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Blaise chuckled. “Good news. I have some. You can take your pick. I’ll have Fredo bring them in.” He stood and gave me a peck on the cheek before disappearing down thehall.
I sat there speechless and seething. Why would a single guy have a bunch of women’s bathing suits? The reason seemed obvious. There had been women who came over, removed their suits, and then left them behind. They probably imagined it would be their excuse for a repeat visit. The fact that the suits were still here, so that obviously didn’t happen, gave me littlecomfort.
By the time Fredo appeared, closing the door behind him, I was good and sour. “Miss.” He passed me a basket overflowing with bathing suits. Seriously, the container was the size of a smallhamper.
“What the ever-loving fuck,” I grumbled. My hand shook as I tried to look through them. I knew there had to be other women besides me after all these centuries, but to be smacked in the face with it had me reeling. The flutter felt more like a gut punch. I watched as the butler shifted uncomfortably. He kept opening his mouth and shutting it, like he was afraid of saying something when it wasn’t his place. “Go ahead, Fredo. Have your say.” I began to rifle through the collection. There were one piece suits, bikinis, and tankinis of all sizes. After fifteen, I lost count. I’d gone from seeing red to a trembling lower lip and eyes burning withtears.
“Miss Maggie, it’s not what you think,” Fredo murmuredgently.
“So, these aren’t from all the women who’ve been over here and…and been with Blaise?” I sniffled and tears spilled over onto mycheeks.
In the hall, I heard Blaise groan and recognized the sound of him pacing. I tossed the suits on the bed, and stormed over to the door. Flinging it open, I glared at Blaise. “Go.Away.”
“Could you listen to me before you jump to conclusions?” His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and his shoulders were so high, his neck was nearlyinvisible.
“No.” I glared at him and slammed the door in his face, then leaned hard against it. Inside, I ached. The more I pushed him away, the more Ihurt.
“Fredo,” he called through the door. “Maybe she’ll listen to you.” Then I heard the muffled thud of his body leaning hard against the doortoo.
Sure, I could’ve imagined us being so close with only a slab of wood separating us. Instead, all I saw was the door, the barrier in between us. Slowly, I turned my head toward Fredo. Rather than being open to his words, I sadly shook my head. What could he possibly say to make this allbetter?
“These aren’t women who came to be with Mr. Draco, miss,” the butler beganinsistently.
I sighed. “Then how did he attain them? Why are theyhere?”
“Mr. Draco’s brother. When he’s in town, it’s not unusual for him to entertain several…guests…even at once.” Fredo turned pink from his collar to the tips of hisears.
Opening the door slightly, I studied Blaise. “You have abrother.”
He nodded. “He’s coming to visit this week. You’ll meet him.” There was more than a hint of sadness in hiseyes.
“Okay then.” I swallowed hard. “Let me get changed and I’ll be right out.” I closed the door behind me. The suit I chose would tell him everything. Blaise would know if I was mad, if my trust was still broken, if there was hope. I strolled back to the basket and chose a tiny navy blue bikini. Fredo’s brows shot up. I giggled then ran into the bathroom and closed the door behindme.
When I was done changing, I grinned at my reflection in the mirror. I didn’t have a perfectly flat stomach. My butt looked nothing like a Victoria’s Secret model. Hell, I didn’t even fill out the top like I’d hoped, but somehow, I knew Blaise would think I looked amazing. That was what mattered tome.
When I opened the door, I found Blaise sitting on the bed, waiting for me. “Hi,” I murmured as I stood in the doorway andgrinned.
“Hello,principessa.” Blaise wore a far-off dreamy look on hisface.
I tilted my head. “What are you thinking right now?” The flutter inside me had stopped aching and now turned intolonging.
Slowly, Blaise stood up and walked over to me. “I don’t deserve you, Maggie, but damn if I don’t want you anyway. You lookincredible.”
“Is it the suit?” I teased as I spun around forhim.
“The suit is nice, but the sparkle in your eyes and the way your smile hits me right in the heart, that’s what I’ll remember most about this moment.” Then he leaned down and kissed me. I could feel my resolve wavering and, at that moment, I didn’tcare.
12
Blaise
“Iknowyou don’t want to talk about this, but I do. So indulge me.” I grinned as I slid closer to her on the cement bench seat in the hot tub. After I slicked back my hair, I reclined and spread my arms out on either side, one wrapped around hershoulders.
Maggie chewed on the side of her cheek. “I might want to talk about it a little, even if it can never happen. A girl needs a dream. Tell me pretty stories, Blaise.” She grinned and sank down against myside.
My brow furrowed. “Why can this never happen?” I shifted my position so I could look her in theeyes.
Instead of responding, she shrugged it off. “Focus. Stories.” She snapped her fingers in my face, as if she were trying to redirect myattention.
