Page 90 of Virgin's Stolen Nights with the Boss

Not,Just you.

Just,You.

‘Joel called me on the night of his accident. He was a mess...crying. He said that since they’d got back from their honeymoon things had changed between him and Seraphina. He was asking for my advice. I just told him to give it time...that marriage couldn’t all be a honeymoon. He agreed—he even laughed. He asked me not to tell anyone that he’d had doubts.’

Elias buried his head in his hands.

‘I swore I wouldn’t. And then...then I heard the accident...’

It felt as if the hot water she lay in had risen to a boil...as if the steam had taken the oxygen from the air as she glimpsed his hell.

Carmen asked the bravest question. ‘Wasit an accident?’

‘Yes!’

He pulled his head from his hands and looked at her. He nodded, certain.

‘I heard it all happen, and when I got there I found out that a truck driver had crossed lanes. It turned out he’d been drifting for a few miles and had fallen asleep. Joel was on his cell phone... Both of them were in the wrong...’

He took the hand that was resting on his arm and toyed with her fingers. He turned her hand over and looked at her palm.

‘You have a long lifeline.’

‘You don’t believe in all that!’ Carmen joked, but she knew he was just taking a moment...focusing on the irrelevant for a moment before diving back into hell.

‘I made a decision to keep it all to myself,’ Elias told her. ‘Once it was clear it had been a dreadful accident, I didn’t see the benefit in telling anyone the content of our conversation, or about what Seraphina had tried to do.’

‘Why?’

‘I didn’t want to hurt my parents any more than they already were. But mainly for Joel...because he was so proud of his marriage. He loved her... When I went to identify his body, I swore to him that I’d take it to the grave...’

‘Some secrets need to be shared,’ Carmen said.

‘Yes, they do.’ He nodded. ‘Carmen, I’m not saying this just for me...’ He looked at her. ‘I’m not unburdening myself out of guilt. I’m telling you this because of what you told me. Your brothers should know. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It’s her shame, not yours.’

‘I’m sorry I left you like that.’

‘Just try asking me next time.’

‘I asked you about Wanda,’ she pointed out.

‘We weren’t together then,’ he said. ‘Anyway, you’ve got a first-class ticket out of here, so you don’t get to hold that over me.’

‘How do you know that?’

‘I was going through your phone,’ he teased, then gave her a look that told her it was a joke. ‘I saw the message flash up.’ He stood up. ‘I have to get ready for the ball now.’

‘I know. Will Seraphina be there?’

‘Yep,’ he said, stripping off. ‘Trying to get a moment alone with me, no doubt.’

‘I’d love a moment alone with Seraphina,’ Carmen muttered. ‘I would finish her.’

‘You probably would!’ He snorted, smiling.

She watched him turn on the huge shower in the centre of the bathroom, but then he came over and picked up the sherry bottle.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked.

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