Page 58 of Signed, Sealed, Married

He had a lot of catching up to do.

It had been a mistake, leaving her in Paris. An even bigger mistake not to return until the wedding. But at the time it had felt imperative.

The discovery that she’d been a virgin on top of what she’d faced in the past had been a punch to the gut. A punch of conscience.

For once Adam hadn’t thought through his decision. He’d acted solely on instinct that told him to give her space. If he’d stayed they wouldn’t have left the bedroom for days. That wasn’t the way she deserved to be treated.

More, it was clear he’d done badly, pushing a woman who’d already dealt with so much into what she’d called his devil’s deal. He’d felt sick hearing her story of betrayal and sexual predation.

Gisèle might have initiated their lovemaking, but an inner voice told him he should have resisted. She’d been shaken up mere hours before, reliving past horror. She’d been vulnerable.

Adam should have held strong. Better if he’d returned to his suite or hit the pavements of Paris to pound some restraint into himself.

‘Where are we going?’

‘Out of town for a few days. Somewhere the press won’t badger us.’ He was sick of paps snapping photos whenever they appeared in public. ‘Your luggage has gone ahead.’

He felt her sit straighter. Because he’d arranged it without asking her? If she’d been around to ask he would have. But Gisèle didn’t complain. She’d learned to choose which battles she’d bother fighting.

He admired that. Despite the regrettable tension between them, he looked forward to persuading her to forget her annoyance.

‘That won’t be convenient for business.’

‘We’ll have a break.’

‘A honeymoon?’ Did he imagine her voice cracked? ‘That’s hardly necessary.’

Adam disagreed. But he’d choose his way carefully. He’d made errors and had a lot of ground to make up with his wife.

Satisfaction filled him at the word. Wife.

When he didn’t respond Gisèle continued. ‘You’ll go stir crazy without work. You have meetings, conference calls and reports all day. In the evenings we’re always out so you can network or wheel and deal. You never switch off.’

It was true. Adam hadn’t built his success by resting on his laurels. But he didn’t correct her to say their busy social schedule wasn’t all about business. Much of it had been showing off the prize on his arm—Gisèle Fontaine, classy, desirable and socially accepted, the face of his prestigious new acquisition.

‘The change will do me good.’

Angela had been at him for ages to take some down time.

‘Hmph.’

She didn’t sound convinced and he wasn’t ready to admit his priorities had shifted. Success was still vital but it didn’t hold the same urgency as the need to be with Gisèle.

Adam smiled grimly at the fantasies he’d harboured about honeymooning with his new wife. Gisèle had been a lot more amenable and welcoming in those.

They’d left the city when Gisèle spoke again. ‘Tell me more about why you wanted Fontaine’s.’

He glanced across to find her twisted in her seat, watching him. Funny how dissatisfying it was that his bride was more interested in business than inthem.

And wasn’t that a change for him?

‘I told you. I saw an opportunity for long-term profit.’

‘Your mother told me how thrilled she was that you were acquiring it.’ Gisèle paused. ‘She said when things were tough after your father died, her big treat was a day trip into the city, window shopping. Getting her makeup done for free by a Fontaine’s representative.’ He felt her gaze on him. ‘She said it was a family day out, trying free samples in the stores and picnicking in the park.’

‘You think I acquired it out of sentimentality?’ He shrugged. ‘Perhaps subconsciously that made me consider a cosmetics company instead of dismissing it out of hand. But my decision was based on sound business factors.’

‘Was that all?’

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