In the Millionaire's Possession by Sara Craven Page B

now — have a proper business discussion, she thought with vexation. As it was, her companion had taken advantage of the delay while they waited for the soufflés, and taken her hand again, and was now playing gently with her fingers.

    She glanced up, a muted protest already forming on her lips, but as their eyes met, and she saw the frank desire that smoked his gaze, she forgot completely what she was going to say.

    She looked away swiftly, hating the involuntary colour that warmed her cheeks, trying unavailingly to release her hand from the caress of his long fingers.

    She said haltingly, ‘ I — I don ’ t know how you can — pretend like this. ’

    His faint smile was crooked. ‘ But I am not pretending, cherie , ’ he told her quietly. ‘ I want you. I have made no secret of it. ’

    She stared down at the tablecloth. ‘ Then you ’ re due for a serious disappointment, Monsieur Delaroche. Even if I was in the market for an affair — which I ’ m not — you ’ d be the last person on earth I ’ d choose. ’

    ‘ Then at least we agree on something, ’ Marc drawled. ‘ Because I do not want an affaire either. Au contraire , I wish you to become my wife. ’

    Helen was very still suddenly. She could feel her throat muscles tightening in shock. The blood drumming crazily in her ears.

    ‘ If — this is some kind of joke, ’ she managed hoarsely, ‘ then it ’ s in very poor taste. ’

    ‘ There is no joke, ’ he said. ‘ I am asking you to marry me, ma belle , and I am completely serious. ’

    She said, ‘ But you don ’ t know anything about me. We ’ ve met three times at most. ’ She shook her head. ‘ We ’ re strangers, for heaven ’ s sake. You must be mad even to think of such a thing. ’

    ‘ I do not suggest that the ceremony should take place next week. ’ He smiled at her. ‘ I intend to court you, Hélène. Give you some time to accustom yourself to the idea. ’ He paused. ‘ To all kinds of ideas, ’ he added drily.

    He meant sleeping with him, she realised dazedly. She would have to face the prospect of him making love to her. With a sense of shock she found herself remembering their last encounter — the hard strength of his arms and the relentless heated urgency of his mouth on hers. Even though they ’ d both been fully dressed, she ’ d still been aware of every inch of his lean body against hers. And the thought of being held — touched — without the barrier of clothing, sent her mouth dry with panic.

    He wanted her. He ’ d said so. Therefore he would not expect to be fended off — kept waiting until after the wedding.

    Except there would be no wedding, she told herself with sudden fierceness. So why was she treating his outrageous proposal as if it was all cut and dried?

    She said, ‘ You ’ re wasting your time, monsieur . Did you think I ’ d be so terrified of being a spinster that you could catch me on the rebound? ’ She shook her head. ‘ You ’ re wrong. Nothing on earth could persuade me to marry you. ’

    ‘ Not even Monteagle? ’ he challenged. ‘ You wish it to become a home again. You said so. ’ He shrugged. ‘ Moi aussi . Become my wife, and I will make funds available for the whole house to be restored in the way that you want. ’

    ‘ No, ’ she said huskily. ‘ That ’ s impossible. I couldn ’ t — I can ’ t. ’

    ‘ Yet you said at the interview that you would do anything to save it. ’ He sat back in his chair, watching her from under half-closed lids. ‘ Clearly your devotion to your house is not as profound as you claim. ’

    ‘ When I said that I was desperate. ’ Helen lifted her chin. ‘ But now I have a plan. ’

    ‘ D ’ accord , ’ he said. ‘ A plan that you wish to share with me. But after we have finished our desserts, ’ he added calmly, apparently unfazed by her refusal, just as a waiter bore down on them with the soufflés, tall as chefs ’ hats, in their porcelain