Page 54 of Seduced By You

No. That’s crazy.

It was the occasion. That was all. I’d venture that lots of silly decisions took place at weddings, only for the couple to have second thoughts later. A bit like baby showers. They created this false realm where every woman there instantly wanted a baby. I was imagining things that weren’t there.

“That’s some nose you’ve got on you, Kingcaid.” Look at me, reverting to sarcasm to hide behind. Who’d have thought it? “You’re primed for a role at airport security. Sniffer human as opposed to sniffer hound.” I laughed, ruffling his hair, which must have grown three inches in the last couple of months. “You’ve got the shaggy look to pull it off.”

“No thanks to my mother.”

We danced to another couple of tracks, returning to our seats when the lights dimmed and the live band came onstage. As the lead singer belted out the first line, I picked up my handbag and waved it at Kadon.

“Going to powder my nose,” I shouted over the music.

I made my way outside the ballroom to the ladies’ toilets across the expansive Victorian-tiled hallway. I freshened up, applied a new coat of lipstick, and gave myself a final talking-to over this fantastical nonsense about me and Kadon. It was a good thing we were leaving in the morning. By nine o’clock, we’d be on our way to Heathrow Airport, and by four in the afternoon, we’d be back in Saint Tropez.

A part of me wished the French air traffic controllers were still on strike and we’d get to enjoy another stop-off in Paris, but the far more sensible part of me called that a disaster waiting to happen. The last thing I needed was to fall at the final hurdle and spew out some twaddle under the influence of a crisp Sauvignon by propositioning Kadon.

Wherever I went to recharge my batteries, a holiday hookup with some fit, tanned guy should be at the top of my wish list when choosing a destination. Australia might fit the bill. Bondi Beach was crammed with gorgeous, bronzed, blond-haired Adonises. A few orgasms, and this imaginary attraction to Kadon would disappear in a hedonistic haze.

I felt better already.

Clutching my bag, I left the bathroom.

Oh, great.

Benedict.

What did he want?

“Have you got a minute, Annaleesa?” He palmed the back of his head, his lips pressed together in a slight grimace.

“I suppose so. Congratulations, by the way.”

His brow furrowed almost as if he couldn’t figure out what I was congratulating him for.

Good luck, Fenella.

“Oh, yeah. Thanks.” He gripped my elbow. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”

I wrenched my arm upward. “I’m fine here. What is it, Benedict?”

Pulling on his earlobe, he shuffled his feet as if the floor were suddenly hot. “I don’t love Fenella. I never did. It’s you I love.”

I widened my eyes. “What?”

He cleared his throat. “I’ve missed you so much, Annaleesa.” His eyes beseeched me. “Please forgive me.”

I sighed. “Benedict…”

“Please, Annaleesa. I have to stay married to Fenella for the sake of my career. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be together.”

Okay, the man was officially insane. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“An affair.” He ran his fingertip down my bare arm. I almost threw up all over his expensive tux. “You could be my mistress.”

Ah, hell… I’d lost the bloody bet with Kadon. This dickhead had cost me a hundred euros and having to suffer through Kadon’s smugness for several hours when I told him he was right about Benedict suggesting an affair.

“You’remarried,Benedict. You took vows.”

“So.” He shrugged as if the words he’d spoken in front of the minister a few short hours ago had meant nothing. Clearly, they hadn’t.

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