Page 49 of Silence and Surrender

“You know her?” I kept my voice casual, though something in me bristled at how she openly studied him from across the room. I knew that Colton had been involved with her, but I didn’t want him to know the extent of my eavesdropping.

“She was...almost my fiancée.” His voice was neutral. Too neutral. “Five years ago.”

The word ‘fiancée’ hit like a physical blow. I knew there were others before me, knew his reputation for clandestine liaisons in expensive hotel rooms with absolutely no emotional attachment. But this...this was different. I never imagined he’d been that close to someone else before. For a split second, my vision swirled and I saw red.

“She’s coming over,” I murmured, watching Catherine navigate the crowd. “Tell me what happened, Colton.”

“Later.” But his voice had that edge I recognized, the one that meant old wounds were being reopened. It was the same tone he’d used when he told me about how his father had passed.

“Tell me now.” I shifted closer, letting my hand brush his arm. “Quickly.”

“She was a lawyer at a rival firm. We were together for over a year.” The words came out clipped, strictly measured. “I was going to propose in Paris. Then I discovered she’d been sleeping with her managing partner the entire time. Feeding him information about my cases while fucking him.”

The raw pain in his voice made something fierce rise in my chest. Without thinking, I slipped my arm through his, pressing close as Catherine reached us.

“Colton.” Her smile was as cold as her eyes were calculating. “It’s been ages.”

“Catherine.” He managed to make her name sound like a corporate merger. Polite. Empty. Meaningless.

Her eyes zeroed in on my arm linked with his, then my face. Assessing. Sizing me up. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

I felt him start to stiffen so I acted on instinct. Turning to face him, I let my hand slide up his chest, straightening his already-perfect bowtie. The gesture was intimate and possessive, just what I was aiming for. “Darling, you didn’t tell me Catherine would be here.”

Surprise crossed his handsome features, then understanding. His hand settled on my lower back, warm and steady.

“Isabella Delacroix,” I offered my free hand to Catherine with just the right amount of casual elegance. “Though you’ve probably seen my name on the bank’s authentication papers.”

“The art expert.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yes, I’ve heard wonderful things. Though I didn’t realize you and Colton were...”

“Mmm.” I leaned into him slightly, letting my accent thicken. “He’s full of surprises, isn’t he? All that delicious intelligence, hiding such...” I let my eyes drift over him appreciatively. “...unexpected qualities.”

Colton’s hand tightened on my waist. Playing along, but also affected by my words.

“He certainly seems...different.” Catherine’s eyes lingered on the obvious changes in his physique, the new confidence in his bearing. “The gym has been good to you, Colton.”

“Life has been good to me.” His voice carried that quiet authority that I’d grown to love. “Isabella makes sure of that.”

The possessive note in his tone sent heat rippling through me. This wasn’t an act anymore.

“How lovely.” Catherine’s smile turned even colder. “Though do be careful with client relationships. The bank’s top counsel dating its art expert...some might call that a conflict of interest.”

“Some might call sleeping with opposing counsel worse.” The words slipped out before I could stop them, wrapped in faux French politeness.

Colton’s hand flexed against my back—warning or approval, I wasn’t sure.

Catherine’s face froze for just a moment before she caught herself. “Well, this has been delightful, but I see Lord Montgomery waving me over. Colton, always a pleasure. Miss Delacroix...do take care of him. He can be so...needy sometimes.”

With a lingering stare, she turned her back and floated away.

“That was...” Colton’s voice was rough. “Thank you.”

I turned to face him fully, not caring who watched. “She didn’t deserve you.”

He bit his bottom lip, eyes heated. “The Degas in the library still needs authentication.”

“Does it?” I could feel his heart racing under my palm.

“Urgently.” His voice dropped lower. “Unless you’d rather stay here and discuss ex-fiancées.”

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