“So how do you explain the twin models from Milan photographed topless on your hotel balcony in Cannes?”
“They needed a place to crash and I spent the night on the phone to Hong Kong.”
Noelle’s lips thinned as she nodded. “And the Spanish heiress who ran away from her wedding with you?”
“It was an arranged marriage and she was in love with an architect from Brussels who happened to be doing some work on my apartment in London.”
“You’re asking me to believe you’re in the habit of rescuing women these days?”
He understood her skepticism. Five years earlier his playboy reputation had been well earned. But the day he’d arranged for Noelle to study in Paris was the day he’d begun to change. She’d been the first woman he’d saved. And the only one who’d needed to be rescued from him.
“There’s a long list of women I’ve helped. I could put you in touch with some of them if it would help improve your perception of me.” She wasn’t going to take his pursuit seriously if she thought he hadn’t changed.
“I’m sure there are scads of women who would line up to sing your praises.”
“Have dinner with me.” He repeated his earlier invitation, determined to convince her this wasn’t a ploy or a scam. “We have a great deal to talk about.”
She shook her head. “The only thing that concerns me is your intentions for my son. We can talk about ground rules here or at your office. There’s no reason for us to become more than civil acquaintances.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I can name several very good reasons why we should take our relationship to a close, personal level. Starting with the fact that I make you nervous.” He caught her chin and turned her face so he could snare her gaze. “I think that means you still have feelings for me. I know I have feelings for you. We belong together.”
“I’m with Geoff. Nothing you can say or do will change that.”
Christian slid his thumb across her lower lip and watched her pupils dilate. No doubt she was counting on her words and actions to effectively put him off, but there was no hiding her body’s reaction.
With a slow smile, his hand fell away. “We’ll see.”
Four
With her pulse hammering in her ears, Noelle spent a full minute staring at the empty hallway after Christian had gone. What had just happened? Knees shaking, she retreated to her desk and dropped into her comfortable chair with a hearty exhalation. To her dismay, her fingers trembled as she dialed a familiar number. When Geoff answered the phone, his deep voice acted like a sturdy net she could fall into and be safe.
“Geoff, thank goodness.”
“Noelle, are you okay? You sound upset.”
“I’ve just done a terrible, cowardly thing.” Such drama wasn’t like her, and she noticed that several beats passed while Geoff adjusted to her tumultuous state.
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that.”
She closed her eyes, and his steady tone calmed her. She’d met Geoff shortly after moving to Paris. He’d been at a party her boss was throwing and they’d hit it off immediately. Both had been grieving losses. Noelle was fresh from her breakup with Christian and Geoff had lost his wife of fifteen years to cancer six months earlier.
“It’s really bad. I made up a serious relationship between you and me.”
Amusement filled his voice as he asked, “Couldn’t you just have told the guy you weren’t interested? That’s worked for you up to this point.”
Normally Noelle blamed her lack of interest in men on the demands of her skyrocketing career and being focused on her son. The truth was she didn’t find anyone as interesting or attractive as Christian. In the darkest hours of the night when she couldn’t sleep and got up to sketch or visit her workshop, she suspected that the love she’d thought had died when Christian cast her aside was really only buried beneath a thick layer of pain and disappointment.
“It’s not just a guy.” In her agitation, she snapped one of her drawing pencils in two. “It’s Christian, and he figured out Marc is his son.”
“Ah.” Geoff had been a shoulder to cry on when she’d first discovered she was pregnant. Seventeen years her senior, he’d been a combination of close friend and elder brother.
“I told you about the delicate political situation surrounding the Sherdanian throne. Yesterday Nicolas Alessandro married an American girl, leaving Christian the only brother capable of producing a future king. Last night he came to the house and met Marc. Now he’s got it in his head that we should get married so Marc can be his legitimate heir.”
“And he won’t take no for an answer?”
“He’s determined to win me over.” Noelle trembled as her mind replayed the kiss. She hadn’t forgotten the chemistry between them, but five years had dulled her memory of how susceptible she was to his touch. “I can’t let that happen.”
“So you told him we were dating?”
“I panicked. Which was stupid because he doesn’t believe me. I need to show him that you exist and that we’re very happy. Can you come spend the weekend with me? I’ll call and invite him to have dinner with us.” Silence greeted her announcement. “Geoff? I’m sorry, I know I’m putting you on the spot.”
“Noelle, darling, you know I’m happy to help you any way I can, but are you sure this is the best tactic? I don’t live in Sherdana. Even if I appear once and we give a great performance of being madly in love, he’s not going to be dissuaded by an absent lover.”
She thought back to Christian’s remark about long distance relationships. “You’re right. Call Jean-Pierre and ask him if I can borrow an engagement ring. A big one.” The jeweler owed her several favors for sending business his way.
“Our relationship is moving awfully fast,” Geoff teased, but concern shaded his lighthearted tone.
“I know and I’m sorry. I’m taking terrible advantage of our friendship, but I’m feeling rather desperate at the moment.”
“There’s no one I’d be happier to be fake-engaged to than you, but have you thought this through? Are you planning on staying engaged forever? What happens when we don’t actually get married?”
“Hopefully he will be under enough pressure to marry someone suitable that he’ll realize he can’t wait around to change my mind.”
“This plan of yours is full of holes.”
Christian had a knack for shredding her customarily sensible behavior. “We can talk about that when you get here.”
“Very well. I’ll see you Friday evening.”
