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“Anybody would have under that kind of pressure. You were hounded.”
“I’ve hurt some people I could have avoided hurting, only I was too locked in my own misery to think of them. I went to bed with women to distract myself, never thinking of them.”
“You’re thinking about them now.”
“When it’s too late.” His dark eyes locked on hers. “Look, I don’t expect your forgiveness for deceiving you in London when I can’t begin to forgive myself for it. But I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
His heartfelt apology only made her feel more despicable for remaining silent about her own deception.
“So why did you seek me out in London?”
“You know why.”
Her heart sank. “The vineyard? Château Serene? The Matisse?”
“My mother called and told me where you were.”
Some part of her wished he’d said he found her so beautiful and irresistible he’d had to deceive her.
“Because she wants them back?”
“I think it’s a point of honor. Tate took her husband and Château Serene. Now she wants what he gave her back.”
“And you work for her?”
“For the family. Since last year. I’ve caused them immense pain. It’s time I repaid them for their trouble. And I am, even if ironically, the present comte.”
“Yet you’ve stayed out of the negotiations all this week. Why?”
“To spare you.”
“Don’t lie to me ever again!”
She turned quickly, so he wouldn’t see how stricken to the core she suddenly felt. Why did he evoke such wild emotion so quickly? So easily?
Placing her hand against the warm stone wall, she splayed her fingers and fought not to succumb to tears or more foolish passion. “You were afraid you’d jeopardize the negotiations.” She hissed in a hot breath. “You don’t give a damn about me—or about sparing me.”
“Chérie…”
She whirled on him, no longer caring if her eyes were red. “Don’t call me that. Not in the same voice you used to seduce me.”
“You invited me to come up, remember?”
“Don’t remind me of my stupidity!”
He held up his hands and fell back a step. “All right. The last thing I want is to make things more difficult for you. But you did ask me here.” He paused. “Look, I’ve said what I came to say, so I’d better go.”
With a shrug he turned to leave.
“Wait! The painting, which is in a bank vault in Paris, is not for sale. Aunt Tate used to tell me that an important piece like that shouldn’t be privately owned. Before she died she was negotiating with several museums. She left me a letter entrusting me to complete the transaction for her, and that’s what I want to do.”
His jaw tensed. “That’s very generous of you, considering…”
“Considering what?”
“That you’re not a wealthy woman.”
“Money isn’t the only thing that makes a person wealthy.”
“And I thought you were intimidated by your sister.” His gentle smile made her throat tighten.
“Not always. And if you still want to buy Château Serene, you’d better listen to my terms.”
“You’ll sell?” His eyes narrowed with new interest.
“I live in Hawaii. What could I possibly want with a vineyard in Provence?”
“How much?” he said.
“Come to dinner…a little later…and maybe for a swim. It’s too hot and I’m too tired to discuss business matters now.”
“You cook?” His tone softened. “Not hamburger, I hope.”
“Eight o’clock sharp.”
“You speak enough French to know there’s no way to translate eight o’clock sharp in Provence.”
“You speak enough English to understand the term. Eight o’clock sharp. Bring the contract. And your bathing suit.”
“Do we really need bathing suits…in the dark?”
His gaze slid over her with more than enough male interest to make her skin grow warm and her neck to perspire under her limp collar.
Which was good. The bargain she had in mind would never have occurred to her if he wasn’t sexier than hell and hotter than the Provençal sun.
The sky was thickening with dark, rolling clouds as Amy bathed and moisturized and perfumed herself in the most intimate places as she stood in the largest of Aunt Tate’s modernized stone bathrooms. Carefully she selected a translucent white thong. Next she chose a gauzy white dress, pearls and white, high-heeled white sandals.When she finished blow-drying her hair, she barely recognized the vibrant young brunette who smiled back at her from her mirror.
