Raoul clenched his jaw. ‘I’m not interested in falling in love.’
‘Famous last words.’ Rafe chuckled again. ‘I said them myself and look what happened—I fell hook, line, and sinker for Poppy and I couldn’t be happier. I can’t believe that this time next week we’ll be man and wife.’
‘Look, I’m happy for you. I really am. Just don’t go expecting me to follow you down the aisle any time soon. Pick on Remy. He’s the one who needs to settle down.’
‘Has he been to see you? Called you? Texted? Emailed?’
‘He came the day before you brought Lil...Miss Archer. I haven’t heard from him since. Why, what’s he up to?’
‘I don’t know.’ A thread of concern seemed to underpin Rafe’s voice. ‘I think he’s having some sort of showdown with Henri Marchand over one of his major holdings or properties. I’ve heard on the grapevine that Marchand is desperate for funds. He made a couple of investments that didn’t pay off.’
‘Karma.’
‘You could be right.’ Rafe let out a breath. ‘I just hope Remy knows what he’s doing. He’s juggling a lot of finance just now. He’s been trying to buy into the Mappleton hotel chain, as well. He’s been working on the negotiations for months. If he pulls it off it would be the biggest coup of all of our careers. But apparently Robert Mappleton is ultra-conservative. Word has it he refuses to do business with Remy because he thinks Remy’s too much of a playboy.’
‘I can’t see Remy marrying someone just to nail a deal, can you?’ Raoul’s tone was dry.
Rafe gave a laugh. ‘Speaking of weddings... Are you coming to mine?’
‘Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.’
* * *
Lily was in the garden picking flowers for the table when Raoul came out to her. He was in his manual chair but he had been up on his feet for at least a minute during their gym session earlier. He had taken three steps—four, if you counted the one before he had to grasp the rails. It was an enormous leap forward. It was still too early to say whether he would continue to improve, but she was cautiously optimistic.
He looked tired now, however. He had lines of strain around his mouth. She knew he still had a lot of pain but he refused to take any medication. She knew he didn’t sleep properly. She had woken so many times to find him watching her with a frown on his face. Was it pain that put that frown there, or was it because she wasn’t the woman he had thought would be sharing his bed?
‘Did you want me?’
He gave her a sexily slanted smile. ‘Always.’
Always? He wasn’t offering always. He had offered her here and now. And here and now would be over in days. She had resigned herself to it. She would be going home and that would be it. She wouldn’t see him again.
Her heart gave a painfully tight squeeze.
Ever.
‘Dominique knows.’
‘That I want you?’
‘That you’ve had me.’ She gave him a see-what-you’ve-done look. ‘I tried to deny it, but my bed hasn’t been slept in for over a week, so it wasn’t like I could convince her otherwise.’
‘And that bothers you?’
‘Of course it bothers me. I’m not some scullery maid slipping upstairs for a bit of slap and tickle with the lord of the manor. I feel...awkward. Embarrassed. Ashamed.’
‘Why?’
She tossed the roses she’d gathered into the basket she was holding. ‘Dominique thinks it’s all going to end up like some sort of fairytale. I think you should talk to her. Tell her how it is.’
His mouth tightened. ‘I don’t need to explain myself to my domestic staff.’
Explain it to me, then. Tell me where I stand.
‘Fine.’ She snapped another rose off and dropped it in the basket. ‘But I’m not coming to the wedding with you. I think that’s taking things way too far.’
‘I want you with me.’