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He stared a
t her for half a minute before presenting her with his impressive profile. He wasn’t going to answer. Clearly the extended parameters didn’t include that particular question.
But after a moment he glanced back at her. ‘You’re a novelty to them because the last woman I dated was my fiancée,’ he stated baldly.
Her lips parted, further shock unravelling through her. Questions stormed her mind. Why had the most eligible bachelor in Europe, perhaps even the world, not dated for two years? And who and where was the woman once promised to him?
Before she could ask, he added, ‘And, no, that subject isn’t up for discussion. It’s purely for information purposes only.’
His statement didn’t stop a dozen questions from storming her brain.
She cleared her throat, strove for a safer subject that didn’t threaten to consume her whole. ‘If you still want to know, I was studying child psychology at university.’
Surprise flared in his eyes.
Her laughter was tinged with bitterness. ‘Is it really so shocking that I’d be interested in helping children?’
‘You’re putting words in my mouth.’
‘Deny that you had preconceived notions about me,’ she dared.
His outward demeanour didn’t change, but she sensed his complete withdrawal even before he turned to strike up a conversation with another guest.
Her conviction that Remi Montegova’s opinion of her wasn’t about to change any time soon settled deeper, and jarred more than she wanted to accept, but she managed to wrestle herself under control and smile through the next hour.
By the time after-dinner drinks commenced and a four-piece band took their place near the dance floor she was in desperate need of reprieve. About to escape to the ladies’ room, she froze as Remi turned to her. He sent the man she’d been conversing with a smile full of diplomacy that didn’t make it any less stiff or dismissive.
‘Your first dance is mine,’ he stated.
The thought of her body close to his, moving in sync with his, sent a bolt of deep awareness through her. Dangerous, arousing awareness.
She should refuse. But she found herself rising, sliding her hand into his.
Fingers firmly gripping hers, he led her to the polished dance floor to the sound of a slow waltz. Her pulse raced faster and she fought to breathe as he gently raised her injured arm and laid it against his chest. Then one hand glided around her waist, resting there as his gaze speared hers.
She followed his lead, and strove not to react to his magnetic proximity as he started to move.
Of course the Crown Prince of Montegova danced with elegant, breathtaking sophistication.
Very much aware that even more gazes were fixed on them, she attempted to find another subject for hers. And ended up meeting those enigmatic silver-grey eyes again. Eyes that saw far too much.
‘Why not just tell them you’re not interested?’ she asked, a little too unsettled to guard her tongue.
‘Excuse me?’
‘There seems to be some sort of competition going on about who can get your attention. If you’re not interested, why not just let them know?’
As if on cue, a stunning redhead twirled by a few minutes later. Completely ignoring the man accompanying her, she sent Remi a sultry smile.
Spikes of irritation, and another emotion she staunchly rejected as being jealousy, impaled Maddie. ‘It must be hard, having women throw themselves so blatantly at you.’
For some reason her tart observation amused him, and his sensual lips curved with the barest twitch.
‘Something funny?’
‘It seems I’ve offended you again. You didn’t strike me as having delicate sensibilities before.’
‘I don’t,’ she denied hotly, then attempted to pull herself from his arms.
