Page 67 of Worth the Risk

The olive-green sequinned dress shimmered in the deck lights, a form-fitting sleeveless thing that slithered to the floor with high splits that showcased her spectacular legs when she moved.

Dumbstruck, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Gemma and Giles stared, too, their speculative gazes shifting from me to Leonora, but I was too busy staring at the sensational woman gliding towards me to pay them any attention.

Because in that moment, watching her walk towards me, I knew I wasn’t ready to root Leonora out of my life. Not by a fucking long shot.

Giles cleared his throat pointedly.

Unable to stop myself from touching her, I slid my hand around Leonora’s waist under the pretext of nudging her forward.

‘This is Gemma, and her husband, Giles. Meet Leonora Branson.’

Leonora smiled. Pleasantries were exchanged before I beckoned to the hovering waiter. ‘Champagne?’

Half expecting her to refuse, I was pleasantly surprised when she smiled. ‘Thank you. I’m sorry for being tardy. An unexpected phone call.’

‘No worries. We’ve been admiring this beautiful boat,’ Giles gushed.

‘Bloody hell, put your tongue back in your head, Giles,’ Gemma teased.

Giles choked. Gemma laughed, and Leonora joined in a moment later.

Something green and slimy slithered inside me. ‘It’s not that bloody funny,’ I grumbled.

Leonora shot me a look, more than a trace of cool detachment lingering in her eyes. Hell, I just couldn’t seem to stop digging myself into a hole.

‘So, how did the two of you meet?’ Gemma asked.

‘Leonora owns this yacht with a consortium of investors.’

Giles stared at Leonora with wide-eyed adoration. ‘No bloody way.’

Leonora smiled. ‘Until I find a buyer.’

‘It’s for sale?’

‘Not to you, my darling, so stop your slobbering. We can’t afford it. Not with four children and another one on the way,’ Gemma snapped.

Giles gave a wounded groan.

‘Perhaps if you stop getting me pregnant every time I blink in your direction, we’ll be able to afford a vessel like this when you’re sixty.’

The ashen void inside me threatened to choke the life out of me. Over the buzzing in my ears I heard Leonora offer congratulations. I attempted to speak but my words locked in my throat.

Three pairs of eyes swung to me, each holding various degrees of wariness.

‘Everything okay?’ Leonora murmured.

I forced a nod. ‘Yes. Fine.’ I glanced pointedly at my watch. ‘Dinner should be ready, right?’

Leonora spotted my evasiveness and her eyes shadowed. ‘Yes. Shall we go in?’

Giles offered his arm to Leonora. I swallowed my jealousy and offered mine to Gemma.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ Gemma asked.

My smile felt tight. ‘Frankly? No. But will you consider forgiving past transgressions if I say I’m working on it?’

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