Page 74 of Signed, Sealed, Married

Large hands closed around her upper arms. She would have shrugged them off except she looked up and read Adam’s shock. He appeared as unhappy as she felt.

His voice was hoarse. ‘There’s no one else. Only you, Gisèle.’

She wanted to hug those words tight. But actions spoke louder than words, didn’t they? ‘Yet you want to be rid of me. Like you want to divest yourself of the company.’

‘It’s not like that. This isnecessary. I’m trying to right a terrible wrong.’ His grip eased, hands sliding around to caress her back. ‘I’ve treated you badly, Gisèle, and I’m attempting to make up for it.’

She frowned, trying to make sense of this, trying to ignore the way her body arched into those sweeping hands.

‘What you’ve done is confuse me. What’s going on?’

His mouth ticked up at one corner in a smile so tight it looked like it hurt.

‘I wanted you from the moment I saw you. You know that.’ Gisèle’s needy heart flipped over but she made herself stand tall, waiting, even if she did shuffle a little closer. ‘I’ve never done that before—forced a woman I wanted into a corner. Brought undue pressure to bear.’ He shook his head. ‘I should have known I was getting in over my head.’

Hewas in over his head? Gisèle licked her lips and swallowed. She was completely out of her depth.

‘I thought I was being canny. It was only later I realised how unforgiveable my behaviour really was. When I found out you were sexually innocent, and how you’d been taken advantage of before, I felt so guilty I couldn’t face you. But I came back for the wedding because conscience or no conscience, I had to have you.’

They were so close now she had to brace her palms on his chest or fall against him. Through his shirt she felt the quick hammer of his heart, as fast as hers.

‘Then I discovered you’d had no choice about marrying me. I’d told myself you could have walked away from the deal if you didn’t fancy it.’ His bark of laughter was harsh. ‘My ego told me you fancied me. That despite everything you wanted me. But it turned out you’d been tied because of Julien’s illness and had no choice. EventhenI couldn’t let you go as you deserved.’

Gisèle frowned. He didn’t sound like he wanted to ditch her. He sounded as tormented as she felt. The ache inside eased a little. Hope stirred.

‘What changed?’

Another of those taut smiles as his gaze met hers and she fell into moss green depths.

‘I realised what I’d avoided acknowledging. I love you, Gisèle.’

She felt her heart bump her ribs at his admission. It seemed too incredible to be true. But already he was moving on, speaking in a husky voice that signalled deep emotion.

‘I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy and make up for my actions. It’s not enough to apologise and tell myself you’re content now. I need to know forsure. I need to make itright. I have to give you back the power I stole so you have a choice.’

Gisèle swayed, buffeted by a rush of shocked understanding. He cared for her.Lovedher. And he was trying to redress past wrongs. Because he wasn’t a bad man, merely flawed like everyone else.

Trust Adam to make reparations with the most outlandishly generous gesture! He was always larger than life. With him everything was magnified. The scale of his ambition. The depth of feeling he aroused in her. The magic of his lovemaking. His determination. His sheer, masculine charisma. Even his guilt and contrition.

Gisèle’s chest squeezed as the truth sank in.

She leaned into his reassuring heat and strength. ‘You’regivingme and Julien the House of Fontaine so I’ll be free to choose whether I want to be with you?’

Adam nodded, his mouth a tight line, a frantic pulse throbbing at his temple.

It was the most extraordinary thing she’d ever heard.

But he was serious. She saw it in his face, felt it in his hammering heart and tense muscles.

‘I love you, Gisèle. I want you to choose me. I want to be worthy of you. Nothing else matters.’

For a moment she basked in the glory of that.

‘It’s not because you’ve lost interest in—’

‘Lost interest!’ He gathered her close. ‘If you tell me to go, I will. But never, for a moment, think that.’ He swallowed. ‘I’m trying to be a better man. More self-aware and respectful. More loving.’

She drew a sustaining breath, almost impossible to do when her emotions were a riot of shock and utter joy.

---