AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘And so do I,’ Luc interrupted. ‘I have plans for you.’
‘I think I know what they are.’
‘And I think you’re wrong. Why don’t you give me a chance to explain?’
‘Because your plans belong in the Dark Ages when men thought women were glad to hear they would never have to work another day in their life, while I happen to live in the real world, where women are quite capable of getting along without men.’
‘Without men?’ He smiled. ‘Not you, Emma. But, as it happens, making your own way in the world is exactly what I’m talking about—but if you don’t want to hear my suggestion...’ Shoving his hands in his pockets, Luc strolled alongside her as she hurried back to the hotel. ‘I’m not going to talk about it now, because I want you with a clear head when I do. So you’re going to take a rest now, and then we’ll have lunch and talk this through again without emotion.’
She stopped dead. ‘Have you listened to a word I’ve said?’
‘I’ve listened to everything you’ve said,’ Luc assured her, ‘and I’m entitled to my opinion. You have to take better care of yourself, Emma. You look wrecked. You’re too pale. You’re overworked, and you’re getting nowhere fast.’
‘I’ve heard enough,’ she said as she brushed past him.
‘You’re wasting time, Emma. I will wear you down.’
‘Oh...’ She laughed. ‘You and the housekeeper here are both determined to wear me out, or down, it seems to me.’ She stopped outside the hotel gates. ‘Get this through your head, Luc. Whatever it is you’ve got planned, it isn’t going to happen so don’t waste your time. It might be customary in the world you inhabit to buy any woman who takes your fancy, but in my world women don’t sell themselves to a man.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you earn your keep.’
He said this softly, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. Shaking her head with incredulity, as if that could blank out the sight of the attractive crease that appeared in Luc’s ridiculously handsome face, she gave a thought to the bigger picture. She had to tell him. She couldn’t risk alienating him completely. Maybe lunch would work. If they had an unemotional meeting over food, it could be the right moment to tell him. ‘We do have to talk,’ she admitted, ‘just to set you straight once and for all, but only if you promise not to bring up the subject of my becoming your mistress again.’
His smile flashed heat from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. ‘As I’ve already explained, I don’t plan anything so permanent.’
‘But you want me under your power in Brazil.’
‘You’d certainly be under me.’
Exasperated, she shook her head. ‘Breakfast didn’t work. Why should lunch be any better? We can’t even hold a civil conversation over a boiled egg.’
‘Try it,’ Luc suggested. ‘I know you want to.’
Yes, but not for the reasons he thought. ‘If you have a serious job offer for me to consider, I might be interested in visiting Brazil. Otherwise? Not a chance. And any job you offer me would have to come without strings attached. I would need a proper contract,’ she stressed, struggling to blank the memories of endless pleasure at his hands as Luc studied her.
‘So—lunch?’ he said, jolting her back to reality. ‘I still owe you for breakfast, remember?’
‘I paid because I don’t want to feel I owe you anything. You don’t have to pay me back,’ she said when Luc began to speak. ‘I don’t need your money, Luc. And I don’t need you.’
‘But you want me,’ he said, confident as ever.
She hated him for being right, but knew that everything could change in the blink of an eye. Luc was being so reasonable now—so good-humoured and easygoing. But tell him about the baby and everything would change.
Face the problem now. Don’t leave it to fester and grow bigger.
‘Late lunch?’ she suggested briskly, working out how long it would take her to rest and recover.
Luc’s lips pressed down with satisfaction at her apparent climb-down. ‘Are you sure you can spare the time?’
‘I usually take a break for a couple of hours in the afternoon before I start work again.’
‘Then it’s a date,’ he confirmed, all humour gone from his face, as if that were another deal signed, sealed and delivered, and there was no longer any need to work the charm.
