Page 64 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

She stopped, turned around. Daniel was behind her, looking very dishevelled. A loose shirt over jeans. Shoes with no socks. No coat. She’d never seen him like this.

‘Daniel?’

‘I need to talk to you.’

Mia saw Odile, not far behind Daniel. ‘What’s Odile doing here? Has something happened? You’re scaring me.’

He shook his head. ‘No, nothing is wrong. I just need Odile to watch Lexi so we can talk.’

Bemused, Mia greeted Odile and handed over Lexi’s bag and stroller. Odile was discreet enough to say, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll stay with her until I hear from you.’

Lexi trotted off happily with Odile to the playground. Mia turned to Daniel. Even now she was aware of the looks he drew. Mainly because he looked as if he’d literally just tumbled out of bed. She wanted to snarl at all the women that he washers. But he wasn’t. Not really.

‘What is it, Daniel?’

He indicated a bench. ‘Sit with me for a minute?’

They sat down.

Daniel turned to Mia and she tried to channel every bit of inner strength she had to withstand his proximity and his effect on her.

‘I don’t want you to leave, Mia.’

‘Look, Daniel, I really, really wanted to make this work—especially for Lexi’s sake. And maybe it would if I didn’t feel the way I do... But it’ll kill me in the end, knowing you don’t feel the same way.’

‘But that’s it... I do... I mean, I think I do. Or that I can.’

Mia felt sick. ‘I think I’d prefer it if you pretended you were in love with me, Daniel. But you don’t even know...’

Mia stood up and started walking. This was humiliating. Daniel was so desperate for her to stay that he was clearly doing his best to conjure up some sort of emotion to persuade her.

‘Mia, wait.’

She stopped. Daniel came alongside her.

‘I’m not making sense, I know. I need to show you something that might help you understand...will you come with me?’

Mia wanted to say no, but she was more intrigued than she liked to admit, so she said a grudging, ‘Fine.’

When they got to Place Vendôme there was a car she hadn’t seen before out front—a low-slung sports car. Daniel opened the passenger door.

She hesitated. ‘Where are we going?’

‘For a drive. It’s about an hour—is that okay?’

Mia shrugged. ‘Do I have a choice?’

‘Of course you do, but I’d like you to give me this chance.’

Dammit, that flicker of hope was back.

Mia got into the car. It was a luxurious cocoon. Daniel put on some music. They were soon out of the city and speeding along the motorway before turning off and taking country roads.

Mia tried not to think about what Daniel had up his sleeve to convince her to stay. She was determined not to be swayed. He didn’t even know how he felt about her. It was insulting!

At about the hour mark they passed through a postcard-pretty village, and on the other side followed a high stone wall for about ten minutes, before Daniel turned into an opening where there were huge gates. She saw his hands tense on the wheel as he waited for a security guard to open the gates and let them in.

Daniel’s tension was palpable now. His jaw was tight. Mia felt uneasy. ‘Where are we?’

---