paled visibly at the announcement of their wedded status, obviously dismayed to learn that the bidding-war playing field had been leveled.
He wasn’t the only one displeased with the news. Melanie wasn’t able to hide the surprise and disdain that flashed in her eyes. “Your wife,” she repeated incredulously. “You didn’t mention you were engaged when I saw you in Paris last month.”
Rafe pulled Lauren to his side, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “That’s because I wasn’t. But when Lauren came back into my life, I moved quickly. I’d foolishly let her slip away once. I wasn’t about to let her get away again.”
Melanie’s mouth pursed in a pouty little moue. If looks could kill , Lauren mused, she would be in dire straits .
It was Milton who broke the uncomfortable lull in the conversation, having recovered enough to employ a different tactic. “We were about to head over to the tennis courts. Why don’t you join us? We can catch up.”
“We already have plans for the afternoon,” Rafe declined. “Lauren is a photographer. We’re going to explore the grounds so she can take pictures of the gardens.”
“The flowers aren’t going anywhere,” Milton replied. “The Fullertons have a top-rate tennis court. It seems a shame not to make use of it on such a beautiful day. How about it, Lauren?”
The grin he sent her was his version of charming, but Lauren saw through it. Everything about the man screamed pure, unadulterated smarminess. “My game’s rusty. I haven’t been on a court in years.”
“That’s okay, we’ll go easy on you,” Milton countered smoothly.
Lauren knew he would be relentless until they agreed to play. “If Rafe wants to play, I guess we have time for a quick match.”
“Milton will partner with you, Lauren,” Melanie chimed in, looking like a cat about to feast on a saucer of cream. “He plays at the pro level, so it will balance things out. I’ll partner with Rafe.”
“Thanks for the offer, but Lauren and I are a team,” Rafe refuted succinctly, annihilating her plan. “We’ll get our tennis gear and meet you at the court.”
His ex‒business partner certainly hadn’t changed, Rafe thought, as he and Lauren headed back to the main house to swap their street clothes for tennis apparel. Milton hadn’t allowed them to bow out from his invitation, obviously having decided he could use the time to his advantage. If Milton thought he’d find a weakness he could exploit, he was going to be disappointed.
Lauren had remained cool and composed when they’d run into his nemesis. He had to admit he’d been happy to have her at his side. A shame that meant exposing her to his ex-fiancée’s cattiness. It was time, he determined, to clue Lauren in to his history with Milton’s wife. Melanie would certainly seize the first opportunity that presented itself to lash out at his new bride. Lauren deserved to know why.
Beyond the explanation, he owed Lauren an apology, too. He should have exercised more restraint earlier. He’d promised he wouldn’t pressure her, and then he’d practically stripped her naked in the garden.
His expression was somber as he closed the door to their suite. “I need to apologize.”
“For what? It’s not your fault the Paynes happened along,” Lauren dismissed offhandedly.
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it. I promised you could trust me, and then I demonstrated all the self-control of a randy teenager. I lost my head and overstepped the boundaries.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I was a willing participant. Let’s chalk it up to a moment of weakness for both of us. We can just forget it ever happened.”
Rafe was amazed at how composed she sounded as she excused his behavior. She made it all sound so simple. Forgave him so easily.
But it wasn’t simple for him. Not when he wanted nothing more than to haul her back into his arms and finish what he’d started.
He sighed and shook his head
He wasn’t the only one displeased with the news. Melanie wasn’t able to hide the surprise and disdain that flashed in her eyes. “Your wife,” she repeated incredulously. “You didn’t mention you were engaged when I saw you in Paris last month.”
Rafe pulled Lauren to his side, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “That’s because I wasn’t. But when Lauren came back into my life, I moved quickly. I’d foolishly let her slip away once. I wasn’t about to let her get away again.”
Melanie’s mouth pursed in a pouty little moue. If looks could kill , Lauren mused, she would be in dire straits .
It was Milton who broke the uncomfortable lull in the conversation, having recovered enough to employ a different tactic. “We were about to head over to the tennis courts. Why don’t you join us? We can catch up.”
“We already have plans for the afternoon,” Rafe declined. “Lauren is a photographer. We’re going to explore the grounds so she can take pictures of the gardens.”
“The flowers aren’t going anywhere,” Milton replied. “The Fullertons have a top-rate tennis court. It seems a shame not to make use of it on such a beautiful day. How about it, Lauren?”
The grin he sent her was his version of charming, but Lauren saw through it. Everything about the man screamed pure, unadulterated smarminess. “My game’s rusty. I haven’t been on a court in years.”
“That’s okay, we’ll go easy on you,” Milton countered smoothly.
Lauren knew he would be relentless until they agreed to play. “If Rafe wants to play, I guess we have time for a quick match.”
“Milton will partner with you, Lauren,” Melanie chimed in, looking like a cat about to feast on a saucer of cream. “He plays at the pro level, so it will balance things out. I’ll partner with Rafe.”
“Thanks for the offer, but Lauren and I are a team,” Rafe refuted succinctly, annihilating her plan. “We’ll get our tennis gear and meet you at the court.”
His ex‒business partner certainly hadn’t changed, Rafe thought, as he and Lauren headed back to the main house to swap their street clothes for tennis apparel. Milton hadn’t allowed them to bow out from his invitation, obviously having decided he could use the time to his advantage. If Milton thought he’d find a weakness he could exploit, he was going to be disappointed.
Lauren had remained cool and composed when they’d run into his nemesis. He had to admit he’d been happy to have her at his side. A shame that meant exposing her to his ex-fiancée’s cattiness. It was time, he determined, to clue Lauren in to his history with Milton’s wife. Melanie would certainly seize the first opportunity that presented itself to lash out at his new bride. Lauren deserved to know why.
Beyond the explanation, he owed Lauren an apology, too. He should have exercised more restraint earlier. He’d promised he wouldn’t pressure her, and then he’d practically stripped her naked in the garden.
His expression was somber as he closed the door to their suite. “I need to apologize.”
“For what? It’s not your fault the Paynes happened along,” Lauren dismissed offhandedly.
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it. I promised you could trust me, and then I demonstrated all the self-control of a randy teenager. I lost my head and overstepped the boundaries.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I was a willing participant. Let’s chalk it up to a moment of weakness for both of us. We can just forget it ever happened.”
Rafe was amazed at how composed she sounded as she excused his behavior. She made it all sound so simple. Forgave him so easily.
But it wasn’t simple for him. Not when he wanted nothing more than to haul her back into his arms and finish what he’d started.
He sighed and shook his head
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