‘In the end it makes no difference to me,’ he added wickedly. ‘You’ll still end up naked in my bed tonight.’
She stared at him—stunned. ‘It makes a huge difference to you. You’re all about appearances. You’re the one who cares about that too much—not me.’
‘You think?’
‘I know. Everything is just so. Everything is perfect and proper and done the way it’s been done for decades.’
‘Not everything is proper. And everything is definitely not perfect.’
‘No?’ She dared him to explain. ‘What is it you think you have to prove? What are those nefarious reasons?’
That roguish glint in his eyes sparked. ‘Too terrible to talk about.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ she said softly.
‘Why not?’ His amusement faded. ‘When have I lied to you?’
She waited him out.
‘Too terrible,’ he repeated quietly, with no teasing in his eyes at all now. ‘Don’t ask again.’
‘So you’re going to leave me hanging just because you want your moment of mystery? You don’t need to catch me on a hook and reel me in, or play some kind of obscure pity card. I’m already going to leap into your bed the second you finally crook your little finger.’
She shocked a low laugh out of him. ‘You’re saying I can trust you?’
‘Why would you think you couldn’t?’ She was stupidly wounded by his laugh. ‘I’m going to let you inside me.’
‘I don’t trust anyone,’ he said quietly. ‘Don’t take it personally. I didn’t even trust my own sister’s judgement. Now she’s left with Damon. I’ve pushed her away.’
‘No, you haven’t. She knows you love her. And she loves you—that’s why she was worried about letting you down. You’ve proved you’re trying to trust her now by letting her go,’ she said softly. ‘So why can’t you try with me too?’
‘That isn’t what it is between us.’
‘So it’s okay for you to help me with something, but you won’t let me do the same for you?’
‘What makes you think you can help?’
She flinched as his riposte dumped her right back into her place. Who did she think she was? ‘Of course. Silly me. I can’t.’
‘Kassie.’ He sighed. ‘Doing this with you is a sign of trust for me. But just because we’re physically intimate it doesn’t mean I have to open up all my past agonies to you.’
So there were past agonies. She’d somehow known that. ‘Sometimes just talking something through can help,’ she said softly.
‘There’s no point.’
‘You prefer to keep working through your never-ending “to do” list?’
‘That’s right.’
‘And “Take Kassie’s virginity” is just another item on that list?’
‘Yes.’ He squared his shoulders. ‘You offered me a deal, Kassie. It’s time to make good on it. You need to go and get dressed before we attend the unveiling of a local sculpture. You have two hours before your presentation to the world as the newest adjunct to the Palisades royal family.’
‘The pity relation, you mean.’
He glanced at the watch on his wrist. ‘I’ll meet you in my library in ten minutes and introduce you to the stylist.’
She fled, desperate for a cold shower. Then she quickly tugged on jeans and a tee and prepared to swallow all her pride and embarrassment about using the services of a personal grooming assistant. She’d spent all her life dressing to disappear into the background, to avoid the eyes of men. But this time... She wanted him to notice.
The assistant was waiting with Giorgos when Kassie entered the room fifteen minutes after she’d left him at the pool.
‘Meet Thea,’ he said, his remoteness fully restored. ‘She’ll help with your hair, make-up, clothing—’
‘I hope you’re quite the magician.’ Kassie forced a smile, battling her shock at the impassivity Giorgos could summon so effectively. ‘I’d love you to help—especially with my hair. It’s so thick I—’
‘It doesn’t need cutting,’ Giorgos interrupted roughly.
‘Okay, well...’ Kassie bit the inside of her cheek, refusing to blush. ‘Perhaps Thea and I should go and make our plans somewhere we won’t be a bother to you.’
Giorgos glared at her. She met his hard gaze defiantly. As if she’d let him dictate about something so personal! Wordlessly, they clashed for two seconds too long. Then he nodded curtly and turned back to the papers on his desk.
Kassie gritted her teeth, barely restraining a growl at his mute dismissal. The guy was unbearably arrogant.
‘I’ll show you the way, Ms Marron,’ Thea said smoothly.
Kassie jumped. She’d almost forgotten the woman was actually there. But if the stylist was at all curious about Kassie she hid it well. Her assessing gaze held nothing but professional interest as she led her to another guest suite, in which an assortment of luggage and garment bags were waiting.
‘I’ve brought a selection of clothing in a variety of sizes. I wasn’t sure... You’re not as tall as the Princess.’
‘No.’ Not as willowy. Not blonde. ‘Much shorter. Rounder in places.’ Kassie couldn’t stop mumbling.
‘Yes.’ The woman nodded. ‘And I know exactly how we’ll emphasise those assets.’
Panic hit. Kassie had deliberately never emphasised anything. But she remembered the teasing in Giorgos’s eyes and her determination to surprise him roared back. Thoughtfully she studied the stylist herself—she was beautifully attired, completely professional... This woman wasn’t going to let Kassie out in public looking anything less than ‘perfectly appropriate’. Her career depended on it.
So she relaxed and surveyed the garment bags with interest. ‘What do you suggest?’
Two hours later, feeling well versed in the art of smiling while saying little, Kassie strolled along the corridor to Giorgos’s room.
Just outside the door she felt her heart begin to thump, but she pushed on and walked in anyway. He wasn’t seated at the desk but was standing looking out of the window pensively.
‘Giorgos?’
He turned. Her breathing stalled—not in anticipation of his reaction, but because of her own impossibly powerful response to the sight of him. He wore another suit, so sharp her eyes watered. Tall, lean and purely predatory, he regarded her silently
. For a half-second she was tempted to turn and run. But the fire in his gaze froze her in place.
‘Ms Marron.’ Slowly he walked towards her. ‘You look...’
She waited, but he didn’t finish.
Heated amusement—satisfaction—trickled through her. ‘I’ve rendered you speechless.’
‘Mmm-hmm.’
He stopped right in front of her. Too close for her to remain cool or rational or breathing.
‘You’re not good at talking at the best of times,’ she whispered.
‘I talk.’
‘Niceties and nothingness—with barriers up all the time that you don’t let people past.’
‘Are we on this again? What do you want to know everything for?’ he answered equally softly. ‘You’re a physiotherapist, not a psychiatrist. And I am not one of your patients.’
Fair enough, she supposed. ‘You want intimacy without intimacy?’
‘I just want you,’ he muttered bluntly.
Her heart beat heat throughout her body until she was melting. She breathed slowly, welcoming the delicious feeling he brought to life within her.
I just want you.
In the end, what did it matter if that was all there was? Because there was only now.
‘Message received.’ She smiled at him. ‘And ditto.’
His face lit up. ‘Twirl for me.’
‘Pardon?’ She paused, eyebrows raised.
‘I’ve paid for the make-over—I want to appreciate the full result.’
The urge to defy him bit, but she kept her eyes on him. And kept her cool. Because a snap back was what he wanted. She didn’t know why he’d decided to bait her, but the hunger in his eyes was unmistakable. So was the edgy awareness. Was he testing her? She realised that perhaps this might be more uncomfortable for him than for her. Perhaps she too could play with provocation.