Page 56 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

Daniel had his back to her. He was standing at the window and had his phone up to his ear and his other hand in his pocket. His back was broad under a white shirt, and her eye travelled down to those slim hips and taut buttocks.

And then he spoke, his voice low but distinct in the silence. ‘Yes, we’re married. It’s the perfect solution. It takes the heat out of any potential news story and it’ll defuse any interest in my daughter. We’re a family unit now.’

The person on the other end was obviously speaking, and as what Daniel had said sank in, and Mia interpreted the businesslike tone of his voice, a cold chill crept through her.

Daniel sounded exasperated. ‘Look, Nikki, it’s done. She’s the mother of my child, and if we hadn’t married I couldn’t have guaranteed that this wouldn’t have ended up in the courts. She’s no pushover and money doesn’t sway her. Thisisthe best solution to a potential PR nightmare. Returning to France unwed, with a child in tow, would have left us wide open to scrutiny and completely overshadowed the launch of Delphine, which is going to be challenging as it is—’

He suddenly stopped talking and turned around.

Mia wasn’t sure why she was feeling so winded all of a sudden. Daniel hadn’t said one thing she didn’t already know. But to hear him lay it out like that, so cold and stark, had sliced right into her heart.

Daniel terminated the call and looked at her. ‘Mia—’

She cut him off. ‘That’s why you brought us to Costa Rica, isn’t it? Because you wanted to use that time to seduce me again and persuade me to go along with your plans.’

Daniel was nothing if not honest. ‘Getting you away from the presswasa concern. But I knew that I wanted us to be a family, yes. And I knew I wanted you. As for the marriage... I hoped that you’d agree. Because I do feel that this is the best outcome for all of us.’

She’d fallen into his plans within the week, like a ripe peach. She realised that even up to this moment she’d been harbouring a tiny illicit flame of hope formore. But what she’d just heard had killed that flame for good.

She forced breath into her lungs, dazed—and annoyed with herself for feeling blindsided. She couldn’t even say that Daniel had manipulated her. She’d wanted him too. And she had agreed to the marriage of her own volition, for all the right reasons.

‘Mia—’

She put up a hand, not wanting him to hammer home the message. It was loud and clear. Her emerald ring sparkled in her peripheral vision, mocking her. This one might be real, but it meant no more than the cubic zirconia necklace had.

‘It’s fine. I’m sorry I disturbed you. I just... I was actually on my way out to catch up with Odile and Lexi. They’ve gone for a walk.’

‘I know. Security are with them.’

Mia turned around, but Daniel said, ‘Wait.’

She turned around reluctantly. She just wanted to go—get away from that far too incisive grey gaze.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’

She pinned a smile on her face. ‘Absolutely fine. Will we see you later for dinner?’

‘Actually, we’re going to take an overnight flight back to Paris tonight, so you should probably prepare for that.’

‘We’ll be ready.’

Mia left the office and avoided catching anyone’s eye. It was only when she was out on the street that she let her mask fall and put sunglasses over her eyes to hide the sting of tears, hating herself for the weakness.

Paris was grey under leaden skies when they returned from New York early the following morning. Odile had gone home, and Mia and Lexi were in bed, sleeping off the flight. Daniel was restless, and had come down to his office above thesalon.But he was alone. It was too early for any staff to have arrived yet.

He wasn’t remotely superstitious, but the slate-dark skies felt like some kind of omen and he scowled at himself.

He didn’t like how the image of Mia standing in his Manhattan office the previous morning kept coming back into his head. Her face had been pale, with the same stricken expression he’d only seen twice before. When she’d seen the leak in the newspaper about his proposed engagement to Sophie Valois, and when she’d come to tell him she was pregnant.

He recalled the conversation she’d overheard, his conscience pricking again.

He’d felt under pressure. His chief PR advisor had been freaking out at the news that Daniel and Mia were married, without any prior warning. Daniel had felt exposed. He knew marrying Mia in haste had been an impulse to make her his as soon as possible, out of a primal need that didn’t have much to do with logic. And it was as if his PR advisor had intuited that.

But he’d reassured himself that everything he’d said to Nikki had made total sense. And it was everything Mia had agreed to. To make a marriage based on respect and mutual chemistry for the sake of their daughter.

Marrying Mia and ensuring Lexi’s security and future was the right thing to do. He couldn’t offer Mia empty platitudes and promises, much as he knew it might make things more palatable for her. But they were his family now, and he was going to do everything in his power to ensure that the toxicity of his past did not infect the future. He would do things differently from his parents, and already he and Mia had a foundation stronger than anything he’d ever seen between them.

It was enough. It would have to be.

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