed to reflect the broken line of his nose. He looked...concerned.

‘Tell me, Gisèle. I’ll sort them out.’

The offer, in that husky growl, stunned her. Gisèle always stood on her own two feet. This offer to act on her behalf was strangely moving.

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