Page 12 of Signed, Sealed, Married

‘Before the end of the meal.’

He didn’t even have the decency to look smug that he’d put her in this degrading position. They both knew the House of Fontaine urgently needed a saviour.

That more than anything stung.

Fury pierced her brain fog. Her spine stiffened, her chin lifted as she met that moss green stare. Not moss but pond scum, she amended. Slime.

‘You spoke as if you intend to represent the company publicly, since you want me at your side.’ She didn’t wait for him to speak. ‘So I need to tell you that while you might be accustomed to making unreasonable demands elsewhere, in my world courtesy and common decency are considered indispensable. It’s totally unreasonable to throw out such a demand to satisfy a whim. And to reinforce the fact that you think you have me over a barrel.’

Surprisingly Adam Wilde didn’t look annoyed at her outburst. The glint in his eyes looked almost appreciative and this time his smile lifted both corners of his mouth, turning him from saturnine to smack-in-the-chest sexy.

‘I knew you were the woman I needed, Gisèle. You’ve just proved it.’

She goggled. ‘Were you...testingme?’ Her voice was hoarse.

He shrugged. ‘Only a little.’

She sank back in her seat, her bunched shoulders easing down as her heart gradually stopped thundering and slowed to something like its normal rhythm. Relief stirred.

It had been a test.

He hadn’t meant it!

‘I’ll give you until tomorrow to agree.’

CHAPTER THREE

ADAMSAUNTEREDALONGthe narrow street between old buildings that rose several stories.

Early as it was, there was plenty of bustle. Nice’s flower markets were in full swing, buckets of blooms vivid against the cobblestones. Awnings sheltered displays of glossy fruit and vegetables too, prices chalked on small blackboards. Trade was brisk.

He felt that briskness himself though he refused to hurry to the rendezvous. He was eager to cement this deal but arriving early would reveal his keenness. He was too savvy to give Gisèle any option but to agree to his terms.

Gisèle. He felt that familiar clench deep in his body. The flare of heat that had ignited when he’d first seen her in that press conference recording.

He’d felt it again yesterday, entering the restaurant she’d chosen for the meeting. It wasn’t the venue that had impressed him or the delicious meal. It was Gisèle Fontaine.

Right up to the moment he walked into the hotel he’d told himself he had the option not to proceed. He’d acquire her company since it fitted his requirements exactly. But as to the other, acquiring her as his wife, he hadn’t finally decided. It wasn’t as if heneededto marry.

But he’d known as he crossed the room towards her that his instinctive decision was the right one.

When she’d parried his deliberately challenging conversation, his certainty had grown.

Her attempt to win a concession for her staff had aroused admiration.

By the time she’d lifted her chin and lectured him on manners he’d been ablaze with impatience for her.

Marrying her was one of his most inspired ideas.

She was exactly what he required. In fact she was more. It wasn’t just his head telling him she had the qualities he sought. She’d lit a fire in his belly, in his groin, that refused to be quenched.

He wanted her, as a business asset and as a woman.

Adam couldn’t recall the last time he’d had such an all-consuming response to a woman. Insta-lust had been familiar in his youth but these days he was far more discriminating.

Gisèle attracted him on so many levels. She was a rarity. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head. His wayward libido had latched onto her words about him having her over a barrel.

It didn’t matter that she was talking about business. All he could think about was Gisèle, bending forward while he stood behind her, lifting her straight skirt to her hips, spreading her long legs and losing himself in her velvet warmth until she screamed his name, pulsing out her pleasure until he climaxed too.

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