Page 36 of One Hot Deal

"To shut her up.I doubt she knows what color that is.Nobody does."

He nods."Ah, I see."

Lord Sommerleigh trots down the hall, and I head outside to find Diana.

I finally track her down on the far side of the garden, well away from the house, just as she's turning down the dirt path that leads to the summer house.I would call it a gazebo, but I'm not British.

"Wait up, Diana," I call out to her.

She stops and turns halfway toward me.Her brows wrinkle."What are you doing?"

"Coming to find you."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to see you."I move closer, leaving an arm's length between us."I think we should talk."

"About what?If you've changed your mind about our deal—"

"I haven't.But I'd like to get to know you better."

"Why?"

She seems honestly confused by my statement.I knew I'd be facing an uphill battle to get her to open up and talk to me, like adults having a normal conversation, but I hadn't expected this steep a slope ahead of me.Do I want this enough to fight for her?Yeah, I do.

"Let's go to the summer house," I say."It's a private spot where we can talk about everything.Is that such a bad thing?"

"No, I suppose not."

"Then you'll come with me?"

She wraps her arms around herself."Yes, I will."

We walk side by side down the dirt path until we reach the summer house, then ascend the steps.Inside the structure, benches built into walls offer a place to sit.I settle onto a bench and expect Diana will choose a spot further away from me.Instead, she sits beside me with only a foot separating us.

"This is a beautiful spot," I say."But why did you want to come here alone?"

She stares up at the roof for a moment, then looks at me."I needed to think.With Pippa coming home, I have to reconsider what I want to do."

"About what?"

"Everything."

I think I finally get why she needed to find a solitary place and why Avery wanted me to know Diana had come out here alone.This time, I don't think it's meddling.Avery probably assumes I can make Diana feel better or at least get her to tell me what's wrong.My sister might be overestimating how much Diana trusts me.

But I'm about to find out either way.

Chapter Fourteen

Diana

When I'd woken this morning, I'd felt as if a weight had been lifted off my chest and I could breathe again.My only regret was that I hadn't let Derek kiss me last night, and I spent most of today wondering if I should tell him I do want that.Our kiss a few days ago had affected me more than I wanted to admit.But the more time I spend with Derek, the better I feel about…everything.

Until an hour ago.My hopes had evaporated in an instant.

"You can tell me what's wrong," Derek says."I'm a good listener.Just ask Rosalyn and Avery.Even Hugh would vouch for me."

"I don't need references.You've been guarding me for three months, which means I trust you already."

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