Thank God I sounded okay and not all husky and thick.
There was a moment’s silence as I hunted around for my cap, blinking furiously against the tears that threatened.
‘Are you okay?’ The edge of command was in his voice, leaving me in no doubt he wanted a response.
Dammit.
Forcing away the thickness in my throat and ignoring the pricking behind my eyes, I made myself turn around and meet his gaze.
It was sharp, the expression on his scarred face fierce as he scanned me like a quality inspector looking for faults.
I forced myself to hold his stare. ‘I’m fine.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Why don’t you come up to my hotel room? I’ll order dinner and run you a bath.’
The heavy emotion in my chest gathered tighter. ‘Um, no, thank you,’ I said quickly, ignoring the part of me that very much wanted to do just that. ‘Like I said, things to do.’
‘Miss Little—’
I leaned forward and kissed him before he could finish. ‘Thanks for that, it was really fun.’ I turned around, pulling the door handle so I could get out.
It would have been better if I could have walked away, but sadly, I had to deal with the limo, which meant waiting until he was ready to leave.
So I got in the driver’s side, determinedly checking over my clothing to make sure everything was all buttoned up, resolutely not looking at him.
There was a silence in the back of the car. Then eventually, his voice curt, he said, ‘Tomorrow. 9:00 a.m. Don’t be late.’
I risked a glance in the mirror and found his searing blue gaze on mine again. It took effort to give him my usual smile, but I managed it. ‘See you then, Mr Evans,’ I said jauntily.
I waited until he’d got out of the car.
Then I burst into tears.
CHAPTER SIX
Ash
‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN, you’re rethinking the deal?’ I demanded, staring sightlessly at the view of the Eiffel Tower from the hotel suite.
Delaney sighed down the other end of the phone. ‘I told you yesterday that the islands have a certain...sentimental value. And I was very much hoping they would go to someone who has the same family values as I do.’
I scowled at the street outside, trying to get a handle on my already touchy temper. I didn’t much care about other people’s feelings in the normal scheme of things, but alienating Delaney would be stupid. ‘If you’re expecting Dumont to have the values you’re looking for, you’re sadly mistaken.’
‘Actually, Mr Dumont told me that he’s thinking of settling down and is looking for a place to raise a family.’
Like hell he was. My half-brother was a playboy extraordinaire and settling down was the very last thing he’d ever do.
The bastard.
If I wasn’t careful, my little plan to buy his precious islands out from under him was going to go tits up. Not that it was just my petty-yet-satisfying revenge that was at stake. There was also the success of Evans International, my luxury hotel business, to consider.
It was my first foray into the market and I wanted it to work, especially since all profits were to go into the charitable foundation I’d set up especially for the purpose.
A foundation for business scholarships, leadership programmes and mentorships for kids from poor areas who didn’t have access to the kinds of education and contacts that rich kids did.
All the things that I could have had if my own father hadn’t washed his hands of my mother and me, relegating us both to a hand-to-mouth existence on a council estate.
I’d made it my mission to succeed despite him. To be better than him in every way. To help people who needed it and never deny them.