Page 41 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

When they broke for lunch, which was provided al fresco by a local catering company, the stylist gave Mia a wrap to cover up and she went over to put some food on a plate. Daniel was talking to one of the crew members, and Mia took the opportunity to go and sit on a fallen branch that was near the shoreline. They were shooting in a lush area of forest a little further down the coast from where Daniel’s house was.

Mia was enjoying the peace, but then the back of her neck prickled, reminding her that she was still finely attuned to Daniel’s proximity in a way that was seriously irritating. He came and stood beside where she sat, hands in the pockets of a pair of board shorts. In a short-sleeved polo T-shirt, he still managed to ooze a certain kind of elegance while also looking sexy enough to make Mia’s insides twist with need.

‘You’re doing an amazing job, Mia.’

Mia shrugged, feeling self-conscious. ‘Adele makes it easy to be in front of the camera.’

Daniel shook his head. ‘The two of you are creating something very special.’

‘Well...thank you.’

She risked another glance at Daniel. His sunglasses were on his head and he was looking at her, his mouth quirking. ‘Was that hard to say?’ he asked.

She scowled. She’d never been good at accepting compliments. He knew too much about her. And she’d revealed even more since she’d seen him again.

‘Lexi and Odile—’

‘Are fine,’ he said. ‘I just called them. They’re having ice-cream in town.’

Mia felt a pang, missing her baby. As if hearing her thoughts Daniel said, ‘They can come to the set one of these days, if you like.’

‘That’d be lovely, thank you. I haven’t spent much time away from her before. She’s getting so independent.’ Mia shot him a warning look. ‘Don’tsaylike mother, like daughter.’

But Daniel looked serious. ‘You’re a good mother, Mia.’ He shook his head, looking away. ‘My mother wasnota good role model. She was cold and angry. All the time. Unhappy with my father, mainly. She viewed us children as irritations. Once she’d done her duty by giving birth, her job was over.’

Renewed guilt lanced Mia. She hadn’t been fair to him. She opened her mouth to say something, but just then Adele’s assistant said from behind them, ‘Mia? We’re ready to go again.’

She closed her mouth and stood up. Daniel took her plate out of her hands. The stylist and hair and make-up team were approaching, to make her ready for the camera again.

When Mia started posing, she tried her best to block out what Daniel had just told her and the emotions it had aroused. But that only made her focus on his physicality, and her awareness of him was even more heightened. He stood behind where the laptops were set up, arms folded, distracting Mia with the bunched muscles of his arms. Distracting her from the thought of his cold and uncaring mother.

Much to her embarrassment, she couldn’t control her body’s reaction when his eyes rested on her. It was as if a layer of skin had been stripped back, removing any armour she might have had. Her nipples peaked into hard points under the thin, stretchy material of the latest swimsuit she was wearing, and even though Adele called out for numerous minute adjustments to Mia’s poses, she couldn’t help her mind going to extreme places.

She remembered the feel of Daniel’s hands on her body, urgent, strong. His mouth moving over her skin, leaving a trail of fire before closing over the tip of her breast, sucking the peak deep into his mouth, making her bite her lip so hard she tasted blood...

‘Mia?’

Feeling dazed, Mia blinked at Adele.

The woman said, ‘One more change and then I think we’ve got it for today. You’ve been a trooper.’

Mia studiously avoided Daniel’s eye as she got up and stretched her limbs, diving into the cover-up kaftan and wishing she could dive into the sea, to wash away this burning ache in the pit of her belly. And another ache nearer her heart.

Damn Daniel Devilliers.

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘WHERE’SMIA?’DANIELasked one of the assistants.

They were packing up the equipment ready for the next location and the last day of the shoot, which would take place after the weekend. They would have worked through, but Adele had to fly back to New York for a previously booked job, so everyone else would have two days off in paradise.

The young man was sheepish. ‘Sorry, boss, I forgot to tell you. She’s gone for a swim in the sea.’

Immediately Daniel’s insides tensed. He grabbed a towel, making his way to the beach. There was no sign of Mia, and he looked to the sea, which appeared unbelievably rough to him. Big waves crashed along the shore, sending up sprays of sea water.

People meandered along the shoreline, dogs at their heels. Children frolicked in the evening heat. Sunset was spreading across the horizon, bathing everything in a pink and red hue.

This really was the simple life—thepura vidathat Costa Rica was famous for—and it was why Daniel had bought his house here on a whim. Because it had appealed to the part of him that wanted to cultivate a freer, less constricted life than the one he had had growing up. It wasn’t something he’d analysed in great depth, but it had definitely been his most spontaneous purchase.

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