Page 5 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

Mia swallowed. Her heart was beating like a trapped bird in her chest. She’d hoped against hope that Daniel would have lost his appeal since she’d seen him last, that any desire had been incinerated by the words he’d said to her before he’d walked out.

‘I think this is for the best.’

But no. Her body was still attuned to his as if it was an instrument that sang only in proximity to him. And when she thought of the amazing things her body had done since she’d seen him last it was even more galling.

She’d had a baby. She’d experienced one of the most primal, beautiful things on earth. And yet right now all she could think of was the fact that Daniel looked even leaner and more powerful than the last time she’d seen him.

He’d never had any softness, but it was as if a layer had been removed to reveal the starkness of the man underneath. All edges and angles and hard muscles. Unforgiving.

‘It’s for the best.’

She tried to stay focused. Her main priority was getting out of here ASAP. ‘No, I’m not with the father.’

‘Who is he?’

Mia’s heart stopped and then started again. She longed to be able to say,You don’t know himor,It’s none of your business.But she couldn’t lie and she couldn’t prevaricate.

This was why she had come here after all.

She took a deep breath but still felt breathless.

‘Mia—’

‘She’s yours.’

They spoke at the same time. Daniel’s mouth shut. His expression went blank. She wasn’t sure if he’d heard.

Mia said, ‘She’s your daughter. Eighteen months.’

It wasn’t often that a man like Daniel Devilliers was left lost for words—not that Mia could enjoy the novel experience right now.

‘Look, I’m sorry... That’s why I came this evening. I was hoping to get a chance to arrange a meeting with you. I didn’t want to tell you like...this.’

In the security office of the Devillierssalon, with every important and famous person in France just feet away, having been accused of trying to steal Devilliers jewels.

Eventually Daniel spoke. ‘But...how?’

Mia’s phone started to vibrate inside her bag, which was on the table. She reached for it, seeing her friend’s name. She answered and listened for a second and then said, ‘Okay, look... I’m leaving now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’

She terminated the phone call and looked at Daniel. ‘I’m very sorry to have had to tell you like this, but I have to gonow.’

She spied a pen and paper on the table and scribbled down her address and phone number. ‘If you are going to insist on calling the police, or whatever, or when you’re ready to talk, this is where I live now.’

She handed the piece of paper to Daniel, who took it, still looking shocked.

Mia took her bag and walked to the door. She opened it and went out, but a security guard held up his hand.

He looked over her shoulder, presumably at Daniel. ‘Sir...?’

There was nothing from behind her, and Mia was close to shoving the security guard out of the way, but then she heard Daniel’s deep voice.

‘Let her go.’

Relief flooded her system. She vaguely heard Daniel say something else, but she was already at the entrance of thesalon, where a bank of paparazzi were waiting. She saw them lift their cameras and then lower them again. She wasn’t recognisable to them. She might have been a model, but she’d never attained supermodel status. And when she’d gone out with Daniel they’d managed to evade the glare of publicity.

But Mia couldn’t care less about not being recognised. What was far worse was that she couldn’t see any taxis waiting. Feeling panic rise, she was about to take out her phone to try and use a taxi app when her arm was taken by a big hand. A familiar touch.

Daniel.

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