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He watched as her hand came out of the water and brushed over her cheek. When she did it again, he realized she was crying.
"Oh, Grace," he said, softly.
She was right. They were tearing each other up.
Smith watched her until she started to get up from the tub. Before she stepped free of the water, he went back inside and was waiting next to her door when she emerged twenty minutes later, dressed for dinner. She was silent as they went down the hall.
Before they hit the stairs, he reached out and took her arm.
He put his lips close to her ear. "You are the most sensual woman I've ever seen. I'm going to take the image of you standing in front of that tub to my grave."
Her steps faltered and she let out a sad, self-deprecating laugh. "Somehow, I doubt that. I've been known for a lot of things but sexy isn't one of them."
He stopped her. "What the hell are you talking about, woman?"
She shrugged and her expression showed a kind of defeat he didn't associate with her.
"You didn't get in that tub with me, did you? Which was my sole motivation for behaving... Anyway, I should have known better. Ranulf always told me I was beautiful but not enticing. It was probably the only thing he got right about me."
"What did he tell you?"
When her eyes refused to meet his, Smith thought back to the night she'd tried to pull away from him and had panicked when he hadn't let her go. Maybe there was more to it than her not wanting to have casual sex.
"Grace? What did he do to you?"
She hesitated. "Let's just say he was less than satisfied with me as a lover. And he let me know it."
Black rage hit Smith. As he tried to calm down, he wondered what the hell was wrong with the man and how he could get his hands on the aristocratic asshole.
"Let me tell you something," Smith said darkly. "Ranulf was full of shit. You're incredibly erotic."
She rolled her eyes. "You don't have to say that."
He moved close to her, took her hand, and placed it on his arousal. She gasped.
"I'm totally serious." He lowered his head so his mouth was an inch from hers. "All I have to do is think of you."
Grace swayed against him.
"I wanted you to stay," she whispered.
Christ, so had he.
"Know this," he said roughly. "The reason I left had nothing to do with how badly I want you. I'm trying to do the right thing by you. I really am."
He kissed her hard and quick and then held out his arm.
Together, they descended the grand staircase.
* * *
Smith leaned back as Marta cleared his plate. When a dessert tray was wheeled next to him, he shook his head at whatever sweet, sauce-covered thing was on it.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared through the candlelight at Grace, who was twirling her wineglass on the table. Her eyes were on the faceted crystal as she laughed at something Walker was saying.
"Of course I turned you down today," she said. "Blair needed company more than you and Alex need a mate on that sailboat."
"Come on, you just said no out of habit. You started turning me down in kindergarten and haven't let up. Fortunately, my ego can take it." Walker smiled urbanely as he poured himself some more wine. "If only because I've gotten used to it."
The man pushed his chair back from the table, kicked his legs out in front of him and crossed one loafer on top of another. The wineglass dangled from one of his hands as he reclined.
"At least you love me," he said to Blair.
The woman leaned over and kissed his check. "Yes, I do."
"How long's it been now?"
"Five years or so."
"You know, I've been thinking about us lately."
Blair rolled her eyes as she smiled at him. "What have you dreamed up this time?" She glanced over at Grace. " Last winter, he scooped me up in a plane, told me to take a little nap, and I woke up over the Atlantic Ocean. We were heading for Portofino. It was lovely but a bit disorienting."
Walker laughed and put the glass back on the table.
"Well, this one doesn't involve plane travel and I hope you won't sleep through it." He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and took out a small velvet box. "I'd like you to be my wife. You want to get married?"
Smith's eyes snapped to Grace's face. Her expression was joyous as she clasped her hands together.
Walker cracked open the box and pushed it over to Blair. He was sporting a half smile as she stared down at the sizable diamond, speechless.
"You know, I really enjoy surprising you, Blair."
The woman's eyes rose from the engagement ring. "Are you serious?"
There was an imperceptible pause.
"It's time for us to settle down." He smiled. "And I did it in front of witnesses so you'd know I have no intention of backing out."
