Page 46 of Awakened in Her Enemy's Palazzo

‘My sister is very beautiful, successful—and scarily smart.’

‘I’m sure she would agree with that assessment. I met her once.’

Grace tensed. ‘Did you sleep with her?’

The question was out of her mouth before her self-censoring facility had kicked in.

‘Sleep with her?’ He laughed. ‘I can’t honestly remember what the woman looked like,’ he admitted. ‘But what struck me most was her pig-headed confidence that she was right about—I think—everything. It must be nice to be so utterly convinced of your own infallibility.’

She was struck with how right he was about Hope, who never suffered a moment’s doubt. Though, considering its source, the comment struck Grace as uniquely funny.

‘You should know!’

She stopped, a look of horror spreading across her face, as she realised how after this evening’s events that was the wrong joke to make on so many levels.

‘Relax,’ he soothed.

‘If I hadn’t found that diary and read it you wouldn’t know.’

And we might not be in bed.

Actually, strike themight. He had reached out last night because he’d wanted to forget, and she had been handy.

Ready and willing, mocked the voice in her head.

‘I’m glad you did. I’m glad I know.’

Grace wasn’t sure she believed him—she had witnessed his devastation last night.

He read the doubt in her face. ‘Everyone deserves the truth, no matter how painful that truth is. Without the truth you can’t make an informed decision. I have based all my decisions on a lie. Oh, I know why he—my father—lied, but it was wrong.’

She reached out and touched his shoulder.

‘For a billionaire workaholic, you sound very grounded,’ she added naughtily.

His eyes crinkling at the corners, he threw back his head and laughed.

She watched with approval. ‘Maybe laughter isn’tthebest medicine,’ she said. ‘But it’s up there...just underneath wild, head-banging sex.’

She felt his eyes on her face. He wasn’t smiling or laughing. He was looking tense—she could almost see the tension radiating out of his warm body.

‘Did I say that out loud?’

‘I happen to be in complete agreement with you on the subject,’ he purred, rolling over on one elbow as he pushed her fair hair back from her face. ‘They say abstinence is character-building, but I’m willing to take the risk if you are.’

He leaned forward, but Grace held her hand against his, preventing him from kissing her, knowing that once he did she’d be toast and she’d never ask.

‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, Theo,’ she began hesitantly, ‘but last night...things are a bit...well, blurry. And I was a bit focused on—Well, the thing is, did you take precautions?’

The expressions flickering across his face settled into tenderness. ‘I did use a condom. I would never be so selfish as to risk an unwanted pregnancy. You can relax. I will look after you. Will you trust me to do that,cara?’

‘Of course!’ It was not something she even needed to think about.

For some reason she couldn’t fathom, her response made him scowl and look severe. ‘You are safe with me, but you shouldn’t be so trusting—not all men are so careful with their partners.’

She started to sit up. ‘Can I wait until you kick me out of the bed before I go looking for your replacement?’ she enquired acidly. ‘Do you want to vet him or run a security check?’

‘Calm down,’ he said, placing a restraining hand on her breast. ‘No insult intended. I know you can look after yourself. I’ve been on the receiving end of your incinerate-at-fifty-paces stare.’

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