Emily Forbes – Weddings: The Proposals: The Brooding Frenchman's Proposal / Memo: The Billionaire's Proposal / The Playboy Firefighter's Proposal (страница 18)
His eyes grew suspiciously bright. “Why didn’t I think of that?
CHAPTER SIX
LAURA stood there trembling. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone.”
“What if I
Her eyes looked wounded. “I don’t know why you bother to ask me, when we both know you don’t believe a word that comes out of my mouth.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “That’s not true, Laura.”
“I thought you would want to go with your brother. He needs you.”
“I think I’ll wait a few minutes. You gave him an idea. Coupled with his guilt over the accident, he might achieve a little success with Chantelle.”
When she bit her lip like that, her whole persona changed from the confident woman of the world to someone sweet and vulnerable. Which one was she, or was she an amalgamation of both?
“Once before, you mentioned Guy’s guilt about the accident. Why should he feel any blame?”
Raoul rubbed his chest absently. “Apparently they’d had an argument that day, one of the few in their marriage. Chantelle was all set to visit a good friend of hers who lives in Monaco. Guy is superstitious about certain things and he told Chantelle he didn’t want her to drive the Monaco road, because it was too dangerous. Princess Grace died on that road.
“She refused to listen to him on that subject. On that particular day he forbade her to go, but she went anyway and ended up having the accident. Not on that road, as it happens, not even in Monaco. It took place in Nice. She was driving her sports car too fast. It shimmied on a bridge. She lost control and it rolled into some heavy shrubbery where the car lay hidden for four hours.”
Laura sank down on the nearest chair. “How ghastly.”
“It was, for a lot of reasons. Guy took it all on, saying it was his fault he’d upset her, thus the reason she’d gone over the side. When the doctor told her she was fully recovered and could stop using the wheelchair, she reverted to the way she is today.
“At first Guy thought she was teasing to get back at him, but after twelve hours it became apparent something much more serious was preventing her from returning to normal. Needless to say, he’s been going downhill ever since, as has their marriage.”
A gasp escaped her throat. “All they need is this bad news about Paul.” She covered her eyes with her hand. “How serious are his injuries?” she whispered.
“A gash on the side of his left thigh. It took ten stitches.”
“Ouch.”
“He’ll be fine.”
“Was it his fault?”
“No. A truck passed another car and drifted into the bike lane, sending Paul flying.”
“That must have been so frightening for him.” She jumped back up from the chair, obviously too restless to sit. “Your family can’t take much more.”
Raoul studied her well-shaped head, marveling at the color of her pale-blond hair. It had an ethereal quality, all the more stunning on such a striking woman. Today she wore it loose from a side part. Of all the styles, he liked it the best.
“I couldn’t agree more.” He moved closer to her. “My brother is more fragile than you know. Whatever goes on between you and your husband is your own business, but if it could hurt Guy, then it becomes
A nervous hand went to her throat. “Why haven’t you ever talked about your wife?”
Her response exasperated him. “Because this is about Chantelle and Guy, not me. Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“That depends on your definition of the word.”
“You mean Guy’s going to help you.”
She flashed him a warning glance. “I’m afraid that’s none of
“I’ve noticed,” he said sharply, growing more frustrated every second. “What would you like to know?”
He watched her swallow, another telltale sign she was growing more and more uncomfortable. “Nothing.”
Such an innocuous word said so innocuously. “Surely you’ve wondered why I don’t seem to have a household of my own.”
“Not really.”
“That’s a lie.”
She folded her arms against her shapely waist. “Since you’re now reverting to your baser instincts, I guess that’s my cue to ask the ten-million-dollar question.”
He smiled wickedly and her insides lit. “It’s nice to know you put that high a price on the answer.”
She tossed her head, causing her hair to float above her shoulders. “All right, I give up. Why did you and your wife divorce?”
“She lied to me about something I can never forgive her for. All the time we were married I thought she wanted children as much as I did. We planned to have a family, but she never had any intention of getting pregnant.”
Something flickered in the depths of those green orbs. “She did a very cruel thing to you. I’m sorry.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me anything else?” he prodded.
“I don’t need to. A lie says it all, don’t you think?”
If he didn’t miss his guess, that was pain he heard in her voice. “Not all. The follow-up might be. Am I sad about my marriage being over? Am I happy it came to an end?”
Her expression closed. “If you’re sad, then it’s a tragedy. If you’re happy, then it speaks for itself.”
“What about
“You mean am I in a state of bliss, or someplace lower?”
A tight band constricted his breathing. “I think the fact that you’re living under Guy’s roof says a lot.”
“There you go, then.” She smiled. “You have your answer.”
His hands shot to her shoulders. He shook her almost roughly. “Don’t do this, Laura. I’m not asking you these questions out of some twisted desire to torment you. Has your husband been abusive to you?”
She averted her eyes. “Not physically.”
“But there are other ways.”
“That’s true, but I don’t wish to discuss it, Raoul.” Her breathing had grown shallow. “How long have you known my married name was Stillman?”
“Not long.”
Her eyes filled. “Then why didn’t you confront me immediately instead of plunging in the dagger last night?”
He’d only meant to get the truth about her feelings for her husband out in the open, but things were fast escalating out of control. He found himself kneading her upper arms not covered by her blouse. His thumbs smoothed her skin with its golden glow. Her body was warm and fluid. Fragrant.
“Last night still haunts me, so I’ll ask it another way. Is fear of your husband the reason you’ve sought Guy’s help?”
Her lips were only inches apart from his. “After the history between us, why would it possibly matter to you?”
“Because you’re a married woman, and I need to kiss you again or go slowly out of my mind.”
She quivered against him. He felt her warm, sweet breath on his lips as she said, “You’ve already done that on several occasions.”
“Not like this …”
With his conscience nowhere in sight, he covered her mouth hungrily. She’d been a temptation since he’d first seen her in Guy’s living room enamoring all his male guests.
“We mustn’t—” she cried, refusing him entry. Not to be defeated, he kissed his way around her lips, finding every line and curve, lingering on the fuller parts. That brought another small gasp, giving him the entrée he craved. He slid his hands over her back and pulled her into him so he could drink deeply.
She was ready for him, just like last night. Her little moans closed any escape hatch he should have been looking for. Slowly covering every inch of skin, his mouth moved to her throat where the pulse at the base throbbed wildly.
Raoul thought he’d known rapture before, but never like this. “You’re so beautiful, Laura. I ache whenever I think about you, let alone look. I want you.”
She reached up to cup his face before pressing a lingering kiss to his lips. “There’s nothing like it, is there? A fire that burns so hotly you think you can’t live without it.” Her eyes burned with that fire. “But somehow we do.” One more short kiss and she eased out of his arms.
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