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“You’re welcome.”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other. The last thing I want to do is overstay my welcome. I nod my head toward the door, about to ask Lucian if he knows where my phone is when he clears his throat.
“You should get ready and shower. I can’t have you wandering around the estate wearing a robe. I’ll have my maid Bessie accompany you to your room and help you change into something a little more appropriate.”
Appropriate? I feel the need to say something, but in this instance Lucian is right. I’ve never been one to wear nightclothes during the day, and there is no way I am getting into a taxi dressed like this. But did I hear correctly? Lucian wants someone to help me get dressed?
“I’m very capable of dressing myself.” Which reminds me. “Who dressed, or rather undressed me last night?”
“I carried you up to the guest bedroom and helped you out of your frock.”
I gasp. “With your hands?”
“No, Chelsea, with my teeth,” Lucian deadpans.
Pause. I don’t blink, don’t breathe. I was drunk last night, possibly passed out, and Lucian, he, he…
“Of course with my bloody hands. Don’t worry, your modesty was kept intact, and Bessie was at hand. Together we removed the shoulder straps of your dress and guided your arms through the sleeves of the shirt. Only when you were covered up did I pull the dress down and remove it.”
“How do I know you didn’t touch me…?” My voice trails off.
Lucian’s expression hardens. “Because I am a gentleman, and as a gentleman I wouldn’t lay a finger on something that did not belong to me.”
My shoulders fall, and for the first time in a long time I feel incredibly small. Lucian has shown me nothing but kindness. I don’t have to like the guy, but I don’t need to be rude.
“I’m sorry, that was cruel of me. I know you wouldn’t have. I mean, what I’m trying to say is thanks.” I nod once, and, turning my back on Lucian, I make my way to the door.
“Now, as per our agreement,” Lucian calls after me.
My fingers are wrapped around the door handle. I could leave, I’m about to leave, but curiosity has me spinning around. “Agreement?”
Lucian is no longer leaning against his desk. He is making his way toward me with slow, confident steps. The air temperature rises the closer he gets, and I find myself taking a few steps back. I stop when the cool brass handle digs into my back and I have nowhere else to go. I expect Lucian to stop, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t stop walking until he is standing directly in front of me.
I can’t bring myself to look into his eyes and find it much easier to focus on the floor and our feet. My body jerks when he taps my forehead with his finger. “Tell me you remember.”
My eyes snap up, and foolishly I meet his gaze. I don’t like Lucian, not even a smidgen. But his stare causes something inside me to tingle and my stomach to clench.Attraction?I wonder. Hell no! It’s the colour and intensity of his eyes, nothing more. Those emerald greens alone have the ability to melt the Arctic, of that I’m sure.
“Remember what?” Feeling flustered, I reach beneath the robe I’m wearing and pop open the first two buttons of my shirt.
Lucian captures my hand and brings it to his lips. “Our arrangement,” he says, and kisses my knuckles. That is when I see it. The delicate gold band on my ring finger. An elegant diamond sparkles up at me, each tiny facet reflecting a different colour.
Dread, nausea, and fear cocoon me and I’m flooded by so many emotions all at once. “Oh, my God, Lucian, tell me we didn’t get married? This isn’t even legal, it will be annulled right away. I can’t, we can’t. This can’t be happening.”
My hands itch and my fingers shake with the need to regain an ounce of control. I didn’t sign up for this, I didn’t say those two little words ‘I do’, because I don’t! “I don’t!” I screech.
Lucian laughs and places his palm over my mouth. “My God, you are as subtle as a wailing banshee.”
“Get off me,” I demand, wriggling my head from side to side. Though my words come out muffled under Lucian’s palm.
“No, Chelsea, we did not get married.”
My racing heart begins to slow, and air comes a lot easier. Lucian lowers his hand and cages me in with both of his arms. “Last night I concocted a plan for how we could both get exactly what we want, you the beauty salon and me Calloway Housebuilders.”
I swallow loudly. “Go on.”
“I offered you the money you need for your salon in exchange for…”
“Exchange for what?”
