Page 28 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

‘Of course. I’ve arranged for her to come in an hour—that should give you plenty of time to see how you feel about her and see how she interacts with Lexi.’ Daniel looked at his watch. ‘I have to take some calls in my study. You’ll find a range of dresses for this evening in your dressing room. It’s a black-tie event.’

He was turning to go and, feeling claustrophobic again, Mia said, ‘That’sifI go.’

The tiniest of smiles played around the corner of Daniel’s mouth, making Mia remember how it had felt to be kissed by him. All-consuming. Drugging. Addictive. She’d never forgotten.

She half expected him to say something smart, arrogant, but all he did say was, ‘Of course. Only if you feel comfortable enough to leave Lexi for a few hours.’

He turned and left and Mia felt curiously deflated.

There was a sound and movement from the stroller in the corner. Lexi was waking up. Mia welcomed the distraction—anything to avoid thinking about their new situation and the very real possibility that she would be appearing in public in a few hours on Daniel Devilliers’ arm.

‘She’s adorable.’

Mia smiled at the woman, who was just a year or two younger than her. They were sitting cross-legged on the floor of Lexi’s new playroom, watching the toddler wreak happy havoc around her. ‘She likes you.’

Lexi was besotted with her ‘new friend’ Odile, Paul’s daughter. The young woman was clearly experienced, and had already managed a mini meltdown with an equanimity that had given Lexi no alternative but to calm down.

Much to Mia’s chagrin, it wasn’t looking as if she’d have an excuse to duck out of accompanying Daniel to this event. Nevertheless, she said a little hopefully, ‘Are you sure it’s not putting you out to babysit at such short notice?’

Odile smiled. ‘Not at all. To be honest, I’m saving to go travelling next year, so every extra euro helps.’

Mia knew what that was like. She’d scrimped and saved to fly to Europe to further her modelling career and see something of the world. The fact that she’d got no further than France was a twist she hadn’t expected, but when she looked at Lexi now her heart swelled with so much love she couldn’t regret anything.

A shadow darkened the doorway and Mia looked up to see Daniel.

Lexi toddled over. ‘Hi, Man! Play!’

Daniel smiled and Mia’s heart hitched.

‘Not right now,mignonne. I need to speak to your Mama.’

Odile expertly distracted Lexi and led her over to look at some toys. Mia stood up and went out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Daniel lifted a brow. ‘Well?’

Mia sighed. ‘She’s perfect. Lexi loves her.’

‘Okay, then, we leave in an hour.’

Mia wished she could avoid this, but she couldn’t. He was Lexi’s father, and if she wanted some kind of order restored in their lives she would have to go along with his plan. For now.

The strapless dress was ice-blue. It was low-cut enough to make Mia want to tug the fabric over her breasts, but the other dresses hadn’t been much more discreet. The material hugged her torso just under her breasts, and then fell in soft swathes of material to the floor. It was elegant and romantic.

She’d managed to tame her hair back into a rough chignon, and she’d applied a little more make-up than she’d normally wear, using it like a tool that might give her some sort of illusion that she was working and not playing herself.

The thought of appearing in front of the world’s press on Daniel’s arm was intimidating, but it also touched on a very secret part of her where she’d once allowed herself to dream that possibly her relationship with Danielwasdifferent from the experience she’d had before, and that perhaps she could allow herself to let him bring her into his world gradually, until she built up her trust again.

But then she’d seen the article in the paper about his ‘arrangement, not engagement’. Just in time—before she’d made a complete fool of herself. Again.

Her reaction to the article had exposed her enough. This time she was prepared. Under no illusions. Daniel could not hurt her again.

Mia shut down her circling thoughts. Slipping her feet into high-heeled silver sandals and doing them up, she gave herself a last once-over and picked up the clutch and matching cape.

Daniel was finding it hard to keep himself from mentally undressing Mia. There was a discreet slit in her dress and a tantalising length of toned golden thigh, tempting him to place his hand there and move it higher, to the apex between her legs where he would feel the throbbing heat at the centre of her body.

He shifted in the back seat of the car, his own body throbbing in response. She’d taken his breath away when she’d walked into the reception room a short while before. He’d seen her transformed before, from her more casual aesthetic into something far more sleek when she was working—but he’d never seen her transformed forhim. For a date.

Other women had. But not Mia. Because everything about being with her had been different. Challenging. She’d made him work to be with her. But it had been worth it—and not just on a carnal level. That had been the most surprising thing.

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