Page 26 of Signed, Sealed, Married

‘Let me help you.’

Adam had stopped at the top of a ladder. Below a tender waited to take them ashore.

‘No, thanks. I can manage.’

She was grateful she’d worn trousers. Imagine the paparazzi photographs if she’d worn a short skirt.

You don’t own a short skirt. Your wardrobe is full of tailored business clothes.

Even the casual clothes she wore in private tended to conceal rather than reveal.

Gisèle’s foot slipped on a rung but she caught herself.

‘Easy there. You’re almost down.’ His deep voice came from below.

She took the last rungs slowly, holding on to the ladder as she turned. Adam waited for her. With deliberate slowness he reached out and grasped her elbow as if to steady her, his touch warm and reassuring. As if she weren’t already perfectly balanced on the small boat.

It was a solicitous gesture, or would seem so to an onlooker. Only she could see the amusement lighting his eyes, making them glow like sunlight dappling water. ‘Okay, Gisèle?’

Her immediate thought was that he laughed silently at her expense, because of the boundaries she’d set. Yet now she wasn’t sure. Something passed between them and it felt as if he shared a jokewithher. As if it were the two of them against the world.

If you believe that you’ve got rocks in your head!

‘Fine, thanks.’ Gisèle slipped free and moved away to take a seat.

She refused to fall for his charm. She’d met plenty of corporate sharks, focused on winning at all costs. From what she’d seen, Adam Wilde would beat all of them.

Relaxing in his presence wasn’t an option. This was business.

A fact borne out when they reached his villa. As soon as she’d taken a seat in a luxurious sitting room, one of his staff arrived with papers. Contracts.

Gisèle forced herself not to flinch as she took them, though everything inside froze at what she held. An agreement to sell her family heritage to a stranger.

So much for the illusion of a tentative bond growing between them.

She fixed her gaze on Adam as his assistant left. ‘I’ll need to discuss the details with my brother before we sign.’

If she’d expected to discomfort him, she was disappointed. He didn’t look in the least perturbed.

‘Naturally. But the second document isn’t for your brother. It’s a private contract between us. I want it signed before you leave. It covers the matters we discussed this morning.’

‘This morning? You’ve had no time—’

He shrugged and, looking up from her seat, Gisèle saw the leashed energy in his tall frame. Though it wasn’t his physical power that daunted her, it was his non-stop drive to achieve what he wanted in the quickest possible time. He was like a force of nature, unstoppable.

The idea would unnerve her if she let it.

‘My legal team was on standby. We already had a contract ready for signature. It was easy to insert text to cover your requirements.’

Thatwas what he’d been doing in the back of the limo. She hadn’t known whether to be annoyed at the way he’d ignored her while he was busy on the phone or grateful for the respite.

She’d thought she’d have more time to devise an escape plan before signing anything. But he had her where he wanted her. His reputation for ruthless efficiency was well earned.

Gisèle swallowed, tasting hot metal on her tongue. There would be no escape.

Her breath hitched as if someone wrapped a tightening band around her chest. Not someone.Adam Wilde.

‘Would you like tea or coffee while you read it?’

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