Page 178 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

Ah, there she was. His scanning gaze had finally spotted Stella conversing with a handful of people. She was smiling, looking relaxed and engaged. Some of his tension eased.

“I see some people I need to speak with, but there’s a tennis bracelet of blue and white sapphires I expect you’ll want for Stella. They’ll go nicely with her ring. Be warned. I plan to run up your bids. I like to see my wife smile, too.”

Atlas prickled, feeling caught revealing his crush on his own wife, but Rafael was already walking away.

The other man wasn’t wrong, though. It cost him a pretty penny, but the bracelet was perfect for Stella. He made sure that he won it for her.

CHAPTER TEN

THEY’D BEEN MARRIEDtwo months by the time they returned to London. Atlas said they needed to be in town ahead of the quarterly board meeting, but Stella suspected his real purpose was collecting Carmel from her stay at the clinic.

Atlas had spoken to his sister at least twice a week while she’d been there. Stella had noticed it was always under the guise of asking something about work, but it allowed him to check on her and let her know he was there if she needed him, not that she seemed to want anything to do with him.

Carmel faltered when she saw them waiting in the lobby for her.

“Did Daddy demote you to chauffeur?” She searched in her handbag for something.

“I haven’t spoken to him since the party, but I told Chester to expect us for lunch. Unless you’d rather stay in the city?”

“God no. I’m not ready for the brunch circuit.” She set aside a romance novel and found her sunglasses, putting them on her nose. Then she picked up the romance novel and waved it at Stella. “Thank you for these. I haven’t finished this one, but I got through everything else and left them in the library. It’s a nice change from all thePositive Thinking Solves Everythingdreck that’s in there.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed them.” Stella had ordered boxes of books for Carmel three times, mostly to let her know she was thinking of her. “I started reading romance to improve my English, but they always make me feel better if I’m having a rough day.”

“Did you read the one where the hero is a minotaur?” She dipped her sunglasses down her nose to peer over them.

“Oh, I know!” Stella couldn’t help laughing. “It’s good, right? But also, what?” The premise involved milking bulls.

“Group therapy turned into book club over that one. Doesheknow you’re reading books like that?” She thumbed toward Atlas.

“What book? What minotaur?” Atlas frowned between them.

“Shh,” Stella admonished. “What he doesn’t know is not hurting him. At all.”

“Are you saying my brother is reaping the benefits from you reading sexy books? Ew… No. Too much information.” Carmel pushed the bridge of her sunglasses up her nose and tossed her hair, but she wore a reluctant smile of amusement as she sailed out the door.

“Do I?” Atlas asked in an undertone as he held the door for Stella to follow Carmel.

“Are you complaining?”

“Not at all. But I draw a line at putting on animal costumes.”

“Your loss,” she teased, making him smirk.

They continued to banter and talk books as Atlas drove them to the estate, but Carmel grew subdued as they arrived. Chester let them into the cavernous foyer and directed them to “the afternoon parlor” where Oliver waited. He stood at the fireplace holding a glass of something amber.

“Brandy?” Atlas said with angry astonishment. “On the day your daughter comes home from sixty days in rehab?”

That’s when Stella realized why Atlas had been so intent on bringing Carmel home himself. She really was married to the most protective, lovable man in the world.

“Not to worry, Daddy. I’m completely cured. Just like last time,” Carmel said with deep irony as she walked across to offer her cheek.

“Good to have you home, love. I’ve missed you,” Oliver said indulgently, then lifted his malevolent gaze to Atlas. “What makes you thinkyou’rewelcome here after causing this?” He jerked his head disparagingly at Carmel.

“I thought we could lunch together like adults and discuss the transition. Or define our battle lines,” Atlas said, tone cool and even. “Your choice.”

“Lines,” Oliver scoffed. “As though you don’t cross them when it suits you. You love to pretend superiority over me, then walk in here using women as your shield.”

So he had noticed Stella was here. He hadn’t spared her a single glance so she had presumed she was invisible.

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