Page 64 of Signed, Sealed, Married

Off-balance, literally as well as emotionally, she gritted her teeth as she hauled off her heels and tossed them aside, the gravel rough beneath her soles.

It seemed it hadn’t just been privileged male competitors who’d looked down on Adam, but some woman or women who’d made him think poorly of her sex. That saddened her. But not enough to quench her ire.

‘We’ve established I’m not a snob. My problem,’ she poked his solid chest, ‘is youassumingI wanted to marry you after I’d come to know you. There was no discussion. No apology. Nothing. What if I was hanging out for love?’

‘Are you, Gisèle?’

‘No!’ Much as she’d adored her parents, she didn’t want what they’d shared. ‘I saw what grief did to my mother when my father died. She didn’t just lose a husband, she lost herself. She didn’t even have enough left to share with her children. I never want to be that weak.’

‘You could never be that weak.’ His hand captured hers, holding it to his chest and something throbbed through his touch. Strength. Reassurance. ‘You’re a strong woman. That’s one of the things I admire about you.’

‘Not enough to trust me with the truth. Youherdedme into marriage.’

He inclined his head. ‘I should apologise for that. But the truth? You know the truth. I admire you, desire you. I’ve never wanted a woman more. I like what we share, the spark in you, and I’m not just talking about sex. I believe I can make you happy if you let me try. I respect you, Gisèle. I’ll never deliberately hurt you.’

She should pull her hand away but she couldn’t. As if something, his energy, his determination, her own inclination, kept her where she was.

Yet marriage was a crazy idea. She should take him up on his offer to end this now.

Except she didn’t want to.

For the first time she’d found someone she genuinely wanted to be with, someone who accepted her, cared for her and made her feel special. Someone who at last was being honest about their feelings.

‘You don’t get off that easily.’ She drew in a sustaining breath. ‘You say you respect me, but I won’t stand for you making decisions for me. I refuse to be with a man who assumes he knows what I want.’

In the darkness his smile was a flash of white. ‘And if I promise always to talk things over? To ask? Negotiate?’

Something rippled through her like a great tide, flattening the last vestiges of resistance. ‘Then Imightbe persuaded.’

Who was she kidding? The fear that had gripped her when he talked about ending things still reverberated through her.

Adam scooped her up, holding her against his chest, sending excited shivers through her.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Saving your feet from that gravel and taking you where I can persuade you in more comfort.’ His words were a silky caress. ‘If you agree?’

Final chance to end this. That would be the sensible thing to do.

But Gisèle didn’t want to end it. For the first time she wanted to take the daring, risky, phenomenally exciting option.

‘That’s an excellent idea.’

Minutes later they were in the château. There were lofty ceilings hung with glittering chandeliers, honey-coloured wooden floors and glimpses of rooms furnished with a mix of beautiful antiques and comfortable modern furniture.

Adam stopped before a graceful staircase. ‘We’re alone, Gisèle. No staff living in. There’s a light supper in the kitchen.’ He nodded towards the back of the building. ‘Or we could continue this upstairs.’

His glittering eyes made her skin prickle with anticipation. ‘I’m not hungry.’

Not for food. Not when he looked at her like that. Even her indignation faltered under the force of longing.

Minutes later they were in an exquisitely decorated bedroom, walls hung with silk and flowers in crystal bowls scenting the air. A vast bed was made up with snowy linens and a profusion of pillows and embroidered cushions, its surface scattered with petals in every shade from cream to apricot and crimson.

It was a romantic bower. Right down to the sheer curtains pulled back on either side of the bed and the ice bucket with its foil-topped bottle and delicate crystal goblets.

‘You like it?’

Gisèle slowly shook her head. ‘It’s not what I expected.’ She was in awe. No one had ever gone to so much trouble to please her.

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